Monday, January 23, 2006

Anyone Interested?

We've been having a problem at the store. Those ladies who've been learning to knit socks have, for the most part, been using a Paton's free leaflet to knit their first sock. It's a very basic sock, but it's got a cast on of 68 stitches on 2.75 mm needles. It's supposed to fit a ladies' medium. They're huge!

Another woman brought in a pattern from another yarn store, which is fine. It was supposed to be a basic pattern, but it's almost impossible to decipher, even for me. That's daunting for someone just learning to knit socks. To that end, I told Sue, our teacher, that I'd write up a simple, basic, easy to follow sock pattern that she can use for the classes.

I finished writing it up yesterday. I've printed it up for Sue to go over and suggest any changes she thinks should be made. I'm knitting it up so that I can include a picture of what the "Most Basic Sock Pattern" sock will look like. This is where the "Anyone Interested?" comes in. Would any of you knitters out there be interested in test driving the pattern for me? I've discovered that it's all well and good for me to write out a pattern, but even I make errors and omissions at times. I want/need this pattern to be super easy to understand and follow.

Let me know and I'll post the Word format of the pattern (or I can convert it to pdf if that would be more conducive to your computer system). Once you've read it, knitted it, whatever, let me know what you think. Any and all opinions and critiques would be gratefully appreciated.

Incidentally, I've got one sock on the needles (the basic pattern, but I haven't been looking at the pattern) and it's just past the gusset shaping. Once it's done, I'll post a picture of it.

Postscript (3:00 p.m.):
Thank you, Carla, for volunteering to test the pattern for me. For you, and anyone else interested in helping me out with this, I've posted the pattern in my sidebar (Most Basic Sock pattern). It's in pdf format. Please, any and all feedback is appreciated. Keep in mind, the pattern is meant for newbie sock knitters, so it needs to be easily understood. Being the diehard sock knitter that I am, there may be things I take for granted. Seeing the pattern through the eyes and hands of others is an important thing. Thank you so much!

4 comments:

  1. I knit socks all the time and started and basically always use the Ann Norling basic sock pattern - very easy and good. I would be happy to give yours a go - Carla ( pdf would be best for me and my mac)

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  2. I copied your pattern and I'm going to give them a try - Donna

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  3. If I had a suggestion (I had three), how can I send it to you? I read your pattern and wil try it and let you know.

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  4. I'll test drive it for you. I need a good simple "first sock" pattern for friends who want to learn.

    Elizabeth H.

    lizard_knits at hotmail dot com

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