Do socks have feelings? Nope. Not at all. I know this. But I’ve discovered an interesting method of making socks that plays with the part of my brain that likes to tell stories.
The trick is to knit two socks at once on DPNs. Not on the same DPNs, mind you. I cast on one sock, do the ribbing, then switch sets of needles and cast on the second and do the ribbing. Then it’s back to the first sock for the leg. Switch again.
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Pattern: Slipped Stitch Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks 4 Ply, Winter Eclipse
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It’s a playful, leap-frogging kind of thing that makes me really motivated to work on the socks: I’m either eager to get ahead on sock one, or feeling bad for sock two that it’s lagging. Silly, but that’s where my brain’s at these days.
I think, in all seriousness, that the strong attraction of this method is the real sense of purpose I have each time I pick up the needles. I’m not ‘just knitting’. I’m either setting out into a new stage of the sock or I’m making sure the second one catches up. That translates into a greater motivation to pick up the project more often. Between the mental rewards of ticking items off a Sock Sections list and the increased time I spend knitting, I’ve a much greater sense of progress with this method. That just feeds back into the whole loop and kicks it into a higher gear.
Could also be that it’s playing to my personality with the sense of duty and purpose. Motivated to manage the whole world? Me?
Handmade Homeschool 
I’m like this with using stash yarn. Not so tempted to buy more because of all those beautiful skeins waiting at home, just waiting to be rediscovered and loved!
Hey, whatever works, right?
I started a pair of socks this wk too, for the first time in months. Forgot how good a fit they are for the little snippets of knitting time and little space in the take-along pouch. Especially good waiting room knitting, of which we have had an unfortunate abundance over the past 2 wks w/ bronchitis and pneumonia making their way through my family. I’ll prob. crank out a few pairs for the xmas gift stash.
Cassie of Too Much Wool calls this strategy sock races. It works for overcoming second sock syndrome.
Those ones you are knitting are pretty.
I do not knit or crochet or do anything with yarn; but i am always amazed and envious of those who do!!
Sarah,
I am reading your archives and finding them so inspiring I encouraged my husband to read them, too. Last night a read a post with a quote from the Swan’s re: mothering that reminds me of my responsibilities to myself…knit, exercise, love. We had planned to homeschool our children, discussing it even before pregnancy. The first grade year has come and circumstances changed our dreams, however your blog has encouraged me to alter my focus and remember my dreams. Thank you for your soulful wisdom.
Namaste,
Melissa
Have you ever tried the two at once on circular needle thing? Just curious–I don’t know if my brain could manage that these days!!!
This strategy definitely speaks to me, I have sss for sure and this sounds like a good cure, I need to try this with my next pair………..errrra after I finish that 2nd sock i still need to start….. doh!
I learned this summer how to knit two socks simultaneously on a circular needle from the toe up. It was a fiddly beginning, but at least I didn’t have second sock syndrome – binding off 120 stitches and having two socks to show for it at the same time was so gratifying!
I like this idea. I just knit my first pair of socks. When I got to sock two I had forgotten what I’d learned about that stage from sock one. So I had the learning curve all over again. Very frustrating. Very good idea!
Love it when our analytical side works seamlessly with our creative side. No pun intended. ~ Tammy
Hah! I thought I was the only person to do this. I’m glad I’m not alone. I too suffer from SSS if I do one at a time, but dislike two-at-once magic loop. I don’t assign feelings to my socks, though. Maybe I should; there’s a pair of socks languishing on my needles since June and it might motivate me to finish them.
what a fabulous idea! Thank you, I’m going to start this now (and I just happen to have two sets of #2DPNs so I don’t even need to buy anything!)