While I’ve done some DKing before, it’s always been in very plain stockinette and all the tutorials I’ve found for DK socks are just plain stockinette socks. Not that there’s anything wrong with those, but I was wondering if it would be possible to do patterned socks in the same way. I’m thinking, for example, of these socks.
The way I see it, as long as I make sure not to cross my yarns between the two socks, I should be fine. Can anyone confirm this?
Doubleknit socks
What exactly do you mean by ‘double knit?’ Do you mean a reversible sock? Or two socks at one time on the same needle?
The term is generally used as a weight of yarn and knitting in such a way as to make the fabric reversible. It does have a few other meanings on occasion, but those are the most common.
I meant as in knitting two socks at the same time.
Ah… in that case I don’t see why you can’t knit as fancy as you want.
These books have socks knit two at a time and there are many fancy patterns.
Awesome. Thanks. 
Hi! :waving:
From your original post I got the impression you might be talking about knitting two socks at the same time but ONE INSIDE THE OTHER.
Melissa Morgan-Oakes’ books are absolutely great for knitting two at once on a long circular needle, but if you want to do them as though double knitting them inside each other then here are some references for you.
I’ve knit this way, one inside the other, for leg warmers and they were great fun to do but I haven’t tackled the socks yet. I will though since it’s yet one more way to knit socks, which I love!
http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/FEATextreme2in1.html
The knitty article will give you a great shortcut for casting on. That’s the one I use all the time, it’s so much simpler and I’m always assured that I won’t get halfway through and find out I’ve got the pieces connected by one stitch back in the beginning!
This should keep you busy! Have fun with it, it’s super!
Happy (double) knitting! :knitting: :knitting:
Ruthie
I thought you were intending to do (self)lined socks - as in double knitting with reversible sides.
Sample video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SJ8qd713_g
I have made a test piece of that lately for a pot holder and it looks great. I yet have to get the energy to do a whole pot holder.
With just two at the same time: go ahead! It would be sad if it would not work. I rather do my socks one after the other, though.
I did mean to do two socks at once with one inside the other. The knitty article is what put me onto it, but they only describe basics. Now to figure out how to do toe up socks like this. Oh well, nothing like frogging a couple of times to learn things.
Those books won’t help you then if you’re meaning to do one [I]inside[/I] the other. I doubt there’s many patterns for that and I can see why the ones you found were very simple stockinette.
Hi! :waving:
When you’re doing socks with one inside the other you can actually do any pattern you want that can be worked in the round.
What’s happening is that the right side of the inside sock is facing you, just as the right side of the outside sock is. You just happen to have the stitches from the inside one alternating on the same needle with the stitches from the outside one and you’re knitting each alternate stitch with it’s own ball of yarn. So whatever pattern you’re doing on the top one will also be done on the inside one.
Sorry, that sounds a lot more complex than it actually is. Once you just go for it and do it, no matter how dizzy you might get at first, suddenly the penny will drop in the slot and you’ll go “BINGO! I’ve got it!”.
A couple of things I’d like to recommend to start with. First, it’s helpful for your first project to use different colored yarns for the inside and outside pieces. Yes, that’ll mean you’ll be making two sets of whatever you decide to make, but it’ll be a lot easier to do in the beginning. As you become more comfortable with the technique you can move on to using the same yarn for both pieces.
Second, select a pattern that has no complexities like turning heels. The Knitty article gives great directions for this but for my first inside-out project I made leg warmers, one in creme and one in blue and then later made another set just like them! :roflhard: They really came in handy for Christmas presents last year and I loved doing them. (I wrote the pattern for them so if anyone wants it let me know and I’ll be glad to send it to you!)
As soon as I have the leisure to try out doing the socks this way, complete with turned heel and using the same yarn, I’ll be getting back on the double-knitting-inside-out bandwagon for sure!
Just keep checking your project as you go to make sure you haven’t accidentally knit any stitches together (just a little tugging the layers apart as you turn your work will tell you if you have) and pay attention to the finished size of your pieces. The inner leg warmers came out smaller than the outer ones for me. I suspect that’s just the way I was knitting but it might be something you want to be alert for.
Let us know how it goes for you. It’s an exciting technique that I’m hoping you’ll really like!
Happy knitting, (times 2) :knitting: :knitting:
Ruthie
So I have a question about this method. When I read the knitty.com article about it, she says that you have to hold one yarn forward and one yarn back, is this really necessary. Couldn’t you just hold them both in back and then just alternate the yarn that you use?
I knit socks like this all the time(i have sss, this kills it)…toe up and cuff down…lacy and plain stockenette.
When I read the knitty.com article about it, she says that you have to hold one yarn forward and one yarn back, is this really necessary.
If you dont, you will be knitting both socks as one as in fair isle. (i hope im understanding the question)
Ok. That’s kind of the reason I figured it was done that way, but I just can’t picture it in my head well enough to see why it would. I’ll have to try and do it and see if I can see it better.
Hi, Lissa…:waving:
How do you cast on for toe ups? Just curious since I haven’t tried them yet.
thanks,
ruthie :knitting:
I’ll have to try and do it and see if I can see it better.
Yea, once you get it in your hands, you will have that “OH I SEE” moment. (dont you love those?)
TIP: as your knitting in this method (cuff down only), Stick your fingers up the side, in between the two, and run them around the circumferance of the sock on the occation…this will help you figure out if youve knit the two together on a stitch or two. (I think the knitty tut says that) If that does happen(god forbid) let me know, I have been there, done that, and have a fix.
How do you cast on for toe ups? Just curious since I haven’t tried them yet.
You do both toes and stuff them inside one another and put them on one needle…its very fiddly, im not gonna lie. But I like toe up and this is how I have figured out to do it. Once you get them on the needle properly, its fine from there. Im WIDE open for suggestions on a better way.
When you knit in this method toe up, you have to be very vigilant about your knitting. You cant check every once in a while for screw ups.
Sorry about threadjacking…
A suggestion that might help, if you run a lifeline through one of sets of socks you could then knit the other set on the needles and keep your stitches from twisting on the original set when you put them back on with the second set.
Hi, Lissa! :waving:
What’s your fix for having knit stitches together? I’ve fixed them but am always looking for new ideas. As I recall I unraveled down to the connected stitches and worked back up with a crochet hook, just like you’d fix a wrong stitch on any other knitting.
About it getting fiddly? Not a problem! The technique is SO worth the fiddles!
Ruthie
As I recall I unraveled down to the connected stitches and worked back up with a crochet hook, just like you’d fix a wrong stitch on any other knitting.
The same. Its a pain cuz you have to do it on both socks, but better than ripping all the way back.