Socks! These small, single-skein projects make a great first project for a beginner knitter. As someone who wanted to crank something out to showcase my skills at the time, socks were the right choice for me. Also, factoring in the kind of weather Houston has, socks are more practical to wear all year round.
So, what makes it so special that I’ve only ever finished knitting socks? I find that socks are the perfect canvas to develop new skills on a smaller scale. Lace knitting, cables, stranded colorwork are techniques that knitters can build confidence with while working on socks so that it won’t feel as daunting when they move on to larger projects. Personally, I’ve discovered that stranded colorwork socks are the most fun to work on because they encourage using different color combinations to bring out the pattern or motifs. I do not tend to gravitate towards color in my regular wardrobe, but knitted socks are the exception. Besides, they are a great conversation starter if the pop of color catches someone’s attention. Starting is the easy part. It’s trial and error that might be hard. There are different ways to mix and match the techniques and ensure a perfect fit. I’ve tried different techniques and stitch counts that haven’t always resulted in a snug fit. But instead of restarting or throwing them in the back of my closet, they make perfect gifts to friends or family.