Easiest socks ever (sort of)

THIS is my first try at those socks I so admired - Longitudinal

Not nearly so impressive in non-self striping yarn, but still nice. These are the smallest size, and are about right for the average 1 year old. At this size, once you've got all the not so easy things you need to be able to do to make these easiest of socks, they take no time at all.

So, how can they be both not easy and easiest ever? And they are by far the easiest sock pattern I have ever come across.

First off, they do require the use of the dreaded magic loop. And then there's the kitchener/grafting of garter stitch to finish up.

Ok. So magic loop and kitchener mean they're not really 'my first pair of socks' easy. But if you can handle those two things, believe me, these are incredibly simple. This level of simplicity is GENIUS, it is the transcendence of technique. Seriously.

Just one circular needle, one stitch marker at the heel, one to mark the 'right side' and a bit of really easy to manage counting. They are the perfect portable project.

I struggle to remember patterns, and to follow the counting of stitches or rows, but I can remember how to do these after just a couple of rows - yes rows not rounds.

Someone on Ravelry was talking about doing a stocking stitch version but I'm not sure about that. The cast* on leaves a little row of purl bumps - or rather my version of it does (it's quite possible I'm doing it wrong but I don't think so).  Those purl bumps sit along the side of the foot. I suppose you could graft at the end to match, or maybe there's a way for them to not be 'purly' but smooth and 'knitty' instead.

I'll experiment and let you know how it goes.



*Oh dear, the cast on is another thing that takes a teeny bit of learning to do, but it's not hard, it really really isn't. Anyway, a how to here for that - magic cast on.