It’s been a while since I knitted socks but I do need to knit more. I’ve given away almost all the socks that I had never worn . . little gifts here and there, so I’ve been saying I need to make more socks. I’ve tried knitting two socks at once on two circular needles. I think the biggest drawback for me using that method is that I get the two balls of yarn so tangled and twisted and then I get frustrated. Knitting socks for me is relaxing and as soon as I get those two circular needles out, I get tense and frustration follows and by then, knitting socks is not relaxing and I give up and transfer the socks back to double point needles.
The advantages outweigh the disadvantages, at least in my head. When making two at once, when you’re done with one sock, you’re done with both so there’s no more struggling to get that second sock done. Also, both socks will be exactly the same when done. No matter how carefully I count rows, it seems that late at night, my tension is off a bit from what it is in the morning, or if I’m in the car, my tension is different from when I’m sitting in my recliner so my two socks are rarely exactly the same. It doesn’t matter for my own socks but when giving gifts, I’d like for them to be close to perfect. One more advantage to doing two at a time is that when doing a pattern, it takes less time because I refer to the pattern for each row’s instructions, then do those stitches on both socks instead of having to read each row’s instructions for each sock.
I’m going to master two socks at once on two circular needles!
One of the Eat Sleep Knit’s KALs (#7) this year is to knit socks from pre-determined patterns. Because I want to do all the KALs, I have a plan for getting them all done, the socks are on my schedule to be completed in January. I’ve already done #2 so . . socks are on my agenda for today.
This morning, really in the middle of the night, I decided . . I’m going to try two at a time one more time. The instruction book was in the sewing room so I ran over there and grabbed the book . . Knitting Circles Around Socks.
Knitting Circles Around Socks
I’ve tried several books and I find this one to be the easiest to follow. I decided that in addition to using two different length needles, I would also use needles that had different colored cables so maybe that would be further insurance that I wouldn’t get confused on which needle to use.
Two Needles
All of my ESK purchases have been put on a spreadsheet so I began going through the list of fingering weight yarn listed and Lorna’s Laces were a good choice because the early Lorna’s Laces that I purchased were on two skeins so they were already divided. I decided to use Mineshaft. Because I had the list of which yarns were in which tubs, I was able to find the Mineshaft. Actually, I chose three colors and figured I’d use whichever one was easy to find but luckily, Mineshaft was right where it was supposed to be. This is yarn I purchased in July, 2011. Yay! Yarn from the stash getting used!
Mineshaft
In order to hopefully keep from having too much twisting and tangling, I put them in my double yarn caddy.
Yarn Caddy
As soon as Vince left to go to work, I grabbed everything and cast on. I still have to follow the instructions in the book step by step, but some day maybe I’ll be able to do it without the book. I got this much done so far!
Ribbing
So far, so good. We’ll see what happens when I get to the heel! Wish me luck!
Ranch Wife says
Thank you for sharing your sock experience, Judy. I take it I shouldn’t make my first knitting project socks! 🙂
JudyL says
You can! I wouldn’t recommend it for most folks but I think you could do it. When I knitted my first socks, it had been so many years since I had knitted that I couldn’t even remember how to cast on and had to get help with that first step!
Pamela Johnson says
That is so cool! I’m still TRYING to re teach myself…….I may be too old for this!!! :-0
Joan B. says
Hey, if you are going to give me the push to navigate outside of my comfort zone you have to play along too! Good job shopping your stash!
Susan Fields says
I tried that method…….. Finally decided that I just liked the relaxation of knitting and really didn’t care how long it took to knit a pair……..
It is so good to have several methods of accomplishing the same goal as we are all so different…….
Enjoy your sock making two at a time……… You are right…….. It is easier to have them match that way……….
Maggie says
I like that we can choose how we want to knit. We can even alternate between techniques on a whim. But it is nice to learn all of these different ways because then we can choose the one we want in different circumstances.
Your ribbing looks very nice!
Angie Kiker says
I like how you have organized everything. It should be so helpful. Love the yarn! Good idea about the different color needles.
Joyce says
I always have mixed feelings about knitting two socks at once. I used to do them that way when I made them for my father, just because his were so big, and I could keep track of the row count more easily. I was always frustrated by the tangling/twisted skeins issue though. At least once I separated them onto their own needles when I was about half way through. I finally decided I preferred to do them one at a time. I still admire those who do them two at a time though. I wish I didn’t find it so frustrating! I may have to try it again at some point. I will say I’d rather start with two skeins than to have to take the time to split a skein in half.
Joyce says
I meant to include in my comment that I happen to have both wooden and metal needles, so I used one pair of each when I knitted two socks on two needles. I immediately knew I had a wrong needle if I was trying to knit with one metal needle and one wooden one! Different color cables on the needles help too.
LaVonne Parizek says
Judy, what works for me is to alternate the way I turn at the end of each row. On the red needle turn right (clockwise) and on the blue needle turn left (counterclockwise). Then my yarn twists once and then back. Works for me! Just my way…
Von
Judy D in WA says
I’m so proud of you. 🙂 I tried to go back to dpns and knit one sock but I soon cast on the second sock, caught up to sock 1 and they both went onto 2 circs. Once you get the no tangle turn figured out, you’ll be speed knitting like you always do.
I still use the book to cast on…..just so I don’t have to start over. 🙂
Denise Russart says
I just today received a book from a friend on knitting socks toe up two at a time so I may have to give it a shot on my next pair. Course that probably means I have to order new needles because I don’t think I have any circulars small enough. 😉
floribunda says
I’ve tried the 2-at-a-time thing, but I always seem to end up with a big “ladder” on each side where I shift from one needle to the other… have you discovered a way to avoid this? (side note — I started knitting 2 socks on dpns last week — one set was Knitpicks and the other was Clover. After about 2 inches I realized that even though all the needles said they were the same 2.25 size, the Knitpicks were enough thinner to make a difference in the gauge!)
Quilterbee says
I just finished my first two at a time socks on one circular needle. This was my first time so I used two totally different color yarn so I could figure out which yarn to use. I liked this method a lot. I just got the ribbing done on their mates. I put the two balls of yarn in two different zip lock bags. The yarn got twisted so I would spin the needles around to untwist them every so often. The yarn did not get knotted up.
I worked both heel flaps at the same time. The heel turning you do one sock at a time.
You tube videos helped me . verypink.com makes it easy to learn with her free videos. Some of the other videos just confused me.
ann says
good for you but throw out the short cable needles and get a 36 or 40 inch cable. The first pair I tried to knit on 2 cables was a mess so I knit them on a 32 inch cable so I had ladders us the sides. jusst pull the first 2 stitches tight and you wont’ have a ladder. best of luck
ann
Terry says
I love making two at a time socks. I use the magic loop technique which is very similar to using two circular needles. My daughter doesn’t like the magic loop. She prefers the two circulars. So I guess it’s a personal thing. I hope you learn to like it. Love having a pair done in the end!
Quilterbee says
I used the magic loop method too.
danielle says
Eagerly watching your socks…..I still have not had the courage to try this…..love using dpn’s……and I can actually finish a pair as long as I dont – SQUIRREL!!!!!! – allow myself to get distracted. I finished the January pair from the Stash knitting (on Facebook: Addicted to Sock Knitting) and am almost done with a pair I started in the fall……the watermelons are on hold because I struggle with the toe up…..
Diana In R.R says
I think I have that book somewhere! Should look for it. Think we are heading to San saba in the morning. We both need a break!
Madame tut says
Does anyone have comments on knitting sox two at a time but toe up? It seems you could then use up your yarn more efficiently by stopping when you run out of yarn. I want to try this technique but haven’t talked with anyone who’s tried it.
Mary says
Just chiming in on the magic loop method. I really prefer it for two socks over the two circs. Way less likelihood of picking the wrong needle (no way to do that) I have less ladders with one long circular that I do with 4 double points. I’m finishing a pair I did on double points just to keep my hands working but much prefer magic loop.
Krista says
Good luck! I knit two at a time, toe up. Mostly because I HATE closing up the toe if I knit the other way down. Plus, if you are short on yarn, you can just make the sock shorter – can’t do that if you run out half-way through the foot. I admit the tangles can get frustrating, but I always end up with ladders when I knit on dpn, and I can avoid them with the 2 circular needles, so that outweighs the difficulty for me personally.
Pam C says
I am a new knitter and ordered some needles from knitpicks to try the magic loop method of two socks at one time. I am actually going to start with boot toppers first. I really want to try socks this year.
I love knitting for the relaxation, and learning something new constantly. Every pattern I make has something different that I need to figure out in order to proceed. With alzheimer’s in the family, I am hoping by using my brain I may extend the time until I get that.
I may look into that book before I begin sock knitting. I don’t want to develop bad habits!
Janna says
“Knitting socks for me is relaxing” I read your remark and laughed out loud–knitting socks was not relaxing for me and the cowboy begged me to stop! :)) I am eagerly awaiting my package from KnitPicks–yarn to make spa cloths and two sets of needles–I bought a pair of 10″ ones and 14″ ones–do you use the longer ones for anything Judy??
JudyL says
I really don’t use long single point needles for anything. Since I have so many circular needles, I mostly use those.
Amy (Waunaknit) says
How is going? I have the same book and, like you, found my yarn kept getting tangled together and not very relaxing. It sure would be nice to not deal with second sock syndrome.
Margie says
Have tried several times to knit socks with little luck!! Decided this year I was going to DO IT and to knit a pair, not just signal’s. Watched a lot of videos and did a lot of searching on the internet. Have finished 2 pair, toe up socks with the magic loop method. Then discovered you can knit with one, center pull, ball of yarn and the magic loop method. You can go till you run out of yarn. This is what I have on the needles now. Still am not really happy with the way they fit but buy the next pair I think I will have it figured out. Also have learned where the yarn needs to be when going from one sock to the other so that it doesn’t tangle.
Am usually the person who sits in the back of the class not saying much but I’ve enjoyed your blog for a long time now. Take Care
Terri says
Thank you for the pictures! I haven’t had one spare minute to even get my new stuff out yet (taxes and end of year stuff, boo!) but soon. I hope……
Not really knowing what you’re talking about yet the pictures help tremendously. Now I think I’ll go order this book 🙂