The Sewing Place
The Emporia => A Good Yarn => Topic started by: sleepingwolf on December 21, 2020, 12:48:46 PM
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Inspired by @b15erk I thought I would try knitting socks. Until now I have only knitted rectangular things since I learned to knit at the start of the first lockdown so this was something of a challenge. These are cuff down socks from a basic pattern in Kate Atherley's Custom Socks book. My family call them my Fungus the Bogeyman socks but I think they're just jealous.
(https://i.imgur.com/4NANDpUl.jpg) (https://i.imgur.com/wlmOZgHl.jpg)
I was going to try toe up socks next but I can't get my head round german short rows. Does anyone know a tutorial that shows how to do german short rows with English rather than continental style knitting?
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I’m sure they are jealous @sleepingwolf , those look lovely and cosy
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Definitely jealous. They're lovely! :thumbsup:
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Can't help with the tutorial I'm afraid, but if you've only just learned to knit, those socks are a fantastic effort. :flower: :) Well done.
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They look great, here is a link to one of my fav teachers https://youtu.be/52qy8OOb-s0 hope it helps.
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Lovely socks, such pretty colours.
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@sleepingwolf Have you tried the toe up instructions in the Custom Socks book? I have read them several times and glazed over, but you might be more determined than me...
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@Celia - thanks so much for the link to the short rows tutorial. It was exactly what i needed. What a wonderful resource Very Pink is, both the videos and the blog are going to be very useful in the future.
@Deafoldbat - I was planning to use the toe-up instructions in Custom Socks as I find her patterns easier to follow than others I have looked at. When I was doing some practice heels and toes I didn't get on very well with the standard wrap and turn short rows so I thought German short rows might be worth a try.
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@sleepingwolf Wrap? What wrap? I slavishly followed the basic instructions in Custom Socks (I thought) and don't recall any mention of wrap...
I've tried some of the other patterns in the book - the rib ones come out quite well, but I don't recommend the cable ones unless you've got very good eyesight. I stick to the basic model now - variegated yarn does all the work. :D
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@Deafoldbat It is good to get some feedback on some of the other patterns in the book. I have been thinking about trying the rib socks at some point. I really love the cable socks but I have enough coordination problems juggling 4 dpns without adding a cable needle to the mix 0_0
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They're brilliant @sleepingwolf
If you find you can't get the hang of toe up socks just abandon the idea. I thought it was the thing to aim for and I've tried a few times thinking it would be easier to get the foot to fit but it isn't. I get a much better foot fit with cuff down so am sticking with what works best for me. I recall that @BrendaP found the same.
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Yes, @Ploshkin @sleepingwolf
I have a drawer full of hand knitted socks and have cuff down, cuff up and all the the different heels and toes but definitely for me cuff down with a flap and gusset heel and a pointy round toe (not sure of the "official" name) works best for me.
I do sometimes try on but with cuff down I find that holding the folded heel against the centre back of my heel works just as well. I knit until the work is level with my little toe nail and then start the toe decreases.
I have developed my own sock pattern - which I can now do without referring to it! The instructions are at
http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.uk/knitting/ScrapBusterSocks.pdf (http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.uk/knitting/ScrapBusterSocks.pdf)
Designed to use up scraps but it works just as well with a single ball of yarn, without all the ends to darn in.
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@BrendaP I like your sock pattern especially the toe shaping which looks rounder than the wedge shape I was working. Your advice on stripe and pattern matching is great too - I just started at the beginning of each ball and and kept going to the toe.
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@BrendaP - thanks for the sock pattern. I’ve been knitting the same basic pattern for the last few years, but yours looks good. I like the stretchiness and the different toe, so I’ll give it a try. Knitting stops me dozing off in front of the tv in these never ending lockdown evenings! I love hand knitted socks- so comfy and cosy in the winter: you can’t beat them! :D
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German short rows are my favourite short rows. I never really got my head around wrap and turn.
You've probably sorted all this out by now, but This tutorial from Tin Can Knits (https://blog.tincanknits.com/2015/05/14/german-short-rows/) is the one I used when I first learnt.
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That's a good tutorial, thanks. I much prefer a written / photo tutirial to a video. I've never properly got wrap and turn either.
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My 1st pair of socks
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Very colourful @Stitches
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Looking good
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They are great @Stitches. I love the colours. Knitting socks is oddly addictive isn't it?
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Some lovely socks here ladies :D, I too have been knitting socks this week, finished a green pair at the weekend but they came out more like bed socks :laughing: I used some James Brett 4ply sock wool. The second pair i've started using King Cole 4ply zigzag wool, this has a higher wool content and the sock is much tighter. The bit i really struggle with is picking up the stitches after shaping the heel, there never seems to be enough loops to pick up, the pattern i'm using states to pick up 21 but i can only ever get to about 17? any tips gratefully received.
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They look great @Diane
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Yes, first up they do look great :)
When you're knitting the heel flap, are you doing the number of rows stated in the pattern, or have you had to make adjustments because of any sizing issues?
If it says pick up 21 stitches, then I'd assume you've done about 42 or 42 rows? And slipped the first stitch of ever row? That should give the obvious edge point to pick up. Then you can squeeze one or two in the 'gap' between the flap and the remaining stitches across the instep - that helps prevent a hole forming there too.
I find it's a bit of 'have a go' rather than being precise :)
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Yes, first up they do look great :)
When you're knitting the heel flap, are you doing the number of rows stated in the pattern, or have you had to make adjustments because of any sizing issues?
If it says pick up 21 stitches, then I'd assume you've done about 42 or 42 rows? And slipped the first stitch of ever row? That should give the obvious edge point to pick up. Then you can squeeze one or two in the 'gap' between the flap and the remaining stitches across the instep - that helps prevent a hole forming there too.
I find it's a bit of 'have a go' rather than being precise :)
The pattern states to knit the heel flap to 8cm which is about 27 rows unless i'm reading it wrong, see attached
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Great socks @Diane The green ones are far too nice to be relegated to bed socks. I love the way the stripes work out with the King Cole ZigZag. I must try that yarn next. Can't offer any advice about the heel stitch pick up except that I find I space them out too much at the start and need to cram into the final few slipped stitches and the start of the instep.
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Okay :) If they fit fine with the number of stitches you picked up, then that's grand. On 27 rows you'd only easily see about half that number to pick up, so getting 17 in was a good number.
Don't worry , if they fit, they're good :D
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Morning :D
What length sock needles do you knit with? was looking at a set but they are 15cm rather than the 20cm that I’ve been knitting with, wondering if they would be too short.
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Personally I prefer shorter. Less sliding of stitches, but you have to be more careful when you put the work down. My sets are 5 needles, so only 15 stitches each on 4 working needles. And then the heel.....I readjust to share out the extra.
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2nd pair of toe up socks DD wanted them to go in her boots
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
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[ You are not allowed to view attachments ] Lastest pair of socks made with King Cole drifter DK
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That yarn works well for socks. I've used the chunky for little jumpers, it is nice.
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Really pretty socks. That yarn works up beautifully.
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Two more pairs. The pink ones are plain knit and the grey are ribbed. The pink ones have been worn and washed a few times so look a little wrinkled.
(https://i.imgur.com/WKisbNyl.jpg)
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Lovely. I am tempted to have ago but not sure I have the patience.
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@Ohsewsimple
I am sure you have once you get into it, I now knit socks when i want something quick to knit.