# Socks - help a newbie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 28, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891 "2008-12-28T00:22:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/21 "2008-12-31T04:04:43Z")
The bamboo ones I have (Clover) are also way more grippy than the metal ones I have. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/22 "2008-12-31T04:54:22Z")
I rather like DPNs. Brittany wood or Clover bamboo are what I use mostly. ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/23 "2009-01-01T07:33:17Z")
And my first sock has been produced. Its brother will (hopefully!) follow soon. Thanks for all your help and advice. I really never thought Id actually just do it, but there it is: a nice and warm woolly stripey thing. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/24 "2009-01-01T18:34:36Z")
Congratulations! Now cast on, RIGHT NOW! Don’t fall prey to Second Sock Syndrome. ---
**Author:** ![Ducktail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@Ducktail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ducktail)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/25 "2009-01-01T18:37:18Z")
I can’t really give you too much advice, but I’d like to say good luck–I’m on my first pair of socks too! I’d recommend the pattern but it isn’t in English, so I dunno how much it would help. So far so good, but then I’m still on the easy cuff part. It’s a lot of fun knitting on five needles, though. I feel the urge to take public transportation so I can bring my knitting along and show off. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/26 "2009-01-02T12:19:48Z")
I just ducked in here to mention Silver’s Sock Class, too- I made my first sock with it last month! I’m a third of the way through the second one now. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/27 "2009-01-02T12:25:55Z")
Is this your sole interest? ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/28 "2009-01-02T19:21:27Z")
[QUOTE=Cicero] Is this your sole interest? [/QUOTE] No. I also enjoy shining purls of wisdom. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/29 "2009-01-02T19:34:08Z")
As a guy who occasionally gets hand-knit socks, I like them bigger so I can wear them over regular socks, maybe as boot-socks, or maybe just as a slipper-type wear. Seems a waste to use them as regular socks, had cheaply at Wal-Mart. ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/30 "2009-01-02T19:58:05Z")
> [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > Congratulations! Now cast on, RIGHT NOW! Don’t fall prey to Second Sock Syndrome. Yes! This is why I do two socks at a time on one circ. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/31 "2009-01-02T20:14:38Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > As a guy who occasionally gets hand-knit socks, I like them bigger so I can wear them over regular socks, maybe as boot-socks, or maybe just as a slipper-type wear. Seems a waste to use them as regular socks, had cheaply at Wal-Mart. That’s what they’re for, really. I love to make things for people that will be used, not just sit in the drawer for a special occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/32 "2009-01-03T01:58:16Z")
I like having a pair of tight-knit small wool socks to wear inside larger socks. It gets warmer that way. ---
**Author:** ![meenie7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@meenie7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meenie7)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2009, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/33 "2009-01-03T09:02:01Z")
Oooh, just the thread I need. 🙂 My friend has offered to make me socks, but she’s never done it before. I want knee socks with alternating solid stripes, like [these](http://www.sockdreams.com/_shop/pages/socks_detail_ProductID_490.php) (but with different colors.) They also need to be adaptable to fit my legs, because the whole reason I want her to make them is that my legs are too fat for commercially available knee socks. Is there a pattern to be had for my poor, fat, naked legs? They just want to be cute! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/34 "2009-01-06T05:39:54Z")
And I’m done. No second sock syndrome for me! **meenie7** , I don’t have any patterns, but I’m working on the exact same thing (yes, I was unfaithful, I cast on two projects at once.). And I have huge legs, so I’ll let you know how mine turn out. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/35 "2009-01-07T00:56:16Z")
Yay Septima! I finished my father-in-law’s socks a few days ago (I cast on December 27) and when I’m done this lace scarf, I’m going to cast on some toe-up socks for ME. I’m going to use the Magic Cast-on described at Knitty. ---
**Author:** ![meenie7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@meenie7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meenie7)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/36 "2009-01-07T02:14:13Z")
**Septima** , let me know how they come out for you 🙂 Now, another question…what do you guys find to be the best cotton sock yarn? (I’m allergic to wool so that’s out.) Is Cascade Fixation a good brand? ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/37 "2009-01-07T04:31:35Z")
I have just knitted my first sock using a knifty knitter (using this pattern [天游ty8检测中心- 首页|官网](http://yarngear.com/looms/socks.htm)) I have crap co-ordination so needles just don’t work for me. I’m planning on doing a string bag next (with a pattern of my own devising) ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/38 "2009-01-07T04:35:37Z")
> [@Septima](#): > > [QUOTE=Cicero] > Is this your sole interest? No. I also enjoy shining purls of wisdom. [/QUOTE] Darn you both. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/39 "2009-01-08T01:28:44Z")
> [@JThunder](#): > > Darn you both. That’s it. I’m about to become unraveled. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891/40 "2009-01-08T05:31:58Z")
> [@meenie7](#): > > **Septima** , let me know how they come out for you 🙂 > > Now, another question…what do you guys find to be the best cotton sock yarn? (I’m allergic to wool so that’s out.) Is Cascade Fixation a good brand? It’s best to choose a cotton yarn blended with an elastic fiber, like Spandex or Lycra. Cascade Fixation has that, but I think it’s a little thick for socks. I have used Fixation to knit other things, and it’s a little tricky to get used to the stretchy quality of the yarn, but once you get the tension down, it’s not much different from other yarns. I haven’t used it to knit socks, but I very much like [Fortissima Cotton](http://theknitter.com/yarn-fortissima-cotton.html) for things like baby sweaters. It’s 75/25 cotton/nylon. It’s really soft and pleasant to work with. Seeing as I’ve used it for baby sweaters, I haven’t actually worn anything made out of it, but the babies seem to enjoy it. _disappears into the mist_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socks-help-a-newbie/478891.md?page=3)