Knitting socks is the best way to gain confidence with knitting.
Socks work up quickly, have a lot of reptation to gain confidence with stitches, allow for a lot of learning and flexibility, and if you mess up, no one will know because you can easily hide mistakes with shoes.
Contents of this post:
Basic Materials Needed
- Yarn (I prefer lighter weight yarns like size 1-3)
- Circular knitting needles to match your yarn requirements
- Darning Needle
- Scissors
Knitting Stitches Needed
Slip Knot
Slip knots are made to begin the cast-on. They are an essential part of any basic knitting project.
Stretchy Cast-On
For a basic sock, I prefer the long-tail cast on method. Different patterns might recommend different methods but this one is very popular and is recommended in many patterns.
Knit Stitch
This is the basic knit stitch that you’ll need for any kind of… knitting. In written patterns, knit stitch is abbreviated: K
Purl Stitch
The purl stitch is essentially the opposite of the knit stitch. It’s a great stitch to know and is used in many different designs. Abbreviated: P
Slip-Slip Knit
Slip-Slip Knit, abbreviated as SSK, is a popular way to decrease stiches.
Knit/Purl Two Together
Another popular way to decrease stiches is to knit or purl two together. Abbreviated as: K2tog or P2tog
Kitchener Stitch
The Kitchener Stitch is a great, seamless way to finish off your socks.
Simple Sock Patterns
Basic Sock Pattern
This sock pattern by Kristin Lehrer is the perfect tutorial for any beginner. She walks step-by-step through making the different parts of the sock in this easy-to-follow tutorial.
If you get comfortable with this simple pattern, you can integrate colorwork for more visual interest.
Easy Cable Knit Pattern
This simple cable knit sock pattern is a great way to add visual interest to some simple socks as well as learn a more advanced knitting skill. The only additional materials you would need is a set of cable needles.
Other than that, the stiches are the same basic stiches that can be found above.
Togetherness Socks
These simple socks by Little Home Designs use the basic knitting stiches listed above to create this ribbed cable pattern.
This written pattern is free for download on Ravelry and is a great way to use basic stiches to create complex-looking designs.
Conclusion
Socks are a great way to gain confidence with your knitting skills. They are often a lot of repetition which makes them a great craft to work on while binge watching a show.
