I think I did my first pair of socks using a pattern from Ann Budds "The Knitters Handy Book of Patterns". I used Mountain Colors Bearfoot, and it probably took me a full freakin' year to knit those socks on US 2s & DPNs.
Were I to need to learn all over again? Two circs, worsted weight yarn, top down, plain stockinette with some ribbing at the top. You get the basic construction down, don't have any truly fiddly cast ons to deal with, and can relax into it instead of swearing at the yarn & needles.
If you do use DPNs, awesome! Though it probably feels like wrangling a porcupine, you're only ever using two needles at once, and the rest are just hangin'. Bamboo or wood are definitely more "grippy". I personally use Inox most of the time, as I have some issues with nickel, and the teflon coating on them makes the yarn slide way more than bamboo, but not as much as Addi Turbos.
After struggling with finishing socks for quite some time, this year I did a personal challenge to knit a pair a month. Simple stockinette with ribbing, but to a) use up stash, b) give me something very not stressful to zone out to, c) always have an easy travel knitting project with me and d) have lots of gifts to hand. It's funny - I'm using the same pattern & needles, and because of the varying yarn thicknesses, they're all turning out just a wee different in the sizing. It's awesome.
Socks are totally awesome, and can be as simple or complex as you like. I'm totally utilitarian in my tastes at this time, so I like mine as simple in lovely hand dyed yarns as you can get. That said, at some point, I'm sure I'll explore cables or lace or more interesting construction (I'm lookin' at you, Cat Bordhi), but for now, I'm just focusing on perfecting the simple. And really loving it.
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Date: 2011-08-20 07:26 pm (UTC)Were I to need to learn all over again? Two circs, worsted weight yarn, top down, plain stockinette with some ribbing at the top. You get the basic construction down, don't have any truly fiddly cast ons to deal with, and can relax into it instead of swearing at the yarn & needles.
If you do use DPNs, awesome! Though it probably feels like wrangling a porcupine, you're only ever using two needles at once, and the rest are just hangin'. Bamboo or wood are definitely more "grippy". I personally use Inox most of the time, as I have some issues with nickel, and the teflon coating on them makes the yarn slide way more than bamboo, but not as much as Addi Turbos.
After struggling with finishing socks for quite some time, this year I did a personal challenge to knit a pair a month. Simple stockinette with ribbing, but to a) use up stash, b) give me something very not stressful to zone out to, c) always have an easy travel knitting project with me and d) have lots of gifts to hand. It's funny - I'm using the same pattern & needles, and because of the varying yarn thicknesses, they're all turning out just a wee different in the sizing. It's awesome.
Socks are totally awesome, and can be as simple or complex as you like. I'm totally utilitarian in my tastes at this time, so I like mine as simple in lovely hand dyed yarns as you can get. That said, at some point, I'm sure I'll explore cables or lace or more interesting construction (I'm lookin' at you, Cat Bordhi), but for now, I'm just focusing on perfecting the simple. And really loving it.