Sock suggestions?

[jackandahat]

I've turned out a few pairs of plain socks using this as a guide. Now I'd like to do something more interesting.

The thing is - I'm probably going to have to alter it some, because I have strange feet (long and skinny). A lot of patterns I've seen involve something around 60 stitches cast on in 4ply on 2.75. My current socks are 48, and they slouch, it's just if I made them any tighter they wouldn't go over my heel.

So I'm looking for something:
+ Interesting enough to not just be A Plain Sock
+ Simple enough that it won't break my brain (I don't know what my skill level is, but I'm not that clever)
+ Can be altered if necessary.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm hunting through Ravelry, but of course personal suggestions are better.

Comments

[princess]

Have you looked through the Knitty archive? I often shop it for projects. Here's the link for socks: http://www.knitty.com/archiveFEET.php

http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer09/PATTsunday.php is pretty neat, and classified as a mellow, which is their "easy" setting.

http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring04/PATTcutyourteeth.html is also interesting, and is a "tangy" which is "first intermediate".

[jackandahat]

I'd not, so thank you, I'll have a look through those now.

[aedifica]

I've come to really like toe-up socks (OK, I've only made one pair so far but I started my second pair this morning). It might be a little too Plain Sock for what you're looking for, but here's the sock recipe I like best right now:

Judy's Magic Cast-On
You're Putting Me On Socks (very easy to alter!)
Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off

You could spice it up a little by doing unusual ribbing in the leg, or throwing in some colorwork, or something. I've been using self-patterning yarn. Ravelry link to my last pair: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/aedifica/youre-putting-me-on

[jackandahat]

I'm fond of self-patterning - right now this is on my needles.

I've never looked at toe-up, so I might have to learn how to do them.

The "unsuual ribbing" or whatever is what I'm looking for patterns on, because I don't know what to do.

[aedifica]

Oh, that's pretty!

You could do k3p1 ribbing, or moss stitch (k1p1 but alternate each row so it looks all bumpy), or k[any small number]p[any small number] and offset by one stitch each row so it makes diagonal stripes, or anything else you think of. I've been told, and it appears to be true, that the thing that makes ribbing stretchy is the extra yarn used in the switch from knit to purl and back, so it doesn't really matter what pattern of stitches you're doing as long as you have sufficient changes between knitting and purling in each row. I think the diagonal would be cool but I haven't done it yet.

[elfin]

The really cool thing about toe-up socks is that you can try them on as you're making them, so you know exactly how long they need to be.

This is a nice looking rib pattern, with pretty detailed instructions. http://www.wikihow.com/Knit-the-Mistake-Rib-Pattern

[jackandahat]

Well, I try on top-down as I'm making them too, so that's not really an issue. Thank you for the link.

[rainbow]

Oooh, lovely!

If you have trouble fitting socks to your feet, Cat Bordhi's Personal Footprints might be helpful. (http://catbordhi.com/)

[melusina]

Holy cow, that bind off is the best thing EVER! I was almost finished with the first sock of the pair I'm knitting right now when I saw this and I gave that a try - it's perfect. Thanks for the link!

[aedifica]

Oh yay! Happy to spread the love.

[hobbitbabe]

The standard pattern that I generally use starts with a cuff in knit 2 purl 2, then goes to knit 3 purl 1. The top of the foot continues in knit 3 purl 1 all the way down, while the bottom goes to stocking stitch after the heel flap. Depending on the yarn, tension, and foot size, these tend to stay snug, and to fit a wide range of foot shapes. For me, I have short fat feet, and I use 68 stitches with this pattern (64 on the foot).

[hobbitbabe]

Oh, and I always use 2.25 mm needles.

[jackandahat]

I might end up seeing if there's any way to get 2.25mm needles because that might not solve things (according to my maths, which might be wrong!) but it could help.

[ex_calla653]

Here's a pattern that I like a lot, found in a German blog.
It's an easier version of this pattern.

1) *knit 3, purl 2, knit 1, purl 2*

2) *knit 3, purl 2, slip 1 knit-wise, purl 2*

I've knitted it with 64 stitches (4ply yarn) and with 48 stitches (6 ply yarn). Should work with any number of stitches that can divided by 8.

[jackandahat]

Ooo, thank you, I'll give that a go with the 48.

[seryn]

Ribbing. I like 5x2. What I like about the wider k is how the p2 lines fold in on themselves and almost disappear, but still provide stretch for putting on.

The commercial socks I'm wearing are [k5, p1, k1, p1]* .

However, what I would recommend is looking at a sock pattern which explains how it is constructed. So if it says it's for feet that are 8.5 inches at the widest part, and you cast on 60 stitches at 8sts/inch, you know it's [gauge times size minus about 10%]. Then you can do your own math.

The next thing I'd suggest you look at is your yarn and needle size. A lot of things are called "sock yarn", but which are just fingering yarn with a jumped up label. Sock yarn is really tightly spun and very springy. It should always have more than 2 plies. I can knit a good sock yarn tighter (on smaller needles). It's possible that you could knit your socks at 9sts/inch and get closer to the fit you want without changing the math otherwise. (8sts/inch seems to be the standard sock gauge for most patterns.)

But generally if your socks are slouchy, your fit is wrong. One of the things you can try is arch shaping (one example is Arch Villain). Ribbing is easier to suggest and will help with the fitting.

[jackandahat]

People keep saying about the arch thing - but the foot of them fits perfectly. The foot is not a problem. The issue is making the top of the sock big enough to pull the thing over my heel, and small enough that it actually stays up.

[pinesandmaples]

I actually have a book recommendation for you. Book-store or library stalk it before you buy to see if it works for you, but I think it will: Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. It's actually not a pattern book, but a book of stitch patterns for socks.

[moonbathe_skin]

I have just started knitting socks using spiral stitch. No need to make a heel because it stretches right over the heel.



You can use 4 or 5 needles.

[ironed_orchid]

If your socks are slouching you might want to try more stitches on smaller needles. I'm currently doing 76 stitches on 2.25mm needles and I get a lot more shaping that way.

After getting the hang of the plain sock, I used the same basic formular with cables or lace stitches. The only thing to remember is to make the heel and sole plain as you don't want to be walking on knobly stitches.

[jackandahat]

The problem is, I can't find any smaller needles in local shops, and buying things off the internet is very hit and miss (short version: Thieving housemates, I don't always get my mail). Plus, it means spending more. But I will keep that in mind.

[wrabbit]

I'm knitting these socks and I really like them. They are the first top-down pattern I tried after a bottom-up disaster and I think I'll modify the length and use it again for a plain pair.

[jackandahat]

Those look interesting - thank you.