Time Required for Socks

I scoured the internet to get an idea of how long it generally takes knitters to make a pair of socks. The estimated times vary widely. It takes me 22 hours to knit a pair of size 43 socks with a ribbed leg (18 cm high) and a stockinette-stitch foot, using size 2.5 needles. How long does it take you? Some people gave estimates in terms of “TV nights.” Since you never know how long someone actually watches TV, it’s hard to compare, right????

Good question: A friend of mine who knits quite a lot of socks once said she needed about 30 hours for a pair. But I don’t know whether they were patterned socks. Since I’ll be knitting ribbed socks again soon, I’ll time it. I estimate it’ll take me about 15 hours per pair. But we’ll see :-)
I wish you a Merry Christmas!
Steffi

That’s reassuring???? I’m roughly in the middle of your time estimates. I always felt it couldn’t be right that it takes me sooo many hours to knit a pair of socks???? Merry Christmas to you too!

That’s just it… Handicrafts are a lot of work! We often don’t even notice it because we do it as a hobby to relax. But when something absolutely has to be finished, that’s when you realize just how much work goes into a pair of socks.
(That’s why I only give my handmade gifts to people who appreciate their value!)

Hello Esther,

please don’t worry for a second that you’re taking too long on anything. Handicrafts aren’t a race ;-) Here, everyone can take as much time as they want.

I, for example, always enjoy taking my time to crochet the stitches, even when I’m already very familiar with the pattern and could probably crochet it faster. But I take my time, make sure the stitches are even, and—most importantly—don’t let anything or anyone rush me.
In fact, if something has to be finished really quickly, I don’t enjoy it at all—my fingers almost start to shake from the stress, and my stitches become shakier and more uneven… all in all, not a pleasant experience.

That’s why, as I said, crafting isn’t a competition, and it’s not about who finishes faster or gets the most done.... if anything, it’s maybe about who has the most fun doing it :-D

So, don’t let anyone influence you! The way you’re doing it is exactly right! :-D

Best wishes
Stefanie

I’ve been knitting socks for years. For a pair of 4-ply socks in size 39, it takes me about 14 hours. Size 43 takes about 16 hours. I always make the leg 20 cm long.

I don’t really like knitting socks, precisely because it takes me too long. I usually knit them with two strands of yarn or directly with 8-ply yarn so it goes a bit faster. For a pair of size 47 socks knitted with two strands, it took me about 15 hours; for a pair of size 38 socks knitted with a single strand, about 45 hours. I have friends who can finish a pair like that in 8 hours, so the times really vary widely.
Find your own pace WITHOUT looking at the clock, because crafting is supposed to be relaxing and shouldn’t become a CHORE—otherwise, it’s no longer fun.

That’s an interesting topic. It certainly depends on the yarn weight and needle size, and of course on the leg length. I really should time myself the next time I knit a pair of socks to see how long it takes me.

For me, knitting is also a form of relaxation. I don’t care at all how long I spend on it. The main thing is that it’s enjoyable.

I’ve never actually calculated that, but I could give it a try—my sock drawer has gotten pretty empty, so I really should knit some more.

Since I keep sitting down on the sofa and knitting a few rows or rounds in between all the other things on my to-do list, I can’t even say how many minutes or hours of knitting I get in each day. It always feels like too little.

Be glad if it takes you a long time—then you won’t have to figure out what you want to do next so quickly. 

Well, I actually paid attention this time. For a pair in size 39, using 4-ply yarn, it takes me just under 20 hours. I actually spend that much time on it more often than when I knit with thicker needles—I find such thin sets of double-pointed needles quite tiring on my hands. I can crochet for much longer stretches without taking major breaks.