Okay, so, I got this idea the other day to try making socks. Not by hand, mind you, I’m not that patient. I wanted to use one of those circular sock knitting machines. I’ve seen them online, and they looked pretty neat, so I figured, why not?
First, I ordered a cheap one online. I didn’t want to spend too much money on something I wasn’t even sure I’d be good at. The website I used had a ton of options. It seems to be a very popular platform. I just picked one that seemed okay and didn’t cost an arm and a leg. It only has 22 pins.
It arrived in a couple of days. I also ordered a circular sock machine workbook with instructions. While I waited, I scoured the internet for tips and tutorials. There are a lot of people out there who are really into this stuff. It’s a whole community!
Once everything arrived, I got to work. Setting up the machine was a bit fiddly. The instructions were not super clear, but I managed. The workbook is very helpful, I read it. Then I picked out some yarn. I went with a basic, cheap yarn for my first try. I followed the instructions and started cranking. It’s a bit of a learning curve, figuring out the tension and how fast to go.
My first attempt was… well, it was a sock-shaped object. Let’s just say it wouldn’t win any awards. It was lumpy and uneven, and the heel was a disaster. But, I didn’t give up! I tried again, and again, and again. Each time, it got a little bit better. I learned to adjust the tension, to go slower on the heel, and to pay attention to the yarn feeding.
- It’s not as easy as it looks.
- You need patience.
- Don’t expect perfection on your first try.
The main problem is that the finished socks have limited patterns. I feel a little disappointed. And the machine used a lot of yarn. I didn’t expect that. I also find that many old machines are missing parts, but the sellers seem to think they are very valuable. I am not a collector, so I gave up on that idea.
After a few days of experimenting, I finally made a pair of socks that I’m actually kind of proud of. They’re not perfect, but they’re wearable! And you know what? It’s pretty satisfying to wear something you made yourself, even if it’s just a simple pair of socks.
I’m still learning, and I have a long way to go before I’m making those fancy socks I see online. But hey, it’s a fun hobby, and it’s a great way to keep my hands busy. Plus, who knows, maybe one day I’ll be cranking out socks like a pro! But maybe I should try other flatbed machines next time.
