The Knitters Thread

susan946

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

Some knitting is quite mathematical and I find it fascinating. I very rarely use knitting patterns when knitting socks and I just use a formula instead. So you work out the number of stitches you need for the cuff and then use 1/2 this number of stitches for the heel flap and so on. This means that if you know the formula then you can use any thickness of wool to make socks.

Good morning knitters. Happy New Year!!

Spider - you've tempted me out of lurkdom this morning!!!

This is fascinating. So if you work out your tension you can design your own pattern and it's not so difficult. I have always shied away from making up my own pattern because I don't have the confidence.

I love patterns and numbers and this sounds as though it might be the key for me! I shall put devising my own sock pattern on my 2011 achievement list.

Sue

Trazy

Hello all you lovely people, I have just stumbled across this thread and am slowly reading my way through it. I do a lot of knitting and so far am finding this thread great. Thanks everybody xx

NualaBuala

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

Some knitting is quite mathematical and I find it fascinating. I very rarely use knitting patterns when knitting socks and I just use a formula instead. So you work out the number of stitches you need for the cuff and then use 1/2 this number of stitches for the heel flap and so on. This means that if you know the formula then you can use any thickness of wool to make socks.

Wow Spider! I would love to be able to do that ... suspect I am a long way off from being able to figure things out like that but what you say about the socks makes sense.

Welcome Trazy and good to see you delurking Susan! And hi to anyone else I've missed!

Thanks also to everyone who posts piccies - I love seeing them!

jennyjelly

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

Some knitting is quite mathematical and I find it fascinating. I very rarely use knitting patterns when knitting socks and I just use a formula instead. So you work out the number of stitches you need for the cuff and then use 1/2 this number of stitches for the heel flap and so on. This means that if you know the formula then you can use any thickness of wool to make socks.

Funny this should come up now, as I'm knitting a pair of fancy-pants lace sock and using a pattern for the first time in ages - I usually do plain or ribbed ones using 'the formula'. I must admit that following a pattern again is challenging to say the least, it's so easy doing it the patternless way!

I learned 'the formula' from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's book 'Knitting Rules' and it changed my attitude to sock knitting completely. She also keeps telling you that there are no knitting police which is extrememly reassuring! Having learned to work out socks for myself I have much more confidence to experiment with all sorts of other things.

I'm not sure if she has put this on her Yarn Harlot website, but if you can't find it here I'd really recommend getting hold of the book - I bought mine for 60p (I think) on Amazon and it's been worth it's weight in alpacca.

BTW hello Trazy and Susan!

[Deleted User]

Hello,

A few people commented on my post about calculating how to make socks so here is a bit more info.

Socks come in a few different sections. So there are :

The rib
The cuff
The heel flap
The heel shaping
The pick-up section for the instep
The shaping on the foot section
Knitting the correct length of the foot
Shaping the toe


This is a good site to start with.

http://www.planetshoup.com/easy/knit/sockfor3.shtml

Don't panic as it looks a bit complicated with all the numbers, but you can use this as a good start to work out the number of stitches required for each section. So the heel flap is half the number of stitches for the cuff etc.

Don't forget the patten you use will make a difference to the width of the knitting. Alos, be careful with the number of stitches required to make up the pattern. Otherwise after you have picked up the stitches for the instep and you come to knit the pattern across the top of the foot you may find that as you have lost some stitches to the heel and sides of the sock the pattern no longer works.

Sorry - hope this post make sense, but it is hard to explain in typing.

hunnybeanz

denimmaterial wrote: »

Found it - at last!
http://www.allfiberarts.com/library/bl/blspiralsocks.htm

These are great for just sitting around, in wellies or as bedsocks. Not so good for wearing with shoes. They would be ideal for toddlers as it doesn't matter how they put them on because there's no fixed heel.

Can't wait to get some wool and try this pattern.

Love this pattern! Thank you DenimMaterial.
I love that I can make socks now without having to endure the trauma of 4ply cheesewire!!
Guess what everyone is getting for Xmas 2011 !!!!


This is how they look on't' foot.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24868783@N05/5319470053/

cuddles123

Is it hard knitting with 4 needles?

I'm a basic knitter and never tried, essentially because if I make a mistake or need to pull back I get into a terrible mess.
I have bought a circular needle, but never tried it yet.
Would it work for the Spiral Socks?

No idea if circular and 4 needles work out the same.

OrkneyStar

cuddles123 wrote: »

Now I'm confused as none of the cable I have found have straight knit or pearl rows - always a mixture!

I did say some don't have the non-cable rows .
Just ignore me if it confused you, was only trying to explain .

La_escocesa

cuddles123 wrote: »

I have bought a circular needle, but never tried it yet.
Would it work for the Spiral Socks?

Hi,

I used this tutorial to find out how to do 'Judy's Magic Cast on' and 'Magic Loop' for toe-up knitting with a circular needle (was knitting a cover for my Kindle). These pics really helped me... http://heidibearscreative.blogspot.com/2010/04/magic-loop-knitting-tutorial-2.html

xx

NualaBuala

cuddles123 wrote: »

Is it hard knitting with 4 needles?

I'm a basic knitter and never tried, essentially because if I make a mistake or need to pull back I get into a terrible mess.
I have bought a circular needle, but never tried it yet.
Would it work for the Spiral Socks?

No idea if circular and 4 needles work out the same.

I'm a basic knitter too and am now quite comfortable with 4 needles - it's all thanks to Silver's sock tutorial. She talks you through every step and there are lots of pictures. So basically you are still only ever knitting with 2 needles - you ignore the other 2 when you are not using them.

I've never used a circular needle but I see Silver has a tutorial for using that too.