Learning to Knit Socks

When the cat is gone, the mouse will play!

That means you first of all need to know that Astrid is in Maine for two weeks, helping sister Ruth and BIL Don with a house renovation project:  tearing out carpet in the big guest room, the upstairs hallway, downstairs entryway AND the stairs...and then painting everything.

How that came about and the project itself will be my next post.  I did NOT go with her (and, yes, the whole thing was my idea).  But that's another story.

When the cat is gone, the mouse will play!

And I did!  After many years of aspiring to knit socks (even if it killed me), I finally tackled doing it and, in 10 days, finished my first pair!  I did it all from watching 5 videos from the same person online.

I started the socks on Valentine's Day, the day before Astrid flew to Maine.

[Don't ask me why my right sweater cuff was not folded because I always fold my cuffs.]

As you notice, I chose to knit with a magic loop instead of 4 needles.

In this tutorial, you start at the top of the sock (not the toe) with the ribbing,

followed by the stockinette stitch for as many inches as you want the leg to be.

[I chose 8 inches this first pair but plan to do 6 inches next.]


The magic loop part of the video starts at 22 minutes

but the first part is important for how to make your size measurements.

Then comes the heel flap and the heel turn, which, believe it or not, was easy for me.


The heel flap gives the area against the shoe more padding for longer wear.
[This video is only of the heel flap.]

The heel turn in the next video includes the gusset,
which connects the heel back to the rest of the sock.


The gusset part of the sock was where I had to concentrate the most,
but it all made sense and was definitely doable.

Then it was the stockinette stitch again for the length of the foot to the toe.


The toe, like the ribbing and the stockinette leg and foot, was easy.


And then it was finishing the toe, tying it off...
as well as weaving in the beginning (top ribbing) and ending (toe) pieces of yarn.

For any of you who prefer knitting from a pattern, it's here, by Susan B. Anderson, and is called by her "How I Make My Socks."  All the videos are from "Meanwhile at the Castle," using Susan Anderson's pattern.

Voila!  And a collage to put it all together!

I'm posting this not only to show you what I've been up to while Astrid has been gone,
returning on Sunday, but for the record.  I do NOT want to lose these videos.
Trust me.  I am not a knitter (maybe a neck scarf as a teenager, if that counts?).  
So if I can do this, so can you (if you want to, that is)!

And so begins my 75th year, 2020, changing things up a bit to make sure I let go of things I no longer need (like negative energy, unrealistic expectations, etc.) so as to embrace those aspirations waiting in the wings.  Let's just say that, in a very positive way, #75 is making me sit up and take notice.  "DO IT NOW" is becoming my new mantra.  

Learning to knit socks.  Check!  :)