Pattern Recommendation: Blueberry Waffle Socks by Sandy Turner

My mother taught me to knit when I was very young -- I think I started younger than five, though the precise timing eludes me. However, it got rather lost in the midst of growing up, and it wasn't until university that I picked it up again with a serious intent to use it. At that point, I decided I needed a goal, and what better goal than socks? They're classic.

“One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair. People will insist on giving me books.”

― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

However, once I had a goal, I realised I also had a problem. Which pattern to choose? Ravelry is full of so many sock patterns, and all of them seemed so complex in so many ways! I needed something easy, something that would stretch if I sized it wrong, something that was beginner-friendly.

It turns out, that's not easy to find. After trying several patterns and nearly giving up in despair,  I finally found Sandy Turner's Blueberry Waffle Socks. Thank heaven for the Internet Archive, because this is an amazing pattern. Not only is it stretchy enough to give some leeway for those who struggle with size, it's got simple, step-by-step instructions for those who have never done a sock before, including how to turn the heel and do a gusset.

I had to show off when I finished my first pair!

Improvement Notes:

Knitting is a constant learning process. These are my notes to help me grow and improve my skills - feel free to ignore, or learn with me!

There's a great explanation of the gusset here, which helped me figure out what I was doing. Also, there's an excellent tip for avoiding gusset holes here on youtube, which should save you from adding buttons like I did.