Sock Problem

Schoolmarm wrote

on Nov 5, 2009 12:59 PM

Does anyone have a fix for a top-down sock that was cast on a little too tight?  Besides "unravel and start over"! Thanks!

Tephra wrote

on Nov 5, 2009 1:46 PM

Two ideas:

1. Pick out the cast on, and maybe one row, then do a stretchy bind off.

2. Assuming you have a sock cuff with relatively narrow ribbing at the top, you can cut one stitch in the row after the ribbing and unravel it, putting the sock on needles. The frog the cut off ribbing and re-knit the ribbing on the sock ending with a stretchy bind off.

StnFlwr wrote

on Nov 11, 2009 2:45 PM

I couldn't do that -- I would have to rip out and start over.  When I knit socks, I knit them both at the same time so they will have the same tension.  Inevitably, I end up starting over (early on) a couple times per sock.  The finished product makes it worth it (to me).

The first time I knit a pair of socks, each one (of 4) came out progressively better (tighter, more even) -- but they all looked like they were different sizes!

FionaC wrote

on Nov 11, 2009 4:20 PM

Well, sure you can!  In fact, there is no other way to make the cast-on less tight than re-doing the cuff! Knitting the socks at the same time doesn't have any effect on this, whether you use dpns, one circular or two circulars! The first reponder is giving good advice.

Unpick the cast on, join in new yarn if you make a mess of the yarn you're unpicking, or use the same yarn if you have the motor control of a neurosurgeon, and once you've got all the stitches on the needles, cast off. I can't see what you are seeing as a roadblock to this.

FionaC