I love knitting. I love knitting sweaters, cardigans, shawls, scarves, toys, and so on. But most of all, I love knitting socks. They can be as simple or as complicated as you would like. They are a blank canvas for experimentation or learning knew techniques. And they are a utilitarian item. Summer or winter, you can always wear a pair of socks. They make fantastic gifts and everyone appreciates a pair of socks that have been knit with love.

Lace socks are gorgeous but the humble stockinette aka vanilla sock will always be my favorite. Self-striping yarn will elevate it but even a solid sock will keep your feet warm and will be a joy to knit. The fact that the project is easily carried just makes the process even more enjoyable.

Knitpicks Felici is my sock yarn of choice. It is affordable, the colors are always fun and exciting and they knit and wear really well.  This year was the first year in a decade where I worked full-time in an office and it has been a struggle to keep up with my reading and crafting. But I am a resourceful person, so I have found a way around it. I listen to more audiobooks, I knit smaller projects or more meaningful ones. But I am grateful for all of it. I wish I could knit a pair of socks for everyone I cared about.

There are three little secrets to finding the joy in sock knitting. First love the yarn. If the yarn is scratchy, not stretchy enough or just not something you want to touch while you are knitting you will neither enjoy the knitting or the wearing of them. It is OK to get rid of the yarn or put it on hold for a different project. Life is too short for bad yarn. That is a lesson I learned over time. As a beginner, the yarn was precious. But now, it is just a part of a total sum and if it is not working, it goes away.

Second, try different needle configurations. I am a double-pointed-needle girl. I just love the rhythm. Magic loops work for some people but I just find them fiddly. Don’t get me wrong, they are great for sleeves because I don’t have DPNs for all the needle sizes but not my first choice. Nine inch circs are great too but I don’t like having to switch them out when I get to the heel or the toe. I never liked the two circulars method either. Again, these are all personal preferences. Experiment, but give yourself enough time to actually get the real feel of a technique then decide.

The final secret, is to actually have fun. This is a hobby. This is your thing. This is what you do to relax, wind down, or whatever it is that you need to do. Don’t stress out. Frog them, start over, and stop fretting over having to work things over. And most of all, breathe and enjoy the ride.