Saturday, December 12, 2015

My Favorite Socks

This week I have been working on another pair of my favorite socks.  They are very simple ribbed socks; worked two at a time on two circulars.  Now first the two circulars.  I learned early on that I need to have two different needles (difference in size and appearance).  Therefore, I use size 2 16" bamboo circulars to work the instep stitches on (they don't increase once sock has reach full circumference).  My second set of needles are a size 2 24" stainless steel circular to work sole stitches.  This is because these stitches will increase to work the gusset and then turn the heel and decrease back to the original number of stitches once the heel is turned.  Now I know from experience my sock work in finger yarn, on size 2 needles need to be 64 stitches in circumference for the majority of the sock.  This means 32 stitches on each size of each sock.  I start off using Judy's Magic Cast on for a total of 12 stitches for each sock (6 on each size/side of needles).  These are then increased using the standard M1R and M1L on each side of each side until there are 32 stitches (total of 64) on each side.  For my heel I do the standard slip stitch heel flap.  This means that one row is s1, k1 across on right side and s1, purl across on the wrong side.  I do not work ribbing on the sole but do on the instep once the sock reaches the total of 64 stitches on the toe.  I also know that my socks need to measure 7 1/2" from beginning of toe to beginning of heel /gusset increases.  By splitting a 100gram ball into two 50gram balls I can also work the socks until I reach the desired height up the calf or run out of yarn.  If I wish to make my socks identical I can also match up color runs at the beginning.  However, since I tend to not really care if my socks match I don't always do this.  After all as Cookie A says "They are only socks and at the end of the day someone is going to put them in their shoe and they won't even be seen", (or something along those lines).  By using this simple formula, I really don't even need to have a pattern to make a pair of socks.  However, if I want to use some sort of pattern I use the same formula but fit the pattern in on the instep stitches and up the leg one the heel is finished.  The basic sock remains the same.  This is because I know these socks feet my foot perfectly.  I really do like the feel of my handknit socks and would wear nothing else if I could but don't quite have enough yet.  This current pair are a grey colorway using Debbie McCumber's Blossom Street Sock Yarn from Universal Yarns. (Discontinued unfortunately).  This yarn makes very soft socks that I just love.  This will be my third pair using this yarn, a first.  Usually like to try different yarns but these just feel so good.