Do you think knitting socks is very difficult and only for experienced needlewomen can do it? In fact, this work consists of the simplest elements that everyone can master.
The most common knitting technique is the top-down method. That is, you start from the top (cuffs) and continue down, forming the heel, then the foot, and end with the toe. This is just one of many ways. Once you master it, a huge world of designs, techniques and structures will open for you.
Yarn selection and loop calculation
Before knitting socks, you must choose a yarn. Its quantity depends on the type and size of the product you want to receive. For women's socks of standard size without complex patterns and weaves, you will need 300-400 grams of thread. In the photographs presented, you can see products knitted from thicker yarn. This makes it easier to clearly define the stages of work.
Most importantly, the number of loops that will affect the rest of the knitting is based on the calf circumference. Think about what part of the leg you would like the toe to reach, and measure it. If you want the new thing to fit snugly, reduce this number by 25%. For example: if the calf’s circumference is 10 inches (25 cm), subtract 25%. We will get 7.5 inches (19cm).
To translate this measurement into a meaningful number of loops, multiply it by the thickness of the yarn. For convenience, the resulting value can be reduced or increased so that it becomes a multiple of four. This is easy to understand with a simple example. The women's socks in the photo were knitted from yarn, in which 7 loops are per inch, and the leg circumference was 7.5 inches (19 cm). We multiply 7.5 by 7, and we get 52.5. This number is rounded up to 52. It is the number of loops that you need to dial on the knitting needles.
How to Knit Socks for Beginners: Knitting Cuff
In the process of knitting the first row, we evenly distribute the loops on four circular knitting needles: 13 for each. We continue to knit with an ordinary elastic band (one front, one wrong side) down the leg, periodically trying on cuffs until you decide that the length is sufficient.
Knitting heel
The heel of the toe is a square-shaped flap that will cover the corresponding area of the foot. To tie it, you need to take half of the total number of loops (that is, from two knitting needles) and move it in the process of work on one knitting needle. For example, our sock contains 52 loops, which means we need to separate 26.
Now we will knit this part of the product not in circular, but in straight rows - “there and back”, separately from everything else. Don’t worry, later we will attach the heel to the rest of the toe.
We will knit with a pattern that will give this part of the sock extra strength and an almost ribbed texture. This is done as follows:
Front side: remove 1 loop without knitting, 1 front. Repeat until the end of the row.
Wrong side: knit all loops wrong.
Some people prefer to remove the first loop without knitting. It depends on you.
A rectangular heel flap is usually 5-6 cm long. An easier way to calculate is to simply knit as many rows as you have loops on the spoke. Remember this number, because it will be useful to us in the future.
Now you need to form a bend of the heel. In its lower part, we will begin to reduce the length of the row. This is easy, and over time you will find that you can “read” the loops and rotate the heel without hesitation. Now just knit according to the pattern.
Front side: remove the first loop, then continue with the front ones until the middle of the row. Knit two loops after the middle together, and then cut the row as follows: remove 1 loop, knit 1 front and so on. After this, before reaching the end of the row, turn the work so that the wrong side is now facing you.
Wrong side: remove the first loop, then knit 5 wrong and 2 together. After that, knit another one, and then again turn the work face to you. You will notice that the number of loops has decreased, and the heel has slightly curved. Here's what we did: on the front side, we simply remove the loop without knitting, and the next we knit the front. On the opposite - we knit two together on the wrong side. It is important to do this in each row sequentially so that there are no bevels and slopes. On the last two rows after reduction you will not have loops.
Heel toe connection
Now you need the heel to connect with knitting the rest of the toe. This is easy to do by typing and knitting loops along each edge of the rectangle. To determine their number, simply count the number of rows in the flap and divide it in half. If you remember the number of loops on the spoke when forming the heel, then it will be even easier for you. For example: in our case, the heel flap consisted of 26 loops. Now we just type 13 loops on each side.
Keep the work facing us. We collect and knit loops along the left edge of the flap. We work on lifting the sock, maintaining its original position on the spoke. Then, in the same way, we type and knit loops along the right edge of the heel.
At this point, all four knitting needles should be engaged again.
Now that you have picked up all the loops and evenly distributed them, everything is ready to start knitting again in a circle. Always start a circular row from the center of the heel, then knit the climb and finish the job on the other side.
Sometimes the number of loops is reduced on both sides of the heel, knitting two together. Due to this, the toe will fit the foot more tightly. But you can leave the previous number of loops.
Knitting foot and sock
This is probably the easiest part. We will simply knit in a circle until about 5 cm is left until the tip of the thumb. But all good things come to an end, even socks. Now the time has come to decrease so that the finger is comfortable, and the new thing has a more natural shape. This time we will reduce the number of loops at the beginning of the row on each spoke. You can alternate circles with decreases and without them, so that the rounding is smoother. All this is individual and depends on your preferences.
It remains only to close the hole formed. This can be done using knitting needles or a regular darn needle. Now that you already have some experience, it will be easy.
Following the same instructions, you can knit socks of any size. So any wife can please her husband with a new thing. And the young mother will no longer have a question about how to knit baby socks.