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reteng
Warming Up
74 Posts |
 Posted - 03/09/2009 : 10:05:45 AM
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| I am a veteran quilter but new knitter. I have enjoyed knitting simple scarves and really want to learn to knit socks. I purchased three sock knitting books and am starting with the Schurch class sock on DPNs. After much ripping and restarting, I completed the ribbing and the heel flap. Once I finished the heel turn I discovered I had one extra stitch leftover. Not being experienced enough to problem-solve where I went wrong, I ripped out a huge chunk yet again. As I look ahead to the directions for the gusset, I feel overwhelmed by the techniques I don't know. My husband has watched me knit and rip, knit and rip, and wonders why I don't just give up and buy socks. I guess I'd like to know if my experience is a common one or if most new sock knitters just fly through the directions with no trouble. Is there hope for me? |
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socker
Chatty Knitter
258 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2009 : 10:43:00 AM
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| I knit my first sock about 6 times. Many, many socks later, and the one I'm kniting now.....was from the toe to the heel turn and is now at the toe again. |
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socks4all
Permanent Resident
USA
1445 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2009 : 11:18:27 AM
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| Yes, it is common. There is a lot of shaping involved in making a pair of socks. Study the paictures and websites. The construction concepts can be hard to grasp. Also, this is not quilting. You are capable of ripping out and starting again without destroying your yarn. Also, "close" can be good enough. If you come out with one st too many or one too few you can fudge. It is not like those persnickety points that must meet just so. Since you are a quilter you have my utmost respect. Patience. Don't beat yourself up. You CAN do this. |
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vviolet
Chatty Knitter
148 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2009 : 11:33:21 AM
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I'm very new at sock knitting, too. Have the same book (Elizabeth Schurch) and a couple of others. Ripping and restarting, ripping and restarting, needles falling out, getting lost on the needles, etc., etc., etc. I can't image anyone just flying through her first sock! For me, knitting isn't about making a garment that I could easily buy. It's about learning something new. It's about enjoying beautiful yarn, problem solving, making friends that are interested in knitting. It's also about glorying in accomplishments, no matter how small. Frustration is part of the deal, but it is worth it. You got through the heel flap? That's great! Only one extra stitch left over? Not bad at all...Please keep trying! Please bring your questions, frustrations, and victories here to share with us. 
"I always try to do that what I cannot do in order to learn how to do it." -- Picasso |
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Cheerleader9
Permanent Resident
USA
1563 Posts |
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watcher
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
449 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2009 : 6:05:08 PM
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Sometimes, when I'm decreasing the gussets, I "miss" a decrease on one side. If I'm just a row or two past it, I will usually rip back (it's the perfectionist gene, thanks so much my ancestors!); if I've gotten down to the end of the gusset, I just decrease on the side I missed one more time. It won't make any difference to the fit of the sock (and even you'll have trouble finding it later)! Keep going, if you've finished the gussets you're almost there!
My first sock never got a mate...but it was out of scraps of leftover acrylic worsted because I wasn't sure I could actually knit a sock and didn't want to buy more supplies. The second pair was out of Socks(X3), Lucy Neatby's traveling socks (I forget the exact name) and seemed to take forever...but they were finished.
I'm a confirmed sock addict, they are my portable project for times when I have to wait, a great way to try new stitches since they aren't really very big, fun to use colors you might not wear otherwise, good for using up leftovers, and yes, my sock drawer is full of hand-knit socks! And I have several Sterlite containers with more sock yarn...two pair one the needles at present... |
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minh
Permanent Resident and Destasher Extraordinnaire
USA
3415 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2009 : 6:25:58 PM
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We're here to cheer you on! Please ask any questions you may have, sock addicts love to help and convert another knitter to the dark side ;)
I agree with the above posts that understanding each piece of the shaping before knitting it is very helpful.
Clara has a very good overview of sock construction here:
http://knittersreview.com/article_how_to.asp?article=/review/profile/070719_a.asp
My first pair of socks had holes near the heel but they're a labor of love! |
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arlinem
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
442 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2009 : 6:26:48 PM
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| absolutely don't give up! there's nothing like a pair of handmade socks for fit and comfort and warmth, not to mention satisfaction and portability. they can be simple and utilitarian or elaborate and fancy. sounds to me like you've gotten way past the hard part with hardly a scratch. you're nearly home! your feet won't care if there's an extra stitch along the way. keep at it and it will all fall into place and before you know it you'll be making socks for your husband in no time at all! |
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MindyO
Permanent Resident
USA
2493 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2009 : 8:50:41 PM
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Took me a year to finish my first pair, 6 months for the second, and I've already started pair 3 -5 time in the past week. I'll let you know in 3 months if I actually finish  they're footies so they should take half as long as a whole pair right?
My Ravelry
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Pollyanna
New Pal
United Kingdom
41 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2009 : 01:01:46 AM
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I'm on my 7th pair and it is the first time I've knitted a sock without having to undo it!! YEAH!
I never thought I'd get the hang of it. I love knitting aran, so thought socks would be a nice change. Hubby loves them and it is only that which kept me going. I nearly had my eye out a few times with those 3 needles I can tell you.
Hang in there, you'll do it. On my first pair I made the mistake of using dark coloured wool, light is the best. |
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fiddlerbird555
Permanent Resident
USA
1429 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2009 : 08:41:04 AM
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I still usually do at least 3 starts on a new pair of socks. Part of it is gauge, as I never get the exact yarn as in a pattern. Part of it is not twisting around. But once I'm started, if it's one or two stitches off, forget it. Do an extra increase or decrease when/where it's noticed. What kind of tolerances do you have on quilts? I bet everything doesn't always fit perfectly, and that you've learned what to do about mismatches that aren't much smaller than a single stitch error on a knit sock.
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I can go loopy, or I can knit. Your choice. |
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Calamintha
Permanent Resident
USA
2886 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2009 : 08:48:42 AM
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The heel part of the sock is hard to visualize with just a text explanation. Any chance that you have a LYS or knitting club nearby where someone could show you what to do? Failing that I would recommend finding some pictorial or video step-by-step instructions on the web. It's just amazing to me that sock books don't do a better job illustrating the heel section. I don't know whether you are using dpns or some other technique but I found making socks with 2 circs much easier than using dpns.
Once you get the heel technique down the rest of the sock is quite easy and making your own is very satisfying. There are so many nice and interesting sock yarns around. My husband felt the same way btw. He thought it was crazy to spend more for sock yarn than you would spend to buy socks themselves but he changed his tune after I made him a pair because he discovered how much nicer handmade socks are :) |
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Suzann
Seriously Hooked
USA
869 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2009 : 09:05:59 AM
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It is frustrating. Knit your cuff again and the leg. Now before you do the heel flap insert a lifeline. Lifeline is a length of contrasting yarn a bit finer then the yarn you are using. Run it through each stitch. But not any stitch markers you might be using. After you have run the lifeline through each stitch take the thread off the needle (darning needle, not knitting needle) tie the ends of the lifeline loosely together. That way there is no change of it pulling out. If the heel doesn't turn out as you thought or you want to do it over. Just rip it out. Then pick up the stitches from your lifeline and continue. Much easier then doing the same bit of sock over and over.
Go here and watch this video on turning a sock heel. It is really helpful
http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques
I watched it many times when I was first learning to knit socks. You can pause the video, knit a bit and then go back to the video.
Everyone has had headbanging experiences when they first learned to do socks. Join the crowd. hehehe sock knitting is a slippery slope. It won't be long before little balls of sock yarn are following you home. So small, so cute
Cheers and good luck
Suzann
Making cables is like making love. There is a lot of foreplay before you get to the deed
http://suzann-does-it-all.com/
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GFTC
Permanent Resident
USA
6331 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2009 : 10:25:16 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by reteng
Once I finished the heel turn I discovered I had one extra stitch leftover. Not being experienced enough to problem-solve where I went wrong, I ripped out a huge chunk yet again.
As I look ahead to the directions for the gusset, I feel overwhelmed by the techniques I don't know.
When you are working the heel this is an easy way to keep track:
after you work the purl row count the stitches after the gaps at the beginning and end of the row. The numbers should match. If they don't you have done something wrong and can fix it without ripping out the whole heel.
If you count after the knit row you should have a difference of 2 stitches.
For the gusset decreases: if you are going to decrease 8 stitches (or whatever amount) on each side, put a stitch marker to mark those 8 stitches. At the end of each round make sure you have matching amounts of stitches on both gusset needles marked off by the stitch marker. That way you will know if you forgot a decrease or decreased on the wrong round.
Until you are confidant in all the techniques you will find that the more you count the less you rip and stitch markers are your friend.
You might want to knit one sock with worsted or aran weight yarn so that you get an understanding for the techniques in a fast and obvious way. It will just take a couple of hours to work the sock and will give you that AHA moment that all sock knitters need.
GFTC of NYCmy knitting photos on Flickr or Ravelry
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reteng
Warming Up
74 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2009 : 10:27:35 AM
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Wow! You have all been so generous with your encouragement! I will definitely keep going and know I am not alone in my repeated ripping sessions. As I start these socks over, at least I am heartened by what I have already learned the hard way! Hopefully the cuff, heel flap, and turn will go more smoothly this time around. A number of you mentioned that I probably was too worried about a small error or an extra stitch. With quilting, I know which mistakes are little ones (can be "fudged" ) and which are major ones (must be ripped out.) As a first-time sock knitter, I have this to learn. I assumed one stitch too many in the heel turn would cause a big problem further on. Thank you all so much for your kind words and advice.
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YarnGoddess
Permanent Resident
USA
2460 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2009 : 10:32:41 AM
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I started with "Helen's Favorite Socks", a pattern from Fiber Trends. It gave line by line, and turn by turn directions which made it easier for me to see exactly where I was going and what I'd already done. I went back to that pattern many times during my first dozen or so pairs of socks. I use Magic Loop for making socks, cos I just can't get my head around dpns. You're not alone in your frustration, we've all been there. Keep at it, you'll get it.
Elizabeth
Zipper & Diva
A sense of humor can help you tolerate the unpleasant, cope with the unexpected, overlook the unattractive and smile through the unbearable.
To learn more about healthy nutrition for your cat, go here: http://www.catnutrition.org and here: http://www.catinfo.org/
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schnitzle
New Pal
USA
17 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2009 : 9:11:14 PM
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Starting to get the feeling you're not alone? ;)
My first pair of socks were "Fuzzy Feet" from Knitty.com
They're knit on big needles (10 1/2) and with worsted weight yarn
so it's really easy to see what you're doing. Also when I had
to rip back to fix things it was very fast to get back to
where I started. The pattern it's self is very basic.
The biggest bonus? They're felted down from humongous to slipper
size in the washer! Pretty much any small booboos like purling instead of knitting, or a k2tog to fix an extra stitch disappear!
I thought it was really a great first project.
Keep at it! Like others have said, if you have the patience and
mind to do quilting, you can definitely make socks!!
Knit happens! |
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Woodstocker
New Pal
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2009 : 03:58:31 AM
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My first attempt to knit socks involved so much ripping out I wore out the yarn! I was using a sock yarn with #2 needles. My LYS suggested the Yankee Knitter sock pattern that offered different weights of yarn including worsted weight. Success! With fewer stiches and big yarn I only had to rip out twice before I finished my first pair.
Woodstocker |
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sashers
New Pal
2 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2009 : 04:51:52 AM
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| There used to be this absolutely wonderful site called Socks 101 at royea.net. I've never really had to rip back on any pairs of socks because I followed her photos. The page is down but I emailed her asking about it...maybe they'll fix it. |
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knitonepurltoo
New Pal
47 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2009 : 06:24:39 AM
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You've gotten a lot of great advice; I'd only add that I found the concepts behind the 56-stitch, 56-row sock pattern really helpful: http://www.chicknits.com/56st56rowsock.html Also, and I cannot stress this enough - you have to keep going, even if the sock looks wonky. Completing a sock will help you see how all the parts fit together, and a stitch or two here or there won't matter a bit in the end. Have fun - socks are totally worth the trouble!
Knit One, Purl Too: A Knitlog
http://www.knitonepurltoo.com
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ruthmel1
New Pal
United Kingdom
43 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2009 : 06:26:55 AM
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As everyone else has said you're not alone. I ripped my socks back at first several times. I couldnt get used to DPNs at all as they were like fighting with an octopus!! I used a very small addi circ. 12" I think. once I'd got used to how a sock was constructed I went back to DPN's
as for extra stitches I have them all the time. dont worry just decrease in the next round as someone else said. unless you're knitting with a very specific pattern an extra stittch wont affect the fit of the sock.
I'm lazy I do admit and I think the poor sock will be hidden by a shoe anyway!!
keep on plugging away. its very addictive
Black Cat Fibres
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5037783
http://soxandcinders.blogspot.com/
find me on Ravelry as Cinders |
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Encouragement for socks please!!
