A Story About Toes

GO PATS!!!

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as a prelude to project spectrum 2.0 starting in a matter of  days , i jumped on the green sock-along bandwagon.  my goal for this project was two-fold:  learn how to knit a toe-up sock and since i was using a solid yarn, knit a lace pattern.

i started by knitting up a short-row toe.  i thought the technique was amazing -- every now and again i'm struck by certain techniques that have me scratching my head wondering who was the first one to come up with this idea (kind of like who was the first person to decide that eating pig's pancreas might be a good idea).  unfortunately, much like my feelings towards eating pig's pancreas, i wasn't struck. 

so using adrian's tutorial, i gave the figure 8 cast-on a try.  i liked the look of this toe much better. 

the sock pattern i used is from the latest magknits, the waders sock by jennifer young. the lace pattern has been fun to do but not difficult to follow.

here's my first short row heel.  i'm not sure i love it as much as the heel flap.  the jury is still out.

napoleon doesn't give a shit either way.

Comments

[Kimberly]

Great socks-I must try a toe up. Wonderful pictures too.

[Laurie]

Tnx for the comparison and the link. I'm working up to doing the toe up sock...someday....soon....yeah.

[elizabeth]

Your sock is looking fantastic. I like to use the Turkish Cast On for toe-up socks because I find the Figure 8 method a little too loose, but I think that's all just personal preference/tension. Short row heels are fun, too! I find they're easier to knit when I'm "on the go" than a flap heel. But in the end, it's all about the fit. Short-row heels and flap heels fit differently on different feet...I guess you know all of this already, so good luck! I can't wait to see your socks on your feet.

[Carol]

Looks really nice! I love that figure 8 cast on!

[Dana]

Those are some awesome photos. And I love the yarn too!

[laurie]

Your photographs are AMAZING.

[nona]

Your green sock is looking good! I enjoy knitting toe-up socks. I learned this technique from a Priscilla Gibson-Roberts pattern. She uses the same short row technique to shape both the toe and the heel -- once you've got it down, it's a snap.

[Sue F.]

I tried a toe-up sock but since there wasn't a gusset I didn't like how it was so low at the heel and bunching up at the instep. I haven't tried one that incorporates a gusset, though. I think Knitty has one.
Category: random crap: I seem to recall you had a post about antique stitch holders. Susan Bates has a set of 3 different sizes item #14233 that has a cap for the open end attached by a spring to the other end- is that the kind you were looking for? They are indeed excellent. I found some at Fabric Place and (I think) Windsor Button.

[vanessa]

i'm a heel flap girl myself.

[JessaLu]

What a pretty green! Welcome to the world of toe-up sockage ;o) My fav cast on at this point is the Turkish - it's just so cool how it all works out...

[Tracey]

Toe ups, are the next trick I would like to add to my repertoire,
but first I need to add short rows. LOL, maybe next pair of socks.

I love that perception in cats.

[Beth S.]

Toe-up! *shudder* Doesn't it feel... unnatural? ;-)

[margene]

Cool sock...it's good to try new tricks even if you decide they aren't right for your knitting. The cat has the right 'assitude'...nice word Claudia!

[Wanda]

Ohh, lovely pattern. I don't think I realized there was a new MagKnits.

[Lolly]

Love the socks! This may be a good pattern for my first toe-ups... Love that green!

[Cristina]

it looks awesome! i love the lace pattern...

[beth]

they never do, those cats.

The sock looks great so far. I always manage to make big holes in my shortrow heels. I need to perfect that.

[Kim]

So pretty. I *heart* green. And the figure-8 cast on. And that lace pattern. You rock.

[Danielle]

Looking good! I am itching to finish my current sock (so close to done!) and cast on for a lacy sock. I'll have to check out this pattern...

[scribblesnbits]

I like that pattern a lot! It's been a while since I checked out Magknits. Thanks for the reminder!

[Lucia]

Cats are like that.

What technique did you use on the original toe? Since I read Wendy's Knitty tutorial on short-row toe-up socks with short-row heels I have embraced the short row. I used to do peasant heels; I never did much like the flap-and-gusset thing. Mais chacune a son gout et ses chaussettes.

[Polly]

Everybody is knitting socks on two circulars these days -- it's brilliant. How did you learn this technique?
I just fumbled around and started a pair myself - but I started at the cuff.

[carrie]

Your sock looks great! And your cat is going to love pouncing on those socks when they're on your feet... I like the figure 8 cast-on, also.

[Amy]

(GO PATS!!!)

I really like the green you're using, and those socks are looking great so far. Thanks for including the close-ups on the toe--I, too, want to learn to do a toe-up sock.

[The Feminist Mafia]

It looks great! What a fine way to start with the toe up and the short row heels and wow. We will not discuss the trouble I had with short row heels and toes. I'm impressed.

[claudia]

You have captured the feline bad-assitude.

[meg]

they look fabulous! i love that color of yarn. i need to give the toe up method a try, too.

[scout]

7-0 as I read this.....Go PATS!

[Andrea]

I love that colour of green - what pretty socks! Makes me wish I could knit...

[Carole]

Good for you for trying something new. I love that shade of green.

[cyn]

Napoleon could care less, so long as you submit to his every whimsy. I love the toe up, but like heel flaps better than the short row heel. BUT, the fact that I can stop knitting my sock almost as soon as I turn the heel gives toe up socks the advantage over cuff down. B/c you can wear short socks, but socks without toes? Not so functional.

[Chris]

Have you checked Misocrafty's SR heel? It's supposed to be the best. Your sock looks great, whatever Napoleon may think (or not think).

[JulieFrick]

Napoleon wants some chicken. He asked me to tell you.

[Kathy]

It looks fabulous! I'm going to check out those links -- I haven't tried a toe-up, but it seems like a good thing, especially if running out of yarn is an issue.