Joy of Socks !

I got the opportunity to pass on my love of knitting socks the other day , teaching 4 willing students about the Joy of Socks!

I had written out a pattern for a mini sock , but mini socks and normal size double pointed needles can be rather awkward , dpns being awkward enough when knitting normal size socks. Its all about the positioning of the hands and needles , and coordinating it with the position of the yarn and stitches . Once everyone got the hang of it , they looked liked they had been knitting socks for a long time . And for the completely new knitters , to take on a sock when they have just learned to cast on , knit , purl and cast off is achievement indeed .

Miranda mastering the dpns , whilst turning the heel!

Karen , who has just (re) learned to knit is determined to make a sock before anything else!

Rosamund's intense concentration pays off as she finishes her sock with a neat Kitchener stitch .

Sue takes a liking to the knitpro dpns , and look no ladders in her neat stripey sock !

Knitting socks can be addictive , they are so portable and great for (almost) instant gratification , as a simple sock takes no time at all.

I decided to jump in the deep end and try two at a time socks on circular needles . It is reasonably quick , but I think the gusset make have confused me somewhat !I love this Opal self striping/patterning yarn , its so bright colourful and interesting. This is a Harry Potter colourway called Tonks!

I think that I may need a tutorial on two at a time socks to get me round the gusset and on to the foot!

Oh , nearly forgot - look at this gorgeous sock yarn (available at Once a Sheep), 70/30 wool/nylon . A wee thank you gift from Kimmie for giving her a wee help with her Ishbel shawl. This yarn is almost too good to use for socks!

But if I were knitting it into socks , I think it would need to be a pattern from this gorgeous book - Nancy Bush's Vintage Socks .

I do love the snippets of history behind each sock pattern - they are all adapted from Weldons Practical needlework pamphlets from the late 19th early 20th century. But more of them later!