Knitting Socks: Weight

Series Summary

Knitting is more hip and popular than ever. Check any number of bookstores. There are several volumes of knitting patterns: everything from bikinis to purses. A new generation of expressive yarns make the creation of eye-catching clothes and accessories easier than ever. Knitting asserts independence from traditional clothing manufacturers, and is the perfect outlet for personal style. In this free video series on yarn crafts, a knitting teacher demonstrates how to knit socks. Learn about different yarn weights and stitches that are best for socks, and find out about needle options. Learn to cast on, to begin with ribbing and to knit in the round for the leg of the sock. Get tips on knitting the heal and instep before closing off the toe and weaving in the ends. Knitted socks make great winter gifts for family and friends.

Video Transcript

"There are several options involved when picking out the kind of sock you want to knit. For starters, you have different weight yarns that you can choose from. You can have fingering weight, which gets about 7 to 8 stitches to the inch, you can do sport weight, which is more like 6 stitches to the inch, you can see the difference in the thickness, or you can do worsted weight, which would be thicker still. And these weights lend itself to how it would fit, say in your shoe. You would do a worsted weight sock, for maybe a sleep sock, or a sock that would go in a boot. Additionally socks can be knit on double pointed needles to work them into the round, or onto circular needles. These are both two perfectly good techniques, and they vary depending on the persons preferences. Double pointed needles, you can knit them on four needles or on five needles. And when you knit onto circulars, usually you want to use about a 24 inch length circular needle. For the fingering weight socks, you're going to be working with needle sizes that are anywhere from 0 to 2 depending on if you're a looser tight knitter."