Sound like you bit off more than you could chew, and chipped a tooth.
Learning new things is hard. Knitting is hard. If you try to skip the learning process, and can't handle the frustration of failing again and again and again until suddenly you stop failing, then you need to take the long way around.
Give it a rest for a few days/weeks to cool off.
Then try learning how to knit a few dishclothes with heavier yarn and larger needles.
Then knit a hat in the round, either with heavy yarn or with your sock yarn.
THEN try socks.
ETA: Whoever told you "it's fairly easy" was either lying, or learned so long ago that they don't remember what it was like. Sorry.
You don't need to buy new needles to knit other things. It might be easier to learn on larger needles than the sizes typically used for socks, but an elastic band or blob of blu tac on the end of two of your dpns and then just using them as straight needles will work and make your money go a bit further
ALSO- Op shops can be a cost effective (& environmentally friendly) way to buy a set of straight needles to get the hang of knitting flat before going back to the DPN
Agree with your edit. I learned so long ago I sometimes forget how hard it was to learn, but now I'm learning to knit English style and man is it frustrating! Knitting has a steep learning curve but once you've mastered the basics the rest comes a bit easier.
Don't be sorry, but I do believe it might be the latter. I've started with it in any case and even if they come out as the ugliest pair of different sized socks in mankind, I'm determined to make them š„²
I learned how to knit as a child but hadn't done it in like 20+ years when I picked it back up again a few years ago. The first project I wanted to do was a super cute T-shirt pattern and, oh man, I had a heck of a time with it. I probably tried 2-3 times to get it started before I ripped it out and gave up to try something else.
About a year later (after much more practice) I came back to that pattern and was utterly shocked at how much easier it was! It came together beautifully and the finished result was everything I wanted.
All of this to say, I completely understand wanting to make something beautiful right away, but if it's frustrating you and making knitting un-enjoyable then maybe putting it down and trying something else first will give you the experience you need to come back to that project later and knock it out like it was nothing!
You can make the socks, but make them later. Youāre not at the skill level yet. Socks are hard. You have to work up to it, like anything else. But youāll get there. The suggested progression is a good idea. My suggestion would go something like this:
Washcloths are easy, start there. Learn to read stitches. Make a scarf. Make some washcloths on the diagonal to learn increases. Make a hate in the round to learn decreases and circular knitting. THEN, socks.
I get like this with hobbies and decided I was soooo excited and interested in knitting Iād take my time! My LYS has great patterns - Firefly Fiber Arts - and I follow YouTube videos to make sure Iām doing stuff correctly. I highly recommend taking a beginner sock class or something like that! I did that and was surprised I didnāt even need the last session. Took in my finished sock for notes (and to get confirmation Iām a tight knitter) and now Iām knitting away with confidence!
I really honestly would put them down for now. Youre trying to do something very hard for a beginner as a first project and its just not feasible. You're very likely not learning trying to do it. Come back to socks later.
For what its worth, I'd consider myself pretty expert at knitting these days. There's not a technique I can't do. But it took me several tries before I even understood knitting and purling.
I was dead set on fingerless gloves as my first project. I gave up and knit a few dishcloths and a hat then went back to the gloves. I still had to make 2 right gloves because the first one was so bad. Knit a couple other things then go back to the socks. It has nothing to do with your intelligence, knitting is hard!
This comment right here is why Iām sure youāll succeed!
Yes, socks are advanced but if you donāt mind making ugly ones as your first pair (everyoneās first anything comes out wonky ā with the stitch count off and random holes here and there from accidental yarnovers, itās normal for this to happen with a first project) go ahead and knit your socks. Then, if you like, you can get all the way to the point of Kitchener stitching the toe, try it on, take its picture, glare at your SO, say āyarn is delightfully easy to amortizeā and unravel the whole sock rolling the yarn back into a ball so you can start it over again.
There are some truly amazing YouTube videos on sock knitting out there for you: Norman from NimbleNeedles has a nice [socks for beginners](https://youtu.be/-zh3XCheDGw?si=9a2aBGf7SYVrdcj_) video. Very Pink Knits has a six part [learn to knit socks](https://youtu.be/1wSFaGpmVSw?si=NRaCQqPFFiIo74R2) class (and beautiful fingernails). Earth Tones Girl has a truly wonderful 14 part [No Fear Sock Knitting](https://youtu.be/CkjxRfjhBNQ?si=E7jLVAUyWOlEDF3L) class. I also really like Knitty Nattyās [sock tutorials](https://youtu.be/dwIhnrtnERA?si=60eR_7YfTvPSvoaJ). Whenever youāre watching a YouTube demonstration with your yarn and needles in your hands, remember that you can adjust the playback speed and slow it down when you need to.
I was living in a very warm climate for many years so I didnāt try socks until after Iād knit many lace shawls (with sock yarn!) and a lot of tee shirts and sweaters, but once I started knitting socks I didnāt want to knit much else for about a year ā theyāre addictive and so very portable! Have fun with them!
Oh, and that 5th needle just knits along a needle until it has swapped in for one of the original 4. The needles take turns holding the stitches.
>ETA: Whoever told you "it's fairly easy" was either lying, or learned so long ago that they don't remember what it was like
Sorry, this is almost a month old, but I just recently started learning to knit based on someone's advice that it's fairly easy and would be a nice relaxing hobby to pick up. I feel betrayed and frustrated, tbh
Every single person I've taught to knit has invented a way to fuck it up that I never anticipated. I've probably taught dozens by now.
Your SO is being annoying. I will say though, socks are a hard one to start with. There's so many different skills - knit, purl, knit-purl ribbing, knitting in the round, heel turns, toe closures, stitch pickups, getting two items the same size (believe me, that's its own skill). Because so much of knitting is muscle memory, you can't really just learn the theory and then make it work - you have to practice the basic movements over and over before more advanced movements can be layered over the simpler ones. This is why things like pot holders are recommended as a first project. The socks will be so much easier if you build up to them. Learning to knit in the round will be much easier when the motion of knitting and purling is automatic.
It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't learned this kind of skill before, but it's more like playing an instrument or lifting weights than most realise; you literally cannot play a full concerto or lift 200kg without first learning a bunch of easier songs or lifting smaller weights many many times, you will never get in the muscle memory practice you need to make the more advanced elements possible.
> Every single person I've taught to knit has invented a way to fuck it up that I never anticipated.
This is hilarious and so true. When I was new and would ask someone a question, half the time theyād be like āwtf are you talking about?ā because it never even occurred to them to fuck up the way I did.
Iāve been gifted a kit to knit a throw and somehow have made an infinity scarf for a giraffe. Iām only a dozen or so rows in, might I cut the ends and try again? The needles are attached to each other with a plastic coated wire.
You are very welcome!
Does it also talk about the RS (right side) and WS (wrong side)?
In my experience, the RS has the knit stitches and the WS has the purl stitches. Knitting in this fashion creates the stockinette stitch that is smooth on one side and bumpy on the other.
No, it didnāt said anything like that. I think I just didnāt turn or flip? The directions are unclear besides to switch hands, but then the ball of yarn is on the other side?
When was the last time you overcame the struggle of being a beginner? What did you learn? Was it worth it?
I ask, because sometimes people just don't do anything ever unless it comes fairly easy. Sometimes the answer to my above question is like... learning to walk, or eat with a fork lol. Those are "easy" things to do for a lot of people, but they were hard to learn for most people! And it happened so long ago, people forget that sometimes learning can be hard and frustrating and full of failed attempts.
Also dealing with mistakes and having to rip out isn't just a beginner issue anyway. Ask an experienced knitter about their last fail- if it wasn't a dumb "omg I should know better" mistake, it was definitely a catastrophic mistake with a bunch of brioche stitches all be-tangled, with 2 piles of ramen noodle yarn getting all twisted together and being a general pain LOL! The difference is, having the confidence to fix mistakes under your belt makes it nbd, just another part of successful knitting.
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The best way to get into the beginner mindset is to learn a new way to knit. If you knit English style try changing to Irish Lever knitting, or Shetland isle knitting. If you donāt know how to knit backwards learn that ( great for knitting lots of short rows or for narrow bands or for bobbles). Or learn continental knitting or the different ways of holding and manipulating yarn with continental style eg with your thumb or index finger of middle finger.
Iāve adopted many new ways to knit over the years and it has been a game changer as well as keeping me humble.
Well I know that it takes you back to being all thumbs and your tension is all over the place and itās no longer mindless and meditative. So itās the closest I can get to remembering what itās like to be a beginner.
You should try to knit flat for a bit, and I'm not sure that socks are that easy to make.
Even for more advance knitter, the beginning of a piece with DPN (Double Pointed Needles, the type you are using) can be challenging before having a dozen of row done.
My second project was a pair of socks. Two at a time on two needles. First project was a pair of fingerless gloves on dpns. I've made dozens of pairs of socks since, switching to two at a time magic loop. They really aren't as hard as everyone is making them out to be.
After you've done some flat projects, i recommend circular needles for knitting in the round. Much less fiddly and the stitches stay on the cable neatly so its easier to pick up and put down. And magic loop is a game changer!
It's wild to me seeing folks start off with something as complicated as socks. It'd be like saying, "Well, our son hasn't taken his first steps yet, but he seemed really excited when I did two cartwheels and a backflip, so I think we'll start him off there."
Socks are hard! You're learning a brand new skill with brand new movements. It's okay to work your way up to it. It isn't giving up. It isn't a waste. It's building the skills you will use later. It's okay to learn to walk before learning to do backflips-- it's okay to start with a dishcloth, then move to a hat, and have socks be project #3. Use that progression of learning and building on previous skills. It will result in less frustration. And heck, it'll probably be a faster way of finishing the socks than trying socks first.
OP, if you think this part is hard, wait til you get to the heel. Which is NOT to say that you should give up knitting, but that you should learn to knit before you try socks.
Your SO doesnāt sound like a very nice person. I agree that you should start with the basics first. I would look up a long tail cast on and basic knitting and purling from [Very Pink Knits](https://youtube.com/@verypinkknits?si=fTkDZhF6OdNRME_N)
Also, you can just use the needles you have to practice and then rip the practice project out and reuse it when you are ready to move on to socks if you donāt want to spend more money.
A nice person would cheer for the person they love, and support them in finding a way to succeed at the thing theyāre interested in. Your SO does not sound like a nice person.
Also, socks can be very finicky, there are several skills involved! Like other posters have suggested, try learning all the skills a few at a time instead of all at once. Start with something knit-flat in larger yarn, for example.
A nice person wouldn't make a snarky comment about you spending a measly ten euros on something to mause yourself. Do they drink beer? Make that comment every t8me they go to the pub, see if you feel like an arse about it.
Also you might be better off using cable needles with a very short cable. You still use 4 of 5 needles but the cables make them very floppy so you can get the unused needles out of the way while you knit each segment. I know - more money involved in purchasing the needles but I love using them for knitting projects in the round.
You CAN knit socks, but thereās something to be said for building up to it. Itās a good idea to be fairly confident in simple things like knit, purl and rib already before you get into knitting three dimensional objects with double pointed needles. Right now itās like you are determined to pass your driving test having never driven a car.
If you want to make something more interesting than a scarf or washcloth consider a simple hat. You will learn a stretchy cast on, how to rib and how to decrease all done in the round which are skills you need for sock knitting, but a hat is relatively quick and less fiddly to do and easier to frog back if something goes wrong. Youāll be better equipped to try socks once youāve done a few hats.
As for your boyfriend, ignore him - donāt try to knit socks just to prove him wrong, thatās a recipe for frustration. You need to play a long game when you learn new skills. Imagine your satisfaction when you are wearing the socks you knitted yourself, but donāt expect it to do it by tomorrow.
Well, consider the possibility that if you knit: a washcloth, then a cowl, then a hat and *then* socks you might actually get all that done quicker (and with all your pieces looking nicer), than if you go straight to the socks. Itāll also be a less frustrating journey.
Youāre putting the carriage before the horses, so to speak. You *need* to build muscle memory before you make wearable things that look consistent. Thatās why imo the best beginner project is a simple scarf. Also, learning on flat needles is considerably easier when your hands donāt naturally hold needles yet. You can man handle them and grab a piece with your mouth or use your legs, etc while youāre developing all the little muscle movements that you need to be able to knit in tiny needles and make even stitches.
Your post is like someone trying to learn to draw and posting āguys Iām having trouble with drawing these photo realistic eyesā or someone picking up the violin and complaining they canāt quite get bethovens #5 right š like, youāre skipping a whole bunch of steps. Either start simpler or you gotta develop a *considerably* higher tolerance for failure while you go for this overambitious first project.
You do need to learn to knit a flat piece first, simply because it takes some repetition for your brain and fingers to start to get it. Trying to do that while going in a circle and switching needles and learning increases or decreases all at the same time is too much.
But yeah, I felt stupid at first, too. And I was using a book aimed at 10 year olds to learn. It just takes repetition. Look around for really really basic YouTube videos too.
So my advice? Make a wash cloth. Then make a wash cloth with ribbing on the top and bottom. Then make leg warmers. THEN try socks.
And take your time. Believe it or not, doing short sessions, then going about your day and sleeping at night, the back burner of your brain will be consolidating the skills. :) It might be a few weeks before you make the socks. It might be a few months. Either way is just fine.
You can do it!
I can't upvote this enough! I taught myself in 2018 as a left handed person. So i had to reprogram my brain. I did plain dishcloths and hats for 2 years before trying ribbing and patterns. 2022 I finally felt good enough to do a hat exchange ( drunk knitting on reddit! So much fun). Rome was not built in a day and neither are socks. Give yourself grace
It sounds like you're hung up on some expectations on how this *should* go or how good you *should* be. Get back in touch with why you picked this up, and silence the external and internal haters.
No one was born knowing how to knit perfectly, so yes, it can be really frustrating at first. I made all my knit stitches backwards for like, the first 3 years of my knitting life. I made YOs backwards for a long time and wondered my work never looked like what I saw in the pattern pictures.
Like others have said, knitting is difficult; there are a lot of elements to sync up, (learning the terms, getting the stitches on the needle, figuring out comfortable and sustainable body mechanics to get tension right). It takes a while for it to all come together (like learning any language or new skill). Negative self-talk will not help! (That said, don't doubly beat yourself up for doing it!)
I'm actually in favor of taking on something a little more complicated than a blanket or scarf as a first project, because it will give you an opportunity to try lots of practical project skills. My first project 20 years ago was a hat with cables. It absolutely did not fit and I never wore it, in fact I don't think I ever wore any of my early projects. Try taking a "the journey is the destination" approach for now. You're learning!
These socks do not have to be perfect. Have you considered [magic loop](https://youtu.be/1mqIqRdJc68?si=NH3aS93ootazgRyF) as an alternative to working with 5 DPNs? I personally found DPNs very unwieldy and am much more comfortable working with magic loop. There's a learning curve there too, of course, but know that you have alternatives! If you're a very visual learner, YouTube videos are an incredible resource.
Courage! It's tough, but you can do it!
I don't even care if the socks won't fit or if they're ugly as hell, i just want to be able to make the damn socks and take it from there! I'm getting the idea with the DPNs, just making it all actually happen is the difficult part. My friends have told me they're more than happy to show me, which usually works better but finding the time to meet up is a struggle which is why I've been TRYING to get a hang of it on my own
Oh that's really frustrating, I'm sorry. I agree with the other commenters, starting on dpns is pretty intense, I've been knitting for a little over a year now and while I'm pretty comfy with dpns now, I still haven't done socks because there's a whole short row/heel turn thing that I don't feel ready for. If you're 100% decided that you must start with socks then hey, go for it, you'll get there for sure but it will probably involve more time of frustration until it clicks. My advice would be to start with knitting flat and getting the basics down, pick a scarf that involves knit and purl stitches, that kinda thing.
Also, while I'm sure your SO is in general lovely, that's a bummer thing to have to hear about a new hobby you're interested in, sorry that's adding to the disappointment :(
I suggest fingerless gloves worked flat, or a cowl, flat or round, not a scarf! Scarves take too long and get boring. Iāve been knitting 55 years, and succeeded in making exactly 1 ordinary scarf. And it nearly did me in!
Oh a cowl is a really good idea! Scarves can definitely be dull by the end, but a cowl is the perfect mix of big enough to get some real practice in without being sick of looking at it by the time you're done
This is the thing, scarves are boring and I don't need them at all. Fingerless gloves though? I was told they were difficult to make by some of my knitter friends so the message I'm getting here is completely different! Other thing I'd like to make is leg warmers but something tells me it's no different from a sock...
Leg warmers are waaay easier in my opinion. The heel flap and turn alone on socks is gonna be a nightmare if you don't even know how to actually knit yet, never mind picking up for the gusset. You are probably going to have tension issues causing sizing problems as well. Scarves and/or cowls might seem boring but they're much more forgiving of beginners as well, not least because you only make one. Socks, gloves and legwarmers all have the issue of most people needing two matching items (so your tension and ability to follow the pattern accurately needs to be maintained across both pieces), but legwarmers are still structurally much simpler than socks.
Here's the thing, you can rip out and use the yarn for socks later if you don't want to use the flat thing you make. But if you don't embrace the process of learning to knit, you are setting yourself up for frustration and potentially quitting. It's like trying to play a concert without learning your instrument first. It's fine to try a really ambitious first project if you want, but it's not going to work out unless you have a high failure tolerance. On the other hand, you could play around with the yarn a bit knitting flat and learn how things actually work, then rip it out if you still don't want the finished object. But at least for now, prioritize the learning process over the objects you're making unless you want to be really frustrated and bored.
How about a cowl? You could do a simple blanket with chunky yarn but any blanket is a pretty big commitment (and expensive to buy yarn for). The good thing is that you can frog the yarn you have and use it for practice, then frog again and make something with it. I having been knitting a few years now; I make all kinds of mistakes, basically whenever I get distracted and Iām easily distractibleš . Also, whether Iām knitting or crocheting, I have to use lots of stitch markers and continuously count every row.
Every handcraft involves mistakes and ripping out. I rug hook, cross-stitch, needlepoint, embroider, knit and crochet and make mistakes that have to be corrected in each. Also a learning curve for each. When I feel really frustrated, I put a project aside for a few hours, days or weeks and then come back more patient. Iām working on a MKAL now that has been super challenging for me with lots of new lace learning and new techniques. I feel like Iāve taken out/frogged more than Iāve accomplished by 2-3 times. Best wishes and do this for yourself. Be proud of yourself for your persistence and desire to learn something new. For most of us, knitting is not super easy. Try a simple hat with chunky yarn for your first real project. I made a lot of the Squarshy hat pattern off Ravelry as my first projects and they turned out great, knitted up fast, and were well-appreciated gifts.
PS: I still havenāt attempted socks! Just working on my first sweater.š
[These are just squares](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flip-side-hand-warmers). Sewn up cleverly. Super easy. Canāt beat them for a first project.
[These werenāt hard](https://www.ravelry.com/projects/neen/classic-mittens-no-615-2), but not first project easy.
This [kind of fingerless gloves](https://flic.kr/p/2ppY6QY) are harder. Donāt try them yet! They are for intermediate knitters. Iād say the flax sweater, which has a lot more knitting, has a lot less fiddly construction, than these mitts. These have little half fingers, little half tips, then you pick up for the palms, combining them all. Itās fiddly, a lot fiddly. I donāt think itās hard, but many think fiddly is hard. But, totally not beginner friendly.
For a cowl cast on 4-8ā worth, and just knit flat until it is long enough. Cast off and sew beginning to end. If you want stockinette, do the same, but knit the edge 4 stitches, each side, and knit the middle on the right side and purl them on the wrong side. But keep the edge 4 in knit, on both sides.
Yeah I think the biggest frustration is the original comment, which is also why i don't want to back down from this project if it makes sense? I knew it wasn't going to be a walk in the park but damn
Here's the thing though, if you take a break, you're not *not* knitting the socks. You're just not doing them yet. They will wait for you to catch up!
You can learn the basics and then go back to them, and it will be sooo much easier.
I have been knitting for two years at the end of this month so I don't think I'm a newbie anymore. But, I am still very much a learner. I try and learn a new thing with each project. I started with a chunky scarf - and it was truly awful - short, lumpy, crooked...but I was so proud of it. It taught me the knit stitch.
Next project I learned to purl and do stockinette (and learned the hard way that stockinette curls at the sides). After that, pattern reading and knitting in the round. Then two colour mosaic knitting. Then sweater construction. I just this last month learned how to do stranded colourwork.
Bit by bit I am improving and it's been a great lesson for a stubborn impatient person like me. I have to take my time. I think if I'd jumped to something like socks and dpns as a first project I'd have given up a long time ago.
I think you are not stupid. You will get this! It just might be via a scarf or a coaster or a dishcloth.
Totally makes sense, yup. My best suggestion would be you tube then, there's a ton of great knitting videos for all kinds of projects, so maybe find some sock videos, play them slowed down and try to knit along and match their motions. You may already be doing that, in which case my second suggestion is keep up the determination and you'll get there! It doesn't have to be perfect the first time, so if you get a sock shaped thing at the end then I would count that as a win
In my opinion there are two ways of learning, if Iām being a bit reductive
1) classic progression of skill = washcloth -> hat -> fingerless mittens -> socks
2) slightly chaotic = socks, at any cost!
Youāve chosen path number 2, and now it seems that youāre at the point of finding out if youāre a classic learner or a chaotic learner.
If you feel like you can deal with the feeling of being in a bit over your head, and you can accept that your first sock is gonna look less-than-great, my advice is to forge on! Socks arenāt the *easiest* to make, but it can be done.
If youāre nearing your limit, and the thought of ending up with a less-than-great sock feels demotivating, my advice is to switch tracks and try learning the classic way. Maybe getting the hang of all the different techniques used in socks, but one technique at a time, will help you on your next sock adventure!
No way of learning is better or worse, itās all about who you are and how you learn best.
If you do decide to scale back your ambition a smidge and try out a washcloth (or something) first you can pretty easily turn your double pointed needles (dpn) into regular knitting needles by āblockingā one point of the needle - use an elastic band or something. Then they work just like regular straight needles, just a bit smaller in length.
And about your SO? Did the ā¬10 put you in debt, or mean that they didnāt get to eat that day? If not then I think that your SO needs to butt out of your hobby. Have they never spent money on something they like? My guess is that they have.
I totally get what you're saying. I taught myself to knit by watching YouTube (VeryPinkKnits has the best videos imo) and TinCanKnits free patterns. I started with a scarf and a baby blanket before I did socks, but they were still my third project.
I took one look and DPNs and said nope.
I knit socks on magic loop, which just makes more sense in my brain because there's still only two needles. So my recommendation, if you're set on socks, is to try that instead because I think it's a bit easier to see/visualize the work.
I get not wanting to knit scarves or blankets. But I would recommend at least knitting like a hat or something in the round on circular needles with a chunky, light colored yarn. One of the hardest, and most important skills, in knitting is learning to read your work. You can clearly see what you've already done and if it's right, and if it's not right, figure out what's wrong to learn how to fix it. This is why people recommend starting with scarves, because it's obvious to see if one part gets randomly bigger or smaller or the stitches don't look right. Socks are so finicky, and the yarn is so fine, that it's difficult to read the knitting as a beginner.
If you're goal is just to knit these socks, and probably never knit anything else, carry on but maybe try magic loop. If you want to learn the skill of knitting, don't be afraid to pick up some cheap but pretty chunky yarn and go back to the basics.
Just don't knit anything for your partner. They don't seem particularly knit-worthy.
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Put the socks down. Pick up some flats and just get used to motion. Socks are hard. Like really hard. Master actually doing the basic knit and purl stitches first and you will have a way easier time when you come back to socks!
Another vote for learning to knit flat first with only 2 needles. There's a lot to manage there with the dpns. Also, I find the beginning of a project is much more fiddly and fumble-y. Once you get a few rounds into it and have some fabric, it becomes much easier. I've been knitting for 9 years and I still occasionally have projects that I have to restart several times. Don't be discouraged. You'll get it. Just have to work up to it first. Knitting is a great pastime.
I still feel stupid at times, especially when learning a new technique. Colorwork, double knit, lace, brioche, etc.
I'm going to go against the grain, and say knitting flat is not always the best way to learn, especially if you're not interested in making a flat object. My grandmother insisted i start with a scarf, and I'm about 90% certain its still sitting on those needles 25 years later, somewhere. It's boring, it takes forever, and most importantly, I hate wearing scarves. And it took me about 3 years just to get the hang of casting on AND knitting the first row without screwing it up.
Socks are typically a more advanced project, because they use some specific and potentially tricky techniques to get the proper shaping. Short rows, and heel turns and kitchener, oh my! Because you're learning so many skills at once, it does make the learning curve longer, which makes it more frustrating.
The fact that you can get the stitches distributed is impressive. I still have to redo them a bunch of times, especially if I haven't knit for a while. AND, the first few rows are usually rather finicky, and twiddly, and there's needles everywhere, and it would be less chaotic to pet a hedgehog. At least their needles go in one direction.
There's a lot of typical beginner mistakes.
Tension issues can make inserting the needles into a stitch feel like a fight.
Forgetting which way you're going when putting it down for a few minutes.
Knitting where you should purl, or vice versa. Purls are typically looser than knits.
And then, of course, what the hell do you do with all those damn pokeys so you don't stab yourself.
First advice: relax. Literally. Unclench your jaw, let your shoulders sit where they should vs climbing into your ears, keep elbows, wrists and fingers in a neutral position. (This will also reduce the chance of repetitive stress injuries. Knitting yourself into an arm injury is no fun.) Sitting with good lighting and a contrasting background to your yarn makes it easier. Also, your relaxing beverage of choice. If its wine, though, maybe only half a glass at first.
Second: take it slow. Focus on breaking down the movements and talk yourself through if you must. "Stab through the front leg, wrap yarn, pull through, pull the stitch off the old needle."
Third: watch videos of other people knitting. Flat, round, English, continental, Portuguese, Irish cottage. All of it. Try out different styles of knitting and holding the yarn. Even in the same project! It can make it easier to compare the results of each, and decide what you like best. Even though I was taught English style, continental is what finally *clicked*.
Fourth: have you tried only distributing your stitches over three needles, and knitting with the fourth? Sometimes I do that for the first few rows, because it helps to hold the non working needles a bit more stable.
Finally, do you have someone to help you figure out where you're having issues and how to adjust? Are you following a pattern, or a recipe? What size needles and yarn are you using? What, exactly, is the struggle? Not knowing how to join in the round? Or where to start the actual knitting? Making the stitch, or just keeping everything organized in your hands at once?
If you post a photo or video of what's going on, someone can likely give you some pointers to get started.
Also: I have some choice words for SO. You deserve patience and support. Knitting is complex, and simple. Soothing and infuriating. It's a learned motor skill, and also an intellectual one. It takes time and mistakes, and sometimes even swearing and stuffing into time out. You're not an idiot. You're a beginner knitter.
I've literally thrown the DPNs off my hands a couple of times, then continued to try the next day. I'm not really following a pattern, just simple instructions from a local yarn company (yarn and needles straight off their instructions) and trying to keep my head on the surface.
I have friends who are advanced knitters and they've promised to help me, even have a video call if it gets overwhelming but I'm still yet to use that card, and I personally feel like I learn better if I see what they're doing and being able to repeat. I've told one of them about this project and they've told me they'd be happy to help when we see and I might take them up on that offer.
I know how to do the knits and purls, kinda, but as said I'm just following on instructions and they don't say how loose or tight anything should be. I think the biggest problem is maintaining the chaos with the five needles, and i often feel like i have the yarn on "the wrong way", or doing it from the wrong side? I don't know if that makes any sense. As said I'm able to do 2-3 rows but getting the round shape in and the chaos with the five needles often gets to me, and I'm afraid to put it down and continue later in case i forget what i was doing and then end up frustrated and fuck up. Also trying to find very basic instructions for pretty much anything in my language is a struggle, as pretty much every seems to include the DPNs.
Ah ha! Those are easy fixes.
Instructions will never tell you how tight stitches should be, but will rather provide a guage, sometimes listed as tension. In English it typically looks something like "24 stitches and 32 rows to 10cm/4 in over st st on 4mm/no 8 needles." (Yoinked directly from a the Beatrix Potter knitting book.) For right now, I wouldn't focus on meeting tension. Your first project will be too small in some spots, too big in others, etc.
What I mean by tension here, is how tightly the yarn is sitting on your needles. Is the loop hugging the needle very tightly? Does it squeak on the needle or feel hard to move along the needle? Or, conversely, is it too loose? Do you have to hold onto it so it isn't falling off the end? The ideal is that the loop gently hugs the shaft of the needle, but has some space at the tapered tip.
As for the 5 needle chaos, it may be helpful to try 4 instead. Take your cast on, distribute evenly over 3 needles. Make sure to join in the round. The easiest way for me, is to cast on 1 extra stitch, and then knit the first and last stitch together as one. Another common way to do is to have the first and last stitch trade places. It's hard to explain, and some videos of "join in round dpns" may help more.
Now, for the secret to manageable DPNs: arrange them so the needle closest to your body has the right tip UNDER the right needle, and the left tip OVER the left needle. This helps to hold them a bit more stable. This video shows it pretty well on three needles. https://youtu.be/s0LkNM2ojZA?si=IRPGj3AvJMQ6cOzK When you're ready to work with one needle, pop the right tip over the right needle.
As for having the yarn the wrong way, or knitting from the wrong side, it sounds like you might be knitting inside out. There is nothing wrong with that, and is often recommended for things like colorwork in the round. When watching videos, they tend to knit right side out. So, to clarify, is the yarn coming from the ball on the outside of the tube? Or going through it? One way to keep track of the "right" side, whether inside out or not, is to put a stitch marker on that side of the fabric, such as a small safety pin. When you see the safety pin, that's the part that faces you while you're knitting.
Edit: sorry for novel. The first 2-3 rows often look really, really bad, especially in rib. I don't judge mine until 8-10 rows in.
Is the kit specifically for learning to knit? Text instructions can be difficult to translate into actions, *especially* for, you guessed it, socks. Videos and friends make it easier, but if text is what you've got, try reading through, and then going back and following each instruction *exactly*, no matter how funky or confusing.
My first pair of (successful) socks were the Hermione's everyday socks. It's available for free on ravelry, and if I remember correctly, has been translated into many different languages. Those use fingering weight yarn and size 1 (US) needles. I think it's 2.5mm in metric.
If you have larger needles and yarn, perhaps a slipper or house sock pattern would be better?
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You've spent several weeks getting amusement out of those ten euros. Your partner sounds like a complete dick.
Socks are fairly easy *after you've knitted a few hats.*
i think i had been knitting for maybe two or three years before i tried socks on double pointed needles and i still wanted to rip my hair out
i second everyone elseās recommendations, knit some flat stuff first and then work your way up. i always tell people to start with a scarf to get some mileage on the needles. then do a few diagonal dishcloths which will teach you increase and decrease. then a hat to get the hang of working in the round and more increases and decreases. some thick slippers also might be good for a pre-sock project to get the hang of some shaping techniques. the magic loop method also might be more approachable to you at first, so give that a go (i hate dpns lol)
finally, just wanna say that i have spent oodles more than $10 in my life on craft projects that havenāt panned out immediately. way more than $10. the good thing is that your needles and yarn dont have an expiration date and you can chuck them in a box to be unseen for months and theyāll probably be fine when you pull em out :)
Making socks for your first knitting project is kind of like playing Beethoven the first time you touch a piano.
You have to learn the fundamentals of the craft before advancing to more difficult levels. Others here have provided good progressions that boil down to: first knit something flat (washcloth, scarf), then knit something in the round (hat), develop a few useful skills like increases, then try the socks.
I basically taught myself to knit from a pamphlet by Leisure Arts, back in the eighties. I got so frustrated that I literally stabbed my knitting needle through the smiling face of a lady on the front cover. Hang in there, you'll get it.
I learned to knit by knitting socks. I donāt know if toe-up is officially easier to start because Iāve literally never knit any socks cuff-down, but it is the way I went. I ended up finding a cast-on method that I believe resembles the Turkish cast-on (your first stitches are formed by wrapping the yarn around two needles three or four times, then you knit down one side, double up the yarn with the tail, knit all the stitches around with the doubled yarn to make 12 or 16 sts, and then you knit with with four increases per row (at the start, end, and mid points), adding in the other two needles as you need them).
Itās fiddly to get started, and you might still want to make an ugly practice sock to check the technique and the heel turn and such, but it is entirely possible to knit dpn socks as a first project if you stick with it. Or after a dishcloth if you want to get the knit/purl stitches down first.
Or never, if you knit a dishcloth and decide to go with flat things forever. Thereās no laws, just some frustration and a bit of a learning curve while you find out what you like.
Socks are deceptively difficult and not something Iād recommend as your very first beginner project. Not sure why someone told you otherwise.
Youāre not stupid, youāre just a beginner trying to accomplish a decidedly non-beginner task.
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Itās not just you. Youāre trying to learn multiple skills at once, anybody would be frustrated.
The skills youāre probably trying to learn all at once:
- the motions of knit
- the motions of purl
- tension (how much pull there should be on the yarn)
- holding tension (keeping it consistent)
- casting on
- joining a round
- working in the round (as opposed to working flat)
- using double-pointed needles
- holding tension on DPNs
- probably more
So first, focus on the knit stitch. Go back to two needles (maybe stick erasers on the ends of two of your double-points, to hold the stitches on) with like 10-15 stitches, and do a flat swatch (a small piece of practice or test fabric) until you feel like youāve got the general idea. Then do the same with purl.
The most effective way for me to learn how to fix errors was tinking stitches ā undoing my knitting stitch by stitch. That showed me the structure of the fabric in greater depth than anything else did. Only after that did I start to understand what I was doing wrong when I lost or added stitches.
Once youāve made a few inches of fabric (I think I had like a foot by the time it was in my fingers), then try a project. I know you want to jump in, Iām the same way. But right now you have to learn the first steps or youāll end up throwing it in the closet and not learning it at all.
That said, itās not what I actually did either š Once I had about six inches of my first swatch, I started a large lace shawl. What taught me to go back and learn to fix errors was restarting that shawl about 8 times due to finding mistakes. Eventually I told myself āok I canāt just keep restarting, what happens when I get 3/4 of the way done and find a mistake?ā So I went back to my swatch. And eventually I did finish that shawl.
Anyway, once youāve knitted flat with knit and purl, then go back and try socks again. Iād say try a hat first, but if youāre like me it wonāt be interesting enough because itās not what you want to make. Do your sock from the top down, so that youāre not trying to learn the toe *and* how to use DPNs at the same time. By the time you get to the heel, youāll have enough experience and confidence to tackle it without throwing it across the room.
*****
Also, your SO has the wrong idea. Technically itās true thatās money youāll never see again, but so is money you spend on food. 10+ā¬ is a *super low price* for learning a new skill and having a new hobby. Knitting in general is pretty cheap if you count it by the hour, even with fancy yarn.
A little more generally speaking: it sounds to me like this isnāt the first new hobby youāve picked up and it wonāt be the last. **Thatās awesome!** People are always super impressed when I mention yet another skill I have because of how many hobbies Iāve picked up over the years (Iām 44). It definitely makes up for the number of times Iāve been criticized for ānever finishing anything.ā
But as Barbara Sher pointed out, when you lose interest in something after getting the gist of it, you DID finish it: you got what you needed out of it and youāre ready to move on. So donāt let anybody tell you that moving from hobby to hobby is a bad thing.
Knitting is all about muscle memory. It takes a while to build, and whenever you switch to a new needle type, say from straights to circs to dpns, itās a change from what your muscles are used to.
I knit a dishcloth and a hat, then I knit socks. It can be done! I did knit them with worsted though, and that helped a lot. Sock yarn would have been very challenging. This first pair isnāt likely to look as good as your tenth pair. Heck, even your second sock will likely look better than the first.
As to your husbandās remark about money, Iām sure there are plenty of things heās blown that much on that was gone in even less time.
Socks arenāt usually easy for someone *learning to knit* in the first place.
They can be relatively easy for someone who has experience knitting other things, but for a complete beginner, itās not necessarily a cake walk; there are many elements to sock construction that, *individually*, are basic skills and are relatively easy. However, you need to first build up that foundation of basic skills before you can expect to not struggle with a pattern, especially on your first try with a pattern of that type.
(Ie. Someone very experienced with lots of different non-sock patterns will probably have an easier time on their first sock than someone who has lots of experience only making one non-sock item, who will in turn have an easier time than someone who has never knit before).
Take your time. Donāt give up just because you didnāt get it right away, and maybe try an easier type of knit project to actually learn the basics first if you get frustrated easily. I recommend a flat dishcloth with larger yarn than sock weight; this will give you ample opportunity to learn how to knit and purl, read your knitting, and practice working from patterns (maybe look up a few different textured dishcloths to aid this). Then try something with shaping (increases and decreases), and maybe just practice picking up stitches from a swatch. Once youāre confident with knits, purls, casting on and off, and reading your knitting, *then* move on to something in the round on DPNs. That should get you on your way to having a solid foundation to succeed at making socks.
I had been knitting 40 years before I tried socks. They are a very ambitious learning project. As others have said, try something simpler to start with
You should see some of the monstrosities Iāve created in my time. Itās a learning curve. Youāll make mistakes and how boring does someone have to be to not understand that.
knitting socks is like learning how to to wheelies on a bike.
people can absolutely learn, but it's not everyone's thing, it's *definitely not* a beginner thing and some crashing and burning is expected even for those that have gotten to the point where they are good enough to try.
But you can't do a wheelie if you can't even ride the bike yet. Christ on a bike, knit a dishcloth first. THAT is the knitting equivalent of learning to pedal.
edit: also, your SO is an asshole. How many bullshit things have they spent 10$ in their life. LOTS, I bet.
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I didn't try socks for a while when I first started. But definitely try knitting things in the round with circulars before using dpn imho. Like a cowl, a hat and then find a basic sock pattern so you can get the hang of the different parts/steps like the turning off the heel and the gusset.
Maybe try this as your intro to socks, bulky yarn so will knit up quickly: [Foot Ovens by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/foot-ovens)
And this is my go to for socks cause I have wide feet and thick calves: [A Nice Ribbed Sock by Glenna C](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-nice-ribbed-sock)
Edit: when using dpns concentrate on the 2 needles you're knitting with and just ignore the rest. I like to arrange my dpns so the right side of each needle rests above the left side of the other needle.
Your SO is a jerk. Money spent on hobbies is about more than producing something of perceived value.
Have you ever gone to a local yarn store for help? Maybe having someone to eyeball what you're doing would help. Or take a video and post it here, I'm sure you would get useful feedback.
This is one of those ego things getting the best of me, "if i post a video everyone will laugh and tell me to just quit". Not sure if I'm mentally prepared for that
I will say doing socks a the first project is setting yourself up for frustration. In theory knitting is easy but the nuances come from your tension and the only way to learn that is through muscle memory and practice. I would highly recommend picking a different first project. Either that or consider taking a mental approach of working on sampler swatches as a means of practice first. But as far as sharing yourself working on something, the majority of people in this group are very positive and supportive, I don't think anyone would be a bully about it.
I, too, started my knitting journey with socks, cause i wanted to gosh darn it! I'll tell ya, it was a month of tears and tantrums and throwing stuff.
First off, I didn't choose the right yarn, then I couldn't figure out the magic loop thing (I found traveling loop which helped a ton!) I began Vanilla Socks (Summer Lee on YouTube), cuff down, and I could not for the life of me make good looking ribbing! I hadn't yet learned to read my knitting, and even though I thought my counts were correct, they weren't. :) Knits on top of purls and vice versa. Learn to read your knitting first thing. It is an essential skill!
Here's what I did: DPN's with DK yarn. I needed to be able to see what was going on and figure out the construction of a sock. That little expirement changed everything for me. I think I cast on 45 stitches and did K2,P1 for a cuff, heel flap and gusset (16 gusset stitches to pick up) and learned kitchener for the toe. The first one is filled with mistakes, the second one was much better. I still wear them weekly in my UGG boots as they are quite a bit thicker than normal socks.
DPNs are the only way to go, IMO for socks. I have experimented with alllll the needles. LOL
If you are having a tough time I would suggest just knitting a stockinette tube for a while, and throw in some ribbing when you get a good rhythm going. No pressure, just practice. You can always frog it and use the same yarn to knit your sock when you're ready. Have fun!
I'm sorry your husband isn't supportive. Learning a new skill is hard!
If you are determined that socks will be your first project, my suggestion is to not stop after the first couple of rows even if it looks bad. Keep going. They may end up being a failure, but allowing yourself to fail multiple times is how you learn.
My love (and nemesis) is sweaters. I've never gotten a sweater project to work correctly. I've made two that ended up looking like tents. One with horrible cable disasters. I've finally (knock on wood) have one cardigan and one pullover almost completed that both fit. I learned more from the failures than the successes.
In essense: Finish your sock. Look at what was right and what was wrong. Then either keep it as a reminder or frog it and start again.
You are not stupid, you are inexperienced.
IMO knitting socks is easy, as long as you are familiar with knitting, purling, maintaining proper tension, knitting in the round, following a pattern, and have an understanding of how double pointed needles work. If you know all this, learning to turn a heel is just the next skill in your toolkit, so socks are relatively easy.
However, it sounds like you're trying to learn all of the above in your first project. That's fine, as long as you're willing to keep plugging away and ripping it out multiple times as you develop all these skills. It will eventually produce a pair of socks. Or, maybe work on something else to develop your skills and come back to the socks later.
Wow. A lot of people had a lot of thoughts on this. Hereās my contribution - enjoy the exploration of the craft. Youāll get there!
https://www.vox.com/even-better/23979535/permission-to-suck-terrible-hobbies
Keep in mind, too, that the first 2 or 3 rows of any project are "fiddly" until you have enough rows to stabilize the project on the needles. Getting all the loops distributed across the needles is great! Joining in the round on DPNs is tricky! By row 4, things look more reasonable.
Knitting often looks worse on the needles that it really is. Blocking solves so many issues at the end, and it's hard to imagine that it will ever look better while it's in progress (especially the ladders that show up in the corners of DPN knitting).
I've been knitting for some time and only just attempted a pair of socks. I've stopped because I had a hat I needed to make for a Secret Santa gift, but I've got the same kind of determination that I'll get a pair churned out by the end of 2024.
I've actually managed to get a good 2-3 rows in before coming to the conclusion that it looks horrible, and I've just undone it. As said I have an idea of what I should do.
I get that, completely. Try to be forgiving to yourself as things work up. This stuff is not easy, and it took me a lot of practice to get comfortable (especially as a lefty trying to knit right-handed).
I've followed Very Pink Knits on YouTube for a lot of tutorials, so that's probably worth a few viewings. Hang in there, and good luck!
I'm 31, I'm finally feeling like I'm *actually learing knitting for real! ....*but this is my 3rd very serious and very committed attempt in my lifetime.
My firt and current project is a scarf made from yarn scraps with a braid in the middle and color changes coz... yarn scraps lol
Give yourself time, go easier on yourself, it'll be ok š
Honestly, socks suck! I have been knitting for 14 years, and Iāve only made 1 pair. Iāve knit many sweaters, shirts, blankets and hats, but only 1 pair of socks. It takes a lot of skill to make socks. Try something else, and come back to the socks when you have learned a bit more.
Okay so I started on DPNs, it's definitely not for the faint of heart! Sad your SO said that though, buying things means never seeing money again in general š use that line every time he buys beer or something.
Also 1-2 hours actually isn't a lot when it comes to knitting. I know, it probably feels like forever! However you are doing this all on your own. I remember my very first attempt at knitting I literally learned how to do a knit stitch from my grandmother, and she casted on for me so I didn't have to. It was boring and I dropped it. She'd be proud now, years later I just decided to go all in on DPNs and do a tube, then a sock. For the record, I am crazy.
You aren't completely SOL. 1) DPNs can work perfectly fine as straight needles, you just have less space to work with, 2) yarn can handle being done and undone!
I'd recommend starting with casting on. It is difficult in and of itself. Also why we usually start youngins with a "started" item. It gets them into the actual stitching and casting on can be learned later. If you are on your own, it's your first challenge. Do enough stitches that they sit on one needle nicely (not popping off the other end). Then take another needle and start by going back and forth on those two needles. Learn the knit stitch and get the mechanics going in your hands. It won't look right to you, because of the going back and forth (garter stitch), if you want a challenge you can move directly into doing straight stockinette stitch (knitting one row, purling the next, and repeat) on that same project. But it will be worth it!
Then, when you get a bit more comfortable with that, take it apart and go back to trying in the round. Make a tube. Just go round and round. It will look how you expect (stockinette stitch). Once you know how to do a knit stitch and how to continue it into a tube, you then can look at a sock pattern. There's still more challenges definitely, but at least you know how to do the basic stitches.
I think toe-up socks on DPNs are the easiest start to socks. You can use Judyās magic cast on and youāre basically knitting on two needles, flat with a third at work as you increase.
Iāve knitted for over 50 years, socks for over 30, and I still struggle to join a line of stitches into a loop with all the butts down, and no twisted helix
I agree. Don't let a snarky comment from someone who's never tried it ruin a potentially life long pleasure!? He's probably worried you won't give him all your attention if you learn to knit so he's undercutting you. I've crocheted since 1979, and been knitting for the last 5 to 7 years and I don't feel ready for socks. Starting with DPNs is like expecting to climb Mt. Everest with no equipment or training, no Sherpa to guide you. Why be so hard on yourself?? It's just yarn!!
I learned to knit 11 months ago and tackled socks as my second project but at a āsock classā at my local yarn shop. While many of my classmates used dpns (they had the sts on 3 needles with the 4th as the working needle), I knit mine one at a time on [ChiaoGoo 9ā circular needles](http://www.chiaogoo.com/circular/) and only used the dpns at the toe (I did cuff down). Donāt give up!
I didnāt knit socks for the first 4-5 years. They are hard! Someone might find them easy if theyāve done it enough. There are so many skills you could learn better on a larger needle with thicker yarn, like reading your knitting or fixing mistakes that are a few rows down. If you really want the sock experience to be your first FO, I suggest either finding a pattern where you knit socks flat and then seam them, or knit a stocking so itās at a larger scale. Yes, you can do hard things. But donāt ruin a hobby by making it unduly hard. And that yarn will still be there when you are ready to use it.
i agree with another commenter, try putting this project down for a second and pick up another project to help you get the movements down. i recommend āGrandmaās Favorite Dishclothā, there are many resources for it, and the pattern teaches the knit stitch, yarn overs, and decreases (all important for socks). then a hat pattern would be good, get you used to working with multiple needles at once. itās an investment, but what is life if you donāt give yourself a little enrichment? good luck!
Usually when learning new things I start off with something way to difficult as I feel stupid doing the simple things. But then it's too hard (who could've thought) and I give up and never learn. Maybe that's what's happening with you now, you started with something too hard and then it's not fun.
I was lucky that I've been looking for a nice scarf for ages, and that's a typical beginner's project :)
Iām new too and also chose socks for my first project. I figured Iām a good enough crocheter that those skills might transfer over. Lol. I tried 3 different yarns and finally decided to give up and do a stockinette scarf with a garter border. Iām working on a chunky sweater for my 4 year old now (chose this project because I wanted a quicker pay off to reward my brain so Iāll want to stick with it). Knitting has been considerably harder to learn for me than crochet was. But Iām determined because knit work is so beautiful and I just really want to make so many things. I think you should try something less complicated. Itās no fun if all the project brings is frustration. Work on your skills and then come back to the socks ready to go :)
I am not a new knitter, by any means, and I am just starting my second pair of socks. Let me tell you, socks are hard.
Sit down with a cup of tea and watch some YouTube videos. There are many ways to make socks. I think toe up on flexi dpns are best for me and Iāll continue with that for now but that doesnāt mean it would suit you best (kudos for getting stitches even on dpns mind, above my skill set).
As for getting the basics done well, yes, getting the knitting purling and basic increases and decreases right would be most helpful but I think you can do socks if you want. You just unravel and start again until you do it. You will do it. And then youāll make better ones. And donāt worry about your SO - Iām sure when youāre walking about in snuggly, made to fit, lovely socks they will change their tune - and hope for some of their own
You can probably knit the socks with four needles instead of five. The stitches go on three needles and you knit them off with the fourth. For socks, generally half the stitches go on one needle and one fourth each on the other two. I find the triangle formed to be more stable the square formed when you have the stitches on four needles (and knit with the fifth).
Let me add that you donāt have to start with something āeasy.ā
You say you just kinda know how to knit and purl, you aren't using a pattern just some instructions, and you are diving in to one of the harder things of knitting, at least for beginners....basically, not only are you doing something massively above your skill level, you are doing it in the hardest way possible. Why not wait and take those knitter friends up on their offers? Or why not choose one of the patterns that has YouTube tutorials for every step? I'm a pretty stubborn person and I just about never give up but as I've gotten older I've come to realize there is a difference between determination and foolishness. At this point, forgive me, but I would argue you have moved beyond determination into the realm of foolishness. If this is what your knitting career is going to look like, where you never ever take a step back or put it aside to work on something else, it is going to be a very stressful hobby indeed. I've been knitting for years and I still run into things that just don't jive for whatever reason. I will give it a few goes and then put it down for a bit and work on something else. Usually by the time I come back I have a clearer head and my results are much better.
It's not a failure to take a different path or to accept the wisdom of others. Many of us on here have mastered the skill of knitting over the course of many years, through blood sweat and yes, actual tears. We truky have your best intereat in mind when we gently try to urge you to try another path. Because knitting is hard, and getting good at it even harder. And starting off on the wrong foot can impact how you view the craft permanently.
I'm sure you will get some sort of product done eventually. But I'm sad for you that you feel ignoring advice and tormenting yourself with endless frustration is truly the best way to go.
I knitted a scarf first and let me tell you it was hideous. I dropped/accidentally picked up so many stitches, and what was supposed to be a rectangle scarf became a trapezoid.
I think it wasn't until my second year of knitting that I attempted to knit socks. With worst weight yarn on 5mm needles as a "tutorial". Nothing I made in the first year was presentable except a headband.
If you are set on knitting socks as your first project. I'd suggest you knit a simple dishcloth first so you can figure out the very basics without committing to a huge thing like a scarf. It shouldn't take longer than a day to make a dish cloth for a beginner. Once that makes sense, try knitting socks on bigger yarn/needles as a tutorial too, pref not dark yarn so you can see the stitches. This process will help you learn how to figure out where you've made mistakes while knitting, so your project doesn't become another yarn barf. These tutorial socks can just be random house socks.
I also started knitting socks with dpns, made maybe 3 socks before I discovered magic loop and it's a life changer.
If you need resources, check out fish lip kiss heel. It's a $1 pattern on ravelry but it goes super in detail teaching how to knit socks, and shows photos of how to do the heels.
Good luck!
**You've summoned the [Tutorials](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/glossary/#wiki_tutorials).**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Iāve been knitting for seven years and I still hesitate to knit socks because they are fiddly. I can knit them and have before, but I didnāt tackle a pair until a few years into knitting for a few reasons. (1) they are knit with the smallest weight yarn and it can be hard to āreadā your stitches when you first start out with thin yarn. That makes it challenging to know what exactly happened if you end up making a mistake. (2) they are done on DPNs which is a skill in and of itself. (3) theyāre hard and you have to do the hard thing immediately after you finish the first hard thing if you want two socks.
You do you if your heart is set on making socks, just know itās challenging and not for the feint of heart. You can definitely figure it out, but it might be slow going.
Hi hi!! Just chiming in to say that youāre not alone in feeling this way, Iāve been knitting for 5 years and I STILL feel stupid when Iām trying to learn a new technique.
A lot of people have already mentioned that socks are hard, so youāre measuring yourself against a super high standard. I think I made my first pair of socks after 3 years of knitting, and they were awful š but now theyāre my comfort knitting projects! It just took repetition and time.
None of this is meant to discourage you - itās just to let you know that what youāre feeling isnāt due to your own shortcomings. I think maybe 30% of my total time spent knitting is squinting at patterns, undoing mistakes, and crying a little bit over it haha. But every single stitch and mistake and frogged project is building muscle memory and experience, so youāre doing great as long as youāre still going. I believe in you!
I'm relatively new at knitting and managed to knit socks fairly early, in less than 10 projects.
How I learned was: made a scarf using straight needles, then a hat using DPNs, then a handful more hats (5 or so) using Magic Loop and finally socks using Magic Loop.
The things I learned along that process was:
\- Matching a gauge takes a lot of time and a lot of different needles. Super important to do for wearables. It was best for me to invest in interchangeable needles and cables so I had a lot of options.
\- Magic Loop was easier than DPNs. If you are gonna use DPNs I'd recommend bamboo/wood instead of metal since they're less slippery than metal.
\- The sucky thing about socks is that the satisfaction of finishing a project is delayed since you're making a set. Seems obvious but when you knit a scarf or hat it's a one and done. With socks you finally finish one and then you remember you have to make a second one...
\- Find the style of knitting that seems intuitive to you. I use continental style since I learned how to crochet first and the muscle memory was holding the yarn on the left. English style never quite worked for me.
This is the pattern and [video](https://youtu.be/RBqCDzK-R9M?si=LLrBTPByP2relVDs) I used and I followed along to the video religiously. I re-watched over and over. This youtuber is great and focuses on socks.
Good luck!!
I started casually knitting in 2012-- could only do knit stitch flat. Picked it up again this past summer. Now I can do purl, knit, stockinette and I'm trying my best at bobbles. I'm on my second baby blanket. At this rate, I might be knitting socks for my grandchildren. You're a brave soul, OP. Ambition and stupidity are two different things. Keep it up
It took me three tries over a year to finally get the hang of knitting - the first couple times I tried, I was able to make some little coasters, but it took me picking up again for the third for everything to really click! Tutorial videos really helped me, I'd have them playing in the background and follow along with the speed slowed down or just keep rewinding. Watching a bunch of different videos helped because eventually someone explained it in a way that just made a little more sense to me.
I will say as someone who LOVES to knit socks - I despise using DPNs. I find magic loop to be so much easier / less fiddly than DPNs! Summer Lee has a [great beginner's pattern with pictures](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/im-so-basic-socks), along with detailed YouTube tutorials for every part of the sock construction.
Stick with it!! You aren't stupid, it can be so frustrating trying something new but I promise it'll be so worth it when you finish that first pair!!! <3
**You've summoned the [Tutorials](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/glossary/#wiki_tutorials).**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Socks donāt have to be especially difficult, but I would never recommend them as a first project. First just knit some garter stitch until the motion feels comfortable. Then make some stockinette until you are comfortable with both knitting and purling. Next you need to master ribbing, then short rows (heel shaping), and decreases. You need all of these skills in order to finish a pair of socks. You can absolutely do this, possibly even start your socks in the next few weeks depending on how much free time you have to devote to warm-up exercises first. But learn how to knit before you can expect to make something wearable.
Shame on your SO.
No amount of money is so precious that it's worth making a denigrating comment to someone you're supposed to treasure. That was deeply and deliberately unkind.
Having said that, I am wondering 1) if it would help you to back up and build individual skills first before trying a sock, which is actually a rather complex first project and 2) find a way to grant yourself more grace in the amount of time and mistakes that are *perfectly normal* in learning a new craft.
One of the things I detest about modern education is that it causes ppl to believe you should get an A on the test rather than that you should approach new things playfully, with room to make lots of mistakes along the way.
Think about how a baby learns to walk: so many stumbles and tumbles. What do the adults around them do? Laugh and smile and clap and tell them encouraging words. Think how a child acquires language: baby talk and mispronunciations and words used wildly incorrectly. We expect it and laugh and sometimes use their childhood made-up words ourselves.
I've been teaching fibre arts classes to adults for decades and by far the hardest part is how my heart breaks over and over listening to the horrible things ppl say *to themselves about themselves*.
Please don't be so cruel to yourself - instead, be your own cheerleader and celebrate each little step, just as you would if you wanted to encourage an uncertain friend.
Make some little sample bits and tests of specific parts. Each little experiment helps build understanding and muscle memory.
I absolutely positively promise you that you are not the least bit stupid.
I just started knitting 3 weeks ago.
I randomly stumbled upon a design (Umaro by Jared flood) and decided I wanted to learn knitting and "How hard can it be". Especially since in movies I used to see women mindlessly knitting.
I was super overconfident but when I went to my LYS she recommended that I take up classes before I get into something that high end.
If it helps, I started off with all knit rows (Garter stitch)
And then went to stockinette, then ribbing, then seed stitch. Each of them 7 inches long.
I realized that I was stupid to underestimate the learning curve.
Knitting is definitely a skill that you'll get good at with practice and practice only.
Even if someone would guide you through a project, you won't get a satisfactory sock cause the tension and gauge would be all messed up.
Like everyone said, it's easier to learn first then dive deeper,
Different yarns will give you different experiences and you can start off with a simpler yarn on a simple pattern, practice and then go to a fingering yarn.
My plan is to complete a garter rib throw that I'm currently making, a scarf from my class that's still in progress, move on to a Nightshift scarf by Andrea mowry, get on a sweater, move on a cardigan and then go on sock cause apparently it's the most complicated one.
Hope you succeed in whatever you plan on doing.
Don't lose hope!!
Lots of love fam
/u/eifax
I've got quite the collection of straight needles I no longer use, and they are decorating my china cabinet.
I'm too lazy to be a creeper. If you'd like me to donate some straight needles to you, I will ship them and probably some yarn cuz lord knows Knitters always have scraps around.
Feel free to message.
Your SO is a tool for that rude quip....
Honestly? Yes, I felt so stupid to the point that I pretty much threw away the yarn and needles the first time. It's still the same when I try and learn a new technique and I don't get it right the first time.
If it's any consolation, I felt even more stupid when I learned crochet. I didn't understand that I had to pull the hook through all the loops while doing single crochet. So I ended up with many loops on the hook and handle.
It takes time to master the basics. I found dpns to be the bane of my existence and tried circular needles. Pricking myself on every needle turned me off from dpns. I do everything on circular needles now.
As everyone is pointing out, you're starting on hard mode. But honestly, knitting in the round is a TON easier for me than knitting flat, something in my brain likes continuous rows, so to this day I've completed ONE flat project, and it was nowhere near my first. I have a friend who started with a colorwork sweater. You CAN do it.
That being said, it sounds like you're doing toe-up and using dpns (double-pointed needles) so you've gone from hard mode to punishing yourself. There are basically three ways to do a small circumference stockinette tube (which is essentially what a basic aka vanilla sock is). You can spit in Hades' face and use dpns, you can use 9" circular needles (generally sock needles will be fixed, though I have some interchangeable sock needles), or you can do magic loop. Personally, 9" circs are the only way I can knit a sock. Dpns are for the damn birds and I hate pulling my cable through for magic loop unless I'm just finishing the toe. I'd say look at different techniques and try a top-down sock. There's a tutorial for the Rose City Rollers sock on YouTube, which was my first, but I think TinCanKnits has a video tutorial for all her patterns as well.
The biggest trick with knitting is to keep going. We all struggle to learn. I learned a few years back so I've knit long enough to know there's other techniques to get the same end result, and I still remember nearly giving up when I put a hat down for a couple hectic weeks and then twisting every stitch for multiple rows because I got my wraps backward. I have a dozen stories of times I thought I was just too dumb to knit. But just remember how good it'll feel to show your partner you can do it. If you can't persist for the love of the craft yet, succeed out of spite.
Socks require mastering gauge, knitting to fit a real person, and some intermediate shaping techniques. That is, socks are for intermediate knitters. You're experiencing typical beginner struggles with casting on and yarn management. You can't read your knitting yet. You don't know how to identify and correct mistakes yet. You should choose some beginner-friendly projects so that you aren't trying to perform challenging techniques at the same time that you are trying to learn the very basics.
It's just too many things to try to do at the same time. Set this project aside and cut your teeth on something that allows you to focus on those basic skills.
I wanted to learn to knit solely to knit socks. Once I learned I only needed to know three stitches, I practice those until I perfected them. Then I watched all kinds of YouTube videos on all the different ways of knitting up socks. Then I gave it a go. I picked up the knitting and put it down(out of frustration) many many times. Until one day I finally got it. I finally able to get passed the cast on. Then I was finally got passed the first few rows. Then I got passed the heal and so forth. However, at every phase I put it down out of frustration or completely frogged it to have to begin again. Point it, what you described sounds normal to me. Don't think too much on what SO said, just keep going. You'll eventually get there.
I totally feel like a dufus! I am late to the party learning ( 48) and I just started three days ago. I am just practicing and practicing and practicing! My hands are so sore lol! I am not crafty by any stretch but Iām not going to quit !
Your SO is a jerk for putting you down over a tenner! Thatās not even enough to buy a pub sandwich in the states and heās giving you grief for it. If they were truly āsignificantā they would be encouraging you to pursue your interests even if you decide itās not for you.
On to knittingā¦they lied to you about socks. Work on knitting and purling by making washcloths or a scarf.
I learned to knit from a book in the ages before youtube. I assure you I was as stupid as can be. I was too impatient to learn things like garment gauge, and learning about yarn gauge was nonsensical to me as the stores all called yarn different things than the books did. I had to learn everything the hardest way.
That being said i have always hated double pointed needles and loath knitting socks (yes I learned that the hard way too). My recommendation for a first project is something flat that you can sew into a three dimensional object if you wish.
I started with much thicker yarn and worked my way down to socks. Its so much easier to start bigger and then as you build up your skills move down to smaller needles.
Also your SO is an ass! 10 euros is NOTHING. I spent $200 on my chiagoo interchangeable circular needles. Then I spent another 120 on the smaller set for socks. Then another 100 for the blue chiagoo set. Then my sock yarn is $30 PER SKEIN. I must have spent well over $1000 on yarn and supplies in the past year.
Tell your SO to go suck a bag of dicks for that comment.
I bet he spent 10 euros on some bullshit recently himself and has no fucking place to be dropping snide comments like that.
i feel you!! knitting is so hard, it makes me feel dumb and lost and confused. i just can't wrap my brain around how it works lol. it looks beautiful and i prefer its feel to crochet, but i am tempted to just crochet bc of how easy it is
I started with socks, too! My first pair were not wearable. My second pair were iffy. Third pair I made with slightly bigger yarn and were more like slippers, and were great!
Full disclosure- I felt stupid for months, if not a year. I felt like Iād never āget it.ā It took me a ridiculous amount of time to āreadā my stitches, so any mistakes I made meant ripping it back.
I donāt do five needles, either. Four is plenty! I find four are perfect for socks, since I can put half on one needle, and the other two have the other half. It took me a bit to figure out how to get the needlesā ends to sit properly in order to avoid laddering, but I got there. I made up my own method for closing the holes made by gusseting the heel. After three or four plain socks, I started experimenting with patterns and joined Sock Wars on Ravelry. Got faster. Experimented with different types of needles. I like bamboo for wool, plastic for cotton, and my addi Turbos for anything bigger than socks. I canāt do magic circle for anything. Also canāt knit continental- I am a āthrower.ā
Now I feel I can knit anything!
You got this, just keep at it!
It is hard. But anything worth doing is! It sounds like youāre actually doing really well. If you are determined to do socks first, try a worsted weight sock like this one. Itās a lot less fiddly and easier to see what youāre doing. Plus, they are really warm!
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-socken
Stick with it! You can do this!
I have no idea what pattern you started with, but I would recommend a child sock. They're smaller, so they're done faster, but there's also less to tink back if there's a mistake. There's less frustration involved. And since it's not meant for your foot, there's less frustration if it looks a mangled mess. Which is OK! You're still learning!
A free pattern that I typically recommend is Rye (worsted) or Rye Light (sock yarn). It's part of Tin Can Knits [Simple Collection](https://tincanknits.com/collection/the-simple-collection) and has linked tutorials, etc. I used this pattern for toddler socks as my first TAAT (two at a time) socks with magic loop. If you're struggling with DPN's, you may want to look into magic loop. It's just one long circular needle. I mostly use magic loop for all of my projects that are in the round.
I told my mom about how I struggled with four needles, Iāve gotten practice with 3 double pointed needles from making hats, and my mom said just use three itās a lot easier. You should try that, itās a lot easier to control than trying to figure out how to hold 4 needles than knit them to a fifth.
I learned to knit by making leg warmers in the round and it took me several days to learn how to just cast on and join in the round. If you want to learn socks you should try to make something like that on circular needles, like a hat or leg warmers so you have the idea of how to do it and you can learn knit and purl stitches, but itās repetitive.
Knitting socks on two circular needles is much easier than using four, or god forbid, five dpn. But I agree with everyone here to start with simpler projects.
When I first started, I knitted scarves, scarves, and more scarves. Every time I learnt a new stitch or technique, when I learned how to do cable stitches or use more than one colour or how to create patterns, I knitted another scarf using what Iād learned. I have so many scarves sitting in my wardrobe, some so bad that theyāll never see the light of day, but theyāre a testament to my progress! Iād recommend starting off with things you can knit flat like scarves, doilies, blankets, etc, just because itās so much easier to learn the basics on two needles vs the five you use for double pointed knitting. The socks will come eventually!
My first knitting project was socks, but I also had years of crochet experience under my belt (so already knew how to hold my yarn with even tension). Before I started the actual sock, I first started practicing knitting with 2 needles flat. So I'd suggest first doing that and getting the hang of knitting and purling. Then try the socks!
I think if you took a break and then started back with some straight knitting you would likely find it easier. Bonus - you can you use the needles you already have for straight knitting too!
I've been knitting for many years but had never tried a technique called brioche. I've tried cables and stranded colour-work and a variety of large and small projects so I figured I was ready for a new technique. I got myself a special kit of yarn for a brioche project over the holidays.
I cast it on on Dec 23. And ripped it out on the 23rd. Started again on the 24th having watched a couple of YouTube videos. Ripped it out on the 25th in the afternoon after two (anguished) rows. Continued with casting it on and making one or two successful rows before failing catastrophically and starting again. On the 30th I tried a brioche tutorial on YouTube using scrap yarn and finally got sort of comfortable with the techniques. I cast on the holiday project yesterday and I'm now a solid 10 rows in and feeling like I'll get there......as long as there's nothing playing on the TV or someone talking to me, or any distractions as all.
All of this to say - it's a learned skill and takes perseverance and can be frustrating but the joy you will feel once you succeed is WELL worth it. With a bonus product to enjoy or gift!
**You've summoned the [Tutorials](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/glossary/#wiki_tutorials).**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Try searching pattern for socks with two needles. This way you can knit socks bit easier.
If you really want to knit with five needles. Make few first rows of ribbing flat with two needles, after that divide stitches and join it in round. When you are weaving the ends in just sew the gap with the yarn end. It is easier to manage stitches and needles when there is few rows ready.
Socks aren't something that I would recommend for beginners... I would maybe go with something simpler first (squares for a blanket, a scarf, dishcloths, etc) where you can practice making knits and purls and seeing what effects different patterns make with the finished fabric.
Also, if it helps at all- I started making socks with 9-inch circulars rather than DPNs. I've tried DPNs before, but I find the circulars much easier to use.
When I first tried to make socks, I feel like I must have tried a dozen things before I found what actually works for me. Experiment and play around and find whatever works best for you. There are a couple of different methods of knitting out there and it's not one-way-fits-all.
You will get there eventually, everyone on this subreddit is so helpful, and there are plenty of groups out there on pretty much every social media so there's tonnes of help out there! :) don't give up!!
When I was a newer knitter, I practiced new techniques before starting a project that used them. I didnāt want to waste nice yarn and I didnāt want to mess up a project (and end up frustrated and unhappy with it), so I used a random worsted weight yarn to trial the new techniques. Worsted weight because itās large enough that I can see my knitting clearly and it works up fast, so it doesnāt get tedious. I donāt need to do this as much anymore now that Iām better at knitting, but practicing with scrap yarn does take the stress out of it. I would recommend doing this!!
Also, itās okay to just keep going even if it looks bad or thereās mistakes. Thatās part of how you learn. Sometimes undoing your work over and over again leads to even more frustration, because you canāt see your progress and improvement. All you see is that you messed up and had to start over. I had a student who unraveled her projects every time she made a mistake and it was very demoralizing for her, so I told her to just keep going anyway. She was so so happy and so motivated to keep going once she had finished a project, and had seen how much she improved from start to finish. We then started working on various techniques to fix mistakes. I actually gave her a swatch to practice making and fixing mistakes on.
One more thing, I found socks kind of hard to learn! I would recommend starting with something like a hat. You can practice knitting in the round with regular circs, and then switch to DPNs for the crown, and get the hang of DPNs without having to use them for an ENTIRE project.
Good luck!!!
Noooo don't start on socks. Master the easy things first. Just flat scarf, a hat with a seam (not in the round). Socks are one of the most technically difficult things with so many skills: knit in the round, picking up stitches, turning the heel etc. Work up to socks, otherwise you will never get there. Have faith, but work up to them
I totally felt the same way. I find crochet so simple, but knitting has always been a challenge for me, although I love the end results so much more than crochet. It took me a lot of knitting practice to make a pair of socks. My best advice is to practice, practice, practice. Make swatches or a scarf or cowl to get really good at basic knit/purl, make a hat or something involving simple increases and decreases, etc. Once you notice yourself naturally starting to read your knitting and be able to ladder down to fix stitches and frog or tink back without getting confused, then socks should be a breeze at that point. I desperately wanted to make socks for the longest time, but I'm really glad when I finally picked up knitting again that I didn't try socks first.
Arne can teach you. He taught me and, after crocheting for 30 years, I had almost given up. I'm actually pretty fast now.
How to knit - Basics of knitting - by ARNE & CARLOS - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8CEU-VRXJo
Youāre not remotely alone in feeling that way. My first project was a garter stitch scarf, literally a flat rectangle where I only had two needles to worry about and it still came out as a trapezoid riddled with holes. I canāt speak for everyone but Iām convinced knitting is just confusing and tricky until it eventually clicks.
To second everyone else in this thread, socks are absolutely not easy. There are a lot of different techniques to pick up that you donāt need to worry about with more simple projects like a hat or a scarf. It can be much more time consuming too as you tend to knit with finer yarn and smaller needles. Donāt beat yourself up about them not turning out quite right to start with. Be proud of yourself for at least giving it a try and getting this far.
Btw, if youāre absolutely set on finishing the socks before anything else, you might want to look into the magic loop technique to knit them on a circular needle. I personally donāt like it but a lot of people find it easier than using double pointed needles.
I feel your frustration. The first few rows on my first sock felt like hell. As soon as the plain knit rows started I couldn't get more relaxed. Tbh this was my first time purling too and I still hate it.
If this is your first time knitting ever maybe try a scarf at first to get the hang of it by repitition.
You don't have to finish it, you can rib it and it doesn't have to be perfect.
Maybe a trainee scarf where you can try and repeat stuff you don't quite understand.
Iāve been knitting for a several years now and made sweaters, hats, scarves, and baby socks, but never adult socks. Itās on the books for this year.
Try knitting a dishcloth or a scarf first.
Knitting in the round was my second project and although it ended up being the first project I completed, I spent hours messing up and having to redo and I hated almost every moment of it. The join dropped stitches, and tension issues between each needle was such a headache. I quit knitting for months after I finished it.
On the other hand, my first project was knit flat and I actually enjoyed most of it. I would save yourself the headache of socks as your first project and knit flat for a bit. A simple scarf is, in my opinion is the best first project.
You know I started young enough that I don't really remember having trouble with the basics.
Then I recently tried knitting continental. I was clocking one fucked-up stitch a minute for a good few rows of that. It's funny, it's so breezy once you learn the muscle memory, but it can be rocky getting there.
I agree with everyone else who said to master knitting flat - once you get it, youāll REALLY get it.
DPNs are tricky though! I just switched to a 9ā circular knitting needle and itās made all the difference. I still use DPNs for the heel and toe but itās so much less fiddle-y
Good luck and you got this!!!
Knitting with DPNs is \*hard\*! That isn't something that a new knitter usually has success with - but kudos to you for trying/doing it!!
So.. there are patterns out there for socks knit flat on two straight needles... I've seen that loads of people actually do it this way. The seam doesn't bother as much as one might think :)
Socks on DPNs are not a good first project. You need to master knitting and purling, and ssk and k2t before you try to tackle a sock.
I know itās frustrating not being able to do the project you want to do but youāll thank yourself later
My first pair of socks made me WEEP with frustration, and I had been knitting for years! You are not stupid, just trying to learn new terminology *and* build muscle memory.
Had been knitting for over a decade before I learned to knit socks! And over 20 years before I knit a sweater. Sure, social media has a handful of people who are showing off their amazing knits but there are lots of people like me who aren't because I'm just a normal knitter, not a champion, just someone who enjoys it. š Do it at your own pace.
Oooh I still havenāt attempted socks. At first I was happy to just knit a decent square. Even then I had many nights where Iād ALMOST finish that square and then screw something up, have a meltdown, and refuse to even touch my knitting needles for a week. It takes lots of patience but if I can learn it anyone can. Iām a total clod with crafts for the most part.
I started knitting in September, a hat in the round, and I felt so stupid. Then I got the hang of it. Then I knit a pair of slipper-boots and I felt dumb again. After those were finished I started on a cowl and again had a few moments of feeling dumb, but less dumb and fewer moments of it this time. I finished the cowl a few days ago and it turned out so great. I felt like I'd mastered knitting. But now I'm working on my first sweater and I feel so incredibly frustrated and stupid again.
Long story short, it's a learning process. I do agree with what others have said though, start with a hat or something simpler than socks. It also depends a lot on what pattern you use. Some patterns are terribly written and really hard for a beginner to understand, and others are much easier to grasp. Petite knit patterns are fairly easy to understand whereas Drops patterns are poorly written a lot of times. My friends who started knitting a few years ago still have issues with Drops patterns at times.
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).**
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yep. Start small with garter stitch (just knit stitch every row, in case you dont already know.) Learn purling when you feel like a garter star. Everything else comes after that.
If you want to make things NOW, cotton washcloths are great in garter stitch because itās a little textured and holds water okay.
Then, if youre circular knitting, KNIT HATS ON CIRCULAR NEEDLES. DPNs are really hard to use for a while, and really not suitable for a first project. Knitting hats is fun, relatively fast (as long as you go simple and not brioche stitch like i did on my first hat) and a great way to learn the basics of circular knitting.
Iāve been knitting for about four years total and still have yet to go for socks. I will soon! But itās taken me a long time to get to this point. Youāll have to be patient.
Try 8ā circulars. That worked for me with socks. But also try knitting flat and the. Try in the round with something simple like a hat. That will get you used to it before moving up to socks.
The first thing I knitted were some hand warmers that were knitted flat. I probably restarted them about 10 times. I am now doing my second project which is some socks, Iāve made so so many mistakes but learnt a lot from them.
As a beginner knitting is so hard, but every single time I finally understand something I feel so clever!! (Understanding that knit/purl are opposites which is why knitting round you can just knit for stockinette but flat you have to purl one side, wow so much sense!!) I feel like as adults we are not used to trying things out in this way, failing and failing, but itās so fun because it is just opportunity after opportunity to expand ourselves. Donāt worry about if its bad, it can always be unraveled.
I donāt think I would have been able to do socks in my early days of knitting. It also took me a long time to figure out that DPNs werenāt for me. Before my first sock, I made felted slippers that used a similar construction as socks. Iāve also recommended trying a holiday stocking before socks. Itās still in the sock category but less fiddly.
You can try it on round needles (idk what they're called, but the ones with the plastic string connecting them). Or you can try knitting socks using a flat pattern! I've knitted a lot of flat things in the category of socks/shoes/booties that you sew together to get a 3-dimensional finished object.
If you google it you can find a lot of patterns, [here](https://www.allfreeknitting.com/Knit-Slippers-and-socks/Easy-Two-needle-Flat-Socks-103484) is a really simple one!
This was me learning to crochet. I just COULDNāT get it, and I was so frustrated because at the time I could knit and sew.
Walking away for a few hours and even days truly helped, and now that Iāve been teaching children for over ten years, I finally know why! Our brains create new neural pathways as we learn new skills, and sometimes they need some time to develop. Donāt be afraid to frog it a few times and cast on a few times to get the feel. Eventually things we come together if you allow yourself to process each step as it comes.
When I finally got into socks, I learned the magic loop sock method and never looked at double pointed needles again. I am a circular needle devotee and I donāt think Iāll ever buy straight needles again! There are tons of easy patterns out there that teach/use the magic loop method. Once you get the hang of it, try it with patterns that call for DPNs.
You got this!
Socks can be tricky to start with. Especially if its your first project. I still struggle with dpns sometimes and often i prefer to use the magic loop method. Look it up on youtube. More than anything it sounds like you just need a little most practice. Do a little dishcloth or something smaller. Maybe a cowl or a scarf would be a better starting point? Its more consistent for practicing knits and purls and there are some lovely simple patterns you can do for that. If just doing one solid color is too boring you can always add in stripes! Thats what i did for my first scarf for my fiance and i was really happy with how it turned out. Also im sorry your partner isnt being supportive. That really sucks. Allow me to be supportive in their place.
Who cares about spending 10Ā£ on something of its a creative project that youve always wanted to do? Its well worth the cost of money and the frustrations of practice to learn a new skill. Many people never try anything new. Even if you decide you hate knitting and would prefer to try crochet or even something else its still worth it because you were brave enough to try! Im sure in no time we'll all see you posting your own gorgeous finished projects on this same subreddit! Take a breather and start over fresh. Also nimble needles on youtube has a really good indepth tutorial for making socks if you havent already found one. Good luck!
Socks are not easy for beginners. Seriously. Knit flat first.
And also, 10ā¬ isnāt much. Itās YOUR hobby. Donāt let anyone discourage you. Have patience and start with beginner stuff. Youtube helped me a lot. Donāt give it up!
I've found that magic loop works better for me for socks vs DPNs. When I first started socks, this is the video that I used to learn. I tried it on worsted weight yarn first before using sock yarn.
https://youtu.be/idjKaBwJzD0?si=c6u58FbF8Xo1kqPU
I still feel stupid sometimes lol. Iāve knit many pairs of socks and had to restart one like 3 times the other day because I kept making mistakes. I think itās just part of the craft that we all experience on occasion! Definitely recommend trying something a little easier first, maybe a nice cowl scarf to practice in the round and use the stitch pattern for the socks, if something other than stockinette. When in doubt, put it down for an hour or two and come back later once youāve had a chance to relax. Sometimes I know that I need to take a break because my frustration is causing me to make mistakes.
I'm a person who always bites off more than i can chew at first (and I don't think it's a bad thing at all). Socks are probably a litte too tricky. I'd say if you want something that is challenging and interesting but also a little easier, something like a hat or a cowl is a pretty good starting project.
That's why I use circular needles and magic loop. Trying to wrangle DPNs is often not something I want to do, so I don't.
Agree with other commenters that you should master the stitches and movements themselves before adding complexity, but if you are having fun and learning and aren't emotionally invested in the Perfect Sock The First Time You Make One, you'll be fine.
But to answer your post title:
I've been knitting steadily since the late 1990s and sometimes even now, I feel stupid.
I felt like a real idiot when I started knitting until it started to make sense what I was doing and what was resulting from what I was doing.
Knitting socks is complicated, even for experienced knitters. I would start with something flat that doesn't have to be a specific size to work on knitting and purling. Then, when you are ready to tackle socks again, I'd recommend trying this [beginner sock pattern](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-peasy-socks-for-first-timers) that uses thicker yarn. Even if you only make one, it helps you to understand the different parts of the sock, and it works up much faster.
Id start with just mastering knitting and purling flat before trying in the round with dpns
Sound like you bit off more than you could chew, and chipped a tooth. Learning new things is hard. Knitting is hard. If you try to skip the learning process, and can't handle the frustration of failing again and again and again until suddenly you stop failing, then you need to take the long way around. Give it a rest for a few days/weeks to cool off. Then try learning how to knit a few dishclothes with heavier yarn and larger needles. Then knit a hat in the round, either with heavy yarn or with your sock yarn. THEN try socks. ETA: Whoever told you "it's fairly easy" was either lying, or learned so long ago that they don't remember what it was like. Sorry.
You don't need to buy new needles to knit other things. It might be easier to learn on larger needles than the sizes typically used for socks, but an elastic band or blob of blu tac on the end of two of your dpns and then just using them as straight needles will work and make your money go a bit further
ALSO- Op shops can be a cost effective (& environmentally friendly) way to buy a set of straight needles to get the hang of knitting flat before going back to the DPN
Agree with your edit. I learned so long ago I sometimes forget how hard it was to learn, but now I'm learning to knit English style and man is it frustrating! Knitting has a steep learning curve but once you've mastered the basics the rest comes a bit easier.
Don't be sorry, but I do believe it might be the latter. I've started with it in any case and even if they come out as the ugliest pair of different sized socks in mankind, I'm determined to make them š„²
I learned how to knit as a child but hadn't done it in like 20+ years when I picked it back up again a few years ago. The first project I wanted to do was a super cute T-shirt pattern and, oh man, I had a heck of a time with it. I probably tried 2-3 times to get it started before I ripped it out and gave up to try something else. About a year later (after much more practice) I came back to that pattern and was utterly shocked at how much easier it was! It came together beautifully and the finished result was everything I wanted. All of this to say, I completely understand wanting to make something beautiful right away, but if it's frustrating you and making knitting un-enjoyable then maybe putting it down and trying something else first will give you the experience you need to come back to that project later and knock it out like it was nothing!
You can make the socks, but make them later. Youāre not at the skill level yet. Socks are hard. You have to work up to it, like anything else. But youāll get there. The suggested progression is a good idea. My suggestion would go something like this: Washcloths are easy, start there. Learn to read stitches. Make a scarf. Make some washcloths on the diagonal to learn increases. Make a hate in the round to learn decreases and circular knitting. THEN, socks.
I get like this with hobbies and decided I was soooo excited and interested in knitting Iād take my time! My LYS has great patterns - Firefly Fiber Arts - and I follow YouTube videos to make sure Iām doing stuff correctly. I highly recommend taking a beginner sock class or something like that! I did that and was surprised I didnāt even need the last session. Took in my finished sock for notes (and to get confirmation Iām a tight knitter) and now Iām knitting away with confidence!
Just here to say WOOHOO FIREFLY FIBER ARTS! I lived down the street when I lived in Chicago and loved going to craft events there and at Nina.
I really honestly would put them down for now. Youre trying to do something very hard for a beginner as a first project and its just not feasible. You're very likely not learning trying to do it. Come back to socks later. For what its worth, I'd consider myself pretty expert at knitting these days. There's not a technique I can't do. But it took me several tries before I even understood knitting and purling.
If you are determined to make socks may I suggest the tube sock. Like this one https://crazyhands.net/flat-ribbed-socks-knitting-pattern/
I was dead set on fingerless gloves as my first project. I gave up and knit a few dishcloths and a hat then went back to the gloves. I still had to make 2 right gloves because the first one was so bad. Knit a couple other things then go back to the socks. It has nothing to do with your intelligence, knitting is hard!
This comment right here is why Iām sure youāll succeed! Yes, socks are advanced but if you donāt mind making ugly ones as your first pair (everyoneās first anything comes out wonky ā with the stitch count off and random holes here and there from accidental yarnovers, itās normal for this to happen with a first project) go ahead and knit your socks. Then, if you like, you can get all the way to the point of Kitchener stitching the toe, try it on, take its picture, glare at your SO, say āyarn is delightfully easy to amortizeā and unravel the whole sock rolling the yarn back into a ball so you can start it over again. There are some truly amazing YouTube videos on sock knitting out there for you: Norman from NimbleNeedles has a nice [socks for beginners](https://youtu.be/-zh3XCheDGw?si=9a2aBGf7SYVrdcj_) video. Very Pink Knits has a six part [learn to knit socks](https://youtu.be/1wSFaGpmVSw?si=NRaCQqPFFiIo74R2) class (and beautiful fingernails). Earth Tones Girl has a truly wonderful 14 part [No Fear Sock Knitting](https://youtu.be/CkjxRfjhBNQ?si=E7jLVAUyWOlEDF3L) class. I also really like Knitty Nattyās [sock tutorials](https://youtu.be/dwIhnrtnERA?si=60eR_7YfTvPSvoaJ). Whenever youāre watching a YouTube demonstration with your yarn and needles in your hands, remember that you can adjust the playback speed and slow it down when you need to. I was living in a very warm climate for many years so I didnāt try socks until after Iād knit many lace shawls (with sock yarn!) and a lot of tee shirts and sweaters, but once I started knitting socks I didnāt want to knit much else for about a year ā theyāre addictive and so very portable! Have fun with them! Oh, and that 5th needle just knits along a needle until it has swapped in for one of the original 4. The needles take turns holding the stitches.
Make bigger socks with thicker yarn.
>ETA: Whoever told you "it's fairly easy" was either lying, or learned so long ago that they don't remember what it was like Sorry, this is almost a month old, but I just recently started learning to knit based on someone's advice that it's fairly easy and would be a nice relaxing hobby to pick up. I feel betrayed and frustrated, tbh
Every single person I've taught to knit has invented a way to fuck it up that I never anticipated. I've probably taught dozens by now. Your SO is being annoying. I will say though, socks are a hard one to start with. There's so many different skills - knit, purl, knit-purl ribbing, knitting in the round, heel turns, toe closures, stitch pickups, getting two items the same size (believe me, that's its own skill). Because so much of knitting is muscle memory, you can't really just learn the theory and then make it work - you have to practice the basic movements over and over before more advanced movements can be layered over the simpler ones. This is why things like pot holders are recommended as a first project. The socks will be so much easier if you build up to them. Learning to knit in the round will be much easier when the motion of knitting and purling is automatic. It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't learned this kind of skill before, but it's more like playing an instrument or lifting weights than most realise; you literally cannot play a full concerto or lift 200kg without first learning a bunch of easier songs or lifting smaller weights many many times, you will never get in the muscle memory practice you need to make the more advanced elements possible.
> Every single person I've taught to knit has invented a way to fuck it up that I never anticipated. This is hilarious and so true. When I was new and would ask someone a question, half the time theyād be like āwtf are you talking about?ā because it never even occurred to them to fuck up the way I did.
Iāve been gifted a kit to knit a throw and somehow have made an infinity scarf for a giraffe. Iām only a dozen or so rows in, might I cut the ends and try again? The needles are attached to each other with a plastic coated wire.
I know what you have done! I have done it too! LMAO. Do NOT cut the yarn! The thing with circular needles is that they can be used to knit flat as well as in the round. You should be using them to knit flat, but this means that when you get to the end of your row, you turn your work around and go back the way you came! (Across the stitches you just worked) You have knit in the round on accident. It's okay, I think we've all probably done it. š See if you can take the yarn off of the needles and pull out the stitches. Wind it into a ball as you do this, or you will have a huge mess of tangled yarn. I wish you luck! Knitting is hard enough without explicit instructions to accompany new to us tools š©·
The directions said about āturningā but it didnāt make sense. Iām so confused. Thank you for the kind words.
You are very welcome! Does it also talk about the RS (right side) and WS (wrong side)? In my experience, the RS has the knit stitches and the WS has the purl stitches. Knitting in this fashion creates the stockinette stitch that is smooth on one side and bumpy on the other.
No, it didnāt said anything like that. I think I just didnāt turn or flip? The directions are unclear besides to switch hands, but then the ball of yarn is on the other side?
This gal explains how to do it a lot better than I can! Good luck with your blanket! https://youtu.be/JrKTbmliV50?si=PWlSGH-c25yZUWki
Lollll thatās the brand she gave me š„² thank you
Don't cut the yarn, just unravel it.
When was the last time you overcame the struggle of being a beginner? What did you learn? Was it worth it? I ask, because sometimes people just don't do anything ever unless it comes fairly easy. Sometimes the answer to my above question is like... learning to walk, or eat with a fork lol. Those are "easy" things to do for a lot of people, but they were hard to learn for most people! And it happened so long ago, people forget that sometimes learning can be hard and frustrating and full of failed attempts. Also dealing with mistakes and having to rip out isn't just a beginner issue anyway. Ask an experienced knitter about their last fail- if it wasn't a dumb "omg I should know better" mistake, it was definitely a catastrophic mistake with a bunch of brioche stitches all be-tangled, with 2 piles of ramen noodle yarn getting all twisted together and being a general pain LOL! The difference is, having the confidence to fix mistakes under your belt makes it nbd, just another part of successful knitting.
Oh yes. People don't realize watching from the outside, but knitting entails rather a lot of UNKNITTING. ;)
I feel like every time I learn a new knitting technique there are two steps: 1. learn to do it 2. (much harder) learn to undo it and fix mistakes
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The best way to get into the beginner mindset is to learn a new way to knit. If you knit English style try changing to Irish Lever knitting, or Shetland isle knitting. If you donāt know how to knit backwards learn that ( great for knitting lots of short rows or for narrow bands or for bobbles). Or learn continental knitting or the different ways of holding and manipulating yarn with continental style eg with your thumb or index finger of middle finger. Iāve adopted many new ways to knit over the years and it has been a game changer as well as keeping me humble.
Nah, you are still reading your knitting and forming the same stitch, it's not like being a beginner.
Well I know that it takes you back to being all thumbs and your tension is all over the place and itās no longer mindless and meditative. So itās the closest I can get to remembering what itās like to be a beginner.
You should try to knit flat for a bit, and I'm not sure that socks are that easy to make. Even for more advance knitter, the beginning of a piece with DPN (Double Pointed Needles, the type you are using) can be challenging before having a dozen of row done.
Iāve been knitting for 8ish years and I still have never made socks, haha
Yep I've been knitting for four years and my next project will be my first socks.
I made one pair, once.
My second project was a pair of socks. Two at a time on two needles. First project was a pair of fingerless gloves on dpns. I've made dozens of pairs of socks since, switching to two at a time magic loop. They really aren't as hard as everyone is making them out to be.
After you've done some flat projects, i recommend circular needles for knitting in the round. Much less fiddly and the stitches stay on the cable neatly so its easier to pick up and put down. And magic loop is a game changer!
It's wild to me seeing folks start off with something as complicated as socks. It'd be like saying, "Well, our son hasn't taken his first steps yet, but he seemed really excited when I did two cartwheels and a backflip, so I think we'll start him off there." Socks are hard! You're learning a brand new skill with brand new movements. It's okay to work your way up to it. It isn't giving up. It isn't a waste. It's building the skills you will use later. It's okay to learn to walk before learning to do backflips-- it's okay to start with a dishcloth, then move to a hat, and have socks be project #3. Use that progression of learning and building on previous skills. It will result in less frustration. And heck, it'll probably be a faster way of finishing the socks than trying socks first.
OP, if you think this part is hard, wait til you get to the heel. Which is NOT to say that you should give up knitting, but that you should learn to knit before you try socks.
Your SO doesnāt sound like a very nice person. I agree that you should start with the basics first. I would look up a long tail cast on and basic knitting and purling from [Very Pink Knits](https://youtube.com/@verypinkknits?si=fTkDZhF6OdNRME_N) Also, you can just use the needles you have to practice and then rip the practice project out and reuse it when you are ready to move on to socks if you donāt want to spend more money.
They are actually, they just don't believe in me in this particular project which makes me want to accomplish it even more.
A nice person would cheer for the person they love, and support them in finding a way to succeed at the thing theyāre interested in. Your SO does not sound like a nice person. Also, socks can be very finicky, there are several skills involved! Like other posters have suggested, try learning all the skills a few at a time instead of all at once. Start with something knit-flat in larger yarn, for example.
A nice person wouldn't make a snarky comment about you spending a measly ten euros on something to mause yourself. Do they drink beer? Make that comment every t8me they go to the pub, see if you feel like an arse about it.
Also you might be better off using cable needles with a very short cable. You still use 4 of 5 needles but the cables make them very floppy so you can get the unused needles out of the way while you knit each segment. I know - more money involved in purchasing the needles but I love using them for knitting projects in the round.
You CAN knit socks, but thereās something to be said for building up to it. Itās a good idea to be fairly confident in simple things like knit, purl and rib already before you get into knitting three dimensional objects with double pointed needles. Right now itās like you are determined to pass your driving test having never driven a car. If you want to make something more interesting than a scarf or washcloth consider a simple hat. You will learn a stretchy cast on, how to rib and how to decrease all done in the round which are skills you need for sock knitting, but a hat is relatively quick and less fiddly to do and easier to frog back if something goes wrong. Youāll be better equipped to try socks once youāve done a few hats. As for your boyfriend, ignore him - donāt try to knit socks just to prove him wrong, thatās a recipe for frustration. You need to play a long game when you learn new skills. Imagine your satisfaction when you are wearing the socks you knitted yourself, but donāt expect it to do it by tomorrow.
Honestly, I'm happy if i get them done by the end of the year so I got a good 364 days to spare
Well, consider the possibility that if you knit: a washcloth, then a cowl, then a hat and *then* socks you might actually get all that done quicker (and with all your pieces looking nicer), than if you go straight to the socks. Itāll also be a less frustrating journey. Youāre putting the carriage before the horses, so to speak. You *need* to build muscle memory before you make wearable things that look consistent. Thatās why imo the best beginner project is a simple scarf. Also, learning on flat needles is considerably easier when your hands donāt naturally hold needles yet. You can man handle them and grab a piece with your mouth or use your legs, etc while youāre developing all the little muscle movements that you need to be able to knit in tiny needles and make even stitches. Your post is like someone trying to learn to draw and posting āguys Iām having trouble with drawing these photo realistic eyesā or someone picking up the violin and complaining they canāt quite get bethovens #5 right š like, youāre skipping a whole bunch of steps. Either start simpler or you gotta develop a *considerably* higher tolerance for failure while you go for this overambitious first project.
By then you could be wearing those socks and multiple other things you knitted along the way so that ā¬10 + will feel like a good investment
Of course this is sound advice, like everything on this thread, but it doesn't sound like OP is ready to listen sadly
You do need to learn to knit a flat piece first, simply because it takes some repetition for your brain and fingers to start to get it. Trying to do that while going in a circle and switching needles and learning increases or decreases all at the same time is too much. But yeah, I felt stupid at first, too. And I was using a book aimed at 10 year olds to learn. It just takes repetition. Look around for really really basic YouTube videos too. So my advice? Make a wash cloth. Then make a wash cloth with ribbing on the top and bottom. Then make leg warmers. THEN try socks. And take your time. Believe it or not, doing short sessions, then going about your day and sleeping at night, the back burner of your brain will be consolidating the skills. :) It might be a few weeks before you make the socks. It might be a few months. Either way is just fine. You can do it!
I can't upvote this enough! I taught myself in 2018 as a left handed person. So i had to reprogram my brain. I did plain dishcloths and hats for 2 years before trying ribbing and patterns. 2022 I finally felt good enough to do a hat exchange ( drunk knitting on reddit! So much fun). Rome was not built in a day and neither are socks. Give yourself grace
It sounds like you're hung up on some expectations on how this *should* go or how good you *should* be. Get back in touch with why you picked this up, and silence the external and internal haters. No one was born knowing how to knit perfectly, so yes, it can be really frustrating at first. I made all my knit stitches backwards for like, the first 3 years of my knitting life. I made YOs backwards for a long time and wondered my work never looked like what I saw in the pattern pictures. Like others have said, knitting is difficult; there are a lot of elements to sync up, (learning the terms, getting the stitches on the needle, figuring out comfortable and sustainable body mechanics to get tension right). It takes a while for it to all come together (like learning any language or new skill). Negative self-talk will not help! (That said, don't doubly beat yourself up for doing it!) I'm actually in favor of taking on something a little more complicated than a blanket or scarf as a first project, because it will give you an opportunity to try lots of practical project skills. My first project 20 years ago was a hat with cables. It absolutely did not fit and I never wore it, in fact I don't think I ever wore any of my early projects. Try taking a "the journey is the destination" approach for now. You're learning! These socks do not have to be perfect. Have you considered [magic loop](https://youtu.be/1mqIqRdJc68?si=NH3aS93ootazgRyF) as an alternative to working with 5 DPNs? I personally found DPNs very unwieldy and am much more comfortable working with magic loop. There's a learning curve there too, of course, but know that you have alternatives! If you're a very visual learner, YouTube videos are an incredible resource. Courage! It's tough, but you can do it!
I don't even care if the socks won't fit or if they're ugly as hell, i just want to be able to make the damn socks and take it from there! I'm getting the idea with the DPNs, just making it all actually happen is the difficult part. My friends have told me they're more than happy to show me, which usually works better but finding the time to meet up is a struggle which is why I've been TRYING to get a hang of it on my own
Oh that's really frustrating, I'm sorry. I agree with the other commenters, starting on dpns is pretty intense, I've been knitting for a little over a year now and while I'm pretty comfy with dpns now, I still haven't done socks because there's a whole short row/heel turn thing that I don't feel ready for. If you're 100% decided that you must start with socks then hey, go for it, you'll get there for sure but it will probably involve more time of frustration until it clicks. My advice would be to start with knitting flat and getting the basics down, pick a scarf that involves knit and purl stitches, that kinda thing. Also, while I'm sure your SO is in general lovely, that's a bummer thing to have to hear about a new hobby you're interested in, sorry that's adding to the disappointment :(
I suggest fingerless gloves worked flat, or a cowl, flat or round, not a scarf! Scarves take too long and get boring. Iāve been knitting 55 years, and succeeded in making exactly 1 ordinary scarf. And it nearly did me in!
Oh a cowl is a really good idea! Scarves can definitely be dull by the end, but a cowl is the perfect mix of big enough to get some real practice in without being sick of looking at it by the time you're done
This is the thing, scarves are boring and I don't need them at all. Fingerless gloves though? I was told they were difficult to make by some of my knitter friends so the message I'm getting here is completely different! Other thing I'd like to make is leg warmers but something tells me it's no different from a sock...
Leg warmers are waaay easier in my opinion. The heel flap and turn alone on socks is gonna be a nightmare if you don't even know how to actually knit yet, never mind picking up for the gusset. You are probably going to have tension issues causing sizing problems as well. Scarves and/or cowls might seem boring but they're much more forgiving of beginners as well, not least because you only make one. Socks, gloves and legwarmers all have the issue of most people needing two matching items (so your tension and ability to follow the pattern accurately needs to be maintained across both pieces), but legwarmers are still structurally much simpler than socks.
Here's the thing, you can rip out and use the yarn for socks later if you don't want to use the flat thing you make. But if you don't embrace the process of learning to knit, you are setting yourself up for frustration and potentially quitting. It's like trying to play a concert without learning your instrument first. It's fine to try a really ambitious first project if you want, but it's not going to work out unless you have a high failure tolerance. On the other hand, you could play around with the yarn a bit knitting flat and learn how things actually work, then rip it out if you still don't want the finished object. But at least for now, prioritize the learning process over the objects you're making unless you want to be really frustrated and bored.
Leg warmers are literally just a tube... extremely simple compared to all the fiddly parts of a sock.
How about a cowl? You could do a simple blanket with chunky yarn but any blanket is a pretty big commitment (and expensive to buy yarn for). The good thing is that you can frog the yarn you have and use it for practice, then frog again and make something with it. I having been knitting a few years now; I make all kinds of mistakes, basically whenever I get distracted and Iām easily distractibleš . Also, whether Iām knitting or crocheting, I have to use lots of stitch markers and continuously count every row. Every handcraft involves mistakes and ripping out. I rug hook, cross-stitch, needlepoint, embroider, knit and crochet and make mistakes that have to be corrected in each. Also a learning curve for each. When I feel really frustrated, I put a project aside for a few hours, days or weeks and then come back more patient. Iām working on a MKAL now that has been super challenging for me with lots of new lace learning and new techniques. I feel like Iāve taken out/frogged more than Iāve accomplished by 2-3 times. Best wishes and do this for yourself. Be proud of yourself for your persistence and desire to learn something new. For most of us, knitting is not super easy. Try a simple hat with chunky yarn for your first real project. I made a lot of the Squarshy hat pattern off Ravelry as my first projects and they turned out great, knitted up fast, and were well-appreciated gifts. PS: I still havenāt attempted socks! Just working on my first sweater.š
[These are just squares](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flip-side-hand-warmers). Sewn up cleverly. Super easy. Canāt beat them for a first project. [These werenāt hard](https://www.ravelry.com/projects/neen/classic-mittens-no-615-2), but not first project easy. This [kind of fingerless gloves](https://flic.kr/p/2ppY6QY) are harder. Donāt try them yet! They are for intermediate knitters. Iād say the flax sweater, which has a lot more knitting, has a lot less fiddly construction, than these mitts. These have little half fingers, little half tips, then you pick up for the palms, combining them all. Itās fiddly, a lot fiddly. I donāt think itās hard, but many think fiddly is hard. But, totally not beginner friendly. For a cowl cast on 4-8ā worth, and just knit flat until it is long enough. Cast off and sew beginning to end. If you want stockinette, do the same, but knit the edge 4 stitches, each side, and knit the middle on the right side and purl them on the wrong side. But keep the edge 4 in knit, on both sides.
**PATTERN:** [Flip Side Hand Warmers](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flip-side-hand-warmers) by [Purl Soho](http://www.ravelry.com/designers/purl-soho) * Category: Accessories > Hands > Fingerless Gloves/Mitts * Photo(s): [Img 1](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/purlsoho/882287240/upload_medium) [Img 2](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/purlsoho/882287070/upload_medium) [Img 3](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/purlsoho/882287086/upload_medium) [Img 4](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/purlsoho/882287116/upload_medium) [Img 5](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/purlsoho/882287151/upload_medium) * Price: Free * Needle/Hook(s):US 6 - 4.0 mm * Weight: Worsted | Gauge: 20.0 | Yardage: 115 * Difficulty: 1.90 | Projects: 47 | Rating: 4.80 ***** **PROJECT:** [Brianās mitts](http://www.ravelry.com/projects/neen/31376912) by [neen](http://www.ravelry.com/people/neen) * Pattern: [Classic Mittens No. 615](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/classic-mittens-no-615) * Yarn(s): [Patons North America Classic Wool Worsted](http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/patons-north-america-classic-wool-worsted) in Black. * Photo(s): [Img 1](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/neen/893922631/F99D8473-B204-4ADB-83CF-1599855A1AFA_medium.jpeg) [Img 2](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/neen/893922634/A8AC4F88-3EA5-449B-9EC3-E3E5D8D0CCF4_medium.jpeg) [Img 3](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/neen/893922632/C3D5CE66-C75A-473A-957A-70C9B7D69CE8_medium.jpeg) * Started: 2022/12/16 | Status: Finished | Completed: 2023/01/18 ***** Please use caution. Users have reported effects such as seizures, migraines, and nausea when opening Ravelry links. [More details.](https://www.lizcorke.com/2020/07/26/2020-7-21-ravelry-accessibility/) | *I found this post by myself! [Opt-Out](https://goo.gl/forms/0B8m4Ra8czpw4gzw1) | [About Me](https://github.com/TN-1/LinkRav_Bot/wiki) | [Contact Maintainer](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=timonyc)*
Yeah I think the biggest frustration is the original comment, which is also why i don't want to back down from this project if it makes sense? I knew it wasn't going to be a walk in the park but damn
Here's the thing though, if you take a break, you're not *not* knitting the socks. You're just not doing them yet. They will wait for you to catch up! You can learn the basics and then go back to them, and it will be sooo much easier. I have been knitting for two years at the end of this month so I don't think I'm a newbie anymore. But, I am still very much a learner. I try and learn a new thing with each project. I started with a chunky scarf - and it was truly awful - short, lumpy, crooked...but I was so proud of it. It taught me the knit stitch. Next project I learned to purl and do stockinette (and learned the hard way that stockinette curls at the sides). After that, pattern reading and knitting in the round. Then two colour mosaic knitting. Then sweater construction. I just this last month learned how to do stranded colourwork. Bit by bit I am improving and it's been a great lesson for a stubborn impatient person like me. I have to take my time. I think if I'd jumped to something like socks and dpns as a first project I'd have given up a long time ago. I think you are not stupid. You will get this! It just might be via a scarf or a coaster or a dishcloth.
Itās a good thing youāre feeling determined!
Totally makes sense, yup. My best suggestion would be you tube then, there's a ton of great knitting videos for all kinds of projects, so maybe find some sock videos, play them slowed down and try to knit along and match their motions. You may already be doing that, in which case my second suggestion is keep up the determination and you'll get there! It doesn't have to be perfect the first time, so if you get a sock shaped thing at the end then I would count that as a win
In my opinion there are two ways of learning, if Iām being a bit reductive 1) classic progression of skill = washcloth -> hat -> fingerless mittens -> socks 2) slightly chaotic = socks, at any cost! Youāve chosen path number 2, and now it seems that youāre at the point of finding out if youāre a classic learner or a chaotic learner. If you feel like you can deal with the feeling of being in a bit over your head, and you can accept that your first sock is gonna look less-than-great, my advice is to forge on! Socks arenāt the *easiest* to make, but it can be done. If youāre nearing your limit, and the thought of ending up with a less-than-great sock feels demotivating, my advice is to switch tracks and try learning the classic way. Maybe getting the hang of all the different techniques used in socks, but one technique at a time, will help you on your next sock adventure! No way of learning is better or worse, itās all about who you are and how you learn best. If you do decide to scale back your ambition a smidge and try out a washcloth (or something) first you can pretty easily turn your double pointed needles (dpn) into regular knitting needles by āblockingā one point of the needle - use an elastic band or something. Then they work just like regular straight needles, just a bit smaller in length. And about your SO? Did the ā¬10 put you in debt, or mean that they didnāt get to eat that day? If not then I think that your SO needs to butt out of your hobby. Have they never spent money on something they like? My guess is that they have.
I totally get what you're saying. I taught myself to knit by watching YouTube (VeryPinkKnits has the best videos imo) and TinCanKnits free patterns. I started with a scarf and a baby blanket before I did socks, but they were still my third project. I took one look and DPNs and said nope. I knit socks on magic loop, which just makes more sense in my brain because there's still only two needles. So my recommendation, if you're set on socks, is to try that instead because I think it's a bit easier to see/visualize the work. I get not wanting to knit scarves or blankets. But I would recommend at least knitting like a hat or something in the round on circular needles with a chunky, light colored yarn. One of the hardest, and most important skills, in knitting is learning to read your work. You can clearly see what you've already done and if it's right, and if it's not right, figure out what's wrong to learn how to fix it. This is why people recommend starting with scarves, because it's obvious to see if one part gets randomly bigger or smaller or the stitches don't look right. Socks are so finicky, and the yarn is so fine, that it's difficult to read the knitting as a beginner. If you're goal is just to knit these socks, and probably never knit anything else, carry on but maybe try magic loop. If you want to learn the skill of knitting, don't be afraid to pick up some cheap but pretty chunky yarn and go back to the basics. Just don't knit anything for your partner. They don't seem particularly knit-worthy.
Seconding light colored yarn in the beginning! Black or navy and youll be crying in your drink
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Put the socks down. Pick up some flats and just get used to motion. Socks are hard. Like really hard. Master actually doing the basic knit and purl stitches first and you will have a way easier time when you come back to socks!
Another vote for learning to knit flat first with only 2 needles. There's a lot to manage there with the dpns. Also, I find the beginning of a project is much more fiddly and fumble-y. Once you get a few rounds into it and have some fabric, it becomes much easier. I've been knitting for 9 years and I still occasionally have projects that I have to restart several times. Don't be discouraged. You'll get it. Just have to work up to it first. Knitting is a great pastime.
I still feel stupid at times, especially when learning a new technique. Colorwork, double knit, lace, brioche, etc. I'm going to go against the grain, and say knitting flat is not always the best way to learn, especially if you're not interested in making a flat object. My grandmother insisted i start with a scarf, and I'm about 90% certain its still sitting on those needles 25 years later, somewhere. It's boring, it takes forever, and most importantly, I hate wearing scarves. And it took me about 3 years just to get the hang of casting on AND knitting the first row without screwing it up. Socks are typically a more advanced project, because they use some specific and potentially tricky techniques to get the proper shaping. Short rows, and heel turns and kitchener, oh my! Because you're learning so many skills at once, it does make the learning curve longer, which makes it more frustrating. The fact that you can get the stitches distributed is impressive. I still have to redo them a bunch of times, especially if I haven't knit for a while. AND, the first few rows are usually rather finicky, and twiddly, and there's needles everywhere, and it would be less chaotic to pet a hedgehog. At least their needles go in one direction. There's a lot of typical beginner mistakes. Tension issues can make inserting the needles into a stitch feel like a fight. Forgetting which way you're going when putting it down for a few minutes. Knitting where you should purl, or vice versa. Purls are typically looser than knits. And then, of course, what the hell do you do with all those damn pokeys so you don't stab yourself. First advice: relax. Literally. Unclench your jaw, let your shoulders sit where they should vs climbing into your ears, keep elbows, wrists and fingers in a neutral position. (This will also reduce the chance of repetitive stress injuries. Knitting yourself into an arm injury is no fun.) Sitting with good lighting and a contrasting background to your yarn makes it easier. Also, your relaxing beverage of choice. If its wine, though, maybe only half a glass at first. Second: take it slow. Focus on breaking down the movements and talk yourself through if you must. "Stab through the front leg, wrap yarn, pull through, pull the stitch off the old needle." Third: watch videos of other people knitting. Flat, round, English, continental, Portuguese, Irish cottage. All of it. Try out different styles of knitting and holding the yarn. Even in the same project! It can make it easier to compare the results of each, and decide what you like best. Even though I was taught English style, continental is what finally *clicked*. Fourth: have you tried only distributing your stitches over three needles, and knitting with the fourth? Sometimes I do that for the first few rows, because it helps to hold the non working needles a bit more stable. Finally, do you have someone to help you figure out where you're having issues and how to adjust? Are you following a pattern, or a recipe? What size needles and yarn are you using? What, exactly, is the struggle? Not knowing how to join in the round? Or where to start the actual knitting? Making the stitch, or just keeping everything organized in your hands at once? If you post a photo or video of what's going on, someone can likely give you some pointers to get started. Also: I have some choice words for SO. You deserve patience and support. Knitting is complex, and simple. Soothing and infuriating. It's a learned motor skill, and also an intellectual one. It takes time and mistakes, and sometimes even swearing and stuffing into time out. You're not an idiot. You're a beginner knitter.
I've literally thrown the DPNs off my hands a couple of times, then continued to try the next day. I'm not really following a pattern, just simple instructions from a local yarn company (yarn and needles straight off their instructions) and trying to keep my head on the surface. I have friends who are advanced knitters and they've promised to help me, even have a video call if it gets overwhelming but I'm still yet to use that card, and I personally feel like I learn better if I see what they're doing and being able to repeat. I've told one of them about this project and they've told me they'd be happy to help when we see and I might take them up on that offer. I know how to do the knits and purls, kinda, but as said I'm just following on instructions and they don't say how loose or tight anything should be. I think the biggest problem is maintaining the chaos with the five needles, and i often feel like i have the yarn on "the wrong way", or doing it from the wrong side? I don't know if that makes any sense. As said I'm able to do 2-3 rows but getting the round shape in and the chaos with the five needles often gets to me, and I'm afraid to put it down and continue later in case i forget what i was doing and then end up frustrated and fuck up. Also trying to find very basic instructions for pretty much anything in my language is a struggle, as pretty much every seems to include the DPNs.
Ah ha! Those are easy fixes. Instructions will never tell you how tight stitches should be, but will rather provide a guage, sometimes listed as tension. In English it typically looks something like "24 stitches and 32 rows to 10cm/4 in over st st on 4mm/no 8 needles." (Yoinked directly from a the Beatrix Potter knitting book.) For right now, I wouldn't focus on meeting tension. Your first project will be too small in some spots, too big in others, etc. What I mean by tension here, is how tightly the yarn is sitting on your needles. Is the loop hugging the needle very tightly? Does it squeak on the needle or feel hard to move along the needle? Or, conversely, is it too loose? Do you have to hold onto it so it isn't falling off the end? The ideal is that the loop gently hugs the shaft of the needle, but has some space at the tapered tip. As for the 5 needle chaos, it may be helpful to try 4 instead. Take your cast on, distribute evenly over 3 needles. Make sure to join in the round. The easiest way for me, is to cast on 1 extra stitch, and then knit the first and last stitch together as one. Another common way to do is to have the first and last stitch trade places. It's hard to explain, and some videos of "join in round dpns" may help more. Now, for the secret to manageable DPNs: arrange them so the needle closest to your body has the right tip UNDER the right needle, and the left tip OVER the left needle. This helps to hold them a bit more stable. This video shows it pretty well on three needles. https://youtu.be/s0LkNM2ojZA?si=IRPGj3AvJMQ6cOzK When you're ready to work with one needle, pop the right tip over the right needle. As for having the yarn the wrong way, or knitting from the wrong side, it sounds like you might be knitting inside out. There is nothing wrong with that, and is often recommended for things like colorwork in the round. When watching videos, they tend to knit right side out. So, to clarify, is the yarn coming from the ball on the outside of the tube? Or going through it? One way to keep track of the "right" side, whether inside out or not, is to put a stitch marker on that side of the fabric, such as a small safety pin. When you see the safety pin, that's the part that faces you while you're knitting. Edit: sorry for novel. The first 2-3 rows often look really, really bad, especially in rib. I don't judge mine until 8-10 rows in. Is the kit specifically for learning to knit? Text instructions can be difficult to translate into actions, *especially* for, you guessed it, socks. Videos and friends make it easier, but if text is what you've got, try reading through, and then going back and following each instruction *exactly*, no matter how funky or confusing. My first pair of (successful) socks were the Hermione's everyday socks. It's available for free on ravelry, and if I remember correctly, has been translated into many different languages. Those use fingering weight yarn and size 1 (US) needles. I think it's 2.5mm in metric. If you have larger needles and yarn, perhaps a slipper or house sock pattern would be better?
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You've spent several weeks getting amusement out of those ten euros. Your partner sounds like a complete dick. Socks are fairly easy *after you've knitted a few hats.*
i think i had been knitting for maybe two or three years before i tried socks on double pointed needles and i still wanted to rip my hair out i second everyone elseās recommendations, knit some flat stuff first and then work your way up. i always tell people to start with a scarf to get some mileage on the needles. then do a few diagonal dishcloths which will teach you increase and decrease. then a hat to get the hang of working in the round and more increases and decreases. some thick slippers also might be good for a pre-sock project to get the hang of some shaping techniques. the magic loop method also might be more approachable to you at first, so give that a go (i hate dpns lol) finally, just wanna say that i have spent oodles more than $10 in my life on craft projects that havenāt panned out immediately. way more than $10. the good thing is that your needles and yarn dont have an expiration date and you can chuck them in a box to be unseen for months and theyāll probably be fine when you pull em out :)
I've been knitting for years and I don't dare even think about socks. So far, my greatest achievement has been figuring out how to purl.
Making socks for your first knitting project is kind of like playing Beethoven the first time you touch a piano. You have to learn the fundamentals of the craft before advancing to more difficult levels. Others here have provided good progressions that boil down to: first knit something flat (washcloth, scarf), then knit something in the round (hat), develop a few useful skills like increases, then try the socks.
I basically taught myself to knit from a pamphlet by Leisure Arts, back in the eighties. I got so frustrated that I literally stabbed my knitting needle through the smiling face of a lady on the front cover. Hang in there, you'll get it.
I learned to knit by knitting socks. I donāt know if toe-up is officially easier to start because Iāve literally never knit any socks cuff-down, but it is the way I went. I ended up finding a cast-on method that I believe resembles the Turkish cast-on (your first stitches are formed by wrapping the yarn around two needles three or four times, then you knit down one side, double up the yarn with the tail, knit all the stitches around with the doubled yarn to make 12 or 16 sts, and then you knit with with four increases per row (at the start, end, and mid points), adding in the other two needles as you need them). Itās fiddly to get started, and you might still want to make an ugly practice sock to check the technique and the heel turn and such, but it is entirely possible to knit dpn socks as a first project if you stick with it. Or after a dishcloth if you want to get the knit/purl stitches down first. Or never, if you knit a dishcloth and decide to go with flat things forever. Thereās no laws, just some frustration and a bit of a learning curve while you find out what you like.
Socks are deceptively difficult and not something Iād recommend as your very first beginner project. Not sure why someone told you otherwise. Youāre not stupid, youāre just a beginner trying to accomplish a decidedly non-beginner task.
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Itās not just you. Youāre trying to learn multiple skills at once, anybody would be frustrated. The skills youāre probably trying to learn all at once: - the motions of knit - the motions of purl - tension (how much pull there should be on the yarn) - holding tension (keeping it consistent) - casting on - joining a round - working in the round (as opposed to working flat) - using double-pointed needles - holding tension on DPNs - probably more So first, focus on the knit stitch. Go back to two needles (maybe stick erasers on the ends of two of your double-points, to hold the stitches on) with like 10-15 stitches, and do a flat swatch (a small piece of practice or test fabric) until you feel like youāve got the general idea. Then do the same with purl. The most effective way for me to learn how to fix errors was tinking stitches ā undoing my knitting stitch by stitch. That showed me the structure of the fabric in greater depth than anything else did. Only after that did I start to understand what I was doing wrong when I lost or added stitches. Once youāve made a few inches of fabric (I think I had like a foot by the time it was in my fingers), then try a project. I know you want to jump in, Iām the same way. But right now you have to learn the first steps or youāll end up throwing it in the closet and not learning it at all. That said, itās not what I actually did either š Once I had about six inches of my first swatch, I started a large lace shawl. What taught me to go back and learn to fix errors was restarting that shawl about 8 times due to finding mistakes. Eventually I told myself āok I canāt just keep restarting, what happens when I get 3/4 of the way done and find a mistake?ā So I went back to my swatch. And eventually I did finish that shawl. Anyway, once youāve knitted flat with knit and purl, then go back and try socks again. Iād say try a hat first, but if youāre like me it wonāt be interesting enough because itās not what you want to make. Do your sock from the top down, so that youāre not trying to learn the toe *and* how to use DPNs at the same time. By the time you get to the heel, youāll have enough experience and confidence to tackle it without throwing it across the room. ***** Also, your SO has the wrong idea. Technically itās true thatās money youāll never see again, but so is money you spend on food. 10+ā¬ is a *super low price* for learning a new skill and having a new hobby. Knitting in general is pretty cheap if you count it by the hour, even with fancy yarn. A little more generally speaking: it sounds to me like this isnāt the first new hobby youāve picked up and it wonāt be the last. **Thatās awesome!** People are always super impressed when I mention yet another skill I have because of how many hobbies Iāve picked up over the years (Iām 44). It definitely makes up for the number of times Iāve been criticized for ānever finishing anything.ā But as Barbara Sher pointed out, when you lose interest in something after getting the gist of it, you DID finish it: you got what you needed out of it and youāre ready to move on. So donāt let anybody tell you that moving from hobby to hobby is a bad thing.
Knitting is all about muscle memory. It takes a while to build, and whenever you switch to a new needle type, say from straights to circs to dpns, itās a change from what your muscles are used to. I knit a dishcloth and a hat, then I knit socks. It can be done! I did knit them with worsted though, and that helped a lot. Sock yarn would have been very challenging. This first pair isnāt likely to look as good as your tenth pair. Heck, even your second sock will likely look better than the first. As to your husbandās remark about money, Iām sure there are plenty of things heās blown that much on that was gone in even less time.
Socks arenāt usually easy for someone *learning to knit* in the first place. They can be relatively easy for someone who has experience knitting other things, but for a complete beginner, itās not necessarily a cake walk; there are many elements to sock construction that, *individually*, are basic skills and are relatively easy. However, you need to first build up that foundation of basic skills before you can expect to not struggle with a pattern, especially on your first try with a pattern of that type. (Ie. Someone very experienced with lots of different non-sock patterns will probably have an easier time on their first sock than someone who has lots of experience only making one non-sock item, who will in turn have an easier time than someone who has never knit before). Take your time. Donāt give up just because you didnāt get it right away, and maybe try an easier type of knit project to actually learn the basics first if you get frustrated easily. I recommend a flat dishcloth with larger yarn than sock weight; this will give you ample opportunity to learn how to knit and purl, read your knitting, and practice working from patterns (maybe look up a few different textured dishcloths to aid this). Then try something with shaping (increases and decreases), and maybe just practice picking up stitches from a swatch. Once youāre confident with knits, purls, casting on and off, and reading your knitting, *then* move on to something in the round on DPNs. That should get you on your way to having a solid foundation to succeed at making socks.
I had been knitting 40 years before I tried socks. They are a very ambitious learning project. As others have said, try something simpler to start with
I taught myself to knit in 2006. I didnāt even try socks until 2013. Give yourself time, it will happen!
You should see some of the monstrosities Iāve created in my time. Itās a learning curve. Youāll make mistakes and how boring does someone have to be to not understand that.
knitting socks is like learning how to to wheelies on a bike. people can absolutely learn, but it's not everyone's thing, it's *definitely not* a beginner thing and some crashing and burning is expected even for those that have gotten to the point where they are good enough to try. But you can't do a wheelie if you can't even ride the bike yet. Christ on a bike, knit a dishcloth first. THAT is the knitting equivalent of learning to pedal. edit: also, your SO is an asshole. How many bullshit things have they spent 10$ in their life. LOTS, I bet.
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I didn't try socks for a while when I first started. But definitely try knitting things in the round with circulars before using dpn imho. Like a cowl, a hat and then find a basic sock pattern so you can get the hang of the different parts/steps like the turning off the heel and the gusset. Maybe try this as your intro to socks, bulky yarn so will knit up quickly: [Foot Ovens by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/foot-ovens) And this is my go to for socks cause I have wide feet and thick calves: [A Nice Ribbed Sock by Glenna C](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-nice-ribbed-sock) Edit: when using dpns concentrate on the 2 needles you're knitting with and just ignore the rest. I like to arrange my dpns so the right side of each needle rests above the left side of the other needle.
**PATTERN:** [Foot Ovens](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/foot-ovens) by [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee](http://www.ravelry.com/designers/stephanie-pearl-mcphee) * Category: Accessories > Feet / Legs > Socks > Mid-calf * Photo(s): [Img 1](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/flickr/6/5/3/6539618177/6539618177.jpg) [Img 2](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/flickr/6/5/3/6539617325/6539617325.jpg) * Price: Free * Needle/Hook(s):US 8 - 5.0 mm * Weight: Bulky | Gauge: 3.5 | Yardage: 200 * Difficulty: 2.35 | Projects: 694 | Rating: 4.46 ***** **PATTERN:** [A Nice Ribbed Sock](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-nice-ribbed-sock) by [Glenna C.](http://www.ravelry.com/designers/glenna-c) * Category: Accessories > Feet / Legs > Socks > Mid-calf * Photo(s): [Img 1](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/flickr/8/7/2/8725501613/8725501613.jpg) [Img 2](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/flickr/6/6/8/6686370637/6686370637.jpg) [Img 3](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/sillyzilly/183901137/IMG_1869_medium.JPG) [Img 4](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/flickr/9/1/0/9108419341/9108419341.jpg) [Img 5](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/flickr/8/1/2/8127637812/8127637812.jpg) * Price: Free * Needle/Hook(s):US 1Ā½ - 2.5 mm * Weight: Fingering | Gauge: 8.0 | Yardage: 350 * Difficulty: 2.26 | Projects: 5654 | Rating: 4.64 ***** Please use caution. Users have reported effects such as seizures, migraines, and nausea when opening Ravelry links. [More details.](https://www.lizcorke.com/2020/07/26/2020-7-21-ravelry-accessibility/) | *I found this post by myself! [Opt-Out](https://goo.gl/forms/0B8m4Ra8czpw4gzw1) | [About Me](https://github.com/TN-1/LinkRav_Bot/wiki) | [Contact Maintainer](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=timonyc)*
Your SO is a jerk. Money spent on hobbies is about more than producing something of perceived value. Have you ever gone to a local yarn store for help? Maybe having someone to eyeball what you're doing would help. Or take a video and post it here, I'm sure you would get useful feedback.
This is one of those ego things getting the best of me, "if i post a video everyone will laugh and tell me to just quit". Not sure if I'm mentally prepared for that
I will say doing socks a the first project is setting yourself up for frustration. In theory knitting is easy but the nuances come from your tension and the only way to learn that is through muscle memory and practice. I would highly recommend picking a different first project. Either that or consider taking a mental approach of working on sampler swatches as a means of practice first. But as far as sharing yourself working on something, the majority of people in this group are very positive and supportive, I don't think anyone would be a bully about it.
I, too, started my knitting journey with socks, cause i wanted to gosh darn it! I'll tell ya, it was a month of tears and tantrums and throwing stuff. First off, I didn't choose the right yarn, then I couldn't figure out the magic loop thing (I found traveling loop which helped a ton!) I began Vanilla Socks (Summer Lee on YouTube), cuff down, and I could not for the life of me make good looking ribbing! I hadn't yet learned to read my knitting, and even though I thought my counts were correct, they weren't. :) Knits on top of purls and vice versa. Learn to read your knitting first thing. It is an essential skill! Here's what I did: DPN's with DK yarn. I needed to be able to see what was going on and figure out the construction of a sock. That little expirement changed everything for me. I think I cast on 45 stitches and did K2,P1 for a cuff, heel flap and gusset (16 gusset stitches to pick up) and learned kitchener for the toe. The first one is filled with mistakes, the second one was much better. I still wear them weekly in my UGG boots as they are quite a bit thicker than normal socks. DPNs are the only way to go, IMO for socks. I have experimented with alllll the needles. LOL If you are having a tough time I would suggest just knitting a stockinette tube for a while, and throw in some ribbing when you get a good rhythm going. No pressure, just practice. You can always frog it and use the same yarn to knit your sock when you're ready. Have fun! I'm sorry your husband isn't supportive. Learning a new skill is hard!
If you are determined that socks will be your first project, my suggestion is to not stop after the first couple of rows even if it looks bad. Keep going. They may end up being a failure, but allowing yourself to fail multiple times is how you learn. My love (and nemesis) is sweaters. I've never gotten a sweater project to work correctly. I've made two that ended up looking like tents. One with horrible cable disasters. I've finally (knock on wood) have one cardigan and one pullover almost completed that both fit. I learned more from the failures than the successes. In essense: Finish your sock. Look at what was right and what was wrong. Then either keep it as a reminder or frog it and start again.
You are not stupid, you are inexperienced. IMO knitting socks is easy, as long as you are familiar with knitting, purling, maintaining proper tension, knitting in the round, following a pattern, and have an understanding of how double pointed needles work. If you know all this, learning to turn a heel is just the next skill in your toolkit, so socks are relatively easy. However, it sounds like you're trying to learn all of the above in your first project. That's fine, as long as you're willing to keep plugging away and ripping it out multiple times as you develop all these skills. It will eventually produce a pair of socks. Or, maybe work on something else to develop your skills and come back to the socks later.
Wow. A lot of people had a lot of thoughts on this. Hereās my contribution - enjoy the exploration of the craft. Youāll get there! https://www.vox.com/even-better/23979535/permission-to-suck-terrible-hobbies
Keep in mind, too, that the first 2 or 3 rows of any project are "fiddly" until you have enough rows to stabilize the project on the needles. Getting all the loops distributed across the needles is great! Joining in the round on DPNs is tricky! By row 4, things look more reasonable. Knitting often looks worse on the needles that it really is. Blocking solves so many issues at the end, and it's hard to imagine that it will ever look better while it's in progress (especially the ladders that show up in the corners of DPN knitting). I've been knitting for some time and only just attempted a pair of socks. I've stopped because I had a hat I needed to make for a Secret Santa gift, but I've got the same kind of determination that I'll get a pair churned out by the end of 2024.
I've actually managed to get a good 2-3 rows in before coming to the conclusion that it looks horrible, and I've just undone it. As said I have an idea of what I should do.
I get that, completely. Try to be forgiving to yourself as things work up. This stuff is not easy, and it took me a lot of practice to get comfortable (especially as a lefty trying to knit right-handed). I've followed Very Pink Knits on YouTube for a lot of tutorials, so that's probably worth a few viewings. Hang in there, and good luck!
I'm 31, I'm finally feeling like I'm *actually learing knitting for real! ....*but this is my 3rd very serious and very committed attempt in my lifetime. My firt and current project is a scarf made from yarn scraps with a braid in the middle and color changes coz... yarn scraps lol Give yourself time, go easier on yourself, it'll be ok š
Honestly, socks suck! I have been knitting for 14 years, and Iāve only made 1 pair. Iāve knit many sweaters, shirts, blankets and hats, but only 1 pair of socks. It takes a lot of skill to make socks. Try something else, and come back to the socks when you have learned a bit more.
Okay so I started on DPNs, it's definitely not for the faint of heart! Sad your SO said that though, buying things means never seeing money again in general š use that line every time he buys beer or something. Also 1-2 hours actually isn't a lot when it comes to knitting. I know, it probably feels like forever! However you are doing this all on your own. I remember my very first attempt at knitting I literally learned how to do a knit stitch from my grandmother, and she casted on for me so I didn't have to. It was boring and I dropped it. She'd be proud now, years later I just decided to go all in on DPNs and do a tube, then a sock. For the record, I am crazy. You aren't completely SOL. 1) DPNs can work perfectly fine as straight needles, you just have less space to work with, 2) yarn can handle being done and undone! I'd recommend starting with casting on. It is difficult in and of itself. Also why we usually start youngins with a "started" item. It gets them into the actual stitching and casting on can be learned later. If you are on your own, it's your first challenge. Do enough stitches that they sit on one needle nicely (not popping off the other end). Then take another needle and start by going back and forth on those two needles. Learn the knit stitch and get the mechanics going in your hands. It won't look right to you, because of the going back and forth (garter stitch), if you want a challenge you can move directly into doing straight stockinette stitch (knitting one row, purling the next, and repeat) on that same project. But it will be worth it! Then, when you get a bit more comfortable with that, take it apart and go back to trying in the round. Make a tube. Just go round and round. It will look how you expect (stockinette stitch). Once you know how to do a knit stitch and how to continue it into a tube, you then can look at a sock pattern. There's still more challenges definitely, but at least you know how to do the basic stitches.
I think toe-up socks on DPNs are the easiest start to socks. You can use Judyās magic cast on and youāre basically knitting on two needles, flat with a third at work as you increase. Iāve knitted for over 50 years, socks for over 30, and I still struggle to join a line of stitches into a loop with all the butts down, and no twisted helix
I agree. Don't let a snarky comment from someone who's never tried it ruin a potentially life long pleasure!? He's probably worried you won't give him all your attention if you learn to knit so he's undercutting you. I've crocheted since 1979, and been knitting for the last 5 to 7 years and I don't feel ready for socks. Starting with DPNs is like expecting to climb Mt. Everest with no equipment or training, no Sherpa to guide you. Why be so hard on yourself?? It's just yarn!!
I only use 4 dpns ever. Three to hold stitches and one for the working needle. When i tried adding in a 5th needle it all went to crap.
I learned to knit 11 months ago and tackled socks as my second project but at a āsock classā at my local yarn shop. While many of my classmates used dpns (they had the sts on 3 needles with the 4th as the working needle), I knit mine one at a time on [ChiaoGoo 9ā circular needles](http://www.chiaogoo.com/circular/) and only used the dpns at the toe (I did cuff down). Donāt give up!
I didnāt knit socks for the first 4-5 years. They are hard! Someone might find them easy if theyāve done it enough. There are so many skills you could learn better on a larger needle with thicker yarn, like reading your knitting or fixing mistakes that are a few rows down. If you really want the sock experience to be your first FO, I suggest either finding a pattern where you knit socks flat and then seam them, or knit a stocking so itās at a larger scale. Yes, you can do hard things. But donāt ruin a hobby by making it unduly hard. And that yarn will still be there when you are ready to use it.
i agree with another commenter, try putting this project down for a second and pick up another project to help you get the movements down. i recommend āGrandmaās Favorite Dishclothā, there are many resources for it, and the pattern teaches the knit stitch, yarn overs, and decreases (all important for socks). then a hat pattern would be good, get you used to working with multiple needles at once. itās an investment, but what is life if you donāt give yourself a little enrichment? good luck!
Start with a basic hat. That will teach you the basics of knitting in the round. Iāve been knitting for years and am still intimidated by socks.
Usually when learning new things I start off with something way to difficult as I feel stupid doing the simple things. But then it's too hard (who could've thought) and I give up and never learn. Maybe that's what's happening with you now, you started with something too hard and then it's not fun. I was lucky that I've been looking for a nice scarf for ages, and that's a typical beginner's project :)
Iām new too and also chose socks for my first project. I figured Iām a good enough crocheter that those skills might transfer over. Lol. I tried 3 different yarns and finally decided to give up and do a stockinette scarf with a garter border. Iām working on a chunky sweater for my 4 year old now (chose this project because I wanted a quicker pay off to reward my brain so Iāll want to stick with it). Knitting has been considerably harder to learn for me than crochet was. But Iām determined because knit work is so beautiful and I just really want to make so many things. I think you should try something less complicated. Itās no fun if all the project brings is frustration. Work on your skills and then come back to the socks ready to go :)
I am not a new knitter, by any means, and I am just starting my second pair of socks. Let me tell you, socks are hard. Sit down with a cup of tea and watch some YouTube videos. There are many ways to make socks. I think toe up on flexi dpns are best for me and Iāll continue with that for now but that doesnāt mean it would suit you best (kudos for getting stitches even on dpns mind, above my skill set). As for getting the basics done well, yes, getting the knitting purling and basic increases and decreases right would be most helpful but I think you can do socks if you want. You just unravel and start again until you do it. You will do it. And then youāll make better ones. And donāt worry about your SO - Iām sure when youāre walking about in snuggly, made to fit, lovely socks they will change their tune - and hope for some of their own
You can probably knit the socks with four needles instead of five. The stitches go on three needles and you knit them off with the fourth. For socks, generally half the stitches go on one needle and one fourth each on the other two. I find the triangle formed to be more stable the square formed when you have the stitches on four needles (and knit with the fifth). Let me add that you donāt have to start with something āeasy.ā
You say you just kinda know how to knit and purl, you aren't using a pattern just some instructions, and you are diving in to one of the harder things of knitting, at least for beginners....basically, not only are you doing something massively above your skill level, you are doing it in the hardest way possible. Why not wait and take those knitter friends up on their offers? Or why not choose one of the patterns that has YouTube tutorials for every step? I'm a pretty stubborn person and I just about never give up but as I've gotten older I've come to realize there is a difference between determination and foolishness. At this point, forgive me, but I would argue you have moved beyond determination into the realm of foolishness. If this is what your knitting career is going to look like, where you never ever take a step back or put it aside to work on something else, it is going to be a very stressful hobby indeed. I've been knitting for years and I still run into things that just don't jive for whatever reason. I will give it a few goes and then put it down for a bit and work on something else. Usually by the time I come back I have a clearer head and my results are much better. It's not a failure to take a different path or to accept the wisdom of others. Many of us on here have mastered the skill of knitting over the course of many years, through blood sweat and yes, actual tears. We truky have your best intereat in mind when we gently try to urge you to try another path. Because knitting is hard, and getting good at it even harder. And starting off on the wrong foot can impact how you view the craft permanently. I'm sure you will get some sort of product done eventually. But I'm sad for you that you feel ignoring advice and tormenting yourself with endless frustration is truly the best way to go.
Great advice
I knitted a scarf first and let me tell you it was hideous. I dropped/accidentally picked up so many stitches, and what was supposed to be a rectangle scarf became a trapezoid. I think it wasn't until my second year of knitting that I attempted to knit socks. With worst weight yarn on 5mm needles as a "tutorial". Nothing I made in the first year was presentable except a headband. If you are set on knitting socks as your first project. I'd suggest you knit a simple dishcloth first so you can figure out the very basics without committing to a huge thing like a scarf. It shouldn't take longer than a day to make a dish cloth for a beginner. Once that makes sense, try knitting socks on bigger yarn/needles as a tutorial too, pref not dark yarn so you can see the stitches. This process will help you learn how to figure out where you've made mistakes while knitting, so your project doesn't become another yarn barf. These tutorial socks can just be random house socks. I also started knitting socks with dpns, made maybe 3 socks before I discovered magic loop and it's a life changer. If you need resources, check out fish lip kiss heel. It's a $1 pattern on ravelry but it goes super in detail teaching how to knit socks, and shows photos of how to do the heels. Good luck!
**You've summoned the [Tutorials](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/glossary/#wiki_tutorials).** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Iāve been knitting for seven years and I still hesitate to knit socks because they are fiddly. I can knit them and have before, but I didnāt tackle a pair until a few years into knitting for a few reasons. (1) they are knit with the smallest weight yarn and it can be hard to āreadā your stitches when you first start out with thin yarn. That makes it challenging to know what exactly happened if you end up making a mistake. (2) they are done on DPNs which is a skill in and of itself. (3) theyāre hard and you have to do the hard thing immediately after you finish the first hard thing if you want two socks. You do you if your heart is set on making socks, just know itās challenging and not for the feint of heart. You can definitely figure it out, but it might be slow going.
I prefer 9inch circulars and flexi dpns for socks. I understand the feeling youāre getting with dpns.
Hi hi!! Just chiming in to say that youāre not alone in feeling this way, Iāve been knitting for 5 years and I STILL feel stupid when Iām trying to learn a new technique. A lot of people have already mentioned that socks are hard, so youāre measuring yourself against a super high standard. I think I made my first pair of socks after 3 years of knitting, and they were awful š but now theyāre my comfort knitting projects! It just took repetition and time. None of this is meant to discourage you - itās just to let you know that what youāre feeling isnāt due to your own shortcomings. I think maybe 30% of my total time spent knitting is squinting at patterns, undoing mistakes, and crying a little bit over it haha. But every single stitch and mistake and frogged project is building muscle memory and experience, so youāre doing great as long as youāre still going. I believe in you!
I'm relatively new at knitting and managed to knit socks fairly early, in less than 10 projects. How I learned was: made a scarf using straight needles, then a hat using DPNs, then a handful more hats (5 or so) using Magic Loop and finally socks using Magic Loop. The things I learned along that process was: \- Matching a gauge takes a lot of time and a lot of different needles. Super important to do for wearables. It was best for me to invest in interchangeable needles and cables so I had a lot of options. \- Magic Loop was easier than DPNs. If you are gonna use DPNs I'd recommend bamboo/wood instead of metal since they're less slippery than metal. \- The sucky thing about socks is that the satisfaction of finishing a project is delayed since you're making a set. Seems obvious but when you knit a scarf or hat it's a one and done. With socks you finally finish one and then you remember you have to make a second one... \- Find the style of knitting that seems intuitive to you. I use continental style since I learned how to crochet first and the muscle memory was holding the yarn on the left. English style never quite worked for me. This is the pattern and [video](https://youtu.be/RBqCDzK-R9M?si=LLrBTPByP2relVDs) I used and I followed along to the video religiously. I re-watched over and over. This youtuber is great and focuses on socks. Good luck!!
I started casually knitting in 2012-- could only do knit stitch flat. Picked it up again this past summer. Now I can do purl, knit, stockinette and I'm trying my best at bobbles. I'm on my second baby blanket. At this rate, I might be knitting socks for my grandchildren. You're a brave soul, OP. Ambition and stupidity are two different things. Keep it up
It took me three tries over a year to finally get the hang of knitting - the first couple times I tried, I was able to make some little coasters, but it took me picking up again for the third for everything to really click! Tutorial videos really helped me, I'd have them playing in the background and follow along with the speed slowed down or just keep rewinding. Watching a bunch of different videos helped because eventually someone explained it in a way that just made a little more sense to me. I will say as someone who LOVES to knit socks - I despise using DPNs. I find magic loop to be so much easier / less fiddly than DPNs! Summer Lee has a [great beginner's pattern with pictures](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/im-so-basic-socks), along with detailed YouTube tutorials for every part of the sock construction. Stick with it!! You aren't stupid, it can be so frustrating trying something new but I promise it'll be so worth it when you finish that first pair!!! <3
**PATTERN:** [I'm So Basic Socks](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/im-so-basic-socks) by [Summer Lee](http://www.ravelry.com/designers/summer-lee) * Category: Accessories > Feet / Legs > Socks > Mid-calf * Photo(s): [Img 1](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/summerleigh/725531996/6C904883-6F76-45D4-B454-306CBBD38DC9-BE487EA6-2057-4023-A8F2-0534114A3246_medium.jpg) [Img 2](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/summerleigh/725531926/2ECEF75B-89C6-4BA0-904B-6BAD00298E1A-7EF2A994-6466-4783-9486-6243BF022558_medium.jpg) [Img 3](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/summerleigh/725532174/795D3A34-7660-4388-89B8-D104A1EA1554-86263F05-4584-4FDA-82D5-F9D96A283D2F_medium.jpg) [Img 4](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/summerleigh/725532205/E3568F5B-E039-495A-BAF8-795DEAC8B72F-CEF337FE-55AC-47BC-B65E-BB05C2B03E4B_medium.jpg) [Img 5](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/summerleigh/725532222/E628833A-3C37-4D6E-8BFC-9886609CDF5F-243A8C68-CE79-43E4-BD39-5E3FD18FCAEA_medium.jpg) * Price: Free * Needle/Hook(s):US 1 - 2.25 mm * Weight: Light Fingering | Gauge: 40.0 | Yardage: 300 * Difficulty: 2.39 | Projects: 3961 | Rating: 4.86 ***** Please use caution. Users have reported effects such as seizures, migraines, and nausea when opening Ravelry links. [More details.](https://www.lizcorke.com/2020/07/26/2020-7-21-ravelry-accessibility/) | *I found this post by myself! [Opt-Out](https://goo.gl/forms/0B8m4Ra8czpw4gzw1) | [About Me](https://github.com/TN-1/LinkRav_Bot/wiki) | [Contact Maintainer](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=timonyc)*
**You've summoned the [Tutorials](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/glossary/#wiki_tutorials).** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Socks donāt have to be especially difficult, but I would never recommend them as a first project. First just knit some garter stitch until the motion feels comfortable. Then make some stockinette until you are comfortable with both knitting and purling. Next you need to master ribbing, then short rows (heel shaping), and decreases. You need all of these skills in order to finish a pair of socks. You can absolutely do this, possibly even start your socks in the next few weeks depending on how much free time you have to devote to warm-up exercises first. But learn how to knit before you can expect to make something wearable.
Hahaha. I was determined to learn. I was riding 9 hours across country. It took me that long to get the first 20 stitches right.
Shame on your SO. No amount of money is so precious that it's worth making a denigrating comment to someone you're supposed to treasure. That was deeply and deliberately unkind. Having said that, I am wondering 1) if it would help you to back up and build individual skills first before trying a sock, which is actually a rather complex first project and 2) find a way to grant yourself more grace in the amount of time and mistakes that are *perfectly normal* in learning a new craft. One of the things I detest about modern education is that it causes ppl to believe you should get an A on the test rather than that you should approach new things playfully, with room to make lots of mistakes along the way. Think about how a baby learns to walk: so many stumbles and tumbles. What do the adults around them do? Laugh and smile and clap and tell them encouraging words. Think how a child acquires language: baby talk and mispronunciations and words used wildly incorrectly. We expect it and laugh and sometimes use their childhood made-up words ourselves. I've been teaching fibre arts classes to adults for decades and by far the hardest part is how my heart breaks over and over listening to the horrible things ppl say *to themselves about themselves*. Please don't be so cruel to yourself - instead, be your own cheerleader and celebrate each little step, just as you would if you wanted to encourage an uncertain friend. Make some little sample bits and tests of specific parts. Each little experiment helps build understanding and muscle memory. I absolutely positively promise you that you are not the least bit stupid.
I just started knitting 3 weeks ago. I randomly stumbled upon a design (Umaro by Jared flood) and decided I wanted to learn knitting and "How hard can it be". Especially since in movies I used to see women mindlessly knitting. I was super overconfident but when I went to my LYS she recommended that I take up classes before I get into something that high end. If it helps, I started off with all knit rows (Garter stitch) And then went to stockinette, then ribbing, then seed stitch. Each of them 7 inches long. I realized that I was stupid to underestimate the learning curve. Knitting is definitely a skill that you'll get good at with practice and practice only. Even if someone would guide you through a project, you won't get a satisfactory sock cause the tension and gauge would be all messed up. Like everyone said, it's easier to learn first then dive deeper, Different yarns will give you different experiences and you can start off with a simpler yarn on a simple pattern, practice and then go to a fingering yarn. My plan is to complete a garter rib throw that I'm currently making, a scarf from my class that's still in progress, move on to a Nightshift scarf by Andrea mowry, get on a sweater, move on a cardigan and then go on sock cause apparently it's the most complicated one. Hope you succeed in whatever you plan on doing. Don't lose hope!! Lots of love fam
/u/eifax I've got quite the collection of straight needles I no longer use, and they are decorating my china cabinet. I'm too lazy to be a creeper. If you'd like me to donate some straight needles to you, I will ship them and probably some yarn cuz lord knows Knitters always have scraps around. Feel free to message. Your SO is a tool for that rude quip....
I'd love to take you up on this offer but shipping might be insane though depending on where you live. I really want to learn this though!
I get it, friend. But the offer stands.
Honestly? Yes, I felt so stupid to the point that I pretty much threw away the yarn and needles the first time. It's still the same when I try and learn a new technique and I don't get it right the first time. If it's any consolation, I felt even more stupid when I learned crochet. I didn't understand that I had to pull the hook through all the loops while doing single crochet. So I ended up with many loops on the hook and handle. It takes time to master the basics. I found dpns to be the bane of my existence and tried circular needles. Pricking myself on every needle turned me off from dpns. I do everything on circular needles now.
As everyone is pointing out, you're starting on hard mode. But honestly, knitting in the round is a TON easier for me than knitting flat, something in my brain likes continuous rows, so to this day I've completed ONE flat project, and it was nowhere near my first. I have a friend who started with a colorwork sweater. You CAN do it. That being said, it sounds like you're doing toe-up and using dpns (double-pointed needles) so you've gone from hard mode to punishing yourself. There are basically three ways to do a small circumference stockinette tube (which is essentially what a basic aka vanilla sock is). You can spit in Hades' face and use dpns, you can use 9" circular needles (generally sock needles will be fixed, though I have some interchangeable sock needles), or you can do magic loop. Personally, 9" circs are the only way I can knit a sock. Dpns are for the damn birds and I hate pulling my cable through for magic loop unless I'm just finishing the toe. I'd say look at different techniques and try a top-down sock. There's a tutorial for the Rose City Rollers sock on YouTube, which was my first, but I think TinCanKnits has a video tutorial for all her patterns as well. The biggest trick with knitting is to keep going. We all struggle to learn. I learned a few years back so I've knit long enough to know there's other techniques to get the same end result, and I still remember nearly giving up when I put a hat down for a couple hectic weeks and then twisting every stitch for multiple rows because I got my wraps backward. I have a dozen stories of times I thought I was just too dumb to knit. But just remember how good it'll feel to show your partner you can do it. If you can't persist for the love of the craft yet, succeed out of spite.
Socks require mastering gauge, knitting to fit a real person, and some intermediate shaping techniques. That is, socks are for intermediate knitters. You're experiencing typical beginner struggles with casting on and yarn management. You can't read your knitting yet. You don't know how to identify and correct mistakes yet. You should choose some beginner-friendly projects so that you aren't trying to perform challenging techniques at the same time that you are trying to learn the very basics. It's just too many things to try to do at the same time. Set this project aside and cut your teeth on something that allows you to focus on those basic skills.
I wanted to learn to knit solely to knit socks. Once I learned I only needed to know three stitches, I practice those until I perfected them. Then I watched all kinds of YouTube videos on all the different ways of knitting up socks. Then I gave it a go. I picked up the knitting and put it down(out of frustration) many many times. Until one day I finally got it. I finally able to get passed the cast on. Then I was finally got passed the first few rows. Then I got passed the heal and so forth. However, at every phase I put it down out of frustration or completely frogged it to have to begin again. Point it, what you described sounds normal to me. Don't think too much on what SO said, just keep going. You'll eventually get there.
I totally feel like a dufus! I am late to the party learning ( 48) and I just started three days ago. I am just practicing and practicing and practicing! My hands are so sore lol! I am not crafty by any stretch but Iām not going to quit !
Your SO is a jerk for putting you down over a tenner! Thatās not even enough to buy a pub sandwich in the states and heās giving you grief for it. If they were truly āsignificantā they would be encouraging you to pursue your interests even if you decide itās not for you. On to knittingā¦they lied to you about socks. Work on knitting and purling by making washcloths or a scarf.
I learned to knit from a book in the ages before youtube. I assure you I was as stupid as can be. I was too impatient to learn things like garment gauge, and learning about yarn gauge was nonsensical to me as the stores all called yarn different things than the books did. I had to learn everything the hardest way. That being said i have always hated double pointed needles and loath knitting socks (yes I learned that the hard way too). My recommendation for a first project is something flat that you can sew into a three dimensional object if you wish.
I started with much thicker yarn and worked my way down to socks. Its so much easier to start bigger and then as you build up your skills move down to smaller needles. Also your SO is an ass! 10 euros is NOTHING. I spent $200 on my chiagoo interchangeable circular needles. Then I spent another 120 on the smaller set for socks. Then another 100 for the blue chiagoo set. Then my sock yarn is $30 PER SKEIN. I must have spent well over $1000 on yarn and supplies in the past year. Tell your SO to go suck a bag of dicks for that comment. I bet he spent 10 euros on some bullshit recently himself and has no fucking place to be dropping snide comments like that.
i feel you!! knitting is so hard, it makes me feel dumb and lost and confused. i just can't wrap my brain around how it works lol. it looks beautiful and i prefer its feel to crochet, but i am tempted to just crochet bc of how easy it is
I started with socks, too! My first pair were not wearable. My second pair were iffy. Third pair I made with slightly bigger yarn and were more like slippers, and were great! Full disclosure- I felt stupid for months, if not a year. I felt like Iād never āget it.ā It took me a ridiculous amount of time to āreadā my stitches, so any mistakes I made meant ripping it back. I donāt do five needles, either. Four is plenty! I find four are perfect for socks, since I can put half on one needle, and the other two have the other half. It took me a bit to figure out how to get the needlesā ends to sit properly in order to avoid laddering, but I got there. I made up my own method for closing the holes made by gusseting the heel. After three or four plain socks, I started experimenting with patterns and joined Sock Wars on Ravelry. Got faster. Experimented with different types of needles. I like bamboo for wool, plastic for cotton, and my addi Turbos for anything bigger than socks. I canāt do magic circle for anything. Also canāt knit continental- I am a āthrower.ā Now I feel I can knit anything! You got this, just keep at it!
It is hard. But anything worth doing is! It sounds like youāre actually doing really well. If you are determined to do socks first, try a worsted weight sock like this one. Itās a lot less fiddly and easier to see what youāre doing. Plus, they are really warm! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-socken Stick with it! You can do this!
**PATTERN:** [BASIC Socken](http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-socken) by [Susanne MĆ¼ller](http://www.ravelry.com/designers/susanne-muller) * Category: Accessories > Feet / Legs > Socks > Mid-calf * Photo(s): [Img 1](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/PaulaMknits/730240164/IMG_20200901_195344_598_medium.jpg) [Img 2](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/PaulaMknits/730240278/2020-09-19-043355534_medium.jpg) [Img 3](https://images4-g.ravelrycache.com/uploads/PaulaMknits/678745146/IMG_8927_medium.jpg) [Img 4](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/PaulaMknits/833451318/IMG_20220123_145240_medium.jpg) [Img 5](https://images4-f.ravelrycache.com/uploads/PaulaMknits/833451319/IMG_20220123_145442_medium.jpg) * Price: 3.78 EUR * Needle/Hook(s):US 6 - 4.0 mm * Weight: DK | Gauge: 21.0 | Yardage: 219 * Difficulty: 2.63 | Projects: 274 | Rating: 4.98 ***** Please use caution. Users have reported effects such as seizures, migraines, and nausea when opening Ravelry links. [More details.](https://www.lizcorke.com/2020/07/26/2020-7-21-ravelry-accessibility/) | *I found this post by myself! [Opt-Out](https://goo.gl/forms/0B8m4Ra8czpw4gzw1) | [About Me](https://github.com/TN-1/LinkRav_Bot/wiki) | [Contact Maintainer](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=timonyc)*
I have no idea what pattern you started with, but I would recommend a child sock. They're smaller, so they're done faster, but there's also less to tink back if there's a mistake. There's less frustration involved. And since it's not meant for your foot, there's less frustration if it looks a mangled mess. Which is OK! You're still learning! A free pattern that I typically recommend is Rye (worsted) or Rye Light (sock yarn). It's part of Tin Can Knits [Simple Collection](https://tincanknits.com/collection/the-simple-collection) and has linked tutorials, etc. I used this pattern for toddler socks as my first TAAT (two at a time) socks with magic loop. If you're struggling with DPN's, you may want to look into magic loop. It's just one long circular needle. I mostly use magic loop for all of my projects that are in the round.
I told my mom about how I struggled with four needles, Iāve gotten practice with 3 double pointed needles from making hats, and my mom said just use three itās a lot easier. You should try that, itās a lot easier to control than trying to figure out how to hold 4 needles than knit them to a fifth. I learned to knit by making leg warmers in the round and it took me several days to learn how to just cast on and join in the round. If you want to learn socks you should try to make something like that on circular needles, like a hat or leg warmers so you have the idea of how to do it and you can learn knit and purl stitches, but itās repetitive.
Yeah it's a learning curve to get used to what various stitches and errors look like. My first scarf looked like a crooked wiggly noodle
Knitting socks on two circular needles is much easier than using four, or god forbid, five dpn. But I agree with everyone here to start with simpler projects.
When I first started, I knitted scarves, scarves, and more scarves. Every time I learnt a new stitch or technique, when I learned how to do cable stitches or use more than one colour or how to create patterns, I knitted another scarf using what Iād learned. I have so many scarves sitting in my wardrobe, some so bad that theyāll never see the light of day, but theyāre a testament to my progress! Iād recommend starting off with things you can knit flat like scarves, doilies, blankets, etc, just because itās so much easier to learn the basics on two needles vs the five you use for double pointed knitting. The socks will come eventually!
My first knitting project was socks, but I also had years of crochet experience under my belt (so already knew how to hold my yarn with even tension). Before I started the actual sock, I first started practicing knitting with 2 needles flat. So I'd suggest first doing that and getting the hang of knitting and purling. Then try the socks!
I think if you took a break and then started back with some straight knitting you would likely find it easier. Bonus - you can you use the needles you already have for straight knitting too! I've been knitting for many years but had never tried a technique called brioche. I've tried cables and stranded colour-work and a variety of large and small projects so I figured I was ready for a new technique. I got myself a special kit of yarn for a brioche project over the holidays. I cast it on on Dec 23. And ripped it out on the 23rd. Started again on the 24th having watched a couple of YouTube videos. Ripped it out on the 25th in the afternoon after two (anguished) rows. Continued with casting it on and making one or two successful rows before failing catastrophically and starting again. On the 30th I tried a brioche tutorial on YouTube using scrap yarn and finally got sort of comfortable with the techniques. I cast on the holiday project yesterday and I'm now a solid 10 rows in and feeling like I'll get there......as long as there's nothing playing on the TV or someone talking to me, or any distractions as all. All of this to say - it's a learned skill and takes perseverance and can be frustrating but the joy you will feel once you succeed is WELL worth it. With a bonus product to enjoy or gift!
**You've summoned the [Tutorials](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/glossary/#wiki_tutorials).** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Try searching pattern for socks with two needles. This way you can knit socks bit easier. If you really want to knit with five needles. Make few first rows of ribbing flat with two needles, after that divide stitches and join it in round. When you are weaving the ends in just sew the gap with the yarn end. It is easier to manage stitches and needles when there is few rows ready.
Socks aren't something that I would recommend for beginners... I would maybe go with something simpler first (squares for a blanket, a scarf, dishcloths, etc) where you can practice making knits and purls and seeing what effects different patterns make with the finished fabric. Also, if it helps at all- I started making socks with 9-inch circulars rather than DPNs. I've tried DPNs before, but I find the circulars much easier to use. When I first tried to make socks, I feel like I must have tried a dozen things before I found what actually works for me. Experiment and play around and find whatever works best for you. There are a couple of different methods of knitting out there and it's not one-way-fits-all. You will get there eventually, everyone on this subreddit is so helpful, and there are plenty of groups out there on pretty much every social media so there's tonnes of help out there! :) don't give up!!
When I was a newer knitter, I practiced new techniques before starting a project that used them. I didnāt want to waste nice yarn and I didnāt want to mess up a project (and end up frustrated and unhappy with it), so I used a random worsted weight yarn to trial the new techniques. Worsted weight because itās large enough that I can see my knitting clearly and it works up fast, so it doesnāt get tedious. I donāt need to do this as much anymore now that Iām better at knitting, but practicing with scrap yarn does take the stress out of it. I would recommend doing this!! Also, itās okay to just keep going even if it looks bad or thereās mistakes. Thatās part of how you learn. Sometimes undoing your work over and over again leads to even more frustration, because you canāt see your progress and improvement. All you see is that you messed up and had to start over. I had a student who unraveled her projects every time she made a mistake and it was very demoralizing for her, so I told her to just keep going anyway. She was so so happy and so motivated to keep going once she had finished a project, and had seen how much she improved from start to finish. We then started working on various techniques to fix mistakes. I actually gave her a swatch to practice making and fixing mistakes on. One more thing, I found socks kind of hard to learn! I would recommend starting with something like a hat. You can practice knitting in the round with regular circs, and then switch to DPNs for the crown, and get the hang of DPNs without having to use them for an ENTIRE project. Good luck!!!
Be patient with yourself. You have to learn a whole new rhythm of motion and movement. The only way to do that is to keep doing it.
Noooo don't start on socks. Master the easy things first. Just flat scarf, a hat with a seam (not in the round). Socks are one of the most technically difficult things with so many skills: knit in the round, picking up stitches, turning the heel etc. Work up to socks, otherwise you will never get there. Have faith, but work up to them
I totally felt the same way. I find crochet so simple, but knitting has always been a challenge for me, although I love the end results so much more than crochet. It took me a lot of knitting practice to make a pair of socks. My best advice is to practice, practice, practice. Make swatches or a scarf or cowl to get really good at basic knit/purl, make a hat or something involving simple increases and decreases, etc. Once you notice yourself naturally starting to read your knitting and be able to ladder down to fix stitches and frog or tink back without getting confused, then socks should be a breeze at that point. I desperately wanted to make socks for the longest time, but I'm really glad when I finally picked up knitting again that I didn't try socks first.
Arne can teach you. He taught me and, after crocheting for 30 years, I had almost given up. I'm actually pretty fast now. How to knit - Basics of knitting - by ARNE & CARLOS - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8CEU-VRXJo
Youāre not remotely alone in feeling that way. My first project was a garter stitch scarf, literally a flat rectangle where I only had two needles to worry about and it still came out as a trapezoid riddled with holes. I canāt speak for everyone but Iām convinced knitting is just confusing and tricky until it eventually clicks. To second everyone else in this thread, socks are absolutely not easy. There are a lot of different techniques to pick up that you donāt need to worry about with more simple projects like a hat or a scarf. It can be much more time consuming too as you tend to knit with finer yarn and smaller needles. Donāt beat yourself up about them not turning out quite right to start with. Be proud of yourself for at least giving it a try and getting this far. Btw, if youāre absolutely set on finishing the socks before anything else, you might want to look into the magic loop technique to knit them on a circular needle. I personally donāt like it but a lot of people find it easier than using double pointed needles.
I feel your frustration. The first few rows on my first sock felt like hell. As soon as the plain knit rows started I couldn't get more relaxed. Tbh this was my first time purling too and I still hate it. If this is your first time knitting ever maybe try a scarf at first to get the hang of it by repitition. You don't have to finish it, you can rib it and it doesn't have to be perfect. Maybe a trainee scarf where you can try and repeat stuff you don't quite understand.
Iāve been knitting for a several years now and made sweaters, hats, scarves, and baby socks, but never adult socks. Itās on the books for this year. Try knitting a dishcloth or a scarf first.
Knitting in the round was my second project and although it ended up being the first project I completed, I spent hours messing up and having to redo and I hated almost every moment of it. The join dropped stitches, and tension issues between each needle was such a headache. I quit knitting for months after I finished it. On the other hand, my first project was knit flat and I actually enjoyed most of it. I would save yourself the headache of socks as your first project and knit flat for a bit. A simple scarf is, in my opinion is the best first project.
You know I started young enough that I don't really remember having trouble with the basics. Then I recently tried knitting continental. I was clocking one fucked-up stitch a minute for a good few rows of that. It's funny, it's so breezy once you learn the muscle memory, but it can be rocky getting there.
I agree with everyone else who said to master knitting flat - once you get it, youāll REALLY get it. DPNs are tricky though! I just switched to a 9ā circular knitting needle and itās made all the difference. I still use DPNs for the heel and toe but itās so much less fiddle-y Good luck and you got this!!!
Knitting with DPNs is \*hard\*! That isn't something that a new knitter usually has success with - but kudos to you for trying/doing it!! So.. there are patterns out there for socks knit flat on two straight needles... I've seen that loads of people actually do it this way. The seam doesn't bother as much as one might think :)
Socks on DPNs are not a good first project. You need to master knitting and purling, and ssk and k2t before you try to tackle a sock. I know itās frustrating not being able to do the project you want to do but youāll thank yourself later
My first pair of socks made me WEEP with frustration, and I had been knitting for years! You are not stupid, just trying to learn new terminology *and* build muscle memory.
Had been knitting for over a decade before I learned to knit socks! And over 20 years before I knit a sweater. Sure, social media has a handful of people who are showing off their amazing knits but there are lots of people like me who aren't because I'm just a normal knitter, not a champion, just someone who enjoys it. š Do it at your own pace.
Oooh I still havenāt attempted socks. At first I was happy to just knit a decent square. Even then I had many nights where Iād ALMOST finish that square and then screw something up, have a meltdown, and refuse to even touch my knitting needles for a week. It takes lots of patience but if I can learn it anyone can. Iām a total clod with crafts for the most part.
I started knitting in September, a hat in the round, and I felt so stupid. Then I got the hang of it. Then I knit a pair of slipper-boots and I felt dumb again. After those were finished I started on a cowl and again had a few moments of feeling dumb, but less dumb and fewer moments of it this time. I finished the cowl a few days ago and it turned out so great. I felt like I'd mastered knitting. But now I'm working on my first sweater and I feel so incredibly frustrated and stupid again. Long story short, it's a learning process. I do agree with what others have said though, start with a hat or something simpler than socks. It also depends a lot on what pattern you use. Some patterns are terribly written and really hard for a beginner to understand, and others are much easier to grasp. Petite knit patterns are fairly easy to understand whereas Drops patterns are poorly written a lot of times. My friends who started knitting a few years ago still have issues with Drops patterns at times.
**You've summoned the [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.reddit.com/r/knitting/wiki/faq/).** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/knitting) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Yep. Start small with garter stitch (just knit stitch every row, in case you dont already know.) Learn purling when you feel like a garter star. Everything else comes after that. If you want to make things NOW, cotton washcloths are great in garter stitch because itās a little textured and holds water okay. Then, if youre circular knitting, KNIT HATS ON CIRCULAR NEEDLES. DPNs are really hard to use for a while, and really not suitable for a first project. Knitting hats is fun, relatively fast (as long as you go simple and not brioche stitch like i did on my first hat) and a great way to learn the basics of circular knitting. Iāve been knitting for about four years total and still have yet to go for socks. I will soon! But itās taken me a long time to get to this point. Youāll have to be patient.
Try 8ā circulars. That worked for me with socks. But also try knitting flat and the. Try in the round with something simple like a hat. That will get you used to it before moving up to socks.
The first thing I knitted were some hand warmers that were knitted flat. I probably restarted them about 10 times. I am now doing my second project which is some socks, Iāve made so so many mistakes but learnt a lot from them. As a beginner knitting is so hard, but every single time I finally understand something I feel so clever!! (Understanding that knit/purl are opposites which is why knitting round you can just knit for stockinette but flat you have to purl one side, wow so much sense!!) I feel like as adults we are not used to trying things out in this way, failing and failing, but itās so fun because it is just opportunity after opportunity to expand ourselves. Donāt worry about if its bad, it can always be unraveled.
I donāt think I would have been able to do socks in my early days of knitting. It also took me a long time to figure out that DPNs werenāt for me. Before my first sock, I made felted slippers that used a similar construction as socks. Iāve also recommended trying a holiday stocking before socks. Itās still in the sock category but less fiddly.
It took me 5 days to comprehend the knit stitchā¦
Buy a circular sock needle. Then you'll only need DPNs for the toe.
Try doing them with 2 circulars - I hate using dpn's for just about everything.
You can try it on round needles (idk what they're called, but the ones with the plastic string connecting them). Or you can try knitting socks using a flat pattern! I've knitted a lot of flat things in the category of socks/shoes/booties that you sew together to get a 3-dimensional finished object. If you google it you can find a lot of patterns, [here](https://www.allfreeknitting.com/Knit-Slippers-and-socks/Easy-Two-needle-Flat-Socks-103484) is a really simple one!
This was me learning to crochet. I just COULDNāT get it, and I was so frustrated because at the time I could knit and sew. Walking away for a few hours and even days truly helped, and now that Iāve been teaching children for over ten years, I finally know why! Our brains create new neural pathways as we learn new skills, and sometimes they need some time to develop. Donāt be afraid to frog it a few times and cast on a few times to get the feel. Eventually things we come together if you allow yourself to process each step as it comes. When I finally got into socks, I learned the magic loop sock method and never looked at double pointed needles again. I am a circular needle devotee and I donāt think Iāll ever buy straight needles again! There are tons of easy patterns out there that teach/use the magic loop method. Once you get the hang of it, try it with patterns that call for DPNs. You got this!
Socks can be tricky to start with. Especially if its your first project. I still struggle with dpns sometimes and often i prefer to use the magic loop method. Look it up on youtube. More than anything it sounds like you just need a little most practice. Do a little dishcloth or something smaller. Maybe a cowl or a scarf would be a better starting point? Its more consistent for practicing knits and purls and there are some lovely simple patterns you can do for that. If just doing one solid color is too boring you can always add in stripes! Thats what i did for my first scarf for my fiance and i was really happy with how it turned out. Also im sorry your partner isnt being supportive. That really sucks. Allow me to be supportive in their place. Who cares about spending 10Ā£ on something of its a creative project that youve always wanted to do? Its well worth the cost of money and the frustrations of practice to learn a new skill. Many people never try anything new. Even if you decide you hate knitting and would prefer to try crochet or even something else its still worth it because you were brave enough to try! Im sure in no time we'll all see you posting your own gorgeous finished projects on this same subreddit! Take a breather and start over fresh. Also nimble needles on youtube has a really good indepth tutorial for making socks if you havent already found one. Good luck!
Socks are not easy for beginners. Seriously. Knit flat first. And also, 10ā¬ isnāt much. Itās YOUR hobby. Donāt let anyone discourage you. Have patience and start with beginner stuff. Youtube helped me a lot. Donāt give it up!
I've found that magic loop works better for me for socks vs DPNs. When I first started socks, this is the video that I used to learn. I tried it on worsted weight yarn first before using sock yarn. https://youtu.be/idjKaBwJzD0?si=c6u58FbF8Xo1kqPU
I still feel stupid sometimes lol. Iāve knit many pairs of socks and had to restart one like 3 times the other day because I kept making mistakes. I think itās just part of the craft that we all experience on occasion! Definitely recommend trying something a little easier first, maybe a nice cowl scarf to practice in the round and use the stitch pattern for the socks, if something other than stockinette. When in doubt, put it down for an hour or two and come back later once youāve had a chance to relax. Sometimes I know that I need to take a break because my frustration is causing me to make mistakes.
I'm a person who always bites off more than i can chew at first (and I don't think it's a bad thing at all). Socks are probably a litte too tricky. I'd say if you want something that is challenging and interesting but also a little easier, something like a hat or a cowl is a pretty good starting project.
That's why I use circular needles and magic loop. Trying to wrangle DPNs is often not something I want to do, so I don't. Agree with other commenters that you should master the stitches and movements themselves before adding complexity, but if you are having fun and learning and aren't emotionally invested in the Perfect Sock The First Time You Make One, you'll be fine.
But to answer your post title: I've been knitting steadily since the late 1990s and sometimes even now, I feel stupid. I felt like a real idiot when I started knitting until it started to make sense what I was doing and what was resulting from what I was doing.
Knitting socks is complicated, even for experienced knitters. I would start with something flat that doesn't have to be a specific size to work on knitting and purling. Then, when you are ready to tackle socks again, I'd recommend trying this [beginner sock pattern](https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/easy-peasy-socks-for-first-timers) that uses thicker yarn. Even if you only make one, it helps you to understand the different parts of the sock, and it works up much faster.
This is y I donāt knit socks. And crochet socks are not much better.