Help me, O Sock Knitters of Dreamwidth

[untonuggan]

OK, so I finally got the gauge I was aiming for with the darn lovely rainbow yarn. It really knits up quite prettily. Unstretched it is 30 sts/4 in (7.5 sts/in) on #0s, stretched it is 26 sts/4 in (6.5 sts/in). I decided I would just use the Yarn Harlot's Basic Sock Pattern from Knitting Rules, and since it appeared I had gotten the same gauge as her, I would "cheat" and use the pre-written pattern. It's basically a top-down heel gussett pattern.

I should mention that I have an issue with socks I knit falling down. I don't know if that's because my ankles seem to be larger (due to swelling) than other peoples' or what. They range from 10"-10.5" depending on swelling. Whenever I have knit 1" less based on unstretched gauge, the socks fall down (usually because health is also doing better and then the ankles are too big also). So it's sort of a hit-and-miss thing.

For the Yarn Harlot's pattern, she says:
"This standard pair of socks will fit the average woman. They are knit...at a gauge of 7.5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch."
And call for you to cast on 64 stitches.

I figured if they didn't fit me they would fit someone and maybe I could auction them off to benefit some queer organization or some such.

64 stitches/7.5=about 8.5 inches around your ankle, which seemed appropriate for me

Except I got a horrible sinking feeling when I started knitting, because it seemed too big. So for once I did something sensible and inserted a lifeline, took the half inch of cuff off the needles, and tried it on. It fell down.

It's about 9.5" around. I'm guessing that the Yarn Harlot is using her "slightly stretched" gauge, which she mentions as being useful several pages earlier in the chapter. So in that case, I should cast on 6.5 sts/in x 8.5" = 55 sts. Right? Please tell me I am doing maths right? Does this seem like a reasonable number that will not completely cut off circulation in my ankle? (Except I want an even number so I'd probably go up to 56...)

Or should I aim for a 9" cuff and go for 6.5 sts x 9" = 58 sts...

Help!

Comments

[indeliblesasha]

I do not know about ankle down socks! I wish I could be more help :( My only possible suggestion would be to ask if you have considered toe-up socks, because they are easy to modify as you go when working with basic ribs.

Otherwise, what I do is swatch to get gauge with a needle one size smaller than listed on the yarn, multiply for the size I need, and then subtract 10% of the stitches for a nice tight sock that's less likely to develop holes. I don't know how effective that would be for ankle down socks though, since I take my measurement off the ball of the foot. :/

Hope someone else has better advice!

[untonuggan]

Got great advice further down, and 60 stitches looks like it's going to do the trick. ^_^ Thanks for your input!

[indeliblesasha]

Excellent! I hope you post pictures when you're done. I'm slowly working my way through a very simple rainbow scarf and making a rainbow felted bag (when I get bored with the little bag I'm making from the yarn I dyed, heh) so I'm totally digging the idea of rainbow socks. I'd love to see them. :)

[untonuggan]

Oh, you will not be able to avoid pictures. You may even get WIP photos...we'll see how motivated I am.

[babs_bee]

I'd go with the 56 stitches. That's what I use for socks (I have skinny ankles) although my gauge is just a bit tighter than yours. I'd try that and put the lifeline in and try them on after a little bit.

[untonuggan]

Thanks for the info!

[beachlass]

My sock slip down a bit too. (It occurs to me to wonder if years of machine knit elasticized sock have give us unrealistic expectations of hand knit socks - men used to wear sock garters, after all.)

Anyway - if I'm just knitting a pair without a pattern, I cast on 64 sts, but I've gone down to quite a small needle 2mm or 2.25mm, I think.

I've used ribbing to help, sometimes, but get the least slippage from lace or cabled socks, where the pattern holds shape.

Good luck!

[untonuggan]

Thanks for the info!

[aunty_marion]

I have large feet (UK size 7-ish, Continental 41-ish, no idea what that is in American), and VERY WIDE. Also thick ankles, alas, and humungous calves. And I use 60 stitches on 2mm (#0) needles for socks, with good results as a rule using standard sock yarn. (I did make one pair with a very 'lofty' yarn, and had to go down to 56 stitches.)

However, your idea of checking the cuff with a lifeline is good, but remember there'll be the rest of the sock pulling in a bit below that. So - if you can stand the anticipation and possible pain! - do try knitting three inches of plain sock past the cuff, and then try that.

When you've got a sock-leg that fits, you can either decrease a few stitches before or after the heel if your feet are likely to be smaller than the stitch count for the leg part implies, or - of course! - increase a few if your feet are larger. Or, of course, just stay the same. Lifelines before and after heel might be good.

Don't be disheartened. Once you've done this pair, you'll know what you need. And DO remember to write down any adjustments you make, so you can repeat them!

[untonuggan]

Thanks for all the ideas! Also, 60 seems to be working nicely!

[woolychicken]

I would use ribbing all the way down on the leg if you hate your socks falling down. I find it doesn't interfere at all with the look of striped socks and you can even do just a 1x1 rib if you don't like wider ones.

[untonuggan]

Hmm, good idea. Will ponder this, thanks for the tip!

[eruanna]

Just saw this today. Looks like it might be helpful for improving fit. Foot Sizing Survey Results :-)

[untonuggan]

It is interesting - except my feet totally don't fit their survey results. According to the survey, if my ankle circumference is 10" (which it is), then my feet should be 11" long and the circumference around the ball of my foot should be 11", and the gusset should be 11.75".

Actual measurements: 9" long and 9" ball of foot circumference, 9" around the gusset.

I knew I had hobbit feet and really wide ankles. This is why it is impossible to buy shoes that fit.

I guess this means that I am basically going to have to alter every sock pattern I knit for myself, because none of them are going to fit me right...

[eruanna]

It's not helping me much, either but I hoped it might be useful for someone. I'm not good enough with knitting math to figure out everything yet.

I' m working on socks for someone with wide feet and skinny legs so have a similar problem. I'm trying toe-up and 3x1 rib. I'm almost to the gusset so not sure if what I'm trying will work, but I want the leg narrower than the foot.

[aunty_marion]

Knit the heel, and either do more gusset decreases, or just decrease about 4 stitches evenly around on the first full round after finishing the gusset. Or some combination like that - it also partly depends on how high their arch is, so how much 'ease' they need in the gusset!

[eruanna]

Thanks! I'll try that.

[vampirefan]

you can also try knitting elastic "thread" into your cuff. i did that and it seems to help a bit.

[untonuggan]

Hmmm...interesting. Thanks for the tip!