Sock Patterns & Knitting Resources

I teach a series of sock classes at the yarn shop where I spend some of my time. I have always used my own patterns for these classes based on my favorite methods for doing them. My students love these patterns and have come back (sometimes years later) with a very dog-eared copy and say they love it so much they are still using it for the base of all their socks. It really warms the cockles of my heart to hear that.  😊
So, I decided it was time to pretty-up the patterns and publish them formally. To that end, my first class in the series is a "Learn to Knit Socks, Toe-Up" and the pattern, called Learn Socks, Toe-Up, is about ready. It should launch the last week of August (2015) and I'll have it available for purchase on Ravelry and Etsy.

DK Version of the Simple Toe-Up Sock pattern

It is also my first solo pattern (self published) and I've learned some things along the way I'd like to share.

Use a Tech Editor!
It's amazing to me, how many patterns have errors in their numbers, or instructions out of sequence. When you are editing and correcting and re-thinking the way you explain something, it is really easy to get it all screwed up. Especially when your head starts swimming with all those numbers! I took some advice from the publisher of my Dragon Paws pattern and hired a tech editor. What do I have to say about this experience? Jae of Some Knitting Required is worth her weight in gold!!! I am so grateful for her expertise!

Use Test Knitters!
The things I learned about how other knitters process instructions was also invaluable. Little stuff I never thought of came to the surface. The local testers from my local fiber group was a huge help and the Free Pattern Testers Group on Ravelry was awesome!

You may be thinking that this all sounds too expensive, after all pattern designers don't make a ton of money on their patterns But it's not that bad, the test knitters are free, you just provide them with a pattern (and in some cases the yarn) and a little time. A good tech editor is able to do her job in an efficient amount of time and therefore her rates are not crippling.The end result of all these eyes on my words and knitters following my directions is that the pattern launch for my Simple Toe-Up Socks pattern will be a product I can be very proud of and my customers can follow without frustration (at least caused by me 😏).

And an added bonus of the process, I have run across some great references online that can be useful to sock knitters. A great knitting needle size conversion chart for US sizes to metric is always helpful. The best one I found was on Wikipedia, of all places (make sure to scroll down to the chart).
And the best shoe size conversion chart from US sizes to UK and European sizes can be found on Zappos - they also have great shoes, just so you know.
I've added these resources to my Tips, Hints & Help page so they are easy to find.

Revel in color,
Deb H

Edited on 9/2/15 to add links, now that the pattern is live! 😀