10 outstanding sock knitting tips [for neater results]
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- čas přidán 27. 06. 2024
- A summary of all my best sock-knitting tips and tricks from well over 30 years of experience
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I love knitting socks and probably knitted well over 200 pairs already. This video aims to sum up my best tips for creating super neat results and socks that fit perfectly.
Link to my plain vanilla sock pattern: nimble-needles.com/tutorials/...
How to knit socks toe-up: nimble-needles.com/tutorials/...
0:00 Sock knitting tips introduction
0:56 How to avoid a hole where you turn the heel
2:34 Tips for picking up stitches from the gusset
5:29 Tips for neater decrease lines
11:17 Why you should keep your stitches distributed evenly
13:48 How to avoid ladders
15:50 How to fix accidental yarnovers
17:56 Reinforce your heel - but the right way
20:11 How to knit heels with an odd number of stitches
23:07 Advantages of knitting a double cuff
25:00 Knit socks a bit too small
27:56 Stick to one yarn base
32:03 Additional sock knitting tips
►Link to my second channel: / @nimbleneedlestwo
► Link to my Patreon account: / nimbleneedlez
► Buy my patterns here: bit.ly/3aBRdzs
►Visit my blog for a free knitting school: nimble-needles.com/learn-to-k...
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Here's my full and free plain vanilla sock pattern (and tutorial): nimble-needles.com/tutorials/how-to-knit-socks-for-beginners-the-easy-way/
thanks for many excellent tips- I never heard holding an extra (nylon) thread on heel for durability, will surely try that! 🧦🧶💟
Thank you!!!
Yes, please, I would welcome a video about negative and positive ease. Thank you, Norman!
noted. Waiting for feedback from other people :)
How beautiful socks, Norman!❤ 0:48
I, too, would love a video on negative ease. It would help me with making my own camisoles.
Agree!
I most definitely would be interested in an ease video 🙋♀️
I personally felt liberated when you, Norman, said that you don't knit reinforced heel anymore 😂 Really, I never understood why I should knit it that way but kept doing so. Will try to knit one with simple stockinette. And thank you for the acceptance you demonstrate to each and everyone of us ❤
just pay attention. A reinforced heel contracts somewhat. So it will be shorter and provide you with more stitches to pick up from the border.
Consider not doing a selvage so you can make up for that! (so you pick up one 2 stitches for every 3 rows instead of 2 stitches for every 4 rows).
@@NimbleNeedles Great! Thank you for the advice, Norman!!!
I gave up the reinforced stitch when I decided to darn my socks when they got thin using duplicate stitch. It is so much easier to see the path to darn in plain stocking(tete) stitch! And my thin spot is right above and through the turn of the heel, sigh. Oh, yes, I love the brands of yarn that come with the little spool of 2 ply to knit in with the heals.
I have recently started knitting socks from the toe up using the shadow wrap heel. Would you recommend any other heels to try out?
30 years of knitting and I still learn new tips from you. I absolutely love it, thank you Norman!
Wow, thank you!
Me to
I've watched many sock tutorials as I no longer can ask my mother. I always go back to your videos or blogs for socks! In my eyes, you are the Sock Master!
heh. well I do knit a looooot of socks!
@NimbleNeedles and they're the neater knitted socks I've seen in a very very long time! There's something wonderful about sock knitting.... When I am brave enough I'll attempt the Bavarian style sock, they are stunning 😍
I find ease, negative ease for socks in particular, to be an interesting topic. Discovering that hand knit socks don’t have to be as constricting as commercial socks has been a revelation for me and my family members who all seem to share my dislike of too tight socks (they make your feet cold!). However, I haven’t figured out how to quantify or measure negative ease and thus create a repeatable definition or process for implementing a particular degree of negative ease. Also, I’ve made some attempts to estimate the loss of ease caused by adding simple cables to a 2x2 ribbing in a sock leg, but I’m not even sure how to use that data correctly to ensure comfortable fit. All in all, I’d love a deep dive on the question of negative ease, especially for socks, since it is a minor obsession/puzzle for me. Thanks for all you do, it is very appreciated!
I'll see what I can do but your problems basically sum up with I hate working with the concept of negative ease. It's just entirely arbitrary and not predictable at all! But..hey there are alternatives! :)
I had to chuckle when you wrote about tight commercial socks. I seek out the ones with arch support and have I assumed my knitted socks would not have any support. Just goes to show how we have different needs and that’s ok.
One of the things I've done to somewhat address the fit, negative ease thing is to continue working the instep stitches in ribbing all the way to the start of the toe. The ribbing running along the top of the foot more readily gives and takes ease as needed for a great feeling fit. It's not something that will work with lace, cable, colorwork socks, but I'm really just a simple stockinette sock kinda gal, and the ribbing can easily be carried down the instep on any stockinette sock pattern. 😊
Yes, a video about negative and positive ease would be so nice! I love learning from you, because your instruction is concise and relevant to the common issues and interests of knitters as the result of your own knitting journey. I welcome with open arms whatever helpful information that you so graciously share, which is quite extensive when compared to what is shared by many other knitting content creators. If it were not for instructive videos like yours, learning this craft would be a lot more challenging. Your accented voice is a delightful conduit for instruction, too, because you are so comforting, soothing and reassuring!
Aww..thank you 🥰
Thank you, Norman, for such a helpful video! I knitted my first pair of socks for my adult daughter just a few months ago and she loved them. Her daughter, my granddaughter, wants a pair! My daughter was thrilled with such a personal gift and would like more. I love knitting socks but want to get better at it. Your video was great!!! Would love a video on negative ease.
noted :)
Thank you for the comment about using one line of sock yarn when you begin and about swatches not always telling the whole story. When I use a new yarn I consider the leg of the first sock (if cuff down) to be my “swatch”. I can always rip it out, and if the gauge is too tight or loose I will probably know that before the leg is complete. Another thought regarding two at a time socks-since it can be fiddly to manage multiple balls of yarns and two at a time on one or two needles, I like to work two socks “in tandem”. I work the cuff of one, then the cuff of the second. 20-40 rounds of one leg, then the same number on the second, and so on. When. I finish the toe of the first all I have left is the toe of the second one, so no second sock syndrome.
yeah, I keep on saying that as well. Your calf is your actual swatch. That's why I typically start my socks with only a tiny little swatch (like literally 20stitches 10 rows).
I would enjoy a video about ease. I don't understand the concept very well. Second, love that green sock with yellow heel, so pretty! Third, enjoying seeing the different cool little scissors you use.
i'll see what I can come up with
you are an endless font of knitting wisdom, norman, and i'm always so grateful. :) it's people like you who serve as a reminder of just how vital elders are in any community (and i hope you don't mind me using that word, as in my culture it simply means one who is older and thus more experienced!) as they have so much knowledge and leadership to offer. i've only been knitting seriously since 2021, but thanks to your wonderfully in-depth videos i feel like my skills advanced at a much quicker rate than they would've without your guidance.
Thank you for these helpful knitting tips. I will use them in my next sock project. 😊
Norman as always you are wonderful and your knitting tips are amazing for new knitters!
Thank you so much!
I would really appreciate a video on negative ease. I love your videos, you are an awesome teacher. ❤
seems like more are asking for it. so let' ssee!
i'll see what I can do!
You, and your videos, are greatly appreciated. Thank you so very much!
Wonderful tips! Love your videos. So helpful,thank you.
Glad you like them!
Vielen Dank für all deine hilfreichen Videos,bitte mach weiter so. KLASSE!!! Grüsse aus Deutschland(N.R.W.)👍👏👋
Hi Norman - thank you so much for making me feel like a better knitter!
The 1st yarn craft I was taught, beginning when I was 5 years old, was crochet, and that was all I knew until I was in my early 30s and taught myself to knit. That was almost 30 years ago. However, I *just* started knitting socks for real about 6 months ago. I've been using a crochet hook to help me cast on, but also specifically for picking up those stitches along the sides of the heel flaps, too. I thought that was just a sign of how I don't knit too well. Then I saw this video & you made me feel like I'm not being a bad knitter, just a resourceful one. Thank you!
what works, works. If your results are the same, why would anyone care how you got there. There's no knitting police :)
Super great tips! And yes, I would love to hear more from you about negative ease. ❤❤❤
Will do!!
This was awesome Norman! I've been knitting socks for a very long time and during the course I've changed my method many times especially the type of heel. I find your tips so refreshing and will definitely adopt some of them. All your socks are immaculate. 🧦💙 Thank you so much!
I do see myself changing little bits and pieces almost on a yearly basis as well. I guess that's quite natural, no?
Really appreciated the gusset, holes and heel tips. Will keep this to refer to when I am on my next sock.
I love to knit socks. They fit nicely and are fun to play with colors and patterns.
They are not perfect.... but my feet are happy!!❤
Your socks are fabulous!a
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for all your videos! They always give me more insight into how knitting works and increase my knitting confidence
that's the plan! happy to hear it works
Thanks so much! It was a wonderful video and I’d like so much you’d make one on the negative ease! ❤
You’re so right in your thoughts about sticking on one yarn at the beginning to learn how to knit the right ease for our own feet…very smart video!
noted!
What an excellent video. As always!
omg the tip for picking up slack is just what I needed. I have been unsatisfied with what my heels look like for that reason and figured I just had to get over what it looks like.
You had me at socks! I love love love sock knitting. I want to learn all the things. I've made many, but there is so much to learn since socks are so versitile. I think its really cool that you knit socks on 4 needles. I learned on 3, and that is great because I inevitably lose a needle, but my favorite hiya hiya needles are short & I used to knit with 4. I need to buy another set, so I do 4 again.
yeah, 3 needles are common in the US. I dunno how that came about. Probably because it's easier and was needed for wartime efforts or so and neatness and versatility was not needed for these socks. Just a guess.
@NimbleNeedles I enjoyed seeing your socks! I know you like teaching, but it would be fun to see your finished items more often, too.
@@beepbopboop3221 I typically only share those on patreon or Instagram
I would absolutely love for you to make a video on ease. This is a great video.
Noted!
well spoken Norman and thank you for your tips and tricks
Thank you so much for sharing all your techniques. You put a lot of hard work and time spent making these videos, and I hope you know how much you help the knitting community. I have just learned a lot from this video, especially, and also all your others. I also love the witty comments you slip in from time to time =D
haha..well I'm trying to reign myself in a bit because I am usally full of irony and sarcasm :P
@NimbleNeedles I hope you don't change a thing. After all, you are your own person, and you are wonderful just as you are. Thank you again for your teaching, inspiration, and motivation.
I love the heel tip of adding a nylon thread. I will definitely be using that.
I love that you encourage people to try different way of doing things in knitting. I preferences seem to change from project to project.
Thankyou for this Norman its given me the confidence to try socks again! I found them to fiddly and the patterns to confusing. Same with knitting gloves.
Thank you so much for your amazing videos.
On the subject of socks sliding down… liking a firmer fabric, I knit my socks on 2.25mm needles. Also, having quite small ankles, I always decrease evenly along the leg of the sock, hence achieving a firmer fit along the entire leg length of the sock. I find this, together with a firmer fabric, assists the sock in staying up, due to the constant and even circumferential tension.
If you like patterned socks with cables or colour work, this may take some adjusting and fiddling about or be just plain impractical, however.
Definitely a matter of priority but I find it works a treat and is well worth the effort.
Thank you again Norman, for sharing your extensive knowledge and thorough research 🧶🥢
hm..this, however, will not work for all people and all leg shapes. The circumference of the cuff is largely defined by the circumference of your feet at their widest point (around the heels/instep). You cannot decrease beyond that point.
A calf gusset has been traditional been used to accomodate wider calfs for knee high socks. That is, of course, a possibility. One that has come out of fashion, admittedly.
So true…. Maybe my socks are a little higher on the leg than normal. My starting point has been the circumference of the wider part of my foot, with the stitches along the leg added to these. I also slightly increase the length of the heel flap, picking up more stitches along this to ensure adequate circumference for the dorsal ankle crease. Different options for differently shaped legs/feet.
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
Thank you! I just managed to master magic loop without getting ladders (thanks to one of your other videos) and was getting ready to dip my toe into sock making. This video dropped the day the sock yarn I ordered arrived. Your timing is perfect! Thank you!
Fantastic!
Thank you for the very helpful deep dive into sock knitting.
Wonderful tips, thanks so much for your great videos!
Thank you for the sock knitting masterclass Norman! Your socks are a work of art. ❤
So many great tips..thank you
I do love what you are doing. You are the knitting whisperer🎉. I started to avoid knitting socks because of these problems and because I was frustrated to get unperfect socks with holes and ladders😢. And its a lot of work ruined😢. But know theae tipps make me feel like I should give it a try again and knit these books of socks I have. ❤ Thanks norman ❤ please dont ever stopp making these great tutorials 🎉
i shall try to continue producing quality content
Thank you so much, so well taught!
I needed these tips, thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for the great tips. I love sock knitting and always learn something helpful from you. You have a great way of explaining things so I understand it.
Great podcast thank you
As always another enjoyable video. My favorite tip ever from you is to just keep at it. This is my year of socks, so avidly watching your videos especially. ❤
Thank you so much for this video!
As always you dive so deep into knitting science.👍
You are such an amazing person. Thank you so much for this. Sock knitting is my most loved thing to knit. These tips are the best.
Many good tips, thanks !
Great tips, I really like sock knitting
same here. Probably my favorite thing to knit! toally my comfort zone
Great advices as usual❤❤❤❤❤❤
Thank you, Norman! So much good information for me.
You are very welcome, Rita!
Great tips, Thank you!
Good advice, Norman. I will definitely keep your advice in mind as I knit socks.
Congratulations on your fourth year on CZcams! Best wishes for more success!
I would definitely love a video on ease! Good idea Norman
Great video as always! As a scientist I love your analytical approach to solving knitting issues. You explain it so well it is just logical 🙏☺️ Thank you for your work!
Love your videos!
Started knitting at 6 yrs old. You have inspired me to knit my first pair of socks some 59 years later. It is so much fun! Thank you for sharing all your knowledge!!!
It sure is! My favorite thing to knit!
Norman, you are the best! I'm on my third pair of socks, and your tips will make them look and wear so much better!
I love the idea about using the same type yarn to improve on things you don't like about your first pair's fit. I have two pair I'm doing that with now- love the yarn, but one is a little too loose & the other pair used a short row heel that I don't like. Thank you Norman!
happy to be there for you!
Excelllent video, Norman! I love knitting socks, and you have improved the techniques I use.
Great to hear!
Thank you always very interesting
I strive to do my best
Thx Norman excellent content presented really well. Close-ups really good at clarifying the details! Love the channel!
My pleasure!
Hello😊Thank you for this great video. I must admit that I have been using the double cuff method with thick rubber bands inside for half a year. I started doing it myself as a form of experiment, my family was impressed because it looks very modern. But your other tips are extremely useful and improve the quality of my socks and the experience of wearing them. As always, you are my authority in these matters, you have an extraordinary talent and you are very clever with new ideas. I wish you a lot of health and happiness and please never stop because you are doing a great job 🎉
well, I'll try my best to continue! but it'S getting harder and hard to find stuff I can still talk about :)
Love your knitting, your mindset and your personality ... simply put:
I💝you. Thank you.
My pleasure 🙏 🧶🥰
Thank you Norman, I really enjoy your videos. ❤
Glad you like them!
"It's like mixing eggs!" Oh, thank you, Norman, for your hints and help, and especially for your acceptance of differences!
My pleasure!
I eliminated holes for picked up stitches by putting them on a needle 1 or 2 sizes smaller. I'll use DPNs for that, and knit the stitches back onto my circular needles on the next round.
This was amazing thank you. I’d love to understand ease better. Your ability to teach is absolutely awesome!
I would be very interested in a video on ease.
noted. Let's see what the others say.
It's a complicated topic for sure and in my experience a lot of people shy away from watching such videos ^^
You rock, Norman!
aww..thank you :P
Your videos always give me a level up to my knitting! Even as a long time sock knitter, I struggled with the start of heel hole and loose gusset stitches! Thank you so much for this deep dive into fixing those and more!!
glad my video can also teach an experienced knitter a new trick! always a tough balance between overwhelming beginners and boring the more advanced viewers
You are such a good teacher, Norman. I appreciate your tips and tricks. I also appreciate what you said about supporting your channel. I'm signing up for your Patreon channel. I won't be a long-term patron, but I want to show my gratitude in a small way. Thanks for your podcasts.
thank you for your support! And yeah, you can absolutely cancel anytime. Hey you could cancel right away. I mean, I'd love to have you around but there's absolutely no pressure or shaming if it's just one-off :)
Amazing tips as always! And you knitted stickes are just PERFECTION! Damn i'm so envious
What a fantastic video! I'm a new sock knitter and you just upped my game 1000%! Definitely subscribing to your channel 😊
Welcome aboard!
Great video! I especially like the tip about foregoing reinforced heels, as my socks also wear out towards the toe, about 3 cm from the reinforcement--just where you showed the thin spot!
I haven't started stocks yet. Thank you for the heads up! ❤
33:09 Nooo, knitting just one sock and giving up has NEVER happen to me 🤣 I feel so called out. Yes, that's why the magic loop is the only good technique for me 👯 Thank you for a great video!
You are the best!
This was so very helpful. I can say the value of this tutorial moved me to increasing my Patreon contribution. I hope Norman that you continue to publish your extremely helpful videos. Thank you for all your hard work in making them. I feel as though I’m being trained by June Hemmons Hiatt watching. I hope others that see the value of your videos continue to contribute to fund your talent of teaching.
aww...thank you so much for this very high compliment. I adore JHH!
Thanks!😊
Dear Norman, yet again, you’ve hit the mark with your new video addressing the breadth and and width of conundrums when making socks. The revelations presented here, such as adding a strand of nylon at the ball of foot, and over the heel, instead of mechanically making a cushiony heel flap; and picking up the second stitch below the join on each side of the first round of the gusset which is the exact stitch we afterward fight to tighten, instead of twisting the join bridge as a new stitch which never works properly anyway; these two things make so much sense, so thank you very much!
In addition to these valuable tips, I do appreciate your thoughts around doing what works, to understand limitations of needle setups, variations with cables, colourwork, and cuffs vs. vanilla patterns, and mixing things up to suit our tastes, and not to worry too much about trying for perfection which is very difficult to attain, considering we are doing work that a small percentage of the population is very good at. Love you Norman, please keep well and please keep doing work that brings you pleasure. ❤
I shall try my best 🥰
Thanks!
oh wow! my pleasure. Thank YOU for supporting my work :)
love this video--so helpful. negative ease video would be amazing!!!
I'll try my best..but it probably will take a bit longer!
Great sock tips today. ❤
Glad you like them!
Thank You 💐
Thank you so much for this wonderful video. I have recently started knitting socks and have experienced a few problems getting a neat finish. Now I know why! So once again thank you for your excellent tutorial.
be patient. It takes a sock or two to learn the ins and outs. I mean..i probably knitted 200 socks or so? :P my first ones certainly looks a bit more ...rustic! ;-)
Thanks so much for this video, Norman! I am completing my first pair of socks after a 3 year break from them so this was quite timely. I already implement some of your hints in my sock knitting (like ending one needle with a purl stitch in ribbing) but I would love to see you make a video about negative ease in knitting socks or anything else. I always look forward to your videos and benefit greatly from watching them!
i wouldn't gear that video towards socks only as the concept really touches on a lot of other project!
Please do a video on ease. Ease confuses me especially in garments. I love your lessons.
Noted!
Those little holes have been driving me crazy. I can’t wait to try your solution on the socks I am knitting. You are always so informative. Thank you.
You are so welcome!
Thanks Norman ❤❤❤😘😘
my pleasure
Great techniques, Norman! I like using dpns to make socks. To avoid that second sock syndrome, I do not allow myself to rest on my laurels after finishing one sock, I have a rule for myself--I always cast on for the second sock right away in the same knitting session. I thought your point about heel pattern stitches was well taken. I rarely wear out my socks, but when I do it is never at the back of my heel, it is always on the sole. If you can't find Jawoll yarn with reinforcing thread, you can substitute Woolly Nylon Thread--often used to sew knits because it is stretchy. My best hint is to use Regia or Opal sock yarn. It wears like iron, and they have a huge variety of colorways. Indy dyer yarn may feel yummy in the skein, but it will not wear well, I need a sock yarn that can be made into socks that can be machine washed and machine dried. I only wear my socks one day and then they go in the laundry. I don't know how long you wear your socks before washing, but they return to their just washed tightness to start the day. Really loved this video. As a long-time sock knitter, I was already following your tips or I have found another way to solve the problem. You are the best!!
Thanks for the great tips. I would love a video on ease
I've never had any desire to knit socks, but it is interesting to learn more about the construction.
i loooove sock knitting ^^ you should give it a try :P
13:00 Another way to reduce stress at the meeting of needles which I have found, I purchase two sets of that size double point set and I use more than 4 or 5 needles. A four needle set forms a triangle which causes a lot of stress at the meeting point, (the more needles, the more sides, the the larger the angle of meeting so less stress).
yes. I'd never knit with 4 needles only for socks. That being said, more than 5 needles also increase the freedome of movement to a point where you add more stress through all that extra movement.
Thanks so much for talking about how to prevent the holes on the side of the heels. Lots of other good tips too. I wear my socks in the same places you do and I think I’ll try replacement thread instead of slip stitches next go around. 🧦♥️🧦
please do! it really works so well!
Prima Tips...vielen Dank !!! 🙂
Gern geschehen!
Yes please, an ease video would be appreciated! Thank you for your wonderful videos
Great information Norman. Thank you. I have been knitting socks for many many years but I can always learn something new. Awhile ago I went to number one DPs and that made a big difference instead of number two DPs. I have used the nylon reinforcement thread that comes with the sock yarn in the past and feel that with wear and tear it cuts through the wool yarn. Has anyone else had this experience? Thanks again Norman
That is somewhat normal. You see it in commercial sport socks as well. At one point, only the nylon remains.
Yes! Do an ease video!
Thanks
you are very welcome
The whole heel flap reinforcement thing never made much sense to me because - as you say - my sock heels wore out on the bottom, not on the back of the heel. Plus, it just didn't make any sense to me that the completed sock heel didn't actually contain the entirety of my heel... 🤔
Then I discovered afterthought heels, and that's all I use now. If my heel starts to get worn thru, I can simply rip it out and knit an entirely new heel! WIN!
Once I discovered the concept of an afterthought heel, I had have an actual heel pattern to fill the rift! And it made absolutely no sense to me to simply knit the heel like a sideways toe - heels aren't shaped like toes!! So I did a lot of blog reading and trial and error, and finally came up with an insert heel I'm completely happy with!!
No more heel flaps for me!!
I am intrigued by the heels that look like they have an I-cord border! Tell us more! Where can I find them?
I haven't released a pattern yet. But I published some notes on my patreon account.