Socks, Socks, Socks
Anybody else have socks on the brain? Anybody? Anybody?
I'd doing Summer of Socks 2007 and while I had imagined using it to solidify my emerging knitting skills, am finding perverse pleasure in presenting really cool crocheted socks. However, am running out of really cool patterns. In fact, am making mine own soft waves ripple right now.
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About Crochet Compulsive
About Me:
Shocked, just shocked to find myself somewhere in my 30s as full time
caretaker of 3 little people, 2 English bulldogs and 1 husband.
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I also have socks on the brain. But I've been too busy and too hot to crochet much this summer. What's the last sock pattern you made? Maybe that will inspire me to get corcheting again.
Dorothy
Socks, oh yeah! This addiction started in August, and I'm wearing my third pair right now! I started with this pattern http://members.aol.com/Sbaycgoa/patsock.htm. I couldn't figure out how the heels were supposed to work, so I got the book by Rehfeldt and Wood, "Crocheted Socks: 16 Fun-to-Stitch Patterns" It has toe-up and also top down styles (not really 16 different socks but several variations on a few themes).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1564774945/103-4214939-3426205
I'm still working off basically the same design, tweaking with different yarn, gauge, and stitches. All my socks are toe-up, with short rows for the heel.
First pair, very funky mashup of blue/purples with an orange stripe, way too big, felted a bit in the washer and now they make nice (if slippery) slippers.
Second pair, Cascade self-striping sock yarn, came out a little long -- crochet with alternating SC, DC (whatever that stitch is called) gave nice texture but not much stretch (or springback) in the length. But I wear 'em!
I most love THIS pair, on my feet, Trekking XXL self-striping yarn in bright colors. One heel is about twice as capacious as the other but they feel and look about the same on my feet. I'll post pictures as soon as I figure out how!
I'm "multi-crafty" and I knit a LOT of socks but I've never crocheted a pair. (Or should I say I've never actually finished crocheting a pair!) I contemplated getting that book you mention, Teresa, but didn't because I like my knit socks just fine. However I crochet faster than I knit! I was wondering if you find that crocheted socks stretch enough to fit well and not be too ridged or lumpy under the foot?
I don't knit, so this was my only sock option! I do think that knitting is probably more versatile to make socks that stretch where you want them to. That said, as long as I take an extra few seconds to hold them carefully while sliding my feet into them, I don't miss the extra stretchiness. It is so easy to make them custom fit!
They are (somewhat to my surprise) not ridged or lumpy underfoot, maybe because I chose a stitch that has some give to it.
One pair was made with (SC, DC) repeats, alternating stitches and always making SC into a DC of the row below, and vice versa. This means the DCs have room to scrunch up a little, so there's a bit more give in the length.
My fave pair was done with alternating rounds of SC and ESC (extended SC). That also worked well.
All of my socks used plain old SC in the toe.
The only drawback is that they are a bit thick to fit in any shoes except my winter shoes (Merrell slip-ons)! But that could be solved with finer yarns I guess, if I had the patience!
Thanks for your hints, Teresa! I may have to try a pair of crocheted socks soon. As far as fitting thick socks in your shoes goes, I wear Birkenstocks a lot and just loosen the straps off to their widest to accommodate. All my old Birkies have 2 worn spots on their straps: one for bare feet (summer) and one for fat socks (the rest of the year). It's one of those seasonal shifts! Like putting away the lawn furniture...
Birkenstocks! Of course! But they don't fit my feet -- but I used to have a pair of similar from Lands End or someplace. I actually went in search of a new pair in August so I could show off my socks! May have to try harder.
I've been thinking about crocheting socks alot lately. I have the above-mentioned book. I just need to decide on a pattern. The book says to use wooly nylon thread along with the yarn to add some elasticity. Has anyone tried it on any projects?
Yes; it was quite easy to carry along with my sock yarn. Then I realized my sock yarn (Cascade selfstriping) already had nylon in it! But I have used it to add strength to heels. I only started making socks in early August so I haven't really tested its durability yet! (Also, one of those socks is HIDING! I wanted to take its picture and it's shy....)
General reply to the above sock chatter:
I learned to knit after crocheting mine whole life long just to knit socks. And they are fabulous. However, I have finally made a crocheted pair that I love just as much....out of the Crochet Socks! book Teresa mentioned. The slip stitch pattern (is it tutti fruiti? I think it's that one...)makes a fabulous fabric. I highly recommend using a yarn with elastic in it as well. It really helps them go on and not get over stretched. Cascade Fixation and Lana Grossa Mega Boots Stretch are 2 of my favorites.
While crocheted socks tend to be bulkier, they are also wicked warm. ;)
...and for some odd reason I absolutely do not find I need more yarn to crochet socks then I do to knit them. One of the great mysteries of the universe.
Dawn
(Let's face it, with 3 kids under 6, 2 bulldogs and one hubbie, crochet... it's a sanity thing.)
I'd love to crochet a pair of socks, so I tried the Ultimate Toe Up socks and couldn't manage the stitch count! I'd get lost on the increase rounds, count over and over and still get lost. For some reason, I think I'll have more success if I do an after-thought toe, so I'll be trying again.
I think the basic idea is that you make a chain and slipstitch along the back of it, which gives you a chain of ten stitches or so where you can work into BOTH sides (top of chain stitches on one side, slip stitches on the other side). Makes a very nice neat toe!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11447785@N07/1468855440/
Then, on each new row/round, make an increase (usually two stitches into one) on each side of the "end" stitch at each end of the chain (it helps A LOT if you keep a stitch marker in the "end" stitch, and move it up as you complete each round). These increases gives you four more stitches in each round (two at each end). This builds a sort of elongated or oval cup.
This is the toe of your sock, with the ten stitches of your chain going across the ends of your toes, and your toes tucked in to the elongated cup shape.
You'll keep increasing the same way on each row/round until you have a "cup" for your toes and there are enough stitches in a round that it will fit around your foot. The way you increase might differ a little if you are using a different stitch pattern; this is for SC.
To fit around my foot, using sock yarn, takes about 34 stitches: Foundation row = 10 stitches, then 6 more rows or rounds: Row 1 has 14 stitches (10, plus 4 increases, two at each end), Row 2 has 18, then 22, 26, 30, and 34 stitches in the 6th row, which is the last row of the toe).
Then you just keep doing rows/rounds without increases to make the "cylinder" part that fits around your foot. Keep going until you get to where the top of foot bends and becomes your ankle!
Then there's the toe to figure out. It involves little stairsteps (short rows), then working into the sides of the "stairsteps" to make a bend to fit around your heel. It took me several tries and I'm still not sure my heels are "right" but they do fit me!
Hope this helps! Good luck!
Teresa,
Thanks for your advice. I really tried to do it that way, stitch markers and all. I think it was for socks that I bought a row counter , and then I'd count the number of stitches between the markers and IT WAS ALWAYS OFF! I suspect it had to do with working in a spiral, not in rows. Or something. And being too much of a perfectionist over just a sock for crying out loud. Anyway, the toe, in a toe-up sock, defeated me. I will return! Later, though.
One idea I've had is to use two markers per side, so when I do a new stitch on top of the old marked stitch, I'll mark the new stitch but leave the old marker in place. I always wondered if I drifted off to the side when I removed the old marker and replaced it one row higher. Well, maybe.
Pauline
I've been rediscovering crochet by experimenting with sock patterns. My favorites so far are at http://www.scribd.com/doc/211932/Cabled-Socks and http://crochetme.com/patterns/ultimate-crocheted-socks. They're quick enough to hold my attention!
Sock photos ... my three pairs (so far). Actually 2.5, since half of the second pair is hiding somewhere and wouldn't come out for a photo. http://www.flickr.com/photos/skeinfest/
My third try at socks: the latest and greatest! (September 2007). Trekking XXL yarn, alternating rounds of SC and extended SC. (Who cares if the heels don't really match; they both fit my foot!)
AND I figured out how to get a picture here from Flickr! Yay!
On the Doris-Chan thread, Joy asked that crucial question: What is the best yarn for socks? Well??? Whaddya say?
Here's some I've just started to try -- Panda Cotton, which is 54% bamboo, about a quarter cotton and a quarter elastic nylon:
My knitting friends have all been working on socks lately and I'm extremely jealous. I just picked up knitting, and I figure it'll take me at least several seasons to work my way up to "sock" level. I've just managed to master knit and purl, and I'm working my way up to cabling.
But I CAN crochet, and I think that socks might be just the thing for me to try once I've caught up on all my other WIPs. This thread has been an inspiration! I particularly like the cabled socks that klile82 linked to.
Maybe I'll even make crocheted socks my NaNoWriMo project, instead of the cabled knit hat I was going to try...
Socks are fast! very gratifying! How about NaSoCroMo and maybe throw in a short story?
Hah! NaSoCroMo sounds great. I think that's what I'll call November when I start feeling angsty over the progress (or lack thereof) of the novel. And hopefully the socks won't cause me even more angst. I think I'll go hunt myself up some appropriate yarn tomorrow.
I am starting on my 2nd pair of sock, the 1st pair were for my DH and they were made to fit( he has lonnnng skinny feet) he likes to wear them around the house in the winter. This pair is supposed to be a surprise Bday present for my DD that is turning 14 this month, we'll see if I get them done with my new job and stuff. I am using the sock pattern from here since it's one I used last time.