Sock Knit-a-Long #9

Are you ready to finish your sock?!


I have finished all my toe decreases and I have 16 stitches left.

Using needle #3, knit across the 4 stitches on needle #1.

You now have only 2 needles, with 8 stitches on each one.

Cut your yarn from the skein leaving about a 15" tail. Thread the end through a blunt end tapestry needle.
(My favorite are Chibi by Clover).


Next go someplace where you will be left alone for about 15 minutes. You will be glad that you did.


Hold the two needles in your left hand (I insert my index finger between the two needles to keep them stable an separate). Using your right hand,




- insert the needle into the first stitch on the first needle as if to knit and then slip the stitch off the needle.










-insert the needle into the second stitch on the first needle as if to purl, but leave the stitch on the needle.







-insert the needle into the first stitch on the rear needle as if to purl and slip it off.









-insert the needle into the next stich on the rear needle as if to knit, but leave it on the needle







Repeat these four steps until all the stitches have been joined. (This is why I told you to go someplace quiet. It's much easier to do this if you just repeat the directions in your head as you do it. Sometime the words come out of my head and I find I am talking to myself. If you are alone, well people won't know).

Too loose . . .

Just right.

 Do not pull your yarn too tight. I tend to work a little loose. I think it's easier to adjust the stitches afterwards using my Chibi needle.




It's much harder to adjust stiches that are too tight.

Fasten off the end of your yarn inside and also weave in the cast-on tail.

Put your sock on and dance around the house and say "Look what I made, look what I made!"

Then quickly sit down again . . . I think the Patriots are playing at 4:30 . . . you can cast-on for your second sock and work on the leg ribbing during the game!
 

Sock Knit-a-Long #8

Almost done!!

I have finished the body of my sock and I am ready to start my toe decreases.

Here goes . . . 

Row 1: Knit to the last 3 stitches on needle #1, K2tog, K1 On needle #2, K1, SSK, knit to the last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1 and lastly, on needle #3, K1 SSK, knit to the end.

Row 2: Knit evenly across.

Repeat these two rows until you have decreased to about half of your original stitch count. I had 64 stitches so I will decrease to 32 stitches. 


Next, repeat only Row 1 until you have 16 stitches left . . . 4 stitches on needle #1, 8 stitches on needle #2 and another 4 stitches on needle #3.

(If you are making a man's or a large woman's sock, just watch how long your toe length is. You may want to work only Row 1 sooner to decrease down to 16 stitches without adding too much length.)

Hey, look what you have created and you are almost done!  Can you stand it?! Aren't you excited?!  Come back for the ending directions.

Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.

Sock Knit-a-Long #5

Finally! I have worked the K2P2 ribbing for 7" for my leg . . . I am ready to start the fun stuff! First is the heel. Are you ready too?





   
Before you start your heel, you want to have 25% of your stitches on the first needle, 50% on the second needle and 25% on the third needle.

I have 64 stitches - so I put 16 stitches on needle #1, 32 on needle #2 and the last 16 on needle #3.







So far so good!




Next I'm going to knit across the stitches on needle #1 with needle #3. I will end up with just two needles and
50% of my stitches on each needle.

In my case I have 32 stitches on each needle.

(If you find it too awkward to knit across using needle #3, use your fourth needle and then just slide them onto needle #3 when you finish the row).


Okay, time for the heel flap!

Row 1: Slip 1 stitch as if to purl, purl to the end.
Row 2: *Slip 1 stitch as if to purl, knit 1 stitch*. Repeat from * to * to the end of the row. (slipping the first stitch will make it easier to pick up stitches along the edge later).

Here is the front of my
heel flap.

This is the back side of my
heel flap.

Work as many heel rows as you have stitches for the flap. In my case, I have 32 stitches, so I will work 32 heel rows. (Or, 16 repeats of Row 1 & Row 2).

End with a knit row. 








Okay, go ahead and do yours . . . tomorrow we'll turn the heel!

Until then, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.

Sock Knit-a-Long #4

I'm still working away on my sock. When my mind starts to wander, I let myself daydream and try and imagine the kingdom of Henry VIII. I'm glad I wasn't the one to knit the socks he wore at the end of his reign (I'm also glad I wasn't one of his wives!). If he gained the weight history claims . . . well, that would take me a long time on my little double-pointed needles. 

While you are working on your sock, check-out Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks.
She provides a great background on the evolution of hand-knit socks and patterns. When you're ready to try different types of heels and toes designs, her book will give you lots of options. There are also patterns for everything from a plain man's winter sock to a fancy infant's sock. Check it out. It's a great read for any sock lover.

click here to place a hold



Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.

Sock Knit-a-Long #3

I've been knitting on my sock in the morning while I have my coffee. I have about 2 inches done.

 How about you? Do you have a few inches on your needles? Are you nervous that it might not fit? 

Here's a tip -
     Place all your stitches on a piece of scrap yarn. Tie the ends of the scrap yarn in a knot.





Now put your foot through it. If your ankle won't make it through, then you need to rip it out and start again with more stitches. (Better to find out now than when your sock is all done!) If your ankle fits through - put the stitches back on your needles and knit on without any worries!



 


Go ahead and keep knitting in the round in a K2P2 pattern for 6"-7", depending on how long you want you sock leg to be.

While you're knitting I thought I'd show you some of the sock books we have at the library.

Here's an excellent one. Nice basic instructions (with great photos). It's a great reference book if you are just starting with socks, but it also has some patterns with lace and cables if you want to be a little fancy!



to place a hold click here



More instructions for our sock knit-a-long and sock books to follow!

Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.

Sock Knit-a-Long #2

Did you buy your yarn yet? I am going to use a blue/green blend of wool, nylon and bamboo from Plymouth Yarn. I did my gauge swatch and I am getting 8 stitches per inch. Next I measured the widest part of my foot, and I got 8". So . . . 

gauge x foot measurement = number of stitches to cast on.

In my case, 8x8=64. I will cast on 64 stitches.

Since we are doing a ribbed leg, just make sure your number of stitches is divisible by 4 and then the K2P2 pattern will be accommodated. If your number is not divisible by four, just add or subtract a stitch or two until it is.

Go ahead and cast on. Use either the long-tail cast on or the cable cast-on for a firm edge that will also have a little flex to it. Divide the stitches onto 3 needles, be careful not to twist any, and join. (I always cast on one extra stitch when I knit in the round. Then I take the last stitch from the right-hand needle, slip it to the left needle and I knit the first two stitches together. It helps make the join a little neater.)

Work in a K2P2 rib for a few inches.

More to follow tomorrow.

Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.

Sock Knit-a-Long #1

Well it seems fall is officially here. The leaves are changing, it's getting darker earlier, and the nights are certainly cooler. I guess it's also time to pack away the sandals and think about breaking out the socks.

I admit I am a little spoiled when it comes to socks. I have a draw full of socks in every color imaginable - all hand-knit by my mother. Every year around this time I am asked "How is your sock supply? Do you need anymore?"  Let's face it - there is nothing like wearing a pair of hand-knit socks on a cold day. (They kept my toes warm during many of my son's youth hockey games!)

I'm not sure why many knitters are intimidated by the thought of making socks. Is it because the directions refer to heel flaps and gussets? Perhaps it's the thought of doing the Kitchener stitch for the first time? I'm not sure. I only know I love to wear them.

Here's an idea - let's take the fear away and make a pair together . . .  a simple top down pair with a ribbed leg. We'll have our own knit-a-long. First step is to head out to your local yarn shop and pick up a skein of sock yarn and a set of double-pointed needles.

We'll start tomorrow.

Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.