Fear of Footwear

Afraid to tackle your first pair of socks? Help is at hand.

Up until (maybe) eighteen months ago, socks absolutely terrified me. I had a raging case of sockophobia. No, I didn't scream when I pulled a pair out of the dryer but the thought of sitting down with a fistful of double points and a ball of skinny yarn had me casting longing looks in the direction of the Kahlua in the closet.

I really never thought I'd ever be able to master knitting in the round. The concept itself sent my brain into a tailspin. (I tend to overthink knitterly concepts and create lots of trouble for myself.)

Anyway, in those days before I entered the blissful world of circular knitting (which, come to think of it, might share much in common with the world of circular logic) I discovered seminary student Mary Ann Croisant's famous pattern for Seabury Socks and I was on my way. (Mary Ann published her pattern in 1995 while she was studying to be an Episcopal priest. I've often wondered where she settled and if she's still knitting.)

I made my first pair of Seaburys with Noro Kureyon (is there a more perfect yarn on this planet or any other?) on a pair of #7US straights and thought I'd been assumed into Knitter's Heaven. The strangely shaped object really did sew up into a sock and a comfortable one at that. I was delighted. I was empowered. I was woman see me knit! The only problem with using Kureyon for socks was the fact that our floor and hallway are tiled and grout is very cruel to tender yarn. The soles were trashed within two weeks and my heart was broken.

So here's what I learned: reinforce wear-prone sock areas with nylon reinforcing thread in an appropriate color. Or sew on a leather sole to the sock in question. Or use two or three strands of actual sock yarn made to stand up to wear.

Or else just ask your male knitting slave to carry you from chaise to desk then back again.

Seriously, if you're dying to make socks and don't feel ready to tackle double points or circs quite yet (although I have to say there's nothing to be afraid of;believe me if I can do it so can you) this pattern is an easy and delightful way to turn out a pair of socks in record time and impress everyone you meet.

OTN (On The Needles): sock #2, black Fixation Bulky, Addi Turbo #4US circs, Magic Loop technique, my basic sock pattern - this time on 48 sts; 2K2P ribbing; standard heel flap and gusset; round toe (These are for my husband and he prefers a round toe to a Kitchenered)

Barbara Bretton
My Other Blog