Afterthought Socks Class (Advanced - Knitting)

Spring is sprung, and our thoughts immediately turn to… sock knitting! That’s right, one of our top 5 warm-weather knitting projects is a pair of socks. Whether you’re knitting on the porch, at the park, or by the pool, socks are perfectly portable! Join Emily as she breaks down (literally) the process of turning one long sock tube into a pair of socks. Learn all about how to knit a stretchy bind off, how to place a sock heel, how to knit a toe, and most importantly: how to cut into your knitting with confidence! A great class for first-time sock knitters or for sock enthusiasts looking to try out a new technique.

Required Skills:

• Casting on, binding off, weaving in ends
• Knitting, purling, switching between knits and purls (aka ribbing or seed stitch, etc.)
• Comfortable knitting in the round on a circular needle (aka can put down and pick up a project without reversing direction)

You will learn about:

• Week 1: Knitting in the round for small circumferences, crochet provisional cast on, and adjusting this pattern for multiple sizes
• Note: Emily can support students who knit on double pointed needles (dpns), magic loop, or small circular needles, though she is most proficient with dpns. If this is your first time knitting small circumferences in the round, she will teach you on dpns.
• Week 2: picking up stitches and knitting your sock cuff (including a stretchy bind off)
• Week 3: cutting into your tube, picking up stitches, and knitting your toe (including grafting live stitches together)
• Week 4: heel placement, knitting your heel, other considerations for your next pair

You will need:

• Yarn:
• 100g of fingering weight yarn sock yarn (we recommend a plied, wool-nylon blend), wound and ready to knit from on week 1
• if you’d like to do a contrast heel, toe, and cuff, add 20g of a contrasting colour
• Needles:
• 2.5 mm (US 1.5) double pointed needles
• OR 2.5 mm (US 1.5) 32-40” (80-100cm) circular needle for magic loop
• OR 2.5 mm (US 1.5) 9-10” (23-25cm) circular needle (NOTE: you will still need double pointed needles or magic loop for the heel and toe)
• Notions:
• Small stitch markers to sit on your needle and/or locking stitch markers
• A small crochet hook or stitch fixer/handi tool for picking up dropped stitches
• Darning needle
• Small scissors (embroidery scissors work well - we will be snipping individual knit stitches, so they need to have a sharp point)
• Scrap fingering weight yarn for provisional cast on
• Homework - Optional:
• A sock tube can be a lot of knitting! We have ways of finagling construction so that you can continue to knit your tube throughout the 4 weeks, but if you’d like to get a head start before the class you are welcome to follow the following instructions:
• Skip the provisional cast on, unless you already know this technique
• Cast on 64 stitches for a standard women’s sock, or 72 stitches for a standard men’s sock
• Join in the round without twisting, and knit knit knit!
• If you are using a contrast colour for heels and toes, you don’t need to save any yarn at the end. If you are only using one colour - keep 20g in reserve for your heels, toes, and cuffs!