Why I Like to Knit Socks

There is something so satisfying about knitting socks. For me, I enjoy both the process (the knitting and in some cases, the frogging and reknitting) and the end result. So I thought I would name the top ten reasons why I like to knit socks. I may add more later, as I think of them. They are in random order.

1. I like to see a finished product fairly quickly and socks are small enough that I can usually finish them within a week or so.
2. I hate to sew and since socks have no sewing, just grafting, they are perfect.
3. I also hate to block. Most socks don’t require blocking.
4. Since I have a “beer budget” with “champagne tastes,” socks allow me to buy special yarn, like cashmere, with which I can knit a wearable object.
5. My feet are almost always cold. Wool socks keep them nice and toasty warm. Washable wool means I don’t have to be careful about throwing them in the washer.
6. Since my feet are small, my socks really don’t take much  time to do.
7. When I first started knitting, I disliked purling. Once you get past the cuff, you don’t have much purling to do.
8. Again, socks mean a small ball of yarn and smaller needles, so they make the perfect traveling knitting project. I keep a bag of socks-in-progress in my purse at all times and have been known to whip them out when I have some time to wait.
9. There are SO many neat sock yarns out now that it is quite possible to just do a “plain vanilla” sock and come up with something that really looks fabulous.
10. You can take the sock pattern and modify it to fit your feet, your preferences, or whatever to make a truly unique item. 

 Well, that’s my reasoning for liking to knit socks. What’s yours?

TTFN, Cindy

DO OVER

When I was in grade school and we were playing a game, we would over allow one “do over” — in other words, you were allowed to do the action again to try to “get it right.” That’s how this blog got started…I was not happy with the way my other blog was going so I am dong a “DO OVER.”

Hmmm…giving yourself permission to “DO OVER.” That’s pretty good advice to give to new knitters. You don’t like the look of your work in progress? DO OVER. Think the knitted piece is getting too big or not big enough? DO OVER. The pattern is too busy…too complicated…too whatever? DO OVER.

Frogging (you know, rip, rip, rip rip out) your knitting seems so sad until you tell yourself, “It’s a DO OVER so I can do it better.” Those simple words makes it seem like it’s just another part of the knitting process. It’s as natural as choosing your needles and yarn.

People often tell me that my knitting is so “lovely.” It’s because I DO OVER…..a LOT!

And I’m in good company, too. It took Thomas Edison over 10 thousand different experiments for him to invent the first incandescent light bulb.The Wright brothers had numerous failures and crashes before they were able to pursue their goal of powered, controlled, piloted flight. Walt Disney failed in several areas, including being fired because he “had no good ideas,” before he drew the famous mouse with theme parks all over the world!

See! DO OVERS helped make this country great! So to all you knitters  out there, don’t be afraid to DO OVER your knitting. It’s good advice.

TTFN, Cindy