Not So Confidential Note To Heather:
Don't be intimidated by socks! Really, the turning of the heel is not that complicated...for me, it's the picking up of stitches that sucks. Oh, and of course, Kitchener. Though, you can always practice picking up stitches, and you can try a 3 needle bind off instead of Kitchenering the toe. Let me break down sock making for you (and any one else intimidated by socks):
Part 1: The Cast On
This part can be tricky. If you are a tight knitter, the cast on needs to be especially flexible. I find that casting on over two needles held together, or a needle 2 sizes up is helpful. The particular cast on should be a flexible one, too. The long-tail cast on works well for me, and I think the knitted cast on is a good idea, too. Don't try to cast on your stitches on separate needles, you'll drive yourself nuts! Cast the stitches onto one needle, then separate them out onto 3dpns (or 4 if you're doing it that way). I like using 2 circular needles, but I find my cast on gets too tight that way. I usually cast on to 3 needles, work a few rows, then switch to 2 circs.
Part 2: The Cuff/Leg
This is the fun, easy part. Which isn't to say that it was easy the first time. The cuff of my first sock is very sad indeed. I started it inside out somehow (purl'd every row instead of knit, because it sat funny on the needles) with twisted stitches and horrible laddering (loose spots in the knitting where the dpn's meet). Matt's mother set me straight in approximately 2 minutes. "What on earth are you doing here? Oh, you're backwards and twisted. Just do this, this and this....there you go!" She is very amazing.
Most patterns call for a ribbed cuff, so that it is flexible to fit around a calf comfortably, and so that you can easily pull the sock over your heel. Sometimes the leg portion of the sock is referred to as the cuff in the pattern, but in my head there is the ribbed cuff, then the leg part of the sock that goes from cuff to heel, and most frequently has some sort of plain stockinette or pattern stitch.
Part 3: The Heel Flap
I love making heel flaps. Really. After working on your tube for several inches, you re-arrange your stitches into two groups, the top of the foot (top of the instep) and the heel flap. The heel is then worked back and forth, knit and purl. There are a number of different heel stitches, designed for durability and decoration, and fit. Most patterns will tell you which one to use, but the important thing is that you slip the first stitch of every row. This will form a nice chain, which makes it easier to tell where to pick up the stitches.
Part 4: Turning the Heel
Not only do I love making heel flaps, I love turning the heel. I love that my strategic decreases makes an architectural difference in the finished project. One of the first things I made that was similar to turning the heel was a pair of Debbie Bliss booties that used strategic decreases to make the bootie toe shaping. So when I encountered the same technique on my first pair of socks, I was pleased. Working back and forth and turning the work is also a nice change of pace before the continued tube that is the instep of the foot.
Part 5: Picking up Gusset Stitches
This, to me, is the trickiest part. When done nicely, it really enhances the look of the sock. When done poorly, it makes something look, well, handmade, and not in the good sense. In the "Oh, you made those yourself, didn't you?" way, not the "Oh my god, you did NOT make those!" way. I just saw a hint online about using a crochet hook to pick up stitches, which is a good idea. This is also where having a set of 5 dpns rather than a set of 4 comes in very handy, and the first time I did it I really wished I had someone to watch. After the gusset stitches are picked up, then you have some decreases. I like this part - I like the structural quality of the decrease lines. Just another wacky aesthetic quality I enjoy.
(Incidentally, all these heel and gusset steps are a little different if you make a short row heel. I don't really have any experience with that, except for the notorious pair of Circus socks, which I'll link to later.)
Part 6: Instep
The instep. You've made it to the home stretch! This is like the cuff/leg for me. Just knit and knit and knit. Many people continue the pattern from the cuff/leg onto the top of the instep. Aside from being tricky through the heel, doing patterns on the bottom of the foot can feel strange in shoes. I noticed from looking at Matt's socks (he gets tons of hiking/wool blend socks for Christmas each year) that a lot of ribbed socks (a 2 by 2 or 2 by 1) continue the cuff ribbing down to the instep. There is more flexibilty that way in terms of sizing, and it looks nice.
Part 7: Toe
Now you've reached the toe decreases. Another fun part, because your almost done. This is pretty simple, and like the gusset decreases, I really love the way it looks.
Part 8: Finishing
Finishing, for the most part, equals Kitchenering the toe. I have kitchenered with limited success until recently, and had a kitchener epiphany. I don't know how I had it...I just followed instructions, the same way I do every time...and it just WORKED. I've also had pretty good success with a 3 needle bind-off, also. Some people (with sensitive skin/feet) may notice the toe seam, but honestly, its not much worse then commercial socks.
So, there it is. My sock knitting experiences.
Here are some links to much more articulate sock instructions. I'm not trying to really teach anything with my descriptions, just give some fellow knitters my perspective on knitting socks.
REAL sock links:
* from
The Complete Knitting Collection
* decisive links and photos
here
* and of course,
Socknitters
I have some more links in the archives for sock patterns, lessons, and pattern generators. I will try to get them all in place, soon.
