Saturday, March 07, 2009

Sockploration - Adventures in Sock Knitting, Part III

**New techniques used since original post on 2/16/07 and update on 6/10/07. This is the third of ongoing updates of post begun in February 2007. I will be adding new methods of casting/binding off that I am exploring. I have changed the techniques category to needles since this title is a more appropriate description.

Last year I began a "Sockploration", a term coined for the ongoing exploration of the methods used in sock making including but not limited to cast-ons, turning heels, knitting toes and whatever other interesting little tidbits are discovered along the way. It all started with a fascination with toe-up socks and a quest for the "perfect" fitting sock. To date I've learned the following methods:

Heels
1. Short-row, yarnover heel (PGR) - Toddler Ringel Color Socks
2. Short-row no wrap - Isaiah's Ribbed Socks*
3. Toe-Up Heel Flap (Judy Gibson) – Generic Toe-Up Socks
4. Round Heel
5. Sherman Heel – Supersocke 100 Fun 765

Heel Flaps
1. Stockinette
2. Slip Stitch - Broadripples
3. Eye of Partridge - Laburnum*

Cast-Ons for Toe-Up
1. Figure-Eight - Lilac Lace
2. Magic Cast-On - Raked Leaves
3. Easy Toe - Champlain Sunset
4. Turkish Cast-On – Broad Spiral Rib*

Cast-Ons for Top-Down
1. Longtail Cast-On - Maze
2. Twisted German (English) Cast-On – Laburnum Socks*
3. Combination (English & Longtail) - Isaiah's Ribbed Socks*

Needles
1. 4/5 Dpn's - This is my favorite and first method I learned.
2. 1 Sock on 2 Circular Needles
3. 2 Socks on 2 Circular needles – 2 x 2 Rib
4. Magic Loop - Broad Spiral Rib (Great for portability. You don’t have to worry about dropping and/or losing dpn’s.)*

Casts-Off for Toe-Up
1. Knitted bind-off
2. Sewn bind-off - Marroko Color Socks**
3. Picot bind-off - Slipped-Stitch Rib Socks**

1 comment:

Melodye said...

Even though I don't knit socks, I started reading your posts regarding your research with great interest. I suggest you copyright your research and publish it. I'd hate to see someone else reap the benefits of your work. I also read Quiltville and her generosity has been taken advantage of several times, to the extent that one publisher told her she shouldn't have put it on the net. And I'll buy your first copy!