Figuring out how to start on a pair of socks. If, using #2 double-pointed needles and “1” yarn, I come out with 7 stitches per inch no matter what (knitting in the round), when the pattern says 9, can I do the thing where I multiply 7 by my ankle measurement (8 1/2″, not that anyone tells you where to measure your ankle), subtracting a bit (1/2″?) to get the number of cast-ons, and then use that number to follow the pattern?
Or am I hopelessly out of my depth here?
Sock experts, report for duty. And try hard not to tell me to get smaller needles, because I'm not sure I can do that! These are awfully small, as far as I'm concerned…
Almost done with this top. Need to find an hour to sit at the machine and add the outer borders.
My stand-by log cabin blocks. A friend can work on them with me if she happened to have left her crocheting or sewing behind (Nancy and Susan…).
And of course, moving on in the conversation… brace yourselves, because there will be a few parts to this, and the mills grind slowly…
Not to mention cleaning up.
What are you doing these days?
Anonymous says
Yes, you can just multiply it out, but you will have to adjust your heel turn and the number of stitches you pick up for the instep as well. (well, this is for top-down socks!0if it is to be 9spi and you are to cast on 90, you would do 7/9ths and cast on 70 instead. If the heal flap is to be 45, you would use 7/9ths of that (35), etc. It is just "logical" ~ you can do it. Don't be afraid. 🙂
Breanna says
Oh! oh! I know how to do socks!Measure your ankle (or leg) wherever you want the sock to come up to. So if you want a tiny little short "footie" sock, measure down low, if you want it halfway up your shin, measure there. Got me so far?Multiply the inches around your ankle/leg by your seven stitches per inch.Knit in k1 p1 ribbing (or k2 p2, which I like, or whatever your pattern says) for however long you want the top of your sock to be–say, eight inches. You can put it on to check it out if you're not sure, just don't poke yourself with the needles.Then knit plain for about an inch, two inches for a man or a woman with ankles like mine :P, and get ready to turn your heel.The heel I like calls for half the stitches you cast on, but like Anon said at the top, you can figure out how to use your pattern, too. There are lots of different kinds of heels, so try not to get discouraged if the one in your pattern seems ridiculous.If you get to the heel and are confused, you can email me or ask again for help and I'll just take the number of stitches you have and tell you how to make the heel, ok?Which pattern are you using, if you don't mind my asking? (I ask because in my experience people trying to make handmade socks very often try to knit something from the book "Folk Socks", which is a beautiful book but which contains some of the most difficult socks I've ever seen–along with a really good basic sock pattern that they all skip. 😀 )The heel is the hardest part. Handmade socks are so lovely. Hang in there! If poor Irish children could make socks while driving sheep or fishing, you can too. :)Let us know how it turns out.Breanna
Paula says
cast on what you need for the cuff and leg portionheel flap width: 2 stitches less than half the total number of stitches (eg. 60/2=30-2=28 sts)heel flap length: work 2 rows less than the amount of stitches of width (eg. 28-2=26 rows)heel cap: from the center out k2 SKP (sl.1 k1, psso), k1 turnnext row: sl1 purlwise, purl 5, p2tog, p1, turnnext row: sl1 knitwise, knit 6, SKP, k1, turnkeep going as above until all stitches have been usedpick up half of the heel flap length (eg. 26/2=13)then knit across instep and pick up other side of flapinstep decrease is k2tog k1 on the left side and k1, sl1 k1 psso, on the right side then knit one roundcontinue two row decrease until you are down to the original start number (eg. 60)make foot as long as needed (about 2 inches short of finished length)toe dec: depends on stitches 60 or more start with DEC 6: k6, k2tog, rep around. Knit 6 rounds even51-60 start with DEC 5: k5, k2tog, rep around. Knit 5 rounds even.50 or less start DEC 4: k4, k2tog, rep around. Knit 4 rounds even.Continue this decrease until you are down to k1, k2 tog and finish with one round even.Graft end.Hope this helps. Email if you have any questions.
Freckled Hen says
You are obviously a better knitting student than I. You are already making socks??? You realize when you finish one you have to make another one? Good grief you are good at everything!Today is Thurs and I haven't stopped thinking about your previous post. Too many thoughts to put into a blog comment but thanks for writing that post.Hope you get lots of knitting done in the upcoming snowstorm!
Leila says
Oh wow, I will have to pore over all this. The pattern I was going to use is peeking in that photo. It's from the redheart.com site:http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Knitting/Projects/Accessories/LW1619+Self-Striping+Knit+Socks.htmIt does seem like a pattern I could follow, but it's the gauge that's getting me.
Leila says
Dear Freckled,No, I think what we can conclude, from the picture and the words, is that I'm NOT making socks!! :)I do realize I need to make two, and that worries me, because I'm quite sure one will be bigger and sloppier than the other. Maybe I'll make three. LOL!And so far, rain…rain…rain…my post would have been so pretty if there had been any of that thing we call light…
Robin says
I tried running the top of your post through BabelFish, the translation site, but it didn't work. It kept talking about something called "knitting". Only kiddin'. I'm dying to learn how to knit socks. But I have to make myself finish the 2-year scarf I'm on. My daughter just checked out a book from the library that shows you how to knit two socks at a time on circular knitting thingys. That will be my method once the elves come and finish my scarf.And what's going on around here? Watching snow melt in this rain, akin to watching paint dry….so I'm working on spring cleaning planning, making menus and rereading your insightful post when all of this little people stop talking to me. 😉
Sophie Miriam says
If you do a couple of internet searches, you can usually find a make-your-own sock pattern. You input your measurements and gauge, do a little basic math, and wind up with a perfect sock pattern. I would recommend trying that before trying to alter a pattern, especially if you're making socks for the first time.
Paula says
I can help you with making both socks at the same time too. It's easy (once you have an idea of sock making). I use two circular needles and find it faster than the old way.Socks are so much fun and a good project when you want quick results (After the first few anyway) 🙂
Jeannie says
Breanna gave you the advice I would have given. I have no other advice other than to tell you that Stephanie Pearl McPhee's book, Knitting Rules, is what gave me the nerve to try socks. Best of luck to you Leila and show us those socks when you are done!By the way I am loving your posts for Lent.
Anonymous says
Leila, you are a busy girl with those projects on the go, along with the normal running of a household (and caring for us, your devoted blog-ladies.)What am I doing? Just filling in time (productively!) while waiting for your next post. 🙂 Linda
Anonymous says
Don't be afraid to try socks. You'll love it once you make your first pair, they make for small projects you can take any where. The best way I know to learn is this tutorial. It breaks it down step by step and makes it easy.http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/SockClass_Start.htm
Dawn says
Well, around here, it's busy as usual. I am teaching my children, training them, and keeping my house. I am reading Passionate Housewives desperate for God…very good read. Tonight I taught my 15 yr old daughter to cook chicken fried cube steak. Yummy! The fam raved over it.Trying my darndest to get better at this mothering thing and wifing thing! Dawn
the eternal optimist says
Eternal Optimist wonders if you could do a column on making graham crackers and cream cheese from scratch. I think a lot of people would enjoy it. At least, some people.
skoots1mom says
crocheting a wool shawl…preparing to make a senior-year quilt…embroidering a large rooster…knitting a purple scarf…enjoy your blog 🙂
Cynthia says
I'm waiting anxiously for the organizing tips. This does really connect to knitting, because I lost the yarn that I am making my next pair of socks with in my overflowing sewing room for a couple months…I'm starting my pair of socks with two pairs of needles and two balls of yarn so that I can do them both at the same time on separate needles. Theoretically I can knit them consecutively in parts so that I can finish them up sort of together. I'm knitting them as a requested birthday gift so I hope it works and I can get them done in time!
Alice says
The book through which I learned to knit socks is local knitting writer Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's "Knitting Rules". She goes through the whole process of sock-making based on how many stitches you get per inch.I only really became a knitter once I learned how to make socks. My mother taught me, but everything I wanted to do was "too hard"– so knitting was boring until I struck out on my own and did the hard stuff.