Well, 143,253 froggings later, I finally have some toes that I like. And here they are. Or at least the start. These are here to stay, I think. This is similar to the toe that I did on the Basket Weave Socks except I’m working more plain rows between increase rows. One plain row between the 1st and 2nd increase rows; two plain rows between the 2nd and 3rd increase rows; three plain rows between the 3rd and 4th increase rows; etc.
As always, clicking on the picture pops up a bigger version where you can see the knitting more clearly.
We had just a few minutes of sunshine this morning – just long enough to snap this pic. The sun is gone again and showers are threatening. I love Portland in the spring.
A couple of questions have been posted in the Sockapaloooza Socks page comments:
Jen the Knittingspaz remarks: I love that you managed to fudge the heel flap and gusset heel so that it would be toe up. I’ve wanted to try this for a while, but haven’t gotten the nerve up yet.
bfmomma asks: I love toe-up socks so much more than cuff-down, but I keep miscounting on the wrapped short-row-heel. Is it possible you’d share the way you did this heel toe-up?
I should probably note that I usually do a flap and gusset heel on all my toe-up socks. It’s just that I usually do a different kind. The heel on the cabled socks was one that I hadn’t worked before. There are several free patterns available on the web that are toe-up and have a flap and gusset heel. One is Judy Gibson’s You’re Putting Me On Socks. This pattern has the gusset and heel flap I usually work. On the heel turn, this pattern decreases stitches and then picks them back up. I usually short-row. But this would be a good pattern to start with.
The pattern I’m working on right now will be available, probably in mid-June. I hate to ask you to wait, but it will be easier to explain the heel in a pattern so you see it in context. The heel flap itself is worked the same way as the pattern above, but the gusset and the heel turn are completely different.
One method I use to keep track of where I am with short rows is to place markers. The trick is in where to put the markers in your knitting:
- Turn the needles and wrap the stitch, slipping the wrapped stitch to the right needle. Place a marker.
- Purl (or knit, depending on which side you’re on) across to the next turn. Wrap the stitch and turn. Slip the wrapped stitch to the right needle. Place a marker.
- Knit (or purl) across to the marker. The stitch to the right of the marker is the one that you want to wrap. Remove the marker, wrap the stitch and turn. Slip the stitch to the right needle. Replace the marker.
Just keep repeating that last step until you’ve worked all of your short rows.
As you short-row back out, change where you put the marker. Instead of slipping the stitch and then placing the marker, you want to place the marker, then slip the stitch. Those rows will work like this:
- Knit (or purl) across to the next marker, remove the marker, knit the next stitch, replace the marker and turn.
Hope this helps!
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful magic toe up cast on! I’ve attempted the figure 8 cast on previously, and because of my difficulty with it, I never managed a pair of toe up socks. I would just keep reverting to cuff down. Now, with your cast on method, I’m set to try again! I have a friend that told me about your cast on method and she said that it worked wonderfully for her on the first try. I’ll let you know of my success soon. 🙂
I’m also going to order my first STR sock yarn this week. I love the colorway of your STR yarn. I’m going to have a difficult time choosing which colors to order first.
I hope you are having a wonderful week!
Shelly in OK
1Remark from Shelly — Wednesday, 4/12/2006 @ 12:31 PM
Hi, Shelly. Please do let me know how the magic cast on works for you! I’m really glad that fellow knitters are finding it useful.
As to which color of STR to buy first… who said you have to buy just one? 😉
2Remark from Judy — Wednesday, 4/12/2006 @ 7:27 PM
Hey Judy–just checked out your plum cable socks–love them! I do cuff down socks, do you know where I could find a pattern like that? Also, love the socks you’re working on–great colors! Take advantage of that sunshine–we’re supposed to be getting more rain….
3Remark from vicki — Thursday, 4/13/2006 @ 6:32 AM
Hi, vicki – thanks for the comment!
This particular pattern was from the 1940’s. But you could probably fake it if you are familiar with socks. There’s 1-1/2″ of 1×1 rib at the top. The ankle has eight 3×3 cables (turned every 6 rows) with 3 purls between each (72 stitches total). The instep has four cables across the top with 2 purls between each (64 stitches total). Any heel or toe would work.
This is Portland. It’s supposed to rain. 🙂
4Remark from Judy — Thursday, 4/13/2006 @ 7:06 AM