Man Socks

I think you might already know this but I learned to knit socks so that I would have something to do at our Civil War reenactments. This was back in 2001 and the sock pattern I was using was from the Atlantic Guard Soldiers’ Aid Society. Back then, they recommended using worsted weight yarn and size 5 needles and truthfully, that was a wonderful way to learn to knit socks. Everything was big enough that I could actually see what I was doing and the learning curve was swift. Unfortunately, I knit that first pair from Lopi and Dale wouldn’t wear ’em because they were too scratchy.

I’ve knit loads of socks since then, including several pair for Dale following that worsted weight pattern, but the one thing I’ve never knit for him is a pair of socks with sock weight yarn.

Until now, that is.

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The pattern is Garter Rib from Sensational Knitted Socks. 72 stitches with a 7 inch leg and a 10.5 inch long foot. They took nearly 3 weeks and my usual time for a pair of socks is 2 weeks. You wouldn’t think those few extra stitches and inches would make that much of a difference but “man socks” really do take longer.

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The yarn is Claudia’s Handpaint in the colorway “Boot Camp” and I purchased it from Sheri at the Loopy Ewe. I used 2 skeins of the Claudia’s plus part of a skein of Lorna’s Laces in Chocolate. I really like the way those contrasting heels and toes look, even if it did mean having a few extra ends to weave in.

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I had a 3rd skein of the Boot Camp yarn for justincase but I didn’t need it. I came pretty close, though.

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I was originally going to keep these a secret from Dale but that’s kind of hard to do when you’re sitting next to each other on the couch. And he takes a pretty active interest in my knitting so of course he asked who they were for and I couldn’t lie to him. He’ll have to wait until his birthday at the end of the month to get them, though.

You know, he’s getting pretty old. Maybe he’ll have forgotten about them by then.

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This Post Has 52 Comments

  2. Comfy socks for the Sherpa Dude. That’s an interesting color- must have been fun to knit.

  4. Lovely! I’ve only made worsted man socks…for size 11’s! You are a far better woman than I! (plus my dh really doesn’t care about what’s on his feet!)

  10. Those are wonderful socks Carole! I love that colourway and the highlights with the Lorna’s – works really well.

    It is nice to have a partner who is so attentive and supportive of the knitting isn’t it? (Also makes knitting those manly sizes really worth it!)

  11. I don’t think I knew that was why you learned to knit socks. I don’t blame him for not wearing the lopi 😉 And can I just say, you’re lucky his feet are not larger! Jason’s feet are friggin’ enORmous. He’s overdue for another pair of socks frankly so I suppose he’ll have to be next after my Sockapalooza ones.

  12. Ooo love how that color combo works up with that pattern. 😀

    I’m knitting my first honey socks. The extra stitches take longer for me as well. Plus I ran out of yarn halfway down the foot. Contrasting feet and toes don’t bother me though. ;^)

  15. Those man socks look great. My husband has really big feet so I’ve only made 2 pairs of socks for him so far. They just seem to take forever.

  17. They are so manly! Maybe you could use the left over yaran to make sock strings – ya know, like mitten strings. So he can string them together and not loose them and keep them together as a pair! 😉

  20. Snap! No fair making old jokes on that guy, you know, what’s-his-name. (I’m getting up there myself.)

    The socks are gorgeous. 🙂

  21. Lucky Dale! I knit that pattern for M as well and while it is simpler, it really does take quite a bit more time for those man feet!

  22. Lopi socks? I totally understand why he didn’t want to wear them. Those garter-rib socks are beautiful! I love the brown heel and toe!

  24. Great socks! And thanks for the warning on the man socks taking longer. I guess I should have logically known, but maybe I was in denial ;). My husbands feet are a good 4 inches longer than mine, so I’ll be prepared to work on them a lot longer ;).

  26. Man socks definitely take longer – I think it is that way to help the recipient appreciate the sockage more since it’s harder to produce ;o)

    They look v comfy and the colors are wonderful – the heels and toes are set off perfectly. Great job!

  27. hee hee.

    i love the heel and toe. nicely done.

    joe wears a size 11 shoe. luckily he has issues with socks — they have to be just right — so i’m not knitting any for him. ever…. 😉

  28. I like the contrast heel/toe too! I recently made my hubby a pair of socks in a yarn of his choosing — plain grey tweedy Regia. He has size 10.5 wiiiide feet — YAWN!

  29. I’m thinking that Dale won’t forget those! They are gorgeous!!!

    I have several socks planned with contrasting heels and toes. I love that look!

  30. That’s pretty funny (that he may forget about them)! 🙂

    I want to knit some socks for my mom for Christmas. She has size 12 feet and usually buys men’s socks and shoes. I think she deserves to have a nice pair of socks. Do you think I’ll be able to guess how large to make them? I’m hoping to surprise her with them. I’m glad to know how much yarn they’ll probably take.

  31. Very handsome and manly! Dale is gonna be so happy he’s gonna want 100 more 🙂

    I love the chocolate heels and toes, great addition!

  32. I don’t think it would be possible to knit something for DH on the QT either. He actually picks up on the jargon and everything and stuns that SnB gals when he asks them if they used steeks in their sweaters, LOL!

    Those are some fantastic socks and I’m sure Dale will be counting down to his birthday so he can wear them!

  35. That’s a fantastic color combo! I think some boys like the contrasting toes and heels too, whether they know it or not. The only successful man socks I’ve ever been able to make for mine all had to have that, ‘tho the man of the house hasn’t seemed to notice yet that those are the only ones he wears.

  37. Those socks are gorgeous! I love how you used the brown for the heels and toes.

    Man socks really do take forever; poor Chris has only 3 pair to my 15 (not to mention all the gift socks). I think it’s time to knit him some more!

  38. Man socks… my own personal Everest! One day I’ll reach the summit, I know, but time really seems to slow down while you’re at it, doesn’t it? 😉

    These are very good–colorful yet Manly–and Dale is lucky to get them. 😉

  39. Those look great! I have big feet (size 11), so we have big socks all around in our house. I am making a pair for my mother right now and wow… size 6’s sure are faster! lol!

  41. Those socks are great, I love the colorway and the contrasting chocolate bits. I agree, I think the chocolate toes & heels make them more interesting.

  42. Just so you know, those aren’t only “man” socks. They are also “women with big feet” socks. Like me :)! Now I don’t feel so bad about taking longer to make my socks!

  44. Worsted Weight on #5’s is the best way to learn how to knit a sock! But, oh, your newest man socks are very “pretty!”

  45. Haha…oh I bet he’s going to love that comment! Very handsome socks! You really did cut it close. I like contrasting heels and toes a lot. I don’t know why I don’t make them that way more often.

  46. Very very nice Carole. Of course he’ll love them, especially being fingering weight yarn. My husband will probably drop down dead from the shock when I finally get around to knitting a pair of socks for him. hehe Maybe I should just avoid doing that. Hmm…. 🙂

  47. Love the socks. Man socks do take more time, but I’m finding that a good pattern makes all the difference. I’m sure Dale is anxiously awaiting his birthday present.

  48. you think he’ll forget about hand knit socks, in a weight that he could wear them with regular shoes??? does the phrase ‘no chance in He#@’ mean anything? (grin)
    They are so handsome. wonderful. Great job grrl.
    Happy early birthday, Dale.

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