Alexei Volkov
Loom knitting is a fun and rewarding hobby, even for beginners. If you're new to loom knitting, you might want to start with a simple project like a hat or scarf before moving on to socks. To knit socks on a plastic loom, you'll need to choose the right yarn and loom for your needs, measure your foot carefully, and follow a basic sock pattern. You can find free patterns and tutorials online, and some sources offer tips and tricks for customising your socks to ensure the perfect fit. Once you've mastered the basic sock pattern, you can experiment with different stitch patterns and designs to make your socks unique.
How to knit socks on a plastic loom:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Suitable for beginners |
| Materials | Yarn, knitting loom, yarn needle, loom hook, loom pen, stitch markers |
| Yarn weight | Chunky or super bulky weight yarn |
| Yarn type | Animal fibers, cotton, acrylic, nylon |
| Yarn colour | Any |
| Loom type | Sock-specific looms with thinner pegs set closer together and smaller than other loom types |
| Loom size | 24-peg round loom |
| Loom gauge | 5/8" |
| Number of stitches | 7 stitches per inch |
| Stitch type | E-wrap knit stitch, purl stitch |
| Process | Cast on row, wrap yarn around pegs, lift bottom loop over top loop, repeat, sew through loops with yarn needle, invert sock and sew up toe |
| Fit | Customizable to any shoe size by adding or reducing rows |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right yarn weight and fibre type for your socks
When choosing the yarn weight and fibre type for your socks, it's important to consider the type of socks you want to make and how you plan to use them. Here are some factors to consider when selecting the right yarn for your socks:
Yarn Weight:
The weight of the yarn will determine the thickness and fit of your socks. If you're making socks to wear inside your shoes, go for a lighter and thinner yarn like fingering weight yarn. This type of yarn is optimal around 400m/100g and will ensure your socks fit comfortably in your shoes without making them too tight. On the other hand, if you're making thicker socks to lounge around the house or to wear with boots, you can use thicker yarn weights like worsted weight, bulky yarn, or DK weight. These thicker yarns will create cosy socks that are perfect for when you don't need to fit them into shoes.
Fibre Type:
The fibre type of your yarn will affect the comfort, durability, and performance of your socks. Here are some common fibre types to consider:
- Wool: Wool is a popular choice for sock yarn because it is soft, elastic, breathable, and moisture-wicking. It also has great stitch definition, showcasing the intricate stitch patterns often used in sock knitting. Look for superwash wool or merino wool, which are machine washable and less likely to shrink or pill. Wool blends with nylon are also common to increase elasticity and durability.
- Cotton: Cotton is durable and breathable, but it may not be the best choice for socks as it can lose its shape when washed frequently. If you choose cotton, opt for a blend that includes elastic fibres to improve durability.
- Alpaca Yarn: Alpaca yarn is incredibly soft and luxurious, but it may not be as durable as other sock yarns. Blending it with recycled nylon can add strength.
- Cashmere Blends: Cashmere blends provide softness and warmth but can be more expensive and less durable.
Ultimately, the choice of yarn weight and fibre type depends on your personal preferences and the specific qualities you want in your socks. Consider the intended use of the socks, the desired thickness, and the level of comfort, durability, and elasticity you require.
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Using a loom designed for knitting socks
There are a few different types of sock looms available, and they tend to have thinner pegs set closer together and are much smaller than other loom types. The number of pegs varies, with some looms having 24, and others 48 or more. Some looms are adjustable, allowing you to make smaller or larger socks by increasing or decreasing the number of pegs used. This is done by doing some simple math based on your foot circumference. You can also adjust the size by adding or reducing rows after the heel.
To get started, you will need to choose the right yarn for your socks. Yarn weight and fibre type are important considerations. Thin yarns are great for making thin socks that can be worn in shoes, while thicker yarns are better for socks worn around the house. Animal fibres are stretchy, warm, and durable, but may not be machine washable, so look for "superwash" or nylon content. Cotton and acrylic are cheaper and usually machine washable, but less stretchy.
Once you have chosen your yarn, you can begin knitting. First, make a slipknot and attach it to the anchor peg on your loom. Then, wrap the yarn around each peg once and lift each loop up and over, repeating for a total of 10 rows. To create a cuff for the sock, bring the bottom edge of the knit piece up through the centre of the loom and place the stitches from the first row onto the pegs. You will then need to use the hook to lift the bottom loop over the top loop and repeat. Continue knitting until the sock is the desired length.
Finally, cut the yarn and thread a yarn needle, sewing through each loop on the loom. Invert the sock and sew up the toe, hiding the seam. Repeat the process for the second sock.
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How to create a cuff for the sock
To create a cuff for your sock, you will need to bring the bottom edge of the knit piece up through the centre of the loom. Then, use your fingers and the loom hook to open up a stitch from the first round and place it onto a peg. Continue placing one stitch onto each of the pegs until you have a total of two stitches on each peg.
Make sure that the stitches you are placing onto the pegs are the same ones that you knitted with those pegs. Check the rows to ensure that they are even. You can use a loom pen to loop your yarn around the pegs to keep an even tension and make the small pegs less fiddly to knit with.
Ribbed sock cuffs are very stretchy and tend to fit better around the ankles. If you are creating a ribbed ankle section, you can use the e-wrap knit stitch. Start by putting a stitch marker on one of the pegs and making a slip knot. Slide the knot onto the peg and tighten it. Start e-wrapping clockwise around each peg to the right. When you have finished, push the loops down and do another row of e-wraps above the first row.
If you are a beginner, you may want to opt for a simple loom knit sock pattern, which can be created using the basic e-wrap knit stitch and the purl stitch.
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How to custom fit a sock pattern
Loom knitting is a great way to make custom-fit socks without having to learn complicated needle knitting. To ensure your socks fit well, there are a few things to keep in mind when selecting your materials and knitting.
First, consider the yarn weight. Thin yarns are great for making socks to wear in shoes or clogs, while thick yarns are better for socks worn around the house. Thick socks should be knit larger or looser to prevent uncomfortable bunching at the ankle. The type of fibre is also important. Animal fibres are stretchy, warm, and durable, but may not be machine washable. Cotton and acrylic are typically washable and less expensive, but less stretchy and may not breathe as well.
Next, consider the elasticity of your stitch pattern. A plain flat stitch will have little to no elasticity, so adding a few extra pegs can help accommodate various sizes. A rib pattern will have more elasticity, so subtracting a few pegs will create a better fit.
Before you start knitting your full sock, it's a good idea to make a swatch first to ensure your gauge matches the pattern's. This will help you end up with a sock that fits snugly and comfortably. You can use a tapestry needle or row counter to keep track of which row you're on and maintain evenness between both socks.
When casting on, avoid tugging the yarn strand too tightly, as this can affect the tension and the overall fit of your sock. Using a loom pen can help make your cast-on tension more uniform.
Finally, remember that you can always add or subtract rows to adjust the length of your sock. For example, you can add extra rows to the ribbed ankle portion or skip the heel section to make tube socks.
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How to close the toe of the sock
When you're loom-knitting a sock, there are two points at which you can choose to close the toe: when your sock is finished, or after you've worked a few inches of the foot while it's still on your loom. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to close the toe of your sock:
Turning the sock inside out:
Turn the sock inside out so that you can sew up the toe from the inside. Sewing the toe from the inside hides the seam.
Sewing the toe:
Hold the edges of the sock together and insert the needle through two stitches at a time. Pull the thread taut after each stitch. Repeat this process until the sock is completely sewn up.
Final touches:
Tie off the last stitch and cut any excess yarn. Trim the yarn tail, remove the anchor yarn, and weave in the yarn tail on the inside of the sock.
If you're using a KB sock loom, the short-row method is used to create the toe. Adding more rows will create a bubble on the seam of the toe that cannot be fixed. Instead, consider adding length to the foot. The toe typically adds 1.5 to 2 inches to the length, so knit the foot about 2 inches shorter than the desired length.
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Frequently asked questions
There are knitting looms specifically designed for knitting socks. These sock looms tend to have thinner pegs set closer together and are much smaller than other loom types. You can also use a round loom, which is great for beginners as you can put it down and pick it up at any time.
The type of yarn you use depends on the type of socks you want to knit. Thin socks made with thin yarn are great for wearing in shoes or clogs. Thick yarns are best for socks worn around the house. If you want your thick socks to be comfortable, knit them larger/looser than normal so they don't bunch at the ankle.
First, attach a slipknot to the anchor peg on your loom. Loop the yarn around your index and middle finger twice to form a slipknot. Then, pull the first loop over the second loop and tighten the tail of the yarn. Place this loop onto the anchor peg. Wrap the yarn around each peg once and lift each loop up and over, repeating for a total of 10 rows.
Once all of the stitches are back on the loom, wrap the yarn around each of the pegs and lift the bottom loop up and over the top loop to knit. Continue knitting until the sock is the desired length. Wrap the yarn around the loom 1.5 times and cut it. Thread a yarn needle and sew through a loop, then repeat. Invert the sock and sew up the toe by holding the edges together and inserting the needle through two stitches at a time. Make your second sock in the same way.
