I know it's been like forever (since June) that I've blogged about anything. I was trying to get stuff done so that I could link it or post it, but alas, It's been a busy summer and fall and, well, dang, it's about time I posted something before I turned into the proverbial pumkin!!!
I have been knitting sox for Christmas gifts for kids, grandkids, sisters, brothers, outlaws, inlaws, you name it I'm trying to knit something for them.
I have about 3 UFO's sitting round the house waiting for my attention, but you all know how that goes. You get burned out and have to start on small projects to feed that ever present desire to actually finish something and feel like you've accomplished a great thing (when actually it was just another potholder or dishcloth to add to our ever growing collection).
Now to go off on a tangent, hmmmmm, I have looked everywhere and lo n behold, I cannot for the life of me find an OTC (over the calf) men's sock pattern that doesn't look like a bent torpedo.
I went and splurged on some lovely "gloss" from "knitpicks". It's a gorgeous, sumptuous wool/silk blend yarn that is between lace and babyweight. Perfect for socks that aren't too heavy but still nice and warm. Now to find a pattern that fits what I need to do???? HA!!! There isn't one.
So, what does a yarn junky like me do in a situation like that? Well, write the pattern for it I tell ya.
Well so far so good. I have my favorite pattern for sox that is very easy to manipulate into whatever size or gauge I need (sorry I am really bad about gauge guys. I'll knit it til it looks right and then go from there). So right now, I am using this yarn on size 0 needles, making the turned toe (yes I love toe up sox. No seams, AND, woohoo, no grafting). I started out thinking that maybe I should start with 40 sts (80 sts around) but that would've fit Shaq's foot with room to spare, so FROG it goes. Tried 32 sts (64 sts around) but that was too small (sounds almost like Goldilocks don't it). Well finally settled on 38 sts (76 around) and it looks like this is the winner for todays events. I'll let you know how it goes, but I was going to make it so that it had arch support (sl st's like the french heel) and reverse stockinette on the ball and heel parts of the foot for comfort (my hubbiness if very very picky). He also has a very slender ankle but enormous calves (sheesh, that's gonna be a challenge). K, now more on stuff I've learned while knitting sox.... You know that horrid feeling you get when you've knit a wonderful, lovely pair of sox only to have the cast off edges (especially on toe-up sox) be way way too tight? ARRRGGGHHHH!!!!! I really hate that. (did I also mention I really, and I mean really hate frogging?!?). Well, sock knitters of the world, I think I've come up with a simple little solution. Yep you've heard it here first (if someone else didn't already think of it, which I'm probably sure they have.. but oh well...)
If I'm knitting a k1, p1 rib for the top band of the sock or k2,p2, beings I'm also an avid crocheter, I figured, why not on the knit stitches, make an extra chain st in the binding off process. You crocheters out there know what I'm talkin about. I would (on k2, p2 rib) k1, make slip stitch, k1, pass first stitch over second, and off (like regular binding off) then bind off the p sts, and repeat the whole process around. On k1, p1 ribbing, I would do it on every other knit st. and follow the pattern around. It's not noticeably flared but it does give the top of the sock extra room and you don't get that sinking feeling of a really tight top when it's done. I've also used this same technique to get a lovely picot edge on top just by making more chain stitches in between the knit stitches. Aww, necessity being the mother of invention, ain't she great!!!
The two pics at the top of the page are a pair of sox I knit using the toe up method with the bind off technique prevously described. I know, they need to be blocked.
