Bye Bye Second Sock Syndrome

I will never knit one sock at a time again. Ever.

I don't care if there are cables. Or if there's lace. I don't care if they're long or short or striped or ribbed. I don't care. I will always knit them two at a time. On two circs, and not one inside the other. I'll leave that kind of action for the former cheerleaders, class presidents and the general organizer-types of the world.

It worked! It worked! And there's no second-sock syndrome to speak of! Yeah, there are some lonely socks sitting around the house that will probably never get a mate, but hey! Think of the Sock Future in my house! I won't be adding to the pile! No more sad lone-sock days!

I didn't like the yarn (Fortissima Colori bought on sale at Elann). I didn't. I think the nylon content was a bit high or something, because after about three minutes walking in these rubber clogs, the nylon and rubber decided to get jiggy with it, or whatever they're saying these days, and little pills have appeared here and there. But I don't care. I don't care one teeny tiny bit. Anyway, I used this cheapy-do yarn on purpose. I wouldn't dare risk my Vesper or ArtYarns merino on my virgin tour of the Two Socks on Two Circs Technique.

Now, I'm getting excited for the Holiday Sock Exchange Ariane is hosting (see sidebar button; sign ups end Monday). I will most definitely be doing two socks at one time and I will be ever so relaxed about it. I tell you what: It honestly feels like these things took me about as long as one sock normally does.

On other news: HWWV is sick and in bed. I guess that bit of sickness I had last week must have been viral, and not the Alavert. Poor guy.

Off to make some chicken soup and a celebratory cocktail.

(Oh, and by the way, my new friend, SuperCrafty Allison, has an ebay store and sells all sorts of great stuff, kits, yarn, crafty things, etc. Anyway, she's put together a kit for the Essential Stripe worsted in the exact colors I used. Check it out.)

Comments

[liz]

two socks at once--finished! that is pretty g.d. exciting!

ps is there a tutorial somewhere on the interweb that could explain this technique?

[jill]

Great for you! I too am working on some socks - 2 on 2 circs. Think they may have to be divided like you did. The flippin' yarn keeps getting tangled. Anyhow - glad to see you finished a pair instead of a single!

[Wendy]

Liz, I don't know of a tutorial, although you could visit Lolly's site for more info...I think others may have mentioned it. (See sidebar for Socktoberfest link)

[--Deb]

I use the Magic Loop method rather than 2-circ, but yes, exactly. Two socks at once. It's poetry in motion. In fact, I do sleeves and cardigan-fronts at the same time, too, to make sure that everything matches. SO much better that SSS!

[Darci]

Okay - I have been eyeing those clogs...are they comfortable?...Do they require socks?...I was thinking that they will be great on a rainy soccer day...Oh, great socks, very jealous - must learn how to make them.

[Wendy]

These funky clogs are so comfortable, HWWV even bought some for himself (in a light green). No socks required. So comfortable, I have worn them out of doors for about four days straight.

Am considering purple ones, too.

[marion]

Am I the only knitter who doesn't have SSS? Either way, I think I'm going to have the give the two-at-a-time thing a try.

[hot-pink-nails ariane]

See, I have my own method to avoiding SSS - I don't knit socks ;]

Although, that's going to change very soon - my mother is a big time sock collector, she loves socks. I dream of owning a warehouse filled with luxury yarns - she dreams of owning a warehouse of socks - no joke. I've been knitting a year, and am not shy to new things or challenges, but I only recently realized "Hey...I can make those for her" - sock knitting didn't interest me much before then. So, alas, sock knitting is undeniabely in my future. The things we do for relatives, eh?

[lynne s of oz]

I must try the two socks on circs again - I failed last time cos the yarn got in such a mess.... any tips for not tangling the yarn up? I have some opal in a yucky colourway to practise on :-)

[Gina]

I feel so much better about my Clarks clogs now that I see you own a pair of clogs. I don't know if it's living in the country or the ongoing illness, but I was feeling mighty frumpy in clogs. Thanks for validating my fashion footwear choice!

[Lynae]

I am up to the gusset on my two pair on two circs. To keep the yarn from tangling, I turn right when I turn the socks the first time, then turn back left when I turn the next time. Just keep alternating. OR, you can do what I read on someone's blog and put the yarn inside two other old socks, then detangling is easy.

[heather]

Great shoes for those great socks. You are a genius. I bow to you.

[Saun]

Get well wishes to HWWV.

Now I don't feel so bad about missing out on the Fortissima yarn from Elann. My biggest pet peeve with yarn is yarn that pills.

[Kristen]

hey wendy- just wondering how the sketching was going and if you'd had any help offered. i'm no DaVinci but i did go to art school and if you're still having problems i'm offering up any help that i can give :) and if i still can't help i have a friend who went to school for fashion who i'll ask if SHE can help.

[GailV]

Hey, I used that same yarn in that same color to try (new to me) toe-up socks on (new to me) circs. Not much pilling, maybe because I have leather clogs instead of plastic, but they make my ankles itch like crazy.

[Kristina]

Hey Wendy,

Where did you find those great clogs? And did you say they were rubber?

Thanks!

[Wendy]

Hi Kristen, I'm just doing my best and when I give them to the agent if she feels the sketches are too child-like, I'll get in touch with you! Thanks...

[pixie]

If you knit any solid socks, be sure to join my solid socks along!!

[Esther]

I just got a copy of socks soar on two circulars and I must say I'm slightly intimidated! But I absolutely MUST learn how because I hate second sock syndrome.

Yours look great!

[Laura]

I'm doing my Soctoberfest socks two at a time too, and I have to say, I am not always enjoying the process! The yarn gets a bit tangled, the ladders between needles are a bit too big, and I am using Addi Turbos, which I think are a bit too slippery. BUT it is worth the minor hassles to get both socks done at once.
On another note, there is a great drawing book for us non-artist types called Drawing on the Left Side of the Brain (or is it the Right Side? anyway...). It teaches you how to draw. Really. Not like one of those lame Art Institute courses, but actually how to see things so you can draw them. Check it out!

[keohinani]

great job! you finished the socks! i'm sure your socks will seriously be flying off the needles now. :)
hope HWWV gets well soon!
and btw, i was never a former cheerleader, class president, or general organizer. i was always just an average student-athlete who hid behind a camera and slept wherever and whenever i could...

[Sara]

I haven't yet tried knitting socks (that's my major step after my tons of holiday knitting is complete)... would it be easier to learn doing two at once from the very start, or should I start by doing them separately and then easing into two at once?

[Wendy]

Sara, I'd start with one sock on two circs, figure out how it works, then move to two...

[sarah]

Oooooh, I gotta figure out how to do that, I have a terrible case of second sock syndrom! Your newest pair look lovely, can't wait to see what pair comes next, maybe something with the super-rad vespyr now that we know it will work...

[Rachel]

Oh you! I'm so jelous!! I tried the two sock thing and gave it up... I just couldn't get it to work. I got all tangled up. But now that your raving about it I'm going to give it a go again!! Thanks for the boost Wendy! And send my "get well soon" to HWWV.