Hello all, this is Matt's wife Joannie. He told me about this thread and I thought I'd post since I'm working on my third pair of hose. My first pair was too small for Matt but, bless his heart, he still wears them. The second pair fit great. I started another pair on 2 circular needles but set them aside to work on the pair he REALLY wanted.


What is your favorite size needles? size 8. I've read you should use smaller needles than the yarn calls for so that your socks are more dense but I don't want to.

What is your favorite size yarn? Medium weight, size 4 yarn. I knit it at 5 or 6 st/in on my size 8 DPNs.

What is your favorite type of yarn? I've only used Lion Brand's wool-ease. It comes in a variety of colors, knits easily, and washes well.

Do you prefer circular or double pointed? I prefer DPNs b/c that's what I learned on. I've never had trouble with all the needles (I use 4 for the socks and knit with a 5th) or "ladders" between needles. But I'm learning to do two socks at once on two circular needles. I like the idea of finishing both socks at the same time but right now it's a lot slower than DPNs.

What is the make of your favorite needle? My DPNs are aluminum, but my circs are bamboo. Both kinds have advantages and disadvantages for different yarns and applications.

Where do you get your yarn? I order the Lion Brand yarn from the web site. I get all my other yarn from my LYS b/c she carries really cool, unusual yarns.

How long have you been knitting? I've known how since I was about 10 but I've only been seriously knitting for about 5 years or so. I also crochet.

Do you use the English or Continental Style of knitting? English (in that I hold my yarn in my right hand), but I don't wrap my yarn around my fingers. And when I work with two colors, I hold both in my right hand, rather than one in each hand as is usually recommended.

Would you knit hose for others (X-Markers)? I have very limited knitting time b/c I have four very small children. It would take me so long to make a pair of hose for someone else, they'd be better of learning to knit and making their own. Knitting is the best hobby ever!

Toe up or cuff down? Cuff down but I'm going to learn toe up one of these days.

No one else mentioned it but I also prefer an afterthought heel, rather than the standard gusset and heel flap. It'll be easier to mend when the time comes, and it's a whole lot easier to knit.


Joannie