The Sewing Place

The Emporia => A Good Yarn => Topic started by: b15erk on October 14, 2020, 10:53:52 AM

Title: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: b15erk on October 14, 2020, 10:53:52 AM
During the lockdown I realised what an awful lot of yarn I had accumulated, not  massive quantities of each type or colour, but yarn I've bought for children's stuff, usually when I've seen it on offer.  Determined to knit it up, I thought that socks would be a very good way of using it.  The stumbling block was, that I had never managed to knit a wearable sock.

Doing my research, I found a really good starter pattern for me, and it has worked out beautifully, and I may even branch out into something more ambitious - a patterned pair would be nice!  :thumbsup:

The pattern I chose was from Very Pink Knits, and is the Toe Up Socks Using German Short Rows.  I didn't use the Magic Loop as I just don't 'get it', instead, I bought several pairs of KnitPro Basix Dpns.  I chose these as they weren't the slippy type.

The pattern is printed in several sizes for Men, Women and Children, and there are links to Stacey's tutorials for all the techniques.

I'm on my 5th sock now, and intend to knit more and give them as Christmas presents - they are knit in Double knitting yarn, so make excellent bed socks. the sock in the picture is my very first pair, so is far from perfect!

With any luck, I will make a dent in my yarn stash by Christmas!

VeryPinkKnitsSocks (https://verypink.com/2015/03/11/toe-up-socks-using-german-short-rows/)

Jessie



Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: Kenora on October 14, 2020, 10:58:42 AM
Thanks for this Jessie. I'll check out your link when I get time. I'm really looking forward to having a go. :) Your socks look great (at least they are easily identifiable as socks - my first try wasn't!)
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: Missie on October 14, 2020, 11:50:21 AM
Hmm, I'm just wondering what is "far from perfect" about them.  They look fab and an excellent idea for christmas gifts.
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: BrendaP on October 14, 2020, 12:10:45 PM
They look pretty good - the only reason they are bedsocks and not everyday wearing will be because they are DK and not 4 ply.   :loveit:

I like Very Pink Knits videos.  She doesn't faff around too much and her knitting style is very similar to mine.  I don't push the yarn around the needle with the back my forefinger; I hook the yarn with a finger going over the yarn to take it around the needle.  I have so much more control that way and can use forefinger or middle finger so the style adapts well to Fair Isle.

I haven't done much sock knitting recently because I have a drawer full of hand knits, but from experience I can tell you that really the basic styles with stocking stitch and rib fit best, all the fancy patterns look good in a photo but don't stretch and fit as well.  My personal preference (for my foot shape)  is top down with flap and gusset.
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: Ohsewsimple on October 14, 2020, 12:19:56 PM
They look really good.  Are they cotton?
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: b15erk on October 14, 2020, 12:27:19 PM
@Ohsewsimple , it's just some cheap acrylic yarn I've had for years, bought originally for knitting toys.  I can't wear wool as it itches me to death, but  lately I've been using cotton, and it's lovely to knit with.

@BrendaP , there are things that I will never be able to do well in knitting, fairisle and magic loop being just two!  My knitting style is dictated by my increasingly arthritic hands!  :S

Jessie
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: Ploshkin on October 14, 2020, 18:44:20 PM
Welcome back Jessie,t hey look good.  I use magic loop a lot because I like to knit without seams as far as possible but I really can't get on with it for socks and always use dpns.
I will have a look at your pattern, I've not had any success with toe up patterns and keep reverting back to the free top down pattern that I got with the first ball of sock yarn I bought.  Perhaps I should just stick with that.
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: BrendaP on October 14, 2020, 19:56:51 PM
keep reverting back to the free top down pattern that I got with the first ball of sock yarn I bought.  Perhaps I should just stick with that.

@Ploshkin  Is that the pattern that comes with Opal yarn?  It is good and straightforward with detailed instructions, but with additional experience I realise that the tension is a bit loose and that the pair of socks I made from that pattern, which I still wear but often in bed, are on the loose side.  A size smaller needle and ribbing rather than stocking stitch  would have made them fit me better. 

I usually get the correct tension with the recommended yarn and needles (or I always used to, some of the newer indi patterns found on the internet are a bit more random).  My go-to combination for socks to fit my very average 5-5.5 UK feet is 64 sts on 2.25mm needles.
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: Ploshkin on October 14, 2020, 22:10:48 PM
@BrendaP  i think it was King Cole yarn.   I could also possibly use a size smaller needle though I think its more the fact that you haven't got the same amount of stretch that you get in bought socks so they tend to feel a bit looser.
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: mudcat on October 15, 2020, 17:13:13 PM
Wow those socks are amazing to me.  I can't imagine doing that.     :thumbsup:

My knitting career was very shot lived.  The needles hurt my hands/wrists too much. 
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: b15erk on October 26, 2020, 11:33:35 AM
Two more pairs of socks now finished, and I'm pleased with both of them.  This pattern is so easy, I can knit and watch telly!

I even managed to sort of match the colours on the last pair!  (Still waiting to be finished off)

Jessie
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: Ohsewsimple on October 26, 2020, 13:54:34 PM
Right.......I am no knitter although I can knit I’m not great and as my mum had a knitting machine for years I had no need to really bother.  :)   Soooooo, showing my ignorance here, what the heck does 'toe up socks' mean please?   Does it mean they are knitted from the toe upwards?   And why is that a thing?   Is it unusual?  See told you I’m not really a knitter ;)
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: b15erk on October 26, 2020, 14:06:48 PM
@Ohsewsimple yup, all it means is that they are knitted from the toe up.  For me, this means that I can do them as long, or as short as I want.  I have lots of small quantities of yarn from various projects, either abandonned or never started, and I thought these would be perfect for using them up.

Also, these particular socks need very little finishing off, simply fastening off the beginning and end yarn.  I'm not much of a knitter, so I don't know if this applies to all socks.

Great for warm toes in bed!

Jessie
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: Ohsewsimple on October 26, 2020, 14:16:20 PM
Ahhh. Thanks @b15erk.  Socks always look complicated. 
I keep thinking I must make myself a hat for winter for going on walks although I don’t like wearing them particularly.   After all we don’t really do anything else :(.  Thought I might crochet one but I shall see. 
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: BrendaP on October 27, 2020, 00:10:48 AM
Socks are either knitted from the toe up to the cuff or from the cuff down to the toe. 

If you search hard enough through the gazillions of sock patterns on Ravelry you'll find a very occasional one worked sideways with a seam or started at the heel and worked in both directions, but experience has taught me that the basic patterns, especially if it's mostly ribbing, fit best.

Toe up is good if you are short of yarn as the length of the cuff isn't too important but foot length is.  On the other hand I can judge the foot length better on cuff down and if I do get it wrong it's only the toe to be undone and reworked.
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: Ploshkin on October 27, 2020, 07:12:17 AM
Quote
On the other hand I can judge the foot length better on cuff down

I'm glad you said that @BrendaP   I've had a few tries at toe up having read that its easier to get the foot length right as you can try it on you knit, but I always seem to get the foot a bit big.  I seem to get a much better fit if I finish at the toe so have ditched the toe up experiments.
All this talk of socks makes me want to knit some but I need to finish my sweater.
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: BrendaP on October 27, 2020, 09:59:46 AM
@Ploshkin I also find the provisional cast on for a toe up more difficult than the grafting at the end of a cuff down (and star toe eliminates the need to graft).
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: Ann on October 27, 2020, 20:50:14 PM
Great looking socks, @b15erk. It is nice to have something to use up the yarn in the stash.

I have knit socks both toe up and cuff down. I found a pattern for cuff down that I really liked for DGS as I could knit them from sock yarn on a slightly larger needles as he is a diabetic. I did a lot of ribbing on them so they stayed up but they were comfortable and warm. I hope to knit him socks over Christmas if I have enough high quality wool. It has to have merino wool in it and a touch of silk. I spoiled him.

A friend of ours has knit her husband socks for 2 years now and the last ones she made were with the left over yarns from all the socks she has knit for him. She learned watching YouTube videos and really enjoys knitting them. It gives her something to do during their long winters.
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: b15erk on October 28, 2020, 09:50:46 AM
@Ann , yes, I'm really trying to make a dent in the stash.  I have another pair on the go, and they are starting to look 'proper' - you know, no holes at the heels.  :S

I'm using 4 ply on this pair, so doing the mens size as they'll probably come up smaller.  This yarn has already been knitted up (the failed poncho), so I'm hoping I won't see this yarn again!

@BrendaP , I struggled with the cast on for toe up until I tried this pattern, which uses a crochet starter, and the German Short Rows for heels and toes were a game changer.  It's so easy - it must be if I can manage it!

Jessie
Title: Re: Toe Up Socks - Very Pink Knits
Post by: Ann on October 28, 2020, 10:27:28 AM
@b15erk, the no holes in the heels is a big one. I knit the gusset heel and when I pick up stitches I have one hole to deal with. Good luck with getting no holes.