Gray Regia 6-Ply Tweed Socks

First off, Molly W., though I'm pretty sure you aren't reading this post since you left your comment on my Crochet Cast-on post after Googling it, I'm sorry I can't send you a reply. TypePad doesn't send me e-mail notifications for most of my comments and that's how I get an e-mail address to reply to. Thanks for leaving the comment and I'm very happy the tutorial is helpful.

Sigh. Has anyone solved this issue with TypePad?

Okay, on to knitted objects. Here are my finished socks. I used Judy's Magic Cast-on to start them toe-up; the version that does not start with a slip knot and so doesn't even have that bump. Is that bit on Judy's site? I'll have to check. (It's here - scroll to bottom - and in the instructions linked above.) I know it's in Cat Bordhi's book on new sock architecture.

Please note that the fat-leg look results from foreshortening, as I expect anyone who has photographed socks on their own feet knows.

The heel comes from Wendy Johnson's basic toe-up-with-gusset sock pattern. I like this heel because it involves no picking up stitches along a flap or loops of short rows.

I did alter things a bit. I have a high arch and a wide foot just below my toes, so I increased up to 68 stitches, still used 34 stitches in the heel, then when finished turning the heel I decreased two away by knitting two together at the corners of the gussets where I felt I could get a hole and another two decreases two rounds later.

The rib stich on the cuffs is Seeded Rib Pattern from Barbara Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Stitches, page 7, converted to in the round. I started a ways after the ankle so I'd have a nice smooth bit showing below my pants and nothing to rub around the heels. However, as you see, the cuffs want to telescope down over the ankles. Next time I use this stitch, which I will, I'll try running it down the top of the foot and just going with a 64 stitch sock all the way.

I bound off in pattern using Lucy Neatby's Modified Conventional Bind-off technique with a 2-stitch picot added over the knit stitch columns. The cuffs came out nice and stretchy. I think the telescoping issue related only to the tightly knit ankle versus the stretchy cuff as it slides down as one piece with no bunching.

This yarn, Regia 6-Ply Tweed, isn't as soft as some I've worked with for socks. It also splits and unplies more easily than I'd like when working at this gauge, but it definitely stands up to correction without falling to pieces and over-all I liked working with it. I really like the non-traditional colors in the tweed flecks; here gold, amber, light and dark blue, plus a little bit of maroon and olive with the gray. These will go nicely with blue jeans and a gray sweater.

I used US1 needles for about 7 1/2 spi, which I think is nothing like the manufacturer's guidelines. Even with tall cuffs, these took only half of the third ball. Two balls would have given me a sock that was 4 inches tall from the floor. I wear a US9 1/2 or Euro40 shoe so someone smaller-footed who liked shorter socks could get by with two balls. I'll probably get two more balls and make another pair. Or maybe I'll stripe with it since I have the cream and denim blue versions in my stash. That would only require one more ball total.

Comments

[margene]

The gray socks look warm and cozy. It's so nice to have you along with us on this crazy November ride!!

[Judy S.]

Nice socks, Karen. I love the tweed! Did it rain as hard in the city yesterday as it did here? Lots of leaves came a-tumbling down, that's for sure!

[Nicole (ikkinlala)]

Your socks look great (I really like the colours in the tweed too)!

[ashpags]

I agree - the color flecks are awesome! And the socks are cute - they look to be very versatile. =)