A few days ago, I finally finished knitting my toe-up socks. These socks were customized for my feet, so yes… I took measurements.
I must say that these socks are incredibly soft and comfortable. It’s like walking on a soft cushion that hugs your feet. The socks were knit with (superwash) worsted weight wool. The gauge is tight so nothing is penetrating these socks, which will work perfectly for wearing them outside (within shoes) during our cold weather seasons.
As with the other handknit socks I’ve made (those were cuff down) these are so much better than store bought socks.
I used three different needle sizes. I started with a size 5 Hiya Hiya sharp circular knitting needles. After the heel flap I dropped down to a size 2. Once I moved past the ankle, I moved down to a size 0.
This is my first time knitting toe-up socks. Supposedly they are harder than knitting cuff down socks (what I’m used to knitting) but I didn’t see them as difficult. I did make a few mistakes along the first heel flap; however, by the time I moved to the second heel flap… I’d corrected my mistakes. Sure, I could have ripped back to make them ‘perfect’ but sometimes, I like these reminders that show me where I’ve been and how much I have advanced… with practice.
There’s a lesson there… our Christian walk is like that, the more we spend time within Gods word and applying what we’ve researched into our own lives, prayer, surrounding ourselves with like-minded believers and obeying his commands (in all things) the more like Christ (and the less like the world) we become.
But back to knitting…
These socks were knit two-at-a-time. Most sock knitters knit one-at-time. Uhm, no thanks! I much prefer knitting them two-at-a-time to insure that I have the same consistency throughout the pair of socks.
Also, knitting them at the same time means I’m not going to have different sock lengths since I don’t have to count rows… or measure. I can make up my own pattern mods as I go along, and just keep simple notes for future socks.
Sock (pattern) details…
I did not use a pattern, but I did use a pair of thick Timberland socks as my pattern guide. The bulk of the sock was stockinette stitch. The top of the sock was done in a rib stitch (k2, p2) for about an inch and then I moved on to stockinette stitch for about four rows (In hindsight I would have used seed stitch) and then I ended with rib stitch (k1, p1) for about four rows. I used a stretchy bind off.
Now that I can knit toe-up socks without mistakes, it’s time I knit my daughter a pair. I’ll be blending the fibers of merino, alpaca and Cotswold. Alpaca is three times warmer than wool, which will work perfectly for my daughter since she likes having toasty feet… just like her mom.
If you ever make it on someones “sockworthy” list, by all means… find how you can stay ON THAT LIST! Handknit socks, knit correctly, are an incredible experience. You won’t want to go back to store bought socks.
About a week ago, I finished spinning these sample skeins. The beaded one is handspun merino and I believe the other is East Friesian cross yarn. There is a difference in softness and elasticity with these two handspun yarn. The merino is softer. The Fresian is a bit sturdier and a bit more “elastic.” They are both lovely fibers and I enjoyed spinning both.
