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.