Trying something new.

Published on October 6, 2007 By dharmagrl In Misc

Although I've been knitting for 30 years, there's something I've never tried.

Knitting socks from the toe up.

Most of the sock patterns I have require that you start from the top and work your way down. Bascially, you cast on 60-ish stitches, join them together to form a round, and knit a tube. You separate your stitches for the heel and when you're done working that back and forth, you join the whole thing back together to form another tube and knit until your sock is long enough in the foot.

It's really that simple.

Knitting from the toe up is a little different. First of all, you have to cast on the stitches in such a way so as to NOT leave a seam to irritate your toes when you wear them. Then, you have to turn the heel BEFORE knitting the heel flap. It's very different than knitting from the top down, and until today I had been too daunted by the prospect to even attempt it.

Then I came across a pattern that I LOVED....and that love was enough to conquer my fear of toe-up cast-on instructions. So, this afternoon I sat on my couch, armed with needles and yarn and with a determination that I was NOT going to get up until I have mastered this toe-up cast on method.

I got it the first time. There's half a sock foot sitting in my knitting basket right now, knitted by my own fair hand on 4 double pointed needles using the Eastern Wrap cast on method. I'm no longer afraid of toe-up knitting patterns - I have done it once and know that I can do it again. It holds no power over me now.

I have overcome my fear, and it feels good!

*Pictures will follow*

Comments

MasonM

on Oct 06, 2007

Cool. I prefer knitting them two at a time toe up. I use a circular and Magic Loop, but otherwise it's the same. I like the fact that when doing them toe up you can try them on as you go to ensure a good fit.

You'll never want to knit them top down again.

dharmagrl

on Oct 06, 2007

I like the fact that when doing them toe up you can try them on as you go to ensure a good fit.

I can do that with top-down socks. I try them on sporadically as they're being knitted to see how long I like them, how much of a turn I need to put in the heel, how long the foot should be. I know how long I need to make the toe, so I always make a well-fitting sock.

I knit my socks on dpns most of the time, but I also use two circulars on occasion. It just depends on my mood when I'm starting the sock.

MasonM

on Oct 06, 2007

I like the fact that when doing them toe up you can try them on as you go to ensure a good fit.

I knit my socks on dpns most of the time, but I also use two circulars on occasion. It just depends on my mood when I'm starting the sock.

I did the first pair top down and couldn't figure out how to try them on as I went without pulling them off the needles. Cool if you can manage it

I just had to go by measuring. But then you've been doing it a long longer than I have.

I did the first one of the first pair on DPNs and that was enough for me to order the circs. I had too many problems with laddering with the DPNs and felt like I was all thumbs. I haven't tried using two circs yet. I have a pair of blue cotton ones on the needles now but got to working on the scarf and haven't worked on them in a while.

Look forward to seeing your socks.

Dr Guy

on Oct 08, 2007

Is this where they get the term "working from the bottom up"?

Good luck and I am sure that Dave or one of the kids are going to be very happy with this new endeavor.

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