It’s time to Knit Socks!
stargrace 
This weekend I decided to take the plunge, and start learning how to knit in the round on my way to learning how to knit socks. I’ve said this a few times (and I’m sure I’ll say it a few times more) that socks are my ‘end game’ and have been for years now. I’ve always wanted to learn how to knit them, but I’ve never been brave enough and I didn’t have the right know-how.
I know there are quite a few methods to learning socks, involving dpn (double pointed needles), and circular needles. I decided I would go with the traditional method and learn on dpn, not only because my instructions are for dpn, but because I’d rather work with this method for now. I purchased some wooden dpn from KnitPicks a few weeks back and so far they’re perfect. The yarn doesn’t slide off my needles, which I think helps most of my frustration.
Until now I’ve mostly done crochet. Crocheting in the round is COMPLETELY different from knitting so learning how to do this has been quite the learning experience for me. Working with dpn is a bit awkward, but not nearly as awkward as I thought it was going to be. I’m working on 4 needles and using a 5th to knit onto, rotating my stitches. I’ve got 68 stitches on size 2 needles in sock weight yarn, and I’ve split the stitches between the needles. I’m working the ribbing in a k1 p2 k1, k1, p2, k1 pattern as you can tell by the image, and it’s nice and stretchy. I tried the sock progress so far on my foot to see how it fit, and I think for my next pair I may go down a size in needles, I’m knitting a bit looser than I had done on my gauge swatch. For my first pair I think things are moving along at a comfortable pace. So far I’ve only worked the cuff, next will be the leg, and then the heel flap. Then I’ll have to turn the heel. That’s when things start to get tricky. I’ve been following along with a class on Craftsy, and that has helped a lot. I’m really excited about potentially finishing my first sock. It will take some time and I’m trying not to be impatient about it while I go through each step. Of course this is also only one sock, and I’ll need to knit the second. I know some people like to knit both pairs at once because they don’t want the tension to change between the socks, but I think for my first sock it’s probably best if I just knit them one at a time.
I’ve also been looking at some lacework shawls as perhaps a side project. I don’t own a shawl but I do work beneath the AC and it can get sort of chilly. I usually end up wrapping a blanket around my shoulders, but a shawl would be much better. I haven’t settled on a pattern yet, but one ‘easy’ one I was looking at is this one from Ravelry. It’s a pretty easy pattern to follow, and still looks pretty and delicate. I haven’t decided yet, but I imagine I’ll pick one pattern sooner or later and then do the project in the royal purple yarn I purchased a bit ago.
In the mean time, wish me luck with my socks!