If you’re looking for a new project to challenge your knitting skills, consider making a pair of socks! Socks may seem intimidating, but they’re actually quite simple to knit once you get the hang of it. In this blog post, I’ll share my experience of knitting a pair of socks from the Rowan Sock Collection!

The Rowan Sock Collection contains seven pairs of stylish socks using a new yarn from Rowan – Rowan Sock – a delightful color-changing sock yarn whose shades gently move through washes of colour, creating a subtle shift from one to the next. Rowan Sock is a blend of wool and polyamide, that ensures durability without sacrificing comfort.

I decided to knit Ilkley using the blue shade Ocean.

Each pattern comes in several sizes based on foot circumference measured in inches or centimetres. I carefully measured the circumference of both my feet as my right foot is slightly larger than my left. You can always lengthen the leg and foot length if needs be. You can see in the photo a couple of paragraphs below, that I knitted my socks a little bit longer in the leg than the picture of Ilkley in the pattern booklet.

The pattern instructions for Ilkley involve casting on the stitches for the leg and working downward. This means you’ll start at the top of the sock and work your way down to the toe. Other patterns in the booklet start at the toe and you knit up toward the top of the sock – I might try one of those next time. However, having said that, knitting from the leg down enabled me to try on the sock before I started the toe decreases ensuring I achieved the correct length for my foot. That might be a bit more difficult to do with a sock knitted from the toe-up.

Anyway, here are my finished socks!

I must confess I have never knitted a pair of socks before. It was just something I never wanted to do. But having finally done it, I am very pleased that I did. They actually fit ‘like a glove’ and the sock yarn feels strong but soft at the same time.

So, if you haven’t knitted a pair of socks before why not consider it? First and foremost, knitting socks is a very satisfying experience. Unlike larger projects, like a sweater or a blanket, a pair of socks can be completed relatively quickly. This means that you get the satisfaction of completing a project without having to invest months into it. Additionally, socks are a great way to experiment with different stitches and patterns, which can make the knitting process even more enjoyable.

Another great thing about knitting socks is that they are a portable project. Unlike larger projects, a pair of socks can be taken with you wherever you go. This makes them a great option for knitting while commuting or even taking on your holidays. Plus, because socks are small, they don’t take up much space in your bag, making them easy to carry around.

In addition to being a satisfying and portable project, knitting socks is also a great way to improve your knitting skills. Socks are made up of several different parts, including the cuff, leg, heel, foot, and toe. Each of these parts requires a different set of skills, which means that knitting socks are a great way to practice a variety of techniques. For example, the cuff and leg of a sock often feature ribbing, which is a great way to practice knitting and purling. The heel of a sock requires you to turn the work and pick up stitches, which can be a bit tricky at first. See the images below showing the results of heel-shaping stitches.

And the toe of a sock often involves decreasing stitches in a way that creates a curved shape – see the images below.

By the time you’ve finished knitting a pair of socks, you’ll have honed a variety of skills that you can apply to other knitting projects.

So, in conclusion, I found knitting a pair of Ilkley socks to be very satisfying. I am very pleased with the result. If you fancy doing the same, why not try Rowan’s new yarn Rowan Sock and choose a pattern from the Rowan Sock Collection and let me know how you got on.

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Happy sock knitting!

Esther x