Note: There will be a bizarre number of photos because I wanted to catch all of the labels. Oh, and there will be a few more socks.
Look at them, mocking me with their floppy cuffs and dropped stitches that weren't discovered until the ends were woven.
I probably wouldn't have found it so difficult to complete this project if I didn't overcommit with knit-alongs and gift knitting, etc. But, it's done and I'm pleased to say that every pair fits perfectly, at least in the foot. It's just those toe-up cuffs that seem loose.
This occasion called for a special box, so I gathered some of my yarn labels and decoupaged them to an old Gola shoe box. I truly did feel like a weirdo after that quick little project turned into hours of tediousness, with glue all over my fingers and a crick in my neck.
Had I realized another knitter had already glued yarn labels to her box, I wouldn't even have finished. But, I'm kind of glad I did because they were just taking up space in my supplies box and it's nice to have a readily visible memento of the yarns I've used. A couple are even from ones I haven't used yet. I may regret doing that...
Mine is also a little different in that these are many labels I've been saving for years, from all sorts of yarn. It's not BoxoSox-specific. It also required many, many layers of Mod Podge. (Insert Eyeroll)
Here's the rundown on my Year of the Sock:
I tried to hit on most of the techniques I'd heard of, and a few I hadn't. At first, it was just a basic cuff-down (Graynbow socks). Then I broadened to knitting toe-up and two-at-a-time (Two at Once, Toe Up, Magic Loop socks). For those, I also did a new cast on that involved knitting into the purl bumps of half the usual amount of stitches in order to easily get started with magic loop.
I took a break from regular socks to knit myself and my husband lopi house shoes. This was a true break, as it was bulky and rustic yarn- completely different in my hands (Inniskór Slippers). They didn't really qualify for the Box o Sox KAL, but to me they completely count.
I wanted to try patterns that intimidated me a little, with all of the cables and lace (Springtastic Socks, Wildflowers and Honeycomb, and Fine and Dandy). It was in doing this that I realized a 56 stitch count sock fits me best, but if more are necessary for a pattern, they look fine when it's a shorter length sock. I also decided I like shorter 4" cuffs best.
I tried contrast heels/ toes/ and cuffs (Wildflowers and Honeycomb, Fine and Dandy, Confetti and Champagná) and even did a weird thing by cutting a self-striping yarn to sort of get a contrast heel. That was a mess.
I enjoyed using variegated yarn for vanilla socks (Hydrangea Socks, Shield Maiden Socks, I Heart Bees and Vintage Christmas Socks) and for the most patterned sock I've ever seen (Springtastic Socks). And I liked it. Then there were speckled socks (Speckled Space Socks), which I've always wanted to knit.
Somewhere along the way I decided to order a 9" circular and try it on a stockinette sock (Hydrangea Socks). I didn't even make it halfway through the first sock. It was like begging for arthritis. Size 0 or 1 circulars are torturous enough for me. So, it's magic loop for me from now on and, since realizing I knit each of my I Heart Bees socks using a different needle size, I decided I do better when knitting both socks at once.
The Smooth Operator Socks pattern gave me plenty of practice with that technique. It's meant to make knitting a "vanilla" sock as easy as possible. There were a lot of variations to try within the pattern, so I first tried the basic, long version of the pattern, which includes afterthought heels. (Confetti and Champagná). For this I learned to properly cast on two 56 stitch cuffs for knitting at once. I don't know why I never took the time to do it all at once before this.
The next time, I added self-striping heels on self-striping socks and did them with a no-Kitchener method (Gynx's Palette Socks). Next there was the no-Kitchener toe and gap-less afterthought heel (Shield Maiden Socks). And lastly, I applied most of those techniques to a pair of toe-up socks (Vintage Christmas Socks).
So, I think I learned about 4 different heel methods: regular slip stitch, eye of partridge, a horizontal slip stitch, and afterthought heels.
There were three toe methods, too: Kitchener, that odd, even decrease, and the no-Kitchener method. (Neither of the last two require a Kitchener stitch.)
My Sock Recipe, because this blog is where I store things:
I prefer size US 0 circulars, sport weight sock yarn or a plump fingering weight.
If I'm planning on doing a contrast heel I figured I need 7g of a different yarn. I'll need no more than 20g to do cuffs and toes too.
If I'm using a different portion of the same self-striping yarn as a contrast heel, I should unwind it from the ball before casting on.
I cast on 56 stitches for my feet.
My actual foot is 9 3/4 " from toes to back of heels.
For toe-up socks:
Judy's Magic Cast-on, possibly two at a time. But I did try knitting into the purl bumps of a 12 stitch cast on the create 24 sts. This makes two-at-time, magic loop easier.
For traditional heel gussets:
I knit 5 3/4" from toe to beginning of gussets.
At heel flap, change color.
I like slip stitch and eye of partridge heel flaps.
If it's an afterthought heel:
Use high contrast yarn as waste yarn, knitting more than the usual row (as per Smooth Operator)
I knit 7.5" from toe to waste yarn.
When knitting in the heel, use the gap-less method (also Smooth Operator)
I liked 4" cuffs best, but anywhere from 4-6" is fine for a normal sock.
2" cuff, in 2x2 rib.
Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-off is the best I've found so far. But I have to make sure I don't cast off loosely.
If I'm knitting cuff-down socks, my preference:
Cast on both cuffs at once.
I prefer a 4-6" leg. 4" works really well with hi-tops.
2" of 1x1 twisted rib looks really nice, but 2x2 rib is my favorite.
For cuff-down afterthoughts (my favorite) - Use high contrast waste yarn to mark heel and knit more than the usual waste rows.
Use gap-less method.
After heel or waste yarn, knit 5.5" from waste yarn to toe decreases
For traditional gusset heels- knit 3 7/8 " from gussets to toe decreases.
Toes:
I prefer binding off at 24 stitches for a less pointed toe.
Either a rounded decrease (as per Smooth Operator) or traditional Kitchener. I usually reinforce the toe as I weave in my ends.
And now I'm putting my size 0 needles away for a looooooong time. I might, just maybe, try to knit some of the sock patterns I used last year in worsted weight yarn for stockings (like Tracie of The Grocery Girls). But only if I feel like it.
Oh, and happy New Year, bloggy friends!!
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