Tip-toe
Thursday March 02nd 2017, 11:30 pm
Filed under: Family,Knitting a Gift,Life

Yesterday’s project. Classic Elite Chateau, 70/30 baby alpaca/bamboo, one impulse skein from Green Planet. It came out a little generous for a hat so I made it a cowl instead.

We just got word that we were exposed to viral meningitis Sunday. The person who came down with it is a whole lot sicker than either of us–she ended up in the hospital. But she’s home now and I wish her a speedy recovery and am extremely grateful she went in in time.

(Pardon me while I selfishly go YOW a moment, hoping we dodged that one.)

So. I got started on a Christmas stocking for a cousin’s teenage son who wished he had one like his brothers; theirs had been knit by their Nana before she died whereas he hadn’t been born yet.

I was being pretty pleased with myself at how that ribbing at the top looked and I started counting stitches per letter to start knitting in his name.

And suddenly realized I would have to knit them upside down and backwards. Yes, I could figure it out. Not tonight. My brain is done for the day.

It actually would fit as a hat and I’d been thinking all along that it would be fun to surprise his mom as well as him with a set like that. I have plenty of yarn.

I think I need to find me a good toe-up sock pattern but I’ve only ever done them top-down. Any suggestions of what I should know first?


7 Comments so far
Leave a comment

I love knitting socks toe up. I find my heel placement is better because I can try them on as I go. The only thing that is different (I use either a short row heel or and afterthought heel) is the cast on. Judy’s Magic Cast-on is the one I use. I am a visual learner and the YouTube videos made it easy for me to learn. I like toe up because if I have a special yarn or think I might not have enough I can knit the leg as long and I want without playing yarn chicken.

Sue

Comment by Sue O 03.03.17 @ 4:37 am

What a beautiful color for that gorgeous cowl! It looks so very soft.

I really, REALLY hope you both stay healthy. You have had more than your share of illness so far this year, and it’s only March!

I have a top-down stocking pattern I use for my boyfriend’s family stockings. I’ll email it to you – it has very easy charts for each letter that I just stand on their heads while I’m doing the names. Hey, whatever works!

Comment by Pegi 03.03.17 @ 4:40 am

Toe up socks are great – as this is a Christmas Stocking you don’t need to fit a foot so as a first toe up it will be easy. I use the Judy’s magic cast on to have the toe closed then I use the Fleegle (off her blog) heel which looks like a heel with a gusset. Cast on, increase to the width you want the foot, knit in circles till approx where the heel should go, do the Fleegle heel, then go around in circles again until the leg is as long as you want. I have made 15-20 pairs of socks this way without ever having knit socks previously. (I am whiteoak on Ravelry and there are pictures and extra information in my projects). Good luck.

Comment by Beth Raymond 03.03.17 @ 6:29 am

Thank you for asking about the toe-up socks. I’ve been afraid to tackle that technique and these comments help me wrap my mind around the process.

Please rest as much as you can. You surely could find better excitement than sickness.

Sending a warm hug your way!

Comment by Suzanne from Montreal 03.03.17 @ 8:37 am

I would try toe-up IF I could just master that cast-on. So far, no luck, although I have tried several times.

Comment by Sharon Stanger 03.03.17 @ 10:57 am

I have done toe up socks quite a bit, and studied a bunch of different toes. There is no one single way you have to do it. I often just cast on (long tail!) 8 sts, and then increase into each one. I put 4 sts on one dpn, 8 sts on the second, and 4 sts on the third. I join them. I increase at the edges (beg and end of 8 sts, beg of 4 sts, end of 4 sts) until it is wide enough. You can also just increase every few sts, like you would on a hat that you did this way. Either way works.

I go towards the heel. I make short row heels, but you do whatever suits…and keep going!

I do a stretchy cast-off so that the ribbing doesn’t cut off anyone’s ankle circulation.

At the end, I use the long tail to stitch up the tiny hole at the tip of the sock.

These work great for little boy socks, my guys grow even while I am making the socks, so they are easier to knit longer this way…

I hope you stay healthy! Yow, that is scary.

Comment by Joanne 03.03.17 @ 11:28 am

Chrissy Gardiner wrote a great book called Toe Up. Several variations allow you to choose what works for you. I use Judy’s Magic CO then increase by alternating rounds with yo increases and ktbl to tighten. It’s easy to keep track of which round I’m on and leaves no visible holes. I use Lucy Neatby’s garter stitch heel on 60% of the stitches. Love toe up socks!

Comment by Susan Stambaugh 03.03.17 @ 6:25 pm



Leave a comment
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

(required)

(required)