A Summer of Handmade Socks

I enjoy knitting all year long. After a winter of making sweaters and scarves, I look forward to a summer of sock knitting. Why make socks? They are a portable project, perfect for vacations and for lazy evenings on the porch. When it's hot outside, who wants a big sweater on her lap?

Yes, socks are cheap to buy by the package in most any store. Handmade socks are superior, however, in fit, durability, and comfort. The length can be adjusted to exactly your preference. The yarn could be cotton, wool, acrylic, or a luxury fiber like cashmere. Handmade socks can be fully customized for one unique pair of feet.

One can never have too many great-fitting, handmade socks. With so many creative sock books and patterns available, including free patterns, I can have enough socks made for myself and for special gifts.

All photographs in this article are my own.

Superior Comfort and Fit

The socks pictured are made in the traditional way, from the top down with a heel flap and a grafted toe. They were knit with double-pointed needles. There are many other ways to knit socks, however, including:

• top down on one or two circular needles;
• toe up on double-pointed needles;
• on a sock loom;
• flat on two needles with a seam;
• toe up on one or two circular needles; or
• two at a time on circular or double-pointed needles.

Try any method you like. There are plenty of patterns for each method, so keep trying different styles or find a pattern you like and make it in many variations. I still do top-down socks most of the time because I have done them the longest and don't have to refer to the patterns very much.

Why should knitters have all the fun?

I am blessed to have been taught to crochet by my mother. With sock yarn and a size B hook, I made these comfy crocheted socks that fit as well as my hand-knit ones. Creative crafters have designed patterns for toe-up or top-down crocheted socks in great variety.

Do keep in mind that crocheted socks will use a bit more yarn than knitted socks of the same size. You will need no more than 2 balls of sock yarn for most patterns, more for knee-highs and larger sizes.

Crocheted socks tend to be thicker than knit socks, so consider the shoes you want to wear with your socks.