I finished knitting my first pair of socks.
I used some German self-striping sock yarn, I don't remember the brand, washable wool/polyester. It wasn't the softest stuff I've ever knit with, but it feels good on my feet.
I used the Universal Toe Up Sock Formula from Knitty.com. This pattern works quite well to create a custom fitted sock (although for me the toe came out a bit too narrow. I have wide forefeet).
I had one problem with the pattern: When I went to start knitting in the round again after making the heel, there were holes in the corners. The pattern suggests that you make some extra stitches to compensate, but that didn't work for me.
I knit them on size 2 Brittany birch DPNs, which I loved. The gauge is a bit looser than I prefer for socks, though; if I did them again with DPNs I would use size 1. They are stockinette except for an inch of 2x2 ribbing at the top.
This one is somewhat too big around, but wearable.
This one fits better except for the slightly too narrow toe.
My next sock project will use circular needles. I like working with DPNs; it's portable and most of the sock could be done without my full attention. And the yarn did not slide off the DPNs nearly as often as I expected it to, but it did do so a couple of times. I want to see if I can learn to do circular needle socks the same way and if doing socks on circs will solve the problem of ladders where one DPN shifts to the next. (I did find a way to solve that, which my brain isn't letting me describe in words right now. But the way I used would make doing patterned socks more difficult, I think).
I used some German self-striping sock yarn, I don't remember the brand, washable wool/polyester. It wasn't the softest stuff I've ever knit with, but it feels good on my feet.
I used the Universal Toe Up Sock Formula from Knitty.com. This pattern works quite well to create a custom fitted sock (although for me the toe came out a bit too narrow. I have wide forefeet).
I had one problem with the pattern: When I went to start knitting in the round again after making the heel, there were holes in the corners. The pattern suggests that you make some extra stitches to compensate, but that didn't work for me.
I knit them on size 2 Brittany birch DPNs, which I loved. The gauge is a bit looser than I prefer for socks, though; if I did them again with DPNs I would use size 1. They are stockinette except for an inch of 2x2 ribbing at the top.
This one is somewhat too big around, but wearable.
This one fits better except for the slightly too narrow toe.
My next sock project will use circular needles. I like working with DPNs; it's portable and most of the sock could be done without my full attention. And the yarn did not slide off the DPNs nearly as often as I expected it to, but it did do so a couple of times. I want to see if I can learn to do circular needle socks the same way and if doing socks on circs will solve the problem of ladders where one DPN shifts to the next. (I did find a way to solve that, which my brain isn't letting me describe in words right now. But the way I used would make doing patterned socks more difficult, I think).
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chasethestars
chasethestars
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The other common solution is to just keep using DPNs; I can't remember the last time I had laddering problems, and don't actually know what I'd do if I had to create them for an example. I also have no clue what I am doing differently than when I began, but obviously something's changed.
German and self-striping says "Trekking XXL" to me, but I don't recognize the colorway as one of theirs. Was it just one big skein?
Using two circs makes it much easier not to get ladders at the joins, because you naturally pull the yarn tightly enough while it's on the smaller cable area of the circ.
I don't know if I can help you avoid the "eye" at the gusset, because I usually knit socks top-down and haven't done a toe-up with a heel flap. (Was it a heel flap? I can't tell from your photos.) But when I pick up stitches, I pick up one in the corner from a row below and knit it twisted, like a "make 1" increase. Works great.
Thanks for the tips! It was a turned heel. I'm a little vague on sock knitting jargon so I don't know if that's the same as a heel flap.
*LOVELY*!!!
Aren't socks fun? If only there weren't second-sock-syndrome. :-).
Thanks!
I have a lot of trouble making two items the same if I make them separately. So I decided my next project would be two-at-once socks on two circs. Here's the pattern:
http://www.webdesignsbybarb.com/tostetoes/twosocksoneneedletoeup.htm
http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/pattern_display.aspx?id=50417220