I’m smitten. I absolutely love this new (to us) Louet Gems line. Here is my Grape sock, finished up yesterday. It’s the Waving Lace Socks pattern from Favorite Socks. It was very easy to knit and I love how it turned out. It has a long cuff and I have long feet (size 11) and you can see in the photo the amount of yarn I had left over from 1 skein. (I followed the pattern exactly, and knit with #1’s.) Good to know that I can get by with 2 skeins for these socks. They are so comfortable to wear, too. You’d think that since I like them so much, and the color is one that I have not knit before, and they were easy to do, that I’d jump right in and make the twin, right? (Those of you who know me, know what’s coming…..) Of course I started another design last night. Well, I wanted to try the Louet Sportweight (which really is a delightful sportweight – not very heavy. I’m still using a size 1 needle to knit it.) Now I’m trying out the Meida’s Socks with Sage. This pattern is really fun to knit, too. 🙂 And then after this one, I think I will have to try…
A Cookie A design! Because her designs are absolutely over-the-top amazing, and we just added all of them to our pattern section at The Loopy Ewe. This is a new venture for Cookie (selling her patterns – not designing them) and we are her first wholesaler. My only problem will be deciding which one to start with. They’re all incredible. They all call for Louet Gems, too – so it’s a good thing we have the entire color line. (Ahem. It’s a good thing we have the entire color line ordered. Still waiting on the other half of the colors, but they have shipped so we expect them any day and will get them up immediately. This is one of our “big lines”, so barring any unforeseen problems, expect us to have it in most all of the time.)
I also like yarns that are semi-solid – meaning that the color intensity/shade varies throughout. You’ll see this in many of the wonderful J-Knits yarns, as well as All Things Heather, Apple Laine, and Claudia Handpainted. We’re also getting a great new line of semi-solids from sKNITches next month. I have a sample skein and it’s beautiful. You’re going to love it. So for those of you who are finding fun lace patterns to knit up and you want the stitches to pop, try some of these different solids.
Of course that got me thinking. Why do I love knitting socks? Well – there are lots of reasons. They’re portable, they don’t take a whole lot of yarn, they can be as challenging or as simple as I want them to be, they’re relatively quick to finish, etc. But one of the biggest reasons for me is that it allows me to try all different kinds of techniques and patterns without having to commit to a whole sweater of it. It is a great way to experiment and learn. That brings me to this month’s contest. Leave a comment and answer this question: What do YOU like about knitting socks? I will do a drawing next Monday to see who wins this month’s fun “Loopy Loot” package – so get your comments in!
I did a little re-stocking today – more Wildhorse Farm patterns, more Zephyr stitchmarkers, and more Loopy Totes. Of course there is always more, more, more in the works!
Sheri loveseeingallofyourFrankandMarthasocksphotoscomingin!
I love knitting socks because they are endlessly entertaining to me. Just when I get bored doing something it’s time to do something else on them. I love all the yarns, the variety, the colors and the fact that I can actually MAKE something with just one skein of yarn! I love trying new things on socks…lace, cables, etc. And the best part about socks to me is that I always NEED socks….I mean they get used and worn out right? Oh yeah and sock yarn is endlessly easy to justify in adding to my stash!
I love socks for a variety of reasons.
1.) They’re a project that’s easy to pick up and put down. I have three kids ages 2 and under – I need to be able to pick them up and put them down without worrying about it.
2.) Knitting through the different parts of the socks keeps it interesting without a huge investment of time.
3.) They’re great design opportunities! There are so many ways to do different things with stitch pattern and shaping it’s hard to get bored.
4.) It’s a great way to use handpainted yarn without worrying about how pooling will affect the look of your waistline, etc.
5.) I LOVE how they feel on my feet. They are so DARN comfy it’s just impossible not to knit them!!!
Sheri – I am so glad you’re carrying Cookie A designs! Woo hoo! She’s fabulous – can’t wait to see what ya get!!!
I love knitting socks because I still get amused when I turn a heel… simple, yes, I know… and because each skein of sock yarn is a little work of art all its own. I enjoy that small-scale beauty more than I do the bigger canvas of a sweater.
As strange as it may sound, I like the history of it all – that socks have been knitted pretty much the same way for hundreds of years.
I like that they make whoever you give them to feel special.
I like being able to try out new yarns and stitches on a small scale.
I love their portability and the fact that I can knit a round or two at a time – I don’t have to have a huge block of time to work on them.
I read somewhere that hand knitted socks are like good lingerie – no one but you may know you are wearing them but they make you feel special!
I’m a new sock knitter (only about 6 months) (strange as it may sound with all the purchases I have made at The Loopy Ewe). I love it for many reasons. It’s portable. They can come with me where ever I go. The choices for sock yarn are just amazing. (I always see one more I want to try!) I love the colors and the feel of the yarn. I love that I have a wearable item in such a short time. I finish a pair about every two weeks and that time is shortening. I have come to love the feel of knitted socks on my feet. It’s like getting an all day foot massage. Even my sweet man loves them and likes when I knit them for him. They inspire me to try new things stitch wise.
Funny. My sister-in-law just asked me this same question last week.
I like knitting all sorts of things, but socks are addictive. Why? Well, for one, they fit in your purse. I can whip out Uncle Traveling Sock anywhere — in the car dealership, the doctor’s office, a restaurant, in traffic — and not have to worry about needing acres of space to shuffle about parts, patterns, and notions. All I need are my needles and my yarn.
I can knit socks in wacky and wild colors with little risk. Colors that I’d never wear on top are snug and hidden on my feeties.
Socks always fit. I don’t have to agonize about sleeve length, armscyes, a collar that won’t go over the head, etc. Even if they’re a smidge too big they make good sleepytime socks. And they gift well.
I can always have a sock going without causing too much upheaval in the project queue. It helps my hands to shift back and forth between needle sizes on a regular basis.
And I like knitting on a sock in public and getting comments from passers-by. From the curious (“whattya workin’ on?”) to the incredulous (“a sock? no kiddin’!”) to the awestruck (“gee, I could NEVER do that…”), it’s a good icebreaker. EVERYONE wears socks. Well, except my Mom. But I’m working on that.
I love knitting socks and these are just some of the reasons:
1) Socks are the most usable item (everyone needs socks)
2) Knitting socks provides endless possibilities as there are different techniques by which a sock can be knit (i.e. cuff down or the tow up, socks can be knit on double points, 2 circular needles or on one long circular needle
3) Socks provide endless design options as you can knit a sock in any stitch pattern and then use a different cuff, heal or toe option to create a unique piece
4) Portability – socks are truly one of the most portable, go anywhere project (I love peoples reaction to being told that you are working on a sock, it truly can be priceless)
5) Endless yarn options with a rainbow of colors available
Need I say more…. I love knitting socks…
I am a new sock knitter. I have quite a collection of sock yarn, because I bought sock yarn quite a while before I actually got the courage to try to knit a sock. I have a fear of double points (it’s getting better). I love knitting socks because it gives me a rush when everything works out and I feel really proud of myself for finally knitting with double points.
I love knitting socks because I can try new things without too much investment. I learned to cable, knit lace, and truly make a customized fit by knitting socks. And I don’t have to worry about ruining a whole sweater’s worth of yarn. Plus, they’re portable, practical, and pretty!
The thing I love about sock knitting is the colorful yarn–I have the opportunity to use colors I wouldn’t use for a sweater for whatever reason. I also love that no matter how conservative my work clothes are, I can smile to myself knowing that I have on the most outrageously colored socks under my tailored boots…or better yet, that my socks don’t even match my outfit, but they feel good on!!
I guess it’s kind of like have wild-colored underwear on…..no one sees it, but it puts a spring in your step just a bit more just by knowing you have it on!!
I love to knit socks for two reasons: 1) they are fast and I get bored easily. 2) when knitting socks it’s not just knitting, there are different parts to socks. When I get bored with knitting the heel flap, I get to turn the heel. When I’m tired of picking up gussets, I get to decrease for the toe.
I am a color whore. I adore colors in all tones and hues. The idea of buying a skein or perhaps two of as many colors as there are in the rainbow and the fact that sock yarn is soft and sqooshy just makes me an addict. I adore the portability of the project, the quick finish of the project and the appreciation of the receiver of the socks. I only have one pair of socks for myself!!! I’ve knit dozens of socks but only one pair for me! I plan to rectify this during 2007.
As a bonus, sock yarn is good for shawls, socks, sweaters, hats, gloves and much more. It’s probably the most versatile yarn ever and it’s almost exclusively what my stash is made up of.
I’m on a bit of a diet this month but there are only 11 more days in the month and then I plan to splurge!!! Cookie A patterns, Louet and more!
Now, my wish list, could you please consider Jitterbug as a new line? And of course, Socks that Rock I do hope for all my yarn purchases to be made at the Loopy Ewe forever!
I’m a fairly new sock knitter, having only knit 7 pair so far. One for each of my children, 2 for me, and 2 for my husband (ok, 3 for him, but I didn’t know one pair wasn’t superwash, washed them, and ended with a pair of felted booties that fit a child….fortunately, she likes them!)
My 2 pair of handknit socks are my ABSOLUTE favorite socks. I wear a size 9.5 – 10 shoe. Storebought socks are tough to find that don’t shrink and have less room in the toe area than I like….hence, I have discovered, socks knit to fit! Love the colors available, love the variety of yarns and patterns, can’t wait to try them ALL…and keep hoping I’m in time when you have a shop update to get some great yarn!
I love knitting socks for these three reasons:
1. The yarn is awesome. And relatively inexpensive (versus a sweater) for a pair.
2. I can try new patterns.
3. Everyone thinks it’s cool! They can’t believe that a person can make their own socks. And I can take them everywhere…
I used to think that I knit socks for all of the reasons given – portable, quick, a variety of choices in stitch pattern – or just plain. But I discovered this winter (my first winter to have handknit socks!) that the number one reason I knit socks is that I love to wear them. There’s nothing like having a bad day (especially if it’s a Monday!) and glancing down to see one of your favorite pairs of handknit socks. Sometimes the colors cheer me up, other times it’s the knowledge that I made those, goshdarnit, and so what if today sucks, I have awesome socks!
I love knitting socks because I love color, but in my work I am required to leave all color behind and be a colorless face for the company, a uniform employee. My colorful handknit socks are my link to the life I get to go back to at the end of my shift 🙂
I am a relatively new sock knitter, but I have several reasons why I like knitting socks. They’re portable, small enough that you can afford to try new yarns, practical, and simple enough to be easy but have heel turns to keep things interesting.
portability and that feeling of knowing only I know the cool surprises in my shoes!
I love knitting socks! What’s not to love? One skein of yarn and a relatively small time commitment for a finished project, the looks on people’s faces as you wield your slender yarn and tiny needles, the fact that you can work on them even in sweltering weather, the absolute comfort of having them on your feet. But most of all, it’s the yarn—the wonderful soft, squooshy feel of the yarn running through your fingers; the amazing, gorgeous colors and the excitement of knitting them up. For me, it’s all about the yarn. I love it all. I want it all. (And thanks to you, Sheri, I may reach my goal of having it all!)
I’m just a newbie but i love to knit socks because they are fast, portable (what else could I get away with knitting in a staff meeting), they feel delicious on my feet, everybody wants a pair so gift giving is easy, they always fit, the yarns available are too fabulous for words and you can commit to all sorts of different colour combos because the finished item is small and often hidden, it gives me a thrill to wear something I made with my own hands, and NO SEAMING!!!!
I love knitting socks because they are a way of trying new pattern stitches without devoting a whole sweater to them. I love just staring at the yarn as well and even the most expensive sock yarn is no big deal as you only need one or two skeins at the most!
I love sock-knitting for several reasons: it’s portable, small, and easily shoved in a pocket or purse. I can pull it out at any random moment (trains are common in my area). I can make loud patterns or colors I would not normally wear. And best of all? They feel better on my feet than any other socks I’ve ever worn, and my little boy loves wearing them, too.
I love to knit socks for several reasons:
I have always been a sock person (even before I knit) – I love socks, the prettier, the better! With my newly found love of knitting (actually, I have always knit, but never knew how to purl, can you believe it? Now I know, and look out world – Ha ha), they make nice portable projects for roadtrips, or for something quick to knit. Also, I only knit them via magic loop method so far, and they are pretty easy to do! The best things that I love are the colors, oh the beautiful colors and the softness of the yarn. It feels so nice flowing through my fingers! 🙂 Now, I just have to knit all the colors from my stash! 🙂
P.S. If anyone has any helpful tips on how to knit fingering weight yarn on magic loop needles (I’m currently knitting a pair in Anne by Schaeffer – the very thin, fingering weight yarn) for magic loop #1’s – I’d take any suggestions. The pattern I’m doing is not working out well, and I’m a little intimidated by DPN’s!
Well I used to quilt and it took up lots of space and in fact required a seperate room. I needed to be in that room to quilt. Knitting is a whole different ball game. the only thing that requires space in the growing yarn stash. I can enjoy my husband company in the living room because I just keep the current project in a small basket.
Sock knitting is so wonderful because I can affrod to try top of the line yarns, fabulous colors, learn lots of different techniques and it still looks good, small and portable, quick and easy for gift giving. Is there something not to like?
I think mostly my favorite is the wonderful colors in the yarns.
Christy
There is something so justifiable about socks. I don’t have a lot of money to spare at all and I have to keep my hobbies in check. But I can always justify making a pair of socks, because we always need socks around here, there are ten feet in my house!
There is just something so justifiable about socks. I don’t have a lot of extra money, and I have to keep my hobbies in check. But I can always justify a pair of socks, we all need socks and there are ten feet in my house!
Socks have become my knitting salvation while I’m in nursing school!! I have very little free time, so socks fit the bill – I can knit a round here and there, and manage an FO or two each semester. And while people knit prayer shawls, I have study socks; I memorized drug cards as I knit a round!!
Lesley
Socks are great for so many reasons!
I can work with little needles and fine yarns and still finish them in a reasonable amount of time
My family will wear socks even if they hate sweaters
I can afford to spllurge on luxury yarn for them
The yarns come in so many great color
The fit easily into my briefcase or backpack
Even as a slow knitter, I can see progress everyday
I can get enough sock yarn for a year’s worth of projects without overwhelming my stash storage space.
I truly love knitting socks!
Anne
There are many things I love about socks. The things you mentioned, plus… well, I consider myself overweight. I’m not happy about my weight, otherwise I wouldn’t care. So I don’t like to buy or knit clothes for myself. I inherited small extremities, though, so I love socks, shoes, rings etc, and I’ve always had a large flamboyant shoe and sock collection.
So basically if I want to knit something for myself to wear, it’s going to be socks. Because I can’t knit peep-toe pumps. In orange.
I love seeing how variegated colors knit up on socks, but my real favorite thing about knitting socks is that they’ll always fit! Sweaters are beautiful, but you lose a few pounds, you’re out of luck. Same thing if you gain a few pounds. Marvelous socks love you no matter what you weigh!
Socks,
I love the yarn colors, I love to knit them, and I get a total heart stopping thrill when I see them on the feet of my kids and even my hubby!
Most every reason I can think of has already been stated by many other people.
Most of my socks are knit for others at holiday time and every year
they put their order in for what other colors they would like to have and then
I find a new pattern to knit up for them. Also sometimes I just make socks
for people who have unselfishly given of themselves for me, my mom, and others
in need. They are usually overwhelmed because they have never had a pair of
hand knit socks.
A few months ago, I took my chances and smuggled a sock-in-progress on size 1 birch needles in a clear vinyl bag onto a flight from Heathrow to JFK even though they are expressly prohibited. They made it through the first checkpoint and were questioned at the gate but were deemed harmless by the supervisor (yes, it had to go to the supervisor). The socks were crucial for my sanity on an 8 hour flight back home and I couldn’t sleep because I needed to be back on Eastern time for work the next day (passing out at 4:00 at my desk is not a good idea). Yay for socks!
Other reasons why I love knitting socks: they’re great for my attention span, they’re portable, and inject a little bit of color into my wardrobe which consists of too many black garments. And I can knit them while watching tv so I don’t feel like I’ve wasted time :).
Sheri-
I’m not a big sock pattern fan – but these new ones are so incredibly beautiful I had to buy them all (well almost all).
For me, I’ve always appreciated that with socks, you can do the same thing over and over again (cast on 60 sts, work rib for 4″ etc etc) and get different results each time. I’ve made probably three or four dozen pairs of socks in my life and not one of the two pairs are exactly the same. And I love that!
Even though I just learned a couple months ago, I quickly became an addict LOL, I LOVE sock yarn, it’s almost all I buy now, they are quick too make and so many diffrent patterns, how can one get bored? LOL
I don’t know what I could possibly say that hasn’t been said already, but I’ll say it anyway. I adore socks beyond all reason, largely because they’re small & portable, they’re relatively inexpensive (dh is a student, and luxury yarns are hard for us to come by–a sweater’s worth is a pipe dream right now, but socks are do-able), they’re just about infinite in design & complexity, and lordy, they’re so bloody comfy! As a stay at home mom, I rarely have the time or finances to pamper myself at all, so my handknit socks are really quite the luxury. I use some of the finest fibers in the most beautiful colours, and I feel quite decadent when I knit them AND wear them. I figure that since I don’t pay for tv (no cable or anything here), and I don’t go out on the weekends, that yarn is in my entertainment budget, and after a long hard week of homeschooling & generally running after my two boys, I bloody well deserve a nice pair of socks to work on. Heh.
And dang, they’re just so darn pretty & squooshy!! How can you *not* be addicted to them?!
I love knitting socks because I am always hot and knitting a wool sock doesn’t make me hotter like knitting a wool sweater does. It also doesn’t take the time that a sweater does. I can make crazy socks, fancy socks, plain socks…..Everybody loves socks! And the yarn! Don’t get me started…..
Oh, and like someone else mentioned, I also like that I can totally break out of my rather subtle colour rut with them. I tend to stick with the same tried & true colours in my regular clothing, and while they do look quite good on me, sometimes something bright & totally different is nice too. I can get that without looking too garish in my sockies. My socks don’t often match the rest of my clothing, because I frankly don’t own any clothes that match half of my socks, but I don’t care! I love my socks regardless, and wear them with pride.
And yeah, hallelujah for Cookie’s patterns!! They are GORGEOUS!
How do I love socks? Let me count the ways! I love all the fabulous handpainted yarns that are now available. I love how you can complete a pair so quickly. I love how freaking happy my recipients are with a gift of handmade socks. I love knitting tiny things on dpns at a fine gauge.
Et cetera. 😉
Socks are nearly instant gratification. I can learn a new technique and show it off right away. The best thing — they fit my fat stumpy feet like nothing I can buy in a store.
when I got past the heel on the first pair of socks I knit, my husband was AMAZED – he just assumed I was knitting a TUBE sock, and quite frankly I’m always a little amazed at the construction of a sock – no longer mystified, but always thrilled when it starts to take the shape of a foot – I love the fact that you can take sticks and “LOVELY YARN” and make something as shapely as a sock. I LOVE sock yarn – I’m not a fast knitter so my collection seems to grow but I just enjoy the process of SHAPING the sock to fit my foot – I’ve never been able to buy socks that fit properly as I have short feet and I always ended up with part of the heel sticking up out of the top of my shoe so it’s really the fabulous way you can knit a sock to FIT A FOOT of all things!!
Oh so many reasons!
They are fast, almost immediate gratification.
You can do crazy colors that you may not want to wear as a larger more noticeable garment.
You can do an intricate pattern without going nuts before it’s done.
They feel so darn good on your feet!
I could go on and on and on………
I too like at the great sock yarns out there. The colors are just great! And you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get enough yarn to make a project. And of course the portablilty. I have been a quilter too. It’s so much easier to whip out your sock knitting than trying to work on some hand piecing or quilting.
Thanks for all of your great yarns and other goodies at the Loopy Ewe!!
I like to knit socks because:
1. the challenge to knit on 4-5 needles
2. knitting toe up so you can fit as you go
3. the fabulous handpainted yarns
4. the size and portability
5 the size because you can finish the sock (note 1) in a short time
6.the sense of accompishment after a reasonable amount of time
7. something to wear that fits.
8. Did I say the fun use of the wonderful yarn that Loopy Sells!!!
Martha
I am a new sock knitter. I never thought that I would love it so much. I love the yarns, the colours, the feel, and that fact that it didn’t take as long to learn or was as hard as I expected, it was pretty easy and quick (well they were ankle socks but let’s not dwell). I always get filled with wonder by the time I get to the heel, feel all tingly inside when I pick up the stitches, and get seriously anxious to start it’s twin when it’s time to graft the toe to feel all those wonderful feelings at least one more time. Let’s face it I’m now so addicted it scares me. I can’t wait to try another.
Addiction? Instant gratification or something like that? I knit socks because they’re quick gifts, everyone loves them, I can try out new stitch patterns one them and “swack”, if you will, and I just plain can’t get enough of them. Oh, and because I can’t pass yarn by and sock yarn is particularly wonderful to fondle and try out “one of each”…
Sheri,
Your sock looks amazing. What a fast and talented knitter you are..you knocked that one out with now problem.
I like knitting socks because my high-fashion friends are always terrified I will knit them a sweater…but they almost beg me for handknit socks! I don’t get it, but it makes me happy!
Also, I can knit them to perfectly fit my size 6, extremely wide feet. There is no giant glob of heel-in-the-wrong place three inches up the back of my leg when I knit my own socks.
And I love pulling them off the sock blockers with their perfect foot shape. I love that!!!!!!
I started knitting socks last year as part of my “learn new stuff” resolutions. I haven’t slowed down one bit since then because sock knitting offers portability, nearly instant gratification and the chance to create beautiful works in a compact size. Plus, the people I make them for just love handmade socks!
Instant GRATIFICATION…..that’s why I love to knit socks…….I love all the sock yarns (especially Loopy Ewe’s)……
I love to knit socks for my friends…I am working on my Soccer Chicks Socks…..I even made sock bands (not my idea) found them on someone’s blog…….they have a flaming soccer ball at the top and the recipient’s name and washing instructions…….
Socks Rock…can’t wait till the Loopy Sock Club Socks arrive…………
Blogless Diane
So excited to see you’re carrying Cookie A’s patterns. I have long wanted to try them.
What’s not to love about knitting socks!?! The fabulous colors, the amazing yarns, and the fun patterns to play with plus the portability makes for fun times. The best part for me though, wearing them!!