What Is Toe-Up?

Making socks from the toe-up is the norm in most European countries, but it is less prevalent in America.

The sock is simply constructed starting at the toe and ending with the cuff.

The heel can be quite simple and streamlined in a toe-up sock, as you will see. If you’ve never knitted socks before, this will be a very easy place to start.

Why Is Toe-Up So Great?

Never Run Out Of Yarn

Knitting socks from the toe-up enables you to use all the yarn you have, without ever worrying about running out before you finish, like you might with a traditional top-down sock.

It even lets you use leftover yarn to make ankle- and slipper-socks, without having to guess how long you should make the cuff.

Make Custom Cuff-Lengths

In fact, you can go the opposite route and make knee-socks, showing off today’s lovely patterned yarns for 11-12 inched of gorgeous sock. Again, without ever having to guess ahead of time how long you need to make the cuff.

Try On As You Go

Being able to try your sock on as you knit it means your sock will ft perfectly every time, or, if it doesn’t, you’ll at least find out before you finish. You can adjust the ft of your sock so that it matches your foot and leg exactly.

What Is Two-At-A-Time?

Making socks two-at-a-time (abbreviated 2@at) is a fantastic new technique made possible by the discovery of Magic Loop and the 2 Circs methods.

Using a clever cast-on, you simply work alternately from two balls of yarn to make both socks (or two of anything knitted in the round, for that matter) at the same time, on one set of needles.

Why Is Two-at-a-Time So Great?

Never Run Out Of Yarn

With two-at-a-time, you won’t ever have to guess how much yarn you’ll need for one sock.

Simply wind the yarn into two balls of equal weight, and you’ll have the right amount. In a pinch, you can even knit off of both ends of one ball of yarn.

It’s Fast

Whether it’s because knitting a second sock is less enjoyable than knitting the first or not, knitting socks one at a time feels like it’s going slow.

You’re just never as excited to knit the second one. On top of skipping the dread that accompanies “second-sock syndrome,” you skip all the measuring, counting, thinking, and preparing that you’d have to do all over again on the second sock, and, amazingly, knitting two socks at once takes only about 50% more time than knitting one sock.

Everything Comes Out The Same

In addition, both socks will come out exactly the same – same length, circumference, and shape, without any extra thinking on your part. You won’t ever have to measure one cuff and then try to duplicate it on the next sock, which brings me to everyone’s favorite reason…

Never Knit A Second Sock Again

With two-at-a-time, when you’re done, you’re truly done. No more thinking, “Yay! Now all I have to do is do it all over again…” You’ll bind of and put the pair of socks directly on your feet, and skip happily to the yarn store to start a new project.

Important: You don’t have to knit both socks at the same time if you aren’t ready. To knit one sock at a time, just cast on for one sock and follow the directions, ignoring any mention of the other sock.

If you are just a little nervous, however, let me encourage you to try the two-at-a-time method. It’s barely any harder than one-at-a-time, and I’ll be with you every step of the way.

How To Use This Course

Just like cooking a meal with a recipe you’ve never used before, I highly recommend that you scan all the way through this tutorial, or at least read a section ahead before beginning.

The reason I’m asking you to do this is that some of the techniques have more than one video, and many chapters give basic instructions followed by troubleshooting videos. I’d hate for you to miss seeing a video that would’ve helped you.

Ready? Let’s get started.