The humble sock

re: The humble sock

MuffyYoung — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 11:15:48 GMT

I'm more of a weaver than a knitter but I agree with Arbuck that there is another way to knit these. Why not try starting at the toe with short rows- you get a 3 dimensional toe very easily- adjust it by starting with more, or fewer stitches?

re: The humble sock

gbkcw — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:34:27 GMT

If I look at my feet, they are straight on the arch side, and taper toward the little toe. I knit my socks toe up. Cast on enough stitches for the length of the first two toes, then increase only on one side each round (using two cable needles, increase one stitch two stitches before the end, on next needle knit two before increasing one). You knit both feet the same until you come to the heel shaping, where you have to remember to do an extra half round to end up with a left and a right sock. It's probably not necessary for comfort, but the shape of the socks is definitely closer to the shape of the feet.

re: The humble sock

EllisBee — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 19:28:17 GMT

I love the kitchener stitch! so much nicer looking than the alternatives for cuff-down socks. and I second dpmarshall who wrote about the editor's being unable to concentrate on those few stitches - after cabling, or doing color work, or doing lace in your socks, you have trouble with this simplest thing? I just don't believe it.

re: The humble sock

ChrisL@5 — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 21:06:57 GMT

It's nice to have choices, thankyou.

re: The humble sock

Vickiknit — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:39:03 GMT

I'm a lefty who knits right-handed continental with no problems. But the Kitchener stitch is nigh impossible do left-handed from right-handed instructions. So I prefer the toe-up method. I've also been known to turn the sock inside out and use three-needle bind off to finish the toe. This works for soles of booties, too.

But now if someone has translated Kitchener for lefties, let me know!

re: The humble sock

Vickiknit — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:31:39 GMT

What a pretty yarn! What is it?

re: The humble sock

cjennmom — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 15:03:58 GMT

The hardest thing about sock knitting IMO is finding the right yarn - most of my patterns want sz 2 yarn and that stuff is awful to find; it basically isn't on the shelves, and the few times you do see it they have colors you wouldn't be caught dead in *and the price is horrendous too. (The major yarn outlets in my area are AC Moore and Michael's) Also, all my patterns may come in different sizes but no where do I see advice on how to tailor the socks for individual feet, particularly when it's a patterned sock (i.e., nordic or other designs). Maybe it needs to be wider here and narrower there, that type of thing. I want the socks I make to be nice, not 'who did it and ran?', yanno?

re: The humble sock

Arbuck — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:41:31 GMT

It would be nice to see some recognition that top-down is not the only way people knit socks. If you knit toe-up, you never have to graft a toe, or worry you'll run out of yarn before you get to the toe. Enlarge your view.

re: The humble sock

maak — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 13:59:42 GMT

Kitchener stitch really isn't bad. Just plan to do your toes in a quiet place where you can concentrate. After about 3-4 pairs of socks (probably because of stress!) I finally got it and I'm glad I kept trying. It looks so much better than pulling the yarn through.

re: The humble sock

ssucheta — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:26:25 GMT

I am always looking for colorful yarn for socks. What is the yarn shown for the simple-toed socks? Thanks

re: The humble sock

Toni9399 — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 02:18:42 GMT

there's nothing hard about the kitchener stitch at all and once you do it several times, you just remember and i think it gives you the most sensible toe!

re: The humble sock

Laura — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:22:20 GMT

When will the ebook of the updated Folk Socks be available? I have the original so I'd be more interested in just getting the ebook of the new version.

re: The humble sock

KimB@5 — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:45:50 GMT

Toe tip - simply turn your sock inside out and use a 3 needle bind off. I do this by sliding the live stitches onto safety pins , turning sock then back onto the needles. I've never had a problem with the tiny seam chafing my toes - I decrease down to 12 sts so there is only a tiny 6 stitch gap to close.

re: The humble sock

dpmarshall — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:10:45 GMT

I find it especially disheartening for the editor of Knitting Daily to write a column using the "difficulty" of the kitchener stitch to promote books. I've only been knitting 3 years and I don't find the Kitchener stitch to be rocket science. There's a beautifully clear and concise tutorial on Knitty that I look at every time I finish socks. There's a reason Lord Kitchener invented the stitch, so the toes of troops wouldn't chafe because of a seam - which is the same reason it's still the best way (not including toe-up) to finish socks. And, seriously, are you saying you can't concentrate long enough to correctly graft, maybe, 20 stitches? After finishing a whole sock? Seriously?

re: The humble sock

mijikke — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:01:02 GMT

Decrease untill there are 12 or 16 stitches left. Turn your sock inside out, and simply knit the stitches 2 to 2 together.