I Don’t Like Toe Up Socks
I tried another toe-up sock pattern a few weeks ago and ended up frogging the sock at the heel in pure frustration. It’s not the toe-up part that I have a problem with. I can easily do a provisional crochet cast-on and then graft the toe later. No — it’s the short-row heel that I hate. All of those wrap and double-wrap loops drive me nuts and I think the whole heel just looks lumpy compared to the nice, neat, heel on a toe-down sock.
More Socks
K has has a sudden growth spurt, so a few of the socks that I’d made for him previously no longer fitted. So there was a mad dash to get some sock yarn and make him a new pair (with growing room) for winter. Especially as he doesn’t like wearing slippers and much prefers to wander round the house in stocking feet. These were made using King Cole’s Zigzag sock yarn. I’ve not tried this before but it’s not bad. It’s 50% wool and 50% acrylic, so I’m not sure I’d use it to make socks for myself but for…
Winter Socks
When it gets really cold, I love being able to slouch around the house wearing really thick winter socks. Given that my current pair were looking slightly worse for wear after last winter, I decided to treat myself to a new pair. I got hold of 100gms of beautifully soft, hand-dyed merino wool on Ebay and set to using a Sock Generator pattern. The wool was almost aran weight, so I ended up using the entire 100gms but I’m sure that I’ll appreciate the extra warmth in December/January. And they are beautifully soft and comfortable.
Shorty Socks
To create a very short sock – possibly to wear with training shoes, create your pattern using the Online Sock Pattern Generators.
However, just work a cuff of around 1 inch and then go straight to working the heel flap. Instant footie-type socks. Great for using up small bits of sock yarn – especially if you work the cuff, heel and toe in a contrasting colour.
Great for kids too! K loves these short socks and won’t wear any others if he can avoid it.
Online Sock Pattern Generator
The Online Sock Pattern Generators have had all of the kinks ironed out of them and a couple of extra bits added.
So far, I’ve completed about 10 pairs of adult’s socks (short and long) and about 8 pairs of short children’s socks using the generated patterns and they’ve all worked out just fine. I’ll try and post a few photo when I get a chance.
The generated patterns are for socks knitted on 4 or 5 double-pointed needles with reinforced Dutch heels.
All I Can Do Is Knit
It’s not been a good day joint-wise, Started off with a bad left ankle and a rotten right knee. By afternoon, both ankles and both knees were extremely painful and I was reduced to limping around with a walking stick. But only when I absolutely had to move. You know it’s going to be a bad day when you start watching the clock and working out when you can take the next lot of painkillers.
And Up Next…
And here’s the yarn for the next pair of socks.
This one looks so wonderful that I can’t finish the current pair off fast enough!
Plus I’ve got some beautifully soft pale purple 100% pure wool that I’m going to use to knot a really thick pair of winter socks.
And I’ve got my eye on some burgundy 4 ply wool on eBay.
There’s just aren’t enough knitting hours in the day.
Pattern Testing
I’ve now completed one pair of double knit kids’ socks and I’m halfway through knitting a 4 ply version for myself using a self-patterning sock yarn. The pattern needed a couple of minor tweaks but…
So far so good! 🙂
Online Sock Pattern Generator – beta
The self-patterning sock yarn still hasn’t arrived, so I’ve occupied myself by creating an online sock pattern generator. However, I’ve not followed a generated pattern myself yet (I’m just about to try it out), so it could contain mistakes. Consider it a “beta” version. 🙂
The generated pattern is for socks knitted on 5 needles with a reinforced Dutch heel.
I’ve discovered socks!
After promising myself that I’d learn to knit on double-pointed needles for years, I finally plucked up the courage to have a go. A trawl through ebay landed me a fairly comprehensive collection of needles in various sizes and lengths at less than £1 per set – which was pretty good going – so all I needed now was a decent project.
