socks

One of my goals this weekend was to try to knit the "class" sock from a Christmas gift book, Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. I have knit two pairs of socks in my knitting life, one cuff-down and one toe-up but both using the short-row heel method. I wanted to try a sock with a different heel and thought I'd start small. The "class" sock is knit in worsted weight yarn (some leftover Caron Simply Soft) and is only 32 stitches around. I used the two circular needle method ('cause I hate double pointed needles). I'm quite proud of my sock:

It measures 5 1/4 inches from back of heel to tip of toe and 5 3/4 inches around. My Kitchener stitch bind-off still needs a bit of work...there's a bit of an "ear" on one side of the toe.

Of course, I'm showing the best side of it in this shot:

Next to tackle a real pair of socks with gussets! I'm hoping to find a pattern that is toe-up rather than cuff-down because it is easier to try them on as you knit to get the best fit.

Dear Mom,

I finally have a new finished object (FO), my berry stripe socks. These turned out quite well if a little snug. I really like the yarn and love the colorway. I am itching to cast on another pair of socks, but haven't yet made any decisions. There is also the small matter of Bee's Fair Isle cardigan. I have the back and left front completed but have stopped all work on it. Sigh, I'd better get a move on to have it done by fall.

Dear Page,

Having finished the Shetland Shawl and not being quite ready to take on another big project, I decided to use up some of my scraps of Lily Sugar N' Cream cotton yarn that I had previously used in making bibs. I decided to try to make a "sock" for a glass. I know that sounds somewhat strange and perhaps stupid to some folks but you know how cold your hand can get holding a glass of ice tea or soda with ice in it? On top of that, if the glass sweats, your hand get wet as well as cold. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to try to design a glass "sock." The first one I made, I started with a crocheted bottom to serve as a coaster as well as insulation and picked up stitches around the "coaster" when it became the right size. Then I switched to knitting and proceeded to knit a 1 X 1 rib for about an inch, then switch to stockingnette in a contrasting but coordinating color for another inch, and finally ended back with ribbing in the original color for maybe 1/3 of an inch. Here is the result:

Dear Mom,

So I have been working on some toe-up socks using KnitPicks Felici self-striping yarn.

Rather than do my usual short row toe, I did a Turkish cast on with half the total number of stitches and then did and increase toe. It went pretty well and certainly looks good. When I got to the part where the heel should be, I ran into a problem that I probably should have anticipated. Short row heels and self-striping sock yarn don't mix well. The sequence of the stripes gets mixed up and out of whack.

My chaos loving husband thinks this is a good look, but I am pretty Type-A so it was bothering me. I felt that there must be a better way. Ravelry to the rescue. A quick search in the forums turned up this tutorial in the exact yarn I am using.

It uses the afterthought heel which the Yarn Harlot has also blogged about and which originated with Elizabeth Zimmerman of course. I can't decide whether to try it out on the next sock and have totally mis-matched socks or to wait and use it on the next pair of self-striping socks instead. What do you think? In addition to keeping your pattern aligned, the afterthought heel can be removed separately and reknit if it develops a hole which is pretty cool though I am not sure I would venture that far into sock repair.