Knitting Daily : free sock knitting patterns

Toe-Up Socks: The Middle Eastern Cast-On

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I haven't had much experience writing patterns, but I had a ball of Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball Crazy Sock Yarn that I was itching to knit into a pair of socks, and I couldn't settle on a pattern. So I decided to write one myself!

The yarn lent itself better to a plain or cable pattern than to a lace pattern, so I decided on cables. I looked through the amazing Harmony Guide, 101 Stitches to Knit, a card deck edited by Erika Knight, and I found an easy and attractive cable: the Simple Cable.

With the stitch pattern decided upon, I plotted out my stitch count and started swatching. My gauge worked, so I cast on.

I also wanted a toe-up experience, so I tried the Middle Eastern Cast-On for the first time, and I really like it. I've seen this method referred to as the Turkish Cast-On, too, but whatever the name, I found it quick and easy.

At left you can see my progress—I like it a lot. (When it's finished, maybe I'll debut the design on KnittingDaily.com!)

How to Work the Middle Eastern Cast-On

You can use this method with two circular needles or with the Magic Loop method. I don't recommend using it on double pointed needles (DPNs), but you can cast on with two circulars or the Magic Loop, work a couple of rounds, and then transfer your stitches to DPNs.

Step 1. Snugly wrap the working yarn around two needles, starting with the tail and ending with the working yarn hanging off the tips of the needles (Figure 1). Wrap the yarn half as many times as the total amount of stitches the pattern requires you to cast on. (Need sixteen stitches? Wrap the yarn eight times around the needles). Bring the yarn forward between needles, back to front .

Step 2. Knit across stitches on upper needle (Figure 2). (Or, if you're holding your needles parallel to each other, knit across the stitches on the front needle.)

Step 3. Rotate the work and knit across the same number of stitches on the other needle (Figure 3).

After you've knit one round all of your stitches will be secure. Knit one or two more rounds, and then begin your increases as directed in the pattern.

It's as simple as that.

If you'd like to get started with this cast-on technique right away, check out Ann Budd's toe-up pattern, On-Your-Toes-Socks. I'm sure you'll enjoy this easy, classic look.

Cheers,

Kathleen

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

So what kind of sock patterns are in this eBook? Let's see. There's a knitted lace sock pattern, a cabled sock pattern, a colorwork sock pattern, a men's sock pattern, and an easy beginner sock pattern. Something for everyone!!

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

The Magical Magic Loop

Kathleen Cubley — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I started knitting circular objects—socks, gloves, mittens, hats, and so on—on double-pointed needles (DPNs). While I enjoyed knitting the pattern, I didn't particularly like the finished object because I always ended up with ladders where I switched from one needle to the next. I guess I wasn't knitting those stitches tight enough, but as much as I tried to tighten them, the ladders remained. And who likes to think about tightening stitches all the time, anyway?

Because of this problem, I simply didn't do as many "tube projects" as I wanted to.

Enter the Magic Loop! I was at my LYS one Saturday afternoon and I saw a gal knitting a sock on the oddest looking contraption with loops sticking out of each end of the knitted sock. I asked her about it and she said she was using the Magic Loop method—which uses just one, long circular needle. I quickly found a class on this technique, thinking that I might enjoy it more than DPNs. I was right—the Magic Loop brought me back to sock knitting!

Now I use this method for almost all of my small, circular knitting projects. I also teach it when I teach sock classes. The students get two classes, really: sock knitting and the Magic Loop technique!

And Now, a Lesson for You

Most people really take to the Magic Loop method, so I thought I'd share a lesson with you, too. It just takes a few rounds to become familiar with the process and by the time you're halfway through the leg of a sock, you'll be a pro.

I recommend at least a 32-inch circular needle for socks and a 40-inch needle for hats, baby sweaters, and other larger-circumference projects. (The neat thing about using the Magic Loop for hats is that you don't need to change to DPNs to finish the crown.)

A Note About Circular Needles: Your knitting life will be so much easier if you relax the cable of your circular needle before you begin knitting. I do this by microwaving a large mug of water for a couple minutes, dipping the cable into the hot water for about 30 seconds, and then straightening it out and running it under cold water for a few seconds until it's cool. You can also steam the cable, or if you're using a metal needle, you can boil a little water in a skillet and put the whole thing in. It's amazing to watch it loosen up! Be sure and use hot pads or tongs, though, because that metal gets hot!

Here we go, step by step!

Step 1
On a circular needle at least 32 inches long, cast on the required number of stitches (I've cast on 40 stitches). Slide the stitches onto the cable part of the needle.

Step 2
Hold the needle so that your working yarn (and tail) is to your right. Bend the left part of the needle toward you slightly (but don't put a crimp in it!), making sure the bend is halfway through the total number of stitches—so, if you've cast on 40, bend the cable between the 20th and 21st stitches (photo 2a). Grasp the cable and pull it out of the stitches until your stitches are on the needle portions of the circlular needle; you'll have half your stitches on one needle and half on the other needle (photo 2b).

IMPORTANT TIP: Make sure that your working yarn is hanging off of the back needle. What's the back needle? If you hold your needles parallel to each other, the "front" needle is the one nearest you and the "back" needle is the one farthest from you. If your yarn is hanging off your front needle, slide your stitches back onto the cable and divide them again, this time making sure the working yarn ends up at the back. If you start with your working yarn and tail to your right and bend the left end of the cable needle towards you, your working yarn should end up on the correct needle.

Step 3
Make sure your stitches aren't twisted: all of the stitches should be "hanging" downward; the cast-on edge sits at the top of the needle. (Some people like to place a marker to mark the beginning of the round, but I just use the yarn tail as my marker.) Slide the stitches on the back needle to the cable part of the needle, thereby freeing up the back needle. This back needle is now your right-hand needle—you'll be knitting onto it just as if you were using straight needles (photo 3).

Step 4
Knit the stitches on your first needle (photo 4a). When you've knit to the end of the needle, you've knitted half a round (photo 4b, and in this photo the back needle is the needle showing on the bottom). Turn the needles so both tips are pointed to the right and slide the now-front needle into the stitches that are on the cable (photo 4c).

Step 5
Slide the now-back needle out of the stitches that you just knit so that those stitches end up on the cable. You're now ready to knit the second half of the round.

And that's it! You keep switching sides, pushing the stitches on the cable onto the front needle, and pulling the back needle out of the previously knit stitches. Remember that you need to knit both sides of the work to complete one round.

Some Pattern Ideas

I'm recommending three sock patterns here and one sock and mitt pattern. These are lovely patterns in general, but also good patterns for practicing your Magic Loop technique. Once you're two to four inches into one of these projects, you'll be Magic Looping without even thinking about it.

His and Hers Socks by Ann Budd. This is a good advanced-beginner project, with options for men's and women's socks. Ann Budd is a sock pro, so you'll be happy with any pattern by her, but because of the two versions this one is particularly valuable.

Knotty or Knice Socks by Chrissy Gardiner. This is an intermediate, toe-up sock pattern. I love the twisted stitch pattern on these socks—it's a Bavarian pattern but it almost looks Celtic to me. The Magic Loop works equally well with top-down socks and toe-up socks.

Rustic Ruffled Socks and Mitts by Ann Budd. This is also a toe-up pattern, with the added challenge of short-row heels (these heels are easy, really, and fun to work). You'll get a nice, simple sock pattern with a touch of romance in the ruffle, as well as a simple but useful mitt pattern. Who wouldn't like a set of these?

Comfy Socks by the Knitscene Design Team. This is an easy, free pattern knit from bulky-weight yarn (it's also one of 5 free patterns in our free downloadable eBook, 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns). These socks are perfect for fall lounge-around-the-house-days. And they knit up really quickly, too!

Have fun practicing your Magic Loop technique!

Cheers,

Kathleen

P.S. Special thanks to Sarah Hauschka, who invented the Magic Loop method, and to Bev Galeskas and Fiber Trends, who published the first book on the subject.

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

The Knit-a-Long Post (Plus the Kitchener Stitch and a Free Pattern!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Monkey Socks: Wrap-Up

Our first knit-a-long was a great success! When I started this knit-a-long back on July 1, I wasn't sure how it would go. I'm thrilled that Monkey Socks by Cookie A. were knit by about 20 people and to date there are 241 thoughts shared on the forum.

I'm so happy that so many of you knit the sock with me and took the time to share your tips and tricks along the way. We really created a nice community, didn't we? I'm especially glad this knit-a-long filled a knitting group need many of you have--sometimes it's hard to find knitting groups for a variety of reasons, and I'm glad you all found us! We learned about Judy and her RVing lifestyle, and we admired Terry's beautiful Jitterbug blue colorway, and we shared tips about knitting different heels and some lace tricks, too. I had a fabulous time with you all, and since I've only knit one sock so far, the fun will continue.

Here are a few photos of finished socks:

Free Slipper Pattern and a How-to Video about the Kitchener Stitch

For those of you still working on your socks, I thought you'd like a video tutorial on the Kitchener Stitch (also known as grafting). This is one of those things that I have to look up every time I do it, so here's a reference for you, too! (If you're more of a picture person than a video person, get yourself a copy of The Knitter's Companion by Vicki Square. This little book has lots of technique help, including the Kitchener stitch.)

(Please visit the site to view this media)

This segment is from Knitting Daily TV episode #208. If you missed any of season 2, order the DVD here!

And Now . . . the New Knit-a-Long!

Yep, it's a landslide victory for the Central Park Hoodie (1838 votes, 49.2% of total votes). YAHOO!!

I hope I didn't unduly influence you, but if I did, THANKS FOR VOTING FOR THE HOODIE! My beautiful pink Tahki Donegal Tweed thanks you, too. The Every Way Wrap came in second, followed by the Falling Leaves Scarf, the Diagonal Rib Socks, and the Feminine Mittens.

The original Hoodie is in the fall 2006 issue with sizing up to 48" bust. For those who need the plus-size version, purchase the pattern with the complete size range exclusively at the Interweave Store. Here's a quick summary of the project:

Finished Size: Sizes 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60)" bust.
Yarn: Tahki Donegal Tweed (100% wool; 183 yd (167 m)/110 g): #803 yellow-green OR #869 dark-taupe (brown): 6 (7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 18, 20) skeins.
Yarn weight: #4 - Medium
Gauge: 17 sts and 24 rows = 4" in St st on larger needles.
Needles: Sizes 6 (4 mm) and 8 (5 mm) needles, or size to achieve gauge, Size 6 (4 mm): 32-40" circular needle
Notions: Cable needle (cn), Stitch markers, Stitch holders, Yarn needle, Buttons (optional), Crochet hook (optional)
Originally Published: Knitscene, Fall 2006

Since this is a big sweater, the KAL will last until the end of October, so check in to the new Knit-a-Long forum and let's start swatching together (yes, swatching, not knitting the actual pieces until we all get gauge!).

Get Your Free Ribby Slipper Pattern!

To celebrate the end (for some of us) of the Monkey Sock KAL, here's a free sock pattern: Ribby Slipper Socks by Cathy Carron. These are on my list for Christmas for my nephew, and I might add a doggie face or something like that because nephew Henry loves animal slippers! (You'll also find five other patterns when you download the Ribby Slipper Socks because it's part of our free ebook Easy Knits: 6 Free Easy Knitting Patterns from Knitting Daily.) Download your free eBook today and don't forget to forward this email on to friends who could also use some free easy knitting patterns!

Cheers!

Kathleen

By the way, I had the honor of meeting Cookie A. at the Sock Summit. See how thrilled I am to see her? She was gracious and so glad to hear about our KAL with the Monkey Sock. Hers was one of the longest lines in the book signing area, and I was happy to stand and knit my way to the end of it.

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Sock Summit Report (plus a sock cast-on lesson)

Kathleen Cubley — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:39:00 GMT

"Sock it to me" is such a cliché, but it's true this time--I've been socked with sock goodness! Yes, I was lucky enough to attend the Sock Summit in Portland, Oregon, this weekend. Actually, I was only there on Thursday and Friday because I had to come home and teach a sock class at my LYS on Saturday--the irony.

The party started at the opening night kick-off on Thursday night, when Stephanie Pearl McPhee and Tina Newton talked about how they fantasized about, conceptualized, and organized the summit. The speech was hilarious, of course, and at times very moving. They thanked all of the teachers and people who helped them on their journey, and as those people stood up, I realized the magnitude of this event. They thanked people like Meg Swanson, Melissa Morgan-Oakes, Barbara Walker, Cookie A., Nancy Bush, Lucy Neatby, Cat Bordhi, and on and on and ON! It was a true meeting of the "knitteratti."

After the final standing ovation, we got to meet these folks, which was wonderful. Everyone was graceful and lovely; obviously they were as happy to be there as I was. (On a side note, I got to meet our own Sandi Wiseheart in person--finally--and she's just as sweet and welcoming as you would think she would be.) As I shook hands with Meg Swanson and then Barbara Walker, I realized how lucky I am to be working in knitting--meeting some of my idols and teachers (I've learned so much through these gals' books) as part of my job. Wow!

I got to knit a few stitches on the World's Largest Sock (photo at right), a traveling art piece that's truly incredible. There were probably eight of us seated comfortably around a table knitting on the same sock. So much fun to be a part of that.

The Sock Museum was also a highlight. There were sock examples for each decade, starting with the dawn of time. My favorites were the Confederate and Union socks sitting right next to each other--the North and South of sock knitting. There was also a fabulous stocking from the late 1800s. It was a really neat collection.

At right are the fab rainbow stockings that were the show-stopper of the Thursday night party. This gal sat on the stage and posed for photo after photo. Wonderful work here!

I met Brian (photo at left) from Skacel, who's in the process of knitting seven pairs of socks at once on a 100-inch number 1 needle.--one pair for each day of the week! The seven balls of yarn are held in a shoe caddy. Brilliant.

When I was driving in from the airport, I tuned in the local PBS station and who should I hear but Cat Bordhi! A local program was doing a special on the Sock Summit and sock knitting in general, and Cat was talking about the culture of knitting. She said something that really hit me in the heart when she was talking about how knitters form communities. She said that when knitters get together and knit, they become the best versions of themselves. I saw that over and over at the Sock Summit.

The overall feeling at the summit was one of friendship and kinship. I didn't really know anyone there very well, but I was welcomed by all and I felt like I was walking into a family reunion of sorts--I was welcomed as a longtime friend.

Perfect Sock Cast-On

In the spirit of the teaching and learning that took place at the summit, here's a lesson from Nancy Bush, Sock Summit teacher, about an Estonian cast-on that's perfect to use for socks because it's so stretchy. I like this cast-on because the space from my heel to where the top of my foot meets my leg is a little bigger than average, and if I'm going to have trouble with a sock fitting, it's going to be there. I always cast-on loosely, but I don't like the look of a really loose cast-on because it can be messy and "loopy." This cast-on is naturally stretchy without looking loose. Try it on your next pair of socks!

Speaking of your next pair, Nancy has written several classic sock knitting books, including Knitting on the Road, Knitting Vintage Socks, Folk Socks, and the wildly popular lace book, Knitted Lace of Estonia. If you don't have at least one of these sock books, you are missing out on some amazing sock-knitting opportunities!

(Please visit the site to view this media)

It's been such a pleasure to write this post--I hope some of the inspiration I got at Sock Summit rubs off on you and your knitting.

Cheers!

Kathleen

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

How A Knitted Swiss Hobby Horse Came Back to Life

KD Sandi — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:36:00 GMT

A few years back, I shared an office with Ann Budd, and she brought in a piece of childhood knitting to share...except that this wasn't a misshapen scarf, or a lumpy set of mittens. This was a hobby horse, complete with I-cord reins and matching ears and a charming embroidered face, all based on a modified sock pattern.

Ann knit this bit of whimsical art when she was in the sixth grade, which by my reckoning, is about age eleven. Ann spent that year in Switzerland with her family, where her new Swiss teacher Frau Kruger was appalled to find an eleven-year-old girl who did not know how to knit (apparently all Swiss girls learned to knit at a very early age). Frau Kruger set about rectifying this unimaginable lack of womanly skills as soon as possible, and before long, Ann was knitting socks with all her classmates. But socks in the imaginations of eleven-year-old girls quickly became hobby horses, decorated according to each girl's dreams and fantasies. It's clear that Ann still treasures hers.

That hobby horse decorated our office for quite a long time, and I would give his nose a gentle pat every time I passed his perch near the bookshelf. I remember asking Ann if she could write down the pattern for that horse, and she would laugh and say, "You'll have to get in line--half the building has already asked me that!"

Well, I guess enough of us must have bugged her about that pattern, because it's finally here! I was overjoyed to find it included in the pages of Ann's new book, Knitted Gifts...that is, I was overjoyed until I started counting my nephews and nieces...because there is NO WAY I'd be allowed to knit just ONE hobby horse, I'd have to knit one for each and every one of them, in different colors, with different manes and personalities and names....oy. I'd be knitting hobby horses for the rest of my life.

I could knit Just One, I suppose: just one for myself. But then I might be thought odd...or even selfish.

Wait a minute...what if I knitted just one hobby horse, and she lived at my house, and the nieces and nephews could all play with her when they visited Auntie Sandi and Uncle Nicholas?

Sounds like a plan to me.

There are about 30 other equally imaginative and fabulous patterns--for everyone from baby to favorite uncle--in Knitted Gifts, available as a pre-order from our website--or ask your local yarn shop to order it for you.

Enjoy!
--Sandi

Sandi Wiseheart is the founding editor of Knitting Daily. She is now the author of the popular Knitting Daily blog: What's on Sandi's Needles.

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Free Pattern: Herringbone Rib Socks

KD Sandi — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:35:00 GMT

It is pretty tough to find a masculine sock pattern--especially Just The Right Masculine Sock Pattern, one that your particular Masculine Person will wear. Sometimes I think (with all due love and affection) that men are pickier than women are when it comes to such things. It can't be too much this, it has to be blue or brown, no, that yarn has too much yellow in it...

And of course, Father's Day is coming up on us in only a few weeks. Sure, you could get Dad the traditional Father's Day tie, but what if he's 80 years old, retired, and has enough ties to circle the globe six times? Plus...let's be honest. Can you seriously face one more trip to the mall to look at the necktie section? Doesn't that thought just make you want to run screaming into the night? (Or at least shudder for a moment?)

But socks...everyone needs socks. And perhaps Dad is secretly jealous of all the other folks in your life who are wearing your hand knit socks. The manly shouldn't suffer their whole lives in store-bought footwear just because they're manly.

Here's an idea: Dad wears herringbone suits sometimes, right? Maybe herringbone sweaters? So why not a pair of herringbone socks, knit up in his favorite shades of blue, grey, or brown?

Voila: This Friday's free pattern is our Herringbone Rib Socks by Kristi Schueler, an excerpt from our book Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn. There's nothing fussy or dainty about these socks; the herringbone pattern is easy to work and suitable for ranch or cubicle wear. The rib pattern has lots of stretch and the pattern comes in two sizes. These socks have Father's Day Present written all over them!

And four weeks is plenty of time to whip up a pair of socks (even in his rather large size!).

Show Dad some handknit love this year. (Or Grandpa? How about Grandpa? Elders get chilly in summer's over-ambitious air-conditioned rooms, you know.)

(And you know what: No one could blame you if you wanted a pair of your very own for those times when you don't much feel like something lacy yourself.)

If you love knitting with handpainted yarn, and want more great sock patterns--socks for every taste and skill level--look for Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn at your local yarn shop, or buy it here.

Download the free pattern for the Herringbone Rib Socks.

Keep those needles clickin'!
-- Sandi

Sandi Wiseheart is the founding editor of Knitting Daily. She is now the author of the popular Knitting Daily blog: What's on Sandi's Needles.

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

The Joy of Toe-Up Socks

KD Sandi — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:37:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: There's more than one way to work a sock, as many long-time sock knitters will tell you. Most of us learn to make them by starting at the cuff--but if you find that this method isn't making you happy, then perhaps you could try knitting socks from the toe up. Here to explain this versatile and easy technique is an excerpt from Interweave Knits Summer 2007 by Ann Budd, author of Interweave's Getting Started Knitting Socks. Ann's a huge fan of handknit socks herself. (Ann's bio states that she has not worn a store-bought sock in years, and has never met a handknit sock she didn't like!) Here's Ann!

Working Socks From The Toe Up

In general, I like to knit socks from the top down, beginning with a cast-on at the top of the leg and ending with the Kitchener stitch at the tip of the toe. But sometimes it's practical (and preferable) to work in the opposite direction--from the tip of the toe to the top of the leg. With this method, you cast on stitches at the tip of the toe, work the foot to the desired length, work short-rows to shape the heel, then work the leg to the desired length, finishing with a flexible bind-off at the top of the leg. One advantage of the toe-up method is that you can try on the socks at any point along the way to make sure that they fit just right.

Another advantage of toe-up sock knitting is that the heel is shaped in short-rows without a heel flap or gussets. You won't have to count rows in the heel flap or pick up stitches for the gussets, which can be particularly helpful if you're working with a highly textured yarn that obscures individual stitches or you tend to have trouble seeing the stitches. And best of all for many knitters, when you work from the toe up, you don't have to work the Kitchener stitch.

Working socks from the toe up is also a good idea if you're worried about running out of yarn. Begin with two balls of equal size, one for each sock. Work the foot to the desired length while you have lots of yarn, then continue up the leg as far as you can before the ball runs out. This is a great way to economize with expensive yarn--buy a single ball for each sock and use every precious yard.

-- Ann Budd

The full version of this article, complete with detailed how-to information and stitch number charts, appears in the Summer 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. Check it out!

If you'd like a step-by-step guide to knitting socks, including size and gauge charts and basic stitch patterns, ask for Getting Started Knitting Socks by Ann Budd at your local yarn shop, or buy it here.

Want to try a toe-up sock?
Here's two great free toe-up sock patterns!

If you've never tried toe-up sock knitting before and want a great free sock pattern, there's two in our FREE sock pattern ebook!

The Caspian Sea Socks are a knockout, with an intricate colorwork design, down to the patterned soles. This free sock pattern comes complete with detailed full-color charts and step-by-step instructions.

The William Street Socks were designed based on Ann Budd's article mentioned above, and sport big thick cables which stretch to cushion your feet...or the feet of someone you love! This sock pattern is appropriate for either men or women, and is specially designed to fit larger feet--because everyone deserves a pair of handknit socks!

This easy sock pattern is available in our FREE sock pattern ebook:

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily:
5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Sandi Wiseheart is the founding editor of Knitting Daily. She is now the author of the popular Knitting Daily blog: What's on Sandi's Needles.

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Inside the Mind of Cookie A: Sock Knitting Genius

KD Sandi — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:36:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: I'm going to confess, right up front: I am a Cookie Addict. Not the chocolate-chip kind of cookie (although actually I rather do love oatmeal chocolate chippers something fierce), but the sock sort of Cookie. As in Cookie A., sock designer extraordinaire--if she designs it, I drool on it and add it to my queue quicker than you can say "gingersnap."

In fact... I literally bought a pair of shoes just to show off a pair of Cookie socks that I'm knitting. A whole new pair of shoes. Just. For. The. Socks.

Imagine my flat-out-glee (and the high-pitched squeals of delight) when Cookie's first sock book, Sock Innovations, arrived. (You can take a look inside, and pre-order Sock Innovations here--or buy it at your local yarn shop!) And imagine how pleased I am that Cookie agreed to be today's guest on Knitting Daily. Here's Cookie!

A lot of people ask me about how I design socks, and I'm never quite sure how to answer because there are so many different approaches! One focus in Sock Innovation is what I consider to be taking a standard sock and turning it into something special. What is a standard sock? It's one that uses a stitch pattern and tiles it around the leg and top of the foot. It can be fairly basic, or it can get complex with allover lace and cables.

First, taking an allover pattern and figuring out how to work it in the round can be more complicated than knitters often realize. Knitting in the round is actually a spiral, so sometimes the end of a round doesn't meet up with the beginning of the next round quite the way you want it to. This is why a lot of my patterns involve shifting stitches between needles. Moving where the end meets the beginning can make it appear seamless. So if I were to make Cookies Rules of Socks, on the list would be: Make the beginning of the round as invisible as possible.

Once that's all figured out, my second knitting mantra would be: Ribbing should flow into the pattern. Too often I see patterns (this isn't limited to socks) where the transition from ribbing into another stitch pattern looks a bit choppy. This can be because the gauge of the ribbing is different from the gauge of the other stitch pattern, so there is puckering. Or it can be because the ribbing simply doesn't flow well--for example one of the knit ribs simply stops into a sea of purls. Three examples of good ribbing transitions are below.

Beyond that, placement can be key. I like to play with mirroring and staggering elements so that even a simple stitch pattern can look much more complex than it is. For example, in Kristi, the green sock pictured here, the basic stitch pattern isn't that big--but because I've staggered and mirrored it between repeats, it looks vastly more complex. The left and right socks are also mirror images of each other--another detail to consider when designing.

Other than that, I try not to leave a stitch pattern the way I've found it. I might re-size it, widen, narrow, enlarge, lengthen, you name it. Or I might substitute one texture for another--ribs in place of stockinette, reverse stockinette instead of crazy cables, lace for moss stitch. By practicing re-sizing existing stitch patterns and modifying them, I've learned how to create my own stitch patterns by taking bits and pieces and putting them together in a new way. You can make your own lines and shapes and fill them in. That's where the innovation starts to kick in. Bex, the white socks shown above, is one pattern that started off with diamonds, got filled in with Xs, and branched out from there.

And there you have it.

-- Cookie A

Sandi Wiseheart is the founding editor of Knitting Daily. She is now the author of the popular Knitting Daily blog: What's on Sandi's Needles.

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

5 Needle Felting Tips & A Free Needle Felting Pattern

KD Sandi — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:14:00 GMT

A lot of you seemed intrigued by the idea of using needlefelting techniques to breathe new life into old wardrobe favorites! It's really easy, the tools are cheap (very!), and best of all, needlefelting, unlike, wet felting, can be done on almost any type of fabric. (Wet felting relies on the scales that are part of wool fibers to catch hold of one another during the felting process; needlefelting uses the sharp barbs on the needles to tangle and mangle the fibers enough so that they hold together in a felty-sort of way.)

Here are five tips I discovered during my first needlefelting project that will help you get started!

Five Needlefelting Tips

1. If your foam block or brush support won't fit inside a piece you want to needlefelt, cut several household sponges to fit and layer them so they form a thick stable "block". Stuff the sponge pieces inside the object and off you go! (This is the method I used to needlefelt parts of my Spring Birdie Booties.)

2. When using bits of yarn (or other small pieces) as appliques, use a single needle to lightly "baste" the yarn into place: Punch only once or twice at intervals, stopping to check the effect as you go. This allows you to lift the yarn and re-position it until you like how it looks. Once you like what you see, needlefelt securely into place.

3. To get a more three-dimensional effect when needlefelting appliques, put one layer of yarn or fiber down, needlefelt in place, then add more layers, one at a time, needlefelting as you go, until you get the desired effect.

4. Control the texture of your applique with the amount of punching you do. The more times you punch those needles in, the more firmly packed, and the more homogenous, the result. For example, if you are using bits of yarn and want the individual strands to show in the final result, needlefelt only enough to get the yarns to stick to the background and each other. The more you punch, the less defined the individual strands will be.

5. BE CAREFUL. Needlefelting needles are incredibly sharp. Always use a foam block or needlefelting brush block (or sponges) as a base; if you are guiding the applique into place with your fingers, punch SLOWLY and deliberately and always, always be aware of where your fingers are in relation to the needles!

Important Safety Note: On Wednesday, I mentioned that I had borrowed a set of needlefelting needles from a friend. Actually, this is not a very safe thing to do--you should never share your needles, as the risk of poking yourself and possibly spreading infection is real--these are VERY sharp tools. So please craft safely, and don't share needles.

Are you going to try needlefelting this weekend? Share your crafty adventures and projects with us!

Try Needlefelting for yourself: Free Pattern!

Needlefelted Wool Shoes

If you are just getting started and want a little guidance, this is a really easy needlefelting project with a great end result! The pattern gives you step-by-step instructions for designing your own custom applique, and applying the fiber to the shoes with needlefelting technques. In a couple of hours or less, you can have a one-of-a-kind pair of sneakers!

Download the Needlefelted Wool Shoes Pattern for free!

Sandi Recommends: Felt Frenzy

The wonderful needlefelted wool shoes above are an excerpt from our book Felt Frenzy: 26 Projects for All Forms of Felting, by Heather Brack and Shannon Okey.

Felt Frenzy is a great companion book to Simply Needlefelt--Felt Frenzy introduces you to all the different sorts of felting you can do, with really great instructions and fun projects. And Simply Needlefelt gives you a more in-depth look at a form of felting that can be used anywhere, anytime, with any combination of fabrics and materials.

For a limited time we have a special offer on these two great books: Buy Simply Needlefelt, and you can get Felt Frenzy for only $5! This is a great deal, and would make a wonderful gift for yourself or a crafty friend.

Sandi Wiseheart is the founding editor of Knitting Daily. She is now the author of the popular Knitting Daily blog: What's on Sandi's Needles.

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Video: Come to the Knit-Out With Me!

KD Sandi — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:38:00 GMT

I might become a video nut. I bought a teensy weensy video camera recently, and suddenly, I'm realizing how much fun it is to send video emails to my family and friends, and take little videos of my new kitten...so when I went to the Knit-Out & Crochet 2009 event, sponsored by the Craft Yarn Council, last weekend, I was determined to videotape everything that moved. Knitting designers, famous authors, random knitters-in-the-aisles...no one was safe from my cute little video camera.
It was a blast. I got to interview Edie Eckman, designer of the gorgeous Santa Fe Shawl that appeared on the Summer 2008 cover of Interweave Crochet. I got to interview Debbie Macomber, the author of the Shop on Blossom Street books, and, yes, I did get to do some knitters-in-the-aisles tapings.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then perhaps a video is worth a thousand pictures? Click on the picture below to get a peek for yourself at some of the happenings at last weekend's Knit-Out & Crochet 2009!

Enjoy!

-- Sandi

(Please visit the site to view this media)

If you have trouble watching the video above, click here to view it.

Do you knit for charity? Need a little inspiration for your next afghan square or chemo cap? Knitting for charity can be deeply rewarding; throw in some interesting cables, a great lace pattern, and those simple afghan squares can become a knitting adventure! 101 Stitches to Knit is a boxed set of cards, each with a different stitch pattern clearly illustrated and explained. I love these cards, because you don't have to lug a big book around with you--you can just choose an interesting stitch, pop the card into your knitting bag, and your charity knitting is ready whenever and wherever you have a few minutes to work on it.

Purchase 101 Stitches to Knit

And for the crocheters out there, we have the crochet set: 101 Stitches to Crochet, with both basic stitches and crocheted motifs to choose from.

Look for 101 Stitches to Knit and 101 Stitches to Crochet at your local yarn shop, or buy them online from us.

Great Free Sock Pattern: William Street Socks

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Try the William Street Socks! Big thick cables stretch to cushion your feet...or the feet of someone you love! This sock pattern is appropriate for either men or women, and is specially designed to fit larger feet--because everyone deserves a pair of handknit socks!

This easy sock pattern is available in our FREE sock pattern ebook:

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily:
5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

The William Street Socks are one of five of our top sock knitting downloads which are now together in one FREE ebook for you.

So what kind of sock patterns are in this eBook? Let's see. There's a knitted lace sock pattern, a colorwork sock pattern, a men's sock pattern, and an easy beginner sock pattern--in addition to the cabled William Street sock pattern. Something for everyone!

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Sandi Wiseheart is the founding editor of Knitting Daily. She is now the author of the popular Knitting Daily blog: What's on Sandi's Needles.

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

The Very First Free Patterns of 2009

KD Sandi — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:06:00 GMT

Happy New Year From Knitting Daily!

Let's start the new year off right! Free patterns are always fun, don't you think? And there are tons of free patterns over on our sister site, KnittingDailyTV.com--and even better, your Knitting Daily password and login works over there, too!

So let's pick a 2009 free pattern from Knitting Daily TV then. Here's a new favorite of mine, a beautiful cabled sweater called the Shauna Sweater, knitted out of machine washable merino wool: Download the Shauna Sweater.

Hm. That doesn't seem like quite enough celebration for a year that promises to be as wonderful as 2009 promises to be. I'm feeling much more festive than that! So how about another free pattern? This one is a cute little lacy beret that is easy enough for a first-time lace knitter: Download the Swirl Beret.

Or what if you want to knit something for someone manly? Here's an easy no-roll scarf for someone cute and hunky: The St. Petersburg Scarf.

Oh, wait, those are both knitting patterns. How about a free crochet pattern? Or, how about two? The Re-Mix T-Shirt, is a nifty crocheted embellishment for dressing up plain, ordinary tee shirts so that they aren't so plain and ordinary anymore. Then the Ribbon Bolero is a fun shrug (or is it a little jacket?) done out of pretty ribbon yarns.

OK, I can't resist. One more crochet project, a lacy wrap called Maggie's Wrap.

But what if you love felting? I don't want to leave out the felters. Here's a simple knitted bag to toss in your washing machine and felt to your heart's content: Vermont Felted Bag.

And, because it is still party season, last but not least, a pretty embellished knitted pullover made out of some very fabulous yarn.

Whew! This is fun. But I gotta stop somewhere; can't go TOO crazy here. The ones above are just a sampling, patterns I thought would help us all start off the new year with our crafty little hands all ready to go!

If you like what you see--or if you don't see something you like here--go take a look at the many wonderful free patterns available to Knitting Daily members on the Knitting Daily TV site. Browse through the individual episode listings to find the download links!

Grab your needles or pick up your hook, settle in with some irresistible yarn, and let's ring in the New Year in proper crafty style!

-- Sandi

Be the first to order the second series of Knitting Daily TV!

Loved the first season? There's more ahead in the all-new second season of Knitting Daily TV: Series 200. More step-by-step video technique tutorials, more interiews with your favorite designers, and more gorgeous yarns!

Pre-order Series 200 now and it will be shipped the third week in January.

When does the second series start to air on TV? January 18, 2009--so mark your calendars, set your video recorders, and get your needles ready!

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Did I finish my mom's Leaf and Nupp Shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush? I don't know. I'm writing this ahead of time so I can have Christmas off. All will be revealed sometime early in Janaury 2009, I promise...

Finishing Tip: For Those Who Hate the Kitchener Stitch

KD Sandi — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:43:00 GMT

I don't have any magic words to help you get all your holiday knitting done on time. (Sorry about that.) However, I do have a nifty little grafting tip for those of you who love knitting socks but, like me, utterly despise the Kitchener Stitch. I ran this tip last year at Christmas time to help everyone finish up your holiday sock knitting projects, and so many folks have written in asking about it that I decided it was time to run it again, in the spirit of saving our collective gift-knitting sanity. This tip has helped me continue to love to knit socks (and to actually FINISH the socks!), so maybe it will save a few lonely hand-knit socks from the unfinished objects pile this year...

Grafting On The Needles

1. Knit until the point in the sock pattern the instructions tell you to graft together the final stitches.
2. Divide the remaining stitches evenly between two double-pointed needles.
3. Hold both needles parallel in your left hand, so that the working yarn is on your right, and is coming off the rightmost stitch on the back needle.
4. Cut the working yarn to a reasonable length, say, 12".
5. Using a third dpn, PURL the first stitch on the FRONT needle.
6. DROP the stitch off the left front needle, and pull the yarn all the way through the dropped stitch so that there is no longer a stitch on the right (working) needle.
7. KNIT the next stitch on the FRONT needle, but this time LEAVE the stitch on the left front needle; pull the yarn all the way through as before.
8. KNIT the first stitch on the BACK needle.
9. DROP the stitch off the left back needle and pull the yarn all the way through.
10. PURL the next stitch on the BACK needle.
11. LEAVE that stitch on the left back needle and pull the yarn all the way through.

Repeat Steps 5 through 11 until you get to the last two stitches; work these two stitches together as established and drop both stitches off the needles. Pull the yarn all the way through. Thread yarn onto a tapestry needle, bring yarn to inside of sock, and weave in ends, tacking down the last "ear" loops as needed. (You can pull any excess loopage to the inside to make tacking it down a bit prettier.)

I made up a little shortcut chant for my sock-knitting husband Nicholas to help him remember what to do when:

PURL FRONT OFF — purl first st on front needle, drop st off
KNIT FRONT ON — knit next st on front needle, leave st on
KNIT BACK OFF — knit first st on back needle, drop st off
PURL BACK ON — purl next st on back needle, leave st on

Hopefully Helpful Hints:

1. Keep your tension a bit on the loose side when you are pulling the yarn through each stitch. Then, when you get to the end, before you weave in the end, use your tapestry needle to adjust the tension of the grafting stitches so that they match the rest of your work.

2. When you are working your knits and purls, pass the working yarn under and between the two left needles, not over them.

This method has been such a sanity saver for me. I know everyone has their little grafting tricks, so if you have another good tip to share, leave a comment! (The more sanity this time of year, the better, right?)

-- Sandi

New Free Sock Pattern eBook: Introducing Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

I know, I know, it really is not fair to tempt you with one more pretty knitted sock pattern--let alone FIVE more pretty patterns!--when it is eight days before the Big Jolly Dude comes down the chimney, but the free pattern elves just couldn't contain themselves. I chose five of our top sock knitting downloads and put them all together in one FREE ebook for you.

So what kind of sock patterns are in this eBook? Let's see. There's a knitted lace sock pattern, a cabled sock pattern, a colorwork sock pattern, a men's sock pattern, and an easy beginner sock pattern. Something for everyone!

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? I have 15 more rows before I start the border on my Leaf and Nupp Shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush. (I love this pattern. Have I mentioned that I LOVE this pattern?)

Our Gift to You: Free Sock Knitting Pattern eBook

KD Sandi — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:23:00 GMT

Introducing Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

I don't have any magic words to help you get all your holiday knitting done on time. (Sorry about that.) But it's Friday, and since everyone around here is busy handing out gifts, I decided I wanted to have a gift for all my Knitting Daily friends, too.

And you know I am a sock knitting fiend. So the gift I came up with is a free eBook of sock patterns!

I know, I know, it really is not fair to tempt you with one more nifty pattern--let alone FIVE more nifty patterns!--when it is eight days before the Big Jolly Dude comes down the chimney, but the free pattern elves just couldn't contain themselves. (Are the free pattern elves kind of like Hogwarts house elves? I think they must be.) I chose five of our top sock knitting downloads on Knitting Daily and put them all together in one FREE ebook for you.

So what kind of socks are in this eBook? Let's see. I tried to include a little something for everyone:

For the lace fiends amongst you, there's Ann Budd's delicate lacy Seduction Socks. For a cozy treat after shoveling the driveway, how about a pair of gorgeous colorwork socks--the Caspian Sea Socks by Priscilla Gibson-Roberts? For every day wear, or for the man in your life, there's the richly cabled William Street Socks by Lisa Shroyer: or the classicly textured Diagonal Rib Socks by Ann Budd. And for a quick, easy project, try the beginner sock pattern--large needles and large yarn!--called Comfy Socks, brought to you by the talented folks over at Knitscene magazine.

I hope this weekend finds you enjoying your family and friends--with perhaps a bit of knitting in hand--surrounded by warmth and joy.

-- Sandi

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles? Last center repeat is done! Now I get to pick up, oh, 1400 stitches? and start the border on my Leaf and Nupp Shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush. (I love this pattern. Have I mentioned that I LOVE this pattern?)

How to Become A Sock Knitting Addict

KD Sandi — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:55:00 GMT

Note from Sandi: I'm glad so many of you enjoyed our Dancing Knitted Socks video! (Some of you said it was fuzzy on your computer...here's a link for the high-res version.) So today, I thought it would be fun to hear from the person responsible for collecting all those beautiful handknit socks for us: Carol Sulcoski, author of Knitting Socks With Handpainted Yarn, the book where all those pretty knitted sock patterns came from. Heeeeerrrreee's Carol!

Hi. My name is Carol and I’m a sockhead.

Now, I don’t want everyone who’s ever attended a twelve-step group to email me – I mean no offense – but anyone who owns as much sock yarn as I do will have to entertain the possibility that there is something, well, addictive about sock knitting – particularly with handpainted yarn.

I wasn’t always a sockhead. When I first returned to knitting after a long hiatus, I busied myself with other projects – hats and scarves and baby sweaters. The concept of handknit socks puzzled me a bit: you could buy a pair of socks for a couple of bucks at just about any store. You had to use those teeny tiny double-pointed needles and that skinny little yarn that I found so hard to juggle. And when all was said and done, they were for your grungy old feet, right?

Gentle readers, I was so wrong in so many ways.

Let’s take my misconceptions one by one.

Double-pointed needles. I happen to be one of those klutzes for whom double-pointed needles present only opportunities for stabbing oneself. I never got to the point where I felt comfortable using them, and I always seemed to forget to switch needles or to get unsightly ladders at the place where the needles joined. Enter the two-circular method of knitting in the round. It was a sock knitting epiphany. All of a sudden, I really enjoyed knitting little tubes for cuffs or sleeves. The switch from DPNs to circulars was all I needed to make sock knitting seem enticing and exciting.

Thin yarns. Ha, ha! Do I really need to blather on more about the joys of fine yarns (see, e.g., my book Knit So Fine)? Well, if you still need convincing, I’ve got one word for you: handpaints. If the sight of a skein of Koigu, or Socks That Rock, or Dream in Color, or Black Bunny Fibers doesn’t get your knitter’s blood flowing, then perhaps you don’t have a pulse!

Cheap machine-made options. It is true that you can buy socks for a pittance at any big-box retailer. I say to this: So what? You can also buy big white nylon underpants that go all the way up to your armpits for a pittance at a big-box retailer, and I wouldn’t want to wear them.

But you put them on your feet! Well, far be it from me to cure feet-y squeamishness in one little blog post. I throw out this thought: your feet carry you around all day, and nothing, nothing feels better on them than a pair of socks you’ve knit yourself, custom-fit to your very own feet and all their quirks. Got a wide foot like me? Increase a couple of stitches at the foot. Long legs? Knit longer socks and/or longer cuffs. Lose a few toes in an unfortunate hunting accident? A few artful decreases will take care of that problem. Maybe it’s a chicken or the egg problem: if you start taking care of those poor feet, clothing them in a glorious colorway of Koigu, maybe they won’t seem so gnarly and grungy. (Or you can at least cover them up with some gorgeous yarn so the rest of us don’t have to look at them.)

And as if all of the above reasons weren’t enough to entice you, then I suggest you take a look at the beautiful, creative designs my colleagues and I have come up with in KSWHY. Whether your taste is bold (like Lorna Miser’s Flamethrowers) or demure (like Ann Budd’s Punctuated Rib socks), whether you like swirling eyelets (which you’ll find in Charlene Schurch’s Schooner Socks) or simple stranded patterns (as in Courtney Kelley’s Corrugated Stripe Socks), you’re sure to find an enticing design that will help you make the most of your handpainted yarn stash. (Or you can even find a pattern to help use up those odds and ends of leftover handpaints, like Véronik Avery’s Staccato Socks.)

Before you know it, you too will be saying “My name is __________ and I am a sockhead.”

-- Carol

About The Stars of Our Show!

The stars of Monday's Dancing Knitted Socks movie are no ordinary socks, you understand. These are 21 pairs of handknit socks, each pair knit from handpainted yarns. These socks are new, never-before-seen sock designs, from eighteen designers like Veronik Avery, Lorna Miser, Chrissy Gardiner, Ann Budd, Nancy Bush, Patricia Gibson-Roberts, Charlene Schurch...you know. All the Sock Greats.

Where can you find these beautiful sock patterns? In our brand-new, just-out-today book Knitting Socks With Handpainted Yarn, by Carol Sulcoski. Not only are there patterns, there is also a ton of great information from Carol about how to make best use of all those gorgeous handpainted yarns we all drool over in the shops. She tells us what to look for in a yarn, and how to make sure you get pretty results and not weird results like pooling or strange stripes--in any kind of project, not just in knitted socks!

Check your local yarn shop to see if they have a copy you can get your hands on right away, or order a copy online from us.

Sandi Wiseheart is the founding editor of Knitting Daily. She is now the author of the popular Knitting Daily blog: What's on Sandi's Needles.

Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? Here are five of our top sock knitting downloads together in one FREE ebook for you.

Download Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily: 5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need A Laugh? Monday Sock Video Time!

KD Sandi — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:25:00 GMT

Today, I've got a treat for you that ought to put a smile on your face and get your toes a-tappin'. Especially if your toes happen to be wearing handknitted socks...

I'm kind of hesitant to spoil the fun for you by telling you anything about today's video before you see it. Except that...it stars twenty-one pairs of gorgeous handknit socks, and it's not a how-to video, and it's not a technique video. It's All About The Socks. I think the plot involves a pool table, and some dancing, and an action shot in front of a karate school....or something like that. (I may have been laughing too hard to see clearly at that point.) It's about time some pretty handknit socks got a movie of their own, don't you think?

Anyway, just trust me on this one. Click the photo below to view the video, and then sit back and, well. Don't be drinking any hot liquids while you're watching it. (Don't say I didn't warn you.)

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Having problems viewing this video? See it here!

-- Sandi

About The Stars of Our Show!

The stars of this movie are no ordinary socks, you understand. These are 21 pairs of handknit socks, each pair knit from handpainted yarns. These socks are new, never-before-seen sock designs, from nineteen designers like Veronik Avery, Lorna Miser, Chrissy Gardiner, Ann Budd, Nancy Bush, Patricia Gibson-Roberts, Charlene Schurch...you know. All the Sock Greats.

Where can you find these beautiful sock patterns? In our brand-new, just-out-today book Knitting Socks With Handpainted Yarn, by Carol Sulcoski. Not only are there patterns, there is also a ton of great information from Carol about how to make best use of all those gorgeous handpainted yarns we all drool over in the shops. She tells us what to look for in a yarn, and how to make sure you get pretty results and not weird results like pooling or strange stripes--in any kind of project, not just in knitted socks!

Check your local yarn shop to see if they have a copy you can get your hands on right away, or order a copy online from us.

Great Free Sock Pattern eBook:
Knitting Socks with Knitting Daily:
5 Free Sock Knitting Patterns

Need a new sock knitting pattern? Want a great free sock pattern? I've chosen five of our top sock knitting downloads and put them all together in one FREE ebook for you.

Sandi Wiseheart is the editor of Knitting Daily.

What's on Sandi's needles this week? Still knitting away on the Leaf and Nupp Shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia by Nancy Bush. 17 out of the 21 repeats I want for the center section are now completed; then I have the four-sided border to do. What do you think? Can I finish this scarf in time for Christmas? (My mom reads this. Everyone say "Yes, of course you can finish by Christmas!" very loudly.)