It’s Thursday and you know what that means? We are back to our regularly scheduled blog post about socks. Yes, socks! What? You haven’t jumped on the band wagon for one of the coolest things in the world to knit? I went from being afraid of them (eek DPNs!) to loving the construction and learning new techniques (to me). Plus, there are just so many awesome sock patterns out there! C’mon…it’s not scary at all. I promise! I eventually want to be able to replace all my socks with hand knitted socks. I’ve got one pair down and who knows how many to go 🙂
To give a little background (if you haven’t read my other blog posts), I am currently working on the Hermione’s Everyday Socks, which is a free pattern on Ravelry. I’m using Madelinetosh Tosh Sock yarn in the color Spectrum and two US 1 – 2.25 mm circular needles.
When we last talked about my sock, I only had 9 pattern repeats completed of the leg section. Guess where I am now? Give up? I’m almost finished!!! With one sock…I still have to make the second 🙂 I am currently 4 pattern repeats (of 4 rows) into the instep and it looks like I may have about 8-10 more pattern repeats to get to where I need to be for the toe decreases. I’ll let you know when I finish. I’ve also learned how to make my first Heel Flap, Heel Turn and Gusset. Super cool! Now I feel like I can conquer the world!
This is my first time making top down socks and I have to say that I really like the toe-up versions better (at least for now); if only to know where I need to stop in the pattern before the toe decreases. The pattern doesn’t tell you…just continue knitting until you have reached your desired length. Well, how do I know when I’ve reached my desired length? How long is the toe supposed to be? More research needs to be done.
I have some fellow bloggers to thank for inspiring posts on starting socks. They are Alex, Hannah and Maggie. They are also working on socks, amongst other things and we are participating in a knit-a-sock-along. Want to join us? Just link up on your next sock post! Until next time…
Happy Knitting!
Spin A Yarn 
Don’t give up on top down socks! It’s so weird that the pattern isn’t specific, but the one I’m working on says to start decreasing/working on the tow after you’ve reached the ball of your foot.
You sock is looking awesome! I really like the pattern on the leg and think it’s one giant leap for the sock group! Or at least compared to my socks, since I’m still working on stockinette 🙂
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Thank you! I’m definitely not giving up on them 🙂 I just did a little research and it says you are supposed to stop 2 inches before the end of your toes. Hopefully that will work for me. I’ll put in a lifeline just in case it is not enough and I have to start over. I also love the pattern. The leg took soooooooooo long, but now it’s a breeze. The next time I make this pattern, I will make them into ankle socks.
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Good call – I found that I needed to knit a bit more and really wish I’d known about life lines then!
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LOL…I totally used a lifeline before starting the Heel Flap on these. It scared the bejeezus out of me. We’ll definitely figure it out and be pros at socks in no time!
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Heel flaps are scary – but once you finish the pair, you’re going to wonder what all the fuss was about 😉
Agreed – on to Sock Mastery!
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Dude, these look great! I love your yarn and pattern combo. I need to get going on mine!
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Thank you so much! How could I not go with a color like Spectrum for Hermione’s socks? These are surely going to become favorites to wear 🙂
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You make sock knitting look like a walk in the park Paula. They look wonderful! On my pattern you stop 1.5 inches before shaping the toe. But I have seen it written as 2 inches also. Maybe it depends on how dramatic the decreases go? And how broad the feet are too I suppose? ☺
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Aww…you’re so sweet Hannah 🙂 I went to my knitting meetup group today and they told me something interesting. The pattern decrease for the toe is 19 rows. So I need to count nineteen rows in my existing pattern and see how many inches that gives me. That will be where I will need to stop on my instep. My feet are very wide at the top…I call them Flinstone feet…LOL
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Ah… clever! I might do that for this second sock then, because I think my sock is slightly too long! Yes, I have flipper feet! ☺
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They look awesome! What a beautiful colour way! And the Hermione sock pattern is wonderful! I have that same sock on my needles right now!
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Thank you so much! I absolutely love this pattern 🙂
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Looks awesome to me ! I knit top down and toe up, love both methods 🙂
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Thank you 🙂 This is only my second pair of socks and a whole world of difference is there between the top down and toe up. I think I may come around to the top down eventually 🙂 I do love the pattern.
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As soon as I finish a few more odds and ends on the dratted computer, I am picking up my socks!
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