Hi! I found a knitting pattern for socks that I like, and the pattern states the use of 4mm needles and medium weight yarn. All I have in hand are a couple of sock weight yarn and 3.25mm or 3.5mm needles. I don’t feel like searching for another knitting pattern too, my heart’s set on this one and it uses magic loop (which I can do as a beginner) instead of dpns (which I’m still really rusty about).
I was wondering if I use sock weight yarn instead of medium weight and maybe use 3.5mm needles, will the differences in yarn weights affect the sizing of the final outcome of the socks? Maybe will it come smaller? Or should I use 4mm needles on sock weight yarn? Can I even do that?
Is it a free pattern? If so, could you provide a link so it is possible to see if it is easy to modify for your circumstances?
Beside sizing problem by using lighter yarn there is another potential problem: if you use too large size of needles than what would normally be used for your yarn you will get socks that will wear out fast. Because of this I knitted my last pair of socks on 3mm needles and aran weight yarn.
When looking at socks patterns it really does not matter if the author used DPNs or magic loop. If the author used DPNs you simply put markers there where the DPNs would change so you are still able to follow direction like this one: “knit to the last stitch on second needle”.
No, it’s not a free pattern! But after much deliberation and stubbornness, I finally let go of that pattern I wanted to do and decided to switch patterns to a 2.75mm and sock weight socks! These are my first pair of socks, and I’m pretty nervous since all the bad rep about how hard it is to knit the heel, but I’m sure I’ll manage. Thank you for answering!
It is not as difficult as you think. I had a single goal when I begun knitting: to be able to make wool socks. Thus without prior knowledge in knitting I made a pair of socks as the very first project and I did not think it was difficult to make the heel.