April 18, 2007

Toe Up Experiment

Knitting socks has been my nemesis for years. I guess some things just come seemingly easy to me, such as lace knitting, but socks and mittens sure are not. Since I knew how I have knitted socks the (to me) classic way: top down, dutch heel, mostly star toes. And even though that is a very good way to knit socks it seems like it's not always the most efficient route. Most socks I knit are from one skein or ball, and I seem to have a lot of yarn left over as I am pretty conservative, worried about running out in the middle of sock #2. (I did start using a scale, which helped but did not entirely solve the problem.) Btw: I do think it is a good idea to give away a small bit of yarn with each pair of socks as it is nice to have when mending is needed one day. But I digress.

Well, that era is coming to an end now. I am working on my first toe up sock! And yes, I am pleased how actually non frightening it turned out to be. The toe anyhow... with this tutorial. I still got to figure out how to work a short row heel, and that's going to be some adventure. Oh yea...

So what is YOUR favorite method: do you swear by top down, toe up or something completely different? Do you have ulterier motives altogether or do you use a method as it fits your project at the time? Just curious, really...

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I have never done toe up and worry about doing so-where to put the heel, and also one would have to cast off at the top which is never as elastic as casting on.
Now how do you do a star toe?
Your dutch heel looks different to mine tho it is hard to tell since yours is in garter stitch!

Anonymous said...

Good luck with that and definately let us know how it goes! I'm totally a cuff-down girl, but have been contimplating experimenting with the toe-up method. We'll see...

Tara G. said...

I was a top-down knitter until I tried the toe-up with my last pair. I love not having that bumpy row inside from picking up the heel stitches.

Anonymous said...

I use the Turkish cast on for toe-up socks:
http://www.fluffyknitterdeb.blogspot.com/2005/10/
knitting-made-easier-turkish-cast-on.html

I usually knit short-row heels (or afterthought peasant heels) which fit me better than the flap and gusset type.

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