HOW TO AVOID ‘SECOND SOCK SYNDROME’
I can’t remember whether I heard or read somewhere that a sock could be knitted on two circular needles instead of four (or five) pins. I was considering trying that trick when the thought crossed my mind… could I knit two socks together on two circular needles…? Well, I tried, but it wasn’t a happy idea. Could I do it on THREE? I couldn’t see why not, but was a bit bamboozled as to how to go about it.
After a few false starts, I managed to get half the stitches for each sock on each of two circular needles. I would recommend using short needles and two balls of wool, but I have only long ones and one large ball of variegated sock wool! I put the ball on one of the CD spindles that Noni provided (another use for those) and used the thread from the outside for one sock and from the centre for the other. This, of course, meant that the colour repeats are reversed on one sock – another good reason for using two balls. Fortunately, Noel is happy to have socks, whatever the colour, and if I don’t point out the difference he probably won’t even notice.
Apart from the minor irritation of the long needles hanging about, the plan worked rather well until I reached the heels. I use the Niantic heel, which requires decreased stitches to be left on the needle until picked up again when increasing. A bit more head scratching and deep consideration brought me to the conclusion that it would be easier to do the heels one at a time. Once the heels were turned I continued with the two at a time method without problems.
There was absolute relief from ‘Second Sock Syndrome’ because once one sock was finished the pair was finished, hence the opportunity to get on with something else. I probably will use this method again as it is quicker, but most likely not with the long needles. Untangling them was a bit of a pain. The ball on the spindle wasn’t a problem except for the colour reversal. Try it, sock knitters, and see what you think.
PS re SECOND SOCK SYNDROME
OK, all you knitters can stop laughing now! The penny has finally dropped. OF COURSE the two socks can be knitted on two circular needles … if you use both ends of THE SAME NEEDLE! I was using the third needle to knit off the two halves on one needle, then using the newly vacated needle to knit off the other two halves! It was a bit like manipulating soggy spaghetti but it worked. TWO needles work much better! And, YES, I am doing more socks without second sock syndrome, and enjoying it more. It has been a double bunger “Something New”, and quite a learning experience.
HAPPY SOCKING.
Lynne
