Sock Knitting Techniques
DPNs and Circular Needles, Two at a Time Socks, and Toe Up Socks
Aug 3, 2009
Knitting socks can be intimidating, but there are many different sock knitting techniques that a knitter can try. Websites such as Ravelry and Knitty.com have links to tutorials, and Youtube has some video demonstrations.
Parts of a Sock
A sock is made up of the cuff, the leg, the heel, the instep (top of the sock), the sole (bottom of the sock), and the toe. The heel is made of the heel flap, which lies on the back of the foot and extends from the ankle to the sole, the heel turn, which cups the heel and connects the heel flap to the sole, and the gusset, which is a triangular area that connects the heel flap to the instep.
Two at a Time Socks and Toe Up Socks
One of the reasons to try variations on sock knitting techniques is to be able to knit two socks at once or toe up socks. One of the advantages of knitting two socks at once is that the knitter will know they will match: they will be the same size, and the knitter won’t forget to knit any pattern variations into both socks. It’s also a way to avoid the dreaded sockitis, the reluctance to knit the second sock because the knitter is anxious to move on to the next project.
When knitting toe up socks the knitter can try them on and make sure they fit as she is knitting, and she doesn’t need to worry about not having enough yarn to finish the foot.
Sock Knitting Techniques
- Double-pointed Needles (DPNs): The most common sock knitting technique, using four or five DPNs. Working from the cuff down, the knitter distributes the stitches around the needles, rearranging them when working the heel.
- One Short Circular Needle: By using a very tiny (12”) circular with very short needle ends, the knitter can work the sock in the round using only one needle. The benefit of working with a circular is that the knitter doesn’t have to worry about DPNs sticking out and falling out of the project.
- Two Circular Needles: The knitter divides the back of the sock and the front of the sock stitches between two circulars. There’s a two at a time variation of this method.
- One Long Circular Needle (Magic Loop): Sarah Hauschka explains the Magic Loop method in her pamphlet, sold on Knit Picks. The knitter divides and slides the stitches around one long (40”) circular needle. Half of the stitches are on the center of the circular while the other half are being knit by the needles.
- Two at a Time Socks on One Circular Needle: This is like the Magic Loop method, but with a few extra tricks to keep the socks separate. Melissa Morgan-Oakes explains this method in 2-at-a-time Socks.
- Two at a Time Socks on Double-pointed Needles: Leo Tolstoy has a character use this method in War and Peace. Basically, it’s like knitting using the regular DPN method, but every other stitch on the needles belongs to the inner sock. Both socks grow on the needles, and in the end the knitter pulls the inner sock out of the outer one.
- Toe Up Socks on Double-pointed Needles: Using a special cast-on, the knitter starts at the toe and knits up. The only difference in sock construction is that the heel turn and gusset end up being “above” the heel flap instead of below it like in top-down socks.
- Two at a Time, Toe Up, One Circular Needle: Knit Picks has designed a pattern for putting it all together—two socks at once, starting at the toe, on one big circular needle.
Have Fun With Sock Knitting
Sock knitting is useful, fun, and addictive. Many knitters have said that turning their first heel was like magic and they’ve always had socks on their needles since. There isn’t one “right” way to knit socks, so knitters can experiment with different methods and techniques to find one that suits their knitting lifestyle.
Sources:
- Budd, Ann. Getting Started Knitting Socks. Loveland: Interweave Press, 2007.
- Morgan-Oakes, Melissa. 2-at-a-time Socks. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing, 2007.
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