That is an incredible number of socks! If you're ever selling any and you take size 8 in shoes, do let me know! Non-knitter that I am, I'm condemned to dull colours or flimsy quality bought socks (and I passed on the chance to buy massively reduced cashmere socks this week at the annual sale of the cashmere mill near me, as I have a pair of cashmere gloves and I'm forever ineptly darning them). I am also laughing somewhat hysterically at your assertion that socks are easy to knit - the undertaking looks very difficult to me. It's hard to find somewhere to learn to knit as an adult, and this is frustrating if like me you're suddenly gripped by a desire to learn. None of the generation above me of my family is still alive (men as well as women, as my grandfather knitted his sea boot stockings and ganseys), and I don't know anyone who knits. My late mum knitted gorgeous baby cardigans, jumpers and bonnets for my children, and I cherish them.
Look for a local knit and stitch group, there’s lots around. Sit next to any of the old ladies in the group and they are sure to take you under their wing.
Oh so topical! I recognise many of the yarns you’ve used there. I currently have 3 pairs on the go, all at different stages. I have a nagging feeling my relatives blanch at Christmas when they get another sock-sized squishy package to open…
I’ve found a partial personal solution by using the same yarn to knit 3 other things to give away to charity - baby hats look gorgeous in the self-patterned yarn, the miraculous surprise jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman, and a blanket using up all the odds and ends. I get to knit something simple and keep my hands busy (crucial for an inveterate fiddler), the charity gets much-needed funds, and someone gets something unusual for their baby. Win-win in my book.
Of course, you could just go on knitting socks and give those away to a charity close to your heart…
I had to give up sock knitting after a broken wrist. I find I can't get an even tension knitting in the round on a small scale. I've rediscovered my love of cables and aran patterns, and once I've mastered the pattern I can happily knit repeats without it needing all my attention. Like you, top down knitting is not something I'm keen on, though I have steeked ( is that a word) on occasion. I have to resort to You Tube for alternative cast ons to the one I was taught in childhood.
Don't they look gorgeous all together like that! I too love knitting socks and have made a few in my time but no where near as many as you. Having peered closely at your photographs I can only see one colourway which I have also knitted so there is a lot of choice out there. xx
Such a wonderful catalogue of continuous industry! Branch out into something else! I remember reading in one of your books that you stopped knitting jumpers and things because of sizing - might be wrong about that - but there are such beautiful patterns out there. Personally I do not like knitting in the round although it is the trend and there seems to be no other way in many patterns. This is fine if you can cope with hundreds of stitches and the weight of the almost finished thing which many with arthritis and poor vision cannot. However, Kate Davies has a wonderful colour thing coming up as a club I think which might be worth a look and viola [ sadly not now dying her own wool which was beautiful ] has some lovely patterns that show the yarn off but are soothing to knit.
Beautiful socks! I’ve always got a pair on my needles too. Steeking is very liberating. You could try knitting a long snake and adding afterthought heels. Louise Tilbrook has a good pattern for that. It’s fun! And only slightly scary 😱
This is such a lovely read, I am currently working my way through a series of baby knit patterns as my first grandchild is on its way, and like you I knit in front of the TV. Do you know this guy's wool? It's so beautiful https://jamesmakesyarn.com/
Spotted a typo, the last photo should be captioned ‘photo sockpile’. (Joke)
My first steeked fairisle vest was terrifying but they get easier. Soon you’ll be converting bottom up jumper patterns to top down which is better because you can try them on for length.
Wow Jane. I can only dream of knitting socks. Anything with more than 2 needles alarms me. But - as my crochet skills are better I must find a crochet sock pattern
That’s a lot of socks. I’m sure you gave some away. How did you manage to get them all together for a photo shoot? When I was young I asked my mom who loved to knit to make me socks... she refused , making me think it was difficult. I was never a knitter til they came out with all those beautiful self striping yarns. Then I discovered that they were pretty easy (I always hated to purl so knitting in the round was my jam).
I love the idea of making a rug out of old, worn, and/or weird socks - old knitwear in general. I have trouble getting rid of anything I've knit. I can't do it. You've given me a great way to repurpose and an avenue of thought to travel down as I ponder other ways to use worn out socks, hats, etc. Thank you!
War and Peace would be the perfect novel for a sock knitter; at some point mid-novel, Tolstoy mentions an old servant of Pierre's household who knows how to knit 2 socks at once. Your collection is mouth-watering. I knitted for decades before tackling socks and now I add a few pair to my collection every year. I can wear colors and stripes and patterns on my feet that would look horrible on other parts of my body. I can also scratch my itch for pinks and reds while otherwise surrendering to the sea of chic urban greys and blacks. Like you I tend to prefer the affordable, European workhorse sock yarns, as long as they are not too splitty. I also like to combine leftovers into stashbuster socks now and then.
That is an incredible number of socks! If you're ever selling any and you take size 8 in shoes, do let me know! Non-knitter that I am, I'm condemned to dull colours or flimsy quality bought socks (and I passed on the chance to buy massively reduced cashmere socks this week at the annual sale of the cashmere mill near me, as I have a pair of cashmere gloves and I'm forever ineptly darning them). I am also laughing somewhat hysterically at your assertion that socks are easy to knit - the undertaking looks very difficult to me. It's hard to find somewhere to learn to knit as an adult, and this is frustrating if like me you're suddenly gripped by a desire to learn. None of the generation above me of my family is still alive (men as well as women, as my grandfather knitted his sea boot stockings and ganseys), and I don't know anyone who knits. My late mum knitted gorgeous baby cardigans, jumpers and bonnets for my children, and I cherish them.
Look for a local knit and stitch group, there’s lots around. Sit next to any of the old ladies in the group and they are sure to take you under their wing.
Oh so topical! I recognise many of the yarns you’ve used there. I currently have 3 pairs on the go, all at different stages. I have a nagging feeling my relatives blanch at Christmas when they get another sock-sized squishy package to open…
I’ve found a partial personal solution by using the same yarn to knit 3 other things to give away to charity - baby hats look gorgeous in the self-patterned yarn, the miraculous surprise jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman, and a blanket using up all the odds and ends. I get to knit something simple and keep my hands busy (crucial for an inveterate fiddler), the charity gets much-needed funds, and someone gets something unusual for their baby. Win-win in my book.
Of course, you could just go on knitting socks and give those away to a charity close to your heart…
Jane your socks are sooooooooo beautiful! What a treasure you have. They absolutely make me smile!
I had to give up sock knitting after a broken wrist. I find I can't get an even tension knitting in the round on a small scale. I've rediscovered my love of cables and aran patterns, and once I've mastered the pattern I can happily knit repeats without it needing all my attention. Like you, top down knitting is not something I'm keen on, though I have steeked ( is that a word) on occasion. I have to resort to You Tube for alternative cast ons to the one I was taught in childhood.
Don't they look gorgeous all together like that! I too love knitting socks and have made a few in my time but no where near as many as you. Having peered closely at your photographs I can only see one colourway which I have also knitted so there is a lot of choice out there. xx
Such a wonderful catalogue of continuous industry! Branch out into something else! I remember reading in one of your books that you stopped knitting jumpers and things because of sizing - might be wrong about that - but there are such beautiful patterns out there. Personally I do not like knitting in the round although it is the trend and there seems to be no other way in many patterns. This is fine if you can cope with hundreds of stitches and the weight of the almost finished thing which many with arthritis and poor vision cannot. However, Kate Davies has a wonderful colour thing coming up as a club I think which might be worth a look and viola [ sadly not now dying her own wool which was beautiful ] has some lovely patterns that show the yarn off but are soothing to knit.
Beautiful socks! I’ve always got a pair on my needles too. Steeking is very liberating. You could try knitting a long snake and adding afterthought heels. Louise Tilbrook has a good pattern for that. It’s fun! And only slightly scary 😱
This is such a lovely read, I am currently working my way through a series of baby knit patterns as my first grandchild is on its way, and like you I knit in front of the TV. Do you know this guy's wool? It's so beautiful https://jamesmakesyarn.com/
Spotted a typo, the last photo should be captioned ‘photo sockpile’. (Joke)
My first steeked fairisle vest was terrifying but they get easier. Soon you’ll be converting bottom up jumper patterns to top down which is better because you can try them on for length.
Wow Jane. I can only dream of knitting socks. Anything with more than 2 needles alarms me. But - as my crochet skills are better I must find a crochet sock pattern
That’s a lot of socks. I’m sure you gave some away. How did you manage to get them all together for a photo shoot? When I was young I asked my mom who loved to knit to make me socks... she refused , making me think it was difficult. I was never a knitter til they came out with all those beautiful self striping yarns. Then I discovered that they were pretty easy (I always hated to purl so knitting in the round was my jam).
Most entertaining and a wonderful selection of socks
I love the idea of making a rug out of old, worn, and/or weird socks - old knitwear in general. I have trouble getting rid of anything I've knit. I can't do it. You've given me a great way to repurpose and an avenue of thought to travel down as I ponder other ways to use worn out socks, hats, etc. Thank you!
Gorgeous socks and such a wonderful collection of color :)
War and Peace would be the perfect novel for a sock knitter; at some point mid-novel, Tolstoy mentions an old servant of Pierre's household who knows how to knit 2 socks at once. Your collection is mouth-watering. I knitted for decades before tackling socks and now I add a few pair to my collection every year. I can wear colors and stripes and patterns on my feet that would look horrible on other parts of my body. I can also scratch my itch for pinks and reds while otherwise surrendering to the sea of chic urban greys and blacks. Like you I tend to prefer the affordable, European workhorse sock yarns, as long as they are not too splitty. I also like to combine leftovers into stashbuster socks now and then.