Who Wants to Test Knit a Sock Toe?
Is anyone interested in a sock playdate?
I’ve been designing and knitting socks over the past several months, lots of socks. It started with my trip to New Zealand in October. Socks make a great travel project and I really wanted to try some Nuance techniques on socks. Think decorative ribs, Showy Cable and the Knotted K2Tog Bind Off for example.
I had just one issue – I wasn’t a sock knitter.
Not only had I not designed any socks in the past, I’ve only knit two pair . . . ever.
Picking the Right Construction Elements
The turning point for me was when, Sam, one of my friends at Jimmy Beans Wool, recommended I try toe up sock starting with Judy’s Magic Cast On and German Short Row heels.
She was right, they made sock knitting enjoyable. German Short Rows are a one and done technique – knit one and you’ve got the technique memorized.
This one is from my BYO Chimney Christmas Stocking.
And so I headed off on my 16 hour flight with a nicely compact pile of yarn. I may have had a few issues knitting socks on US 0’s while driving in wine tasting tour buses but I’m sure those minor glitches will block out (or be hidden under the other foot when photographed).
I hesitate to give you a sneak peek, since it will be a while until they are patterned up and published but I am having so much fun I have to share.
You’ll understand my hesitation better when I clarify. I said I’ve been knitting socks, what I should have said is I’ve designed a bunch of socks and knit one of each.
It’s not a case of second sock syndrome, I won’t knit the mate until I write up the pattern so I can test it.
One of the benefits of hand knit vs. store bought socks is the ability to customize them. So, of course, I couldn’t leave well enough alone and started playing with toe shaping.
- I started with right and left shaped toes to remove bulk,
- and balanced that with a rounded toe to leave enough wiggle room for your toes,
- and lastly I really wanted to minimize the increases so they were barely noticeable. That meant using one of my favorite Nuances – Knit 1 Back & Front.
The first testing for the rounded “toe” was done in a larger gauge with the Marlette Lake Mittens. I just love these and wear mine all the time. They are based on the same idea, functional mittens with enough room in the fingers but not a lot of extra knit fabric to make them clumsy
They were good, but I had a few ideas that could possible make them better. So I played, and knit and ripped until I found what I think is the right combination.
But it doesn’t really matter what I think. It’s what you think about knitting them and how they fit that counts. So I’d like to test these toes before I continue to knit them in every pair of socks I design.
Who wants to test knit some toes?
I’m not going to publish the instructions with this post because once they’re out there I will never be able to get it back if we decide on some changes. So I will send out the draft Nuanced Sock Toe tutorial to 50 knitters.
If you are interested, please send me an email letting me know your knitting level and sock experience. I’ve given you a head start below.
I’m looking for knitters with varied skill levels but I think this would be a struggle for true beginners and you’d have nothing to compare them to.
It would also be helpful to already know Judy’s Magic Cast On. The instructions have both written instructions and charts so knowing how to read charts is not necessary but will help. I do plan on making a support video but would like to see how these instructions stand on their own.
Dear Laura,
YES! I would love to knit some toes. I have been knitting for __ years and am a (1) advanced beginner, (2) intermediate, (3) experienced, (4) a knitting rock star. I have knit (1) none, (2) a few, (3) a lot of, (4) you should see my packed dresser drawer full of socks.
I’ll have the time to try them in the next week or two and will let you know what I think by emailing back to you so you can read all the input before letting us know in a blog post what the general consensus was.
I promise not to publish or share these until they are announced on the blog, however, if I love them I will probably start to use them for my own personal socks right away.
Sincerely,
A much appreciated reader of the Knitting Nuance blog
15 comments on “Who Wants to Test Knit a Sock Toe?”
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Dear Laura, YES! I would love to knit some toes. I have been knitting for 40__ years and am, (3) experienced, , (2) a few. Iâll have the time to try them in the next week or two and will let you know what I think by emailing back to you so you can read all the input before letting us know in a blog post what the general consensus was. I promise not to publish or share these until they are announced on the blog, however, if I love them I will probably start to use them for my own personal socks right away. Sincerely, A much appreciated reader of the Knitting Nuance blogÂ
Would really enjoy doing this!!And definitely have the time to do whatever test knitting you would need to be done. Am also a very experienced machine knitter. In Colorado Sandra . Sent from Mail for Windows 10
Sandra, I got your message on WordPress but don’t have an email to send you the info. You can email me at laura@knittingnuances.com.
Hi Laura,
Experienced sock knitter here. Just FYI, a lot of us with high insteps cannot wear socks with short-row heels. They pull at the heel corner and distort the sock, stressing the yarn at that corner. When designing, you might want to ensure that the knitter can subsitute a heel flap or Fleegle heel or HG heel (or even a Fish Lips Kiss heel with a wedge), without disturbing the stitch pattern or design. Just an FYI
Beverly, I too have a high instep. I’ll be playing with ankle fitting with my own socks and hopefully they will work for others.
I have been knitting on and off for 40 years and I am experienced. I have Knit a few socks mostly with Judy’s Magic Cast On. I would like to try your new toe and have a few weeks to spend on it. Thank you for your consideration.
Lee Mitchell
Sent from my iPad
>
Lee, I got your message on WordPress but don’t have an email to send you the info. You can email me at laura@knittingnuances.com.
Dear Laura,
YES! I would love to knit some toes. I have been knitting for 53 years and I am an intermediate knitter. I have knit a few pair of socks. I will have time to try them in the next week or two and will let you know what I think by emailing back to you so you can read all the input before letting us know in a blog post what the general consensus was.I promise not to publish or share these until they are announced on the blog, however, if I love them I will probably start to use them for my own personal socks right away.
Sincerely, Tamara Densmore A much appreciated reader of the Knitting Nuance blog
On Thu, Mar 21, 2019 at 11:48 AM Knitting Nuances wrote:
> Laura Cunitz posted: ” Is anyone interested in a sock playdate? I’ve been > designing and knitting socks over the past several months, lots of socks. > It started with my trip to New Zealand in October. Socks make a great > travel project and I really wanted to try some Nuance te” >
Tamara, I got your message on WordPress but don’t have an email to send you the info. You can email me at laura@knittingnuances.com.
Dear Laura,
I would love to try toes, I’m an advanced beginner and have done about 6 pairs of socks, I’m on number seven…I do use magic loop and love it, my socks are usually top down, but I’m open to new techniques…I am a lefty, but convert pretty well…
Hi Kathi, I received your message on WordPress but don’t have an email to send the info to you. You can email me at laura@knittingnuances.com.
Hi I really would love to test a toe up sock I am an experienced knitter and have knit about 5 successful toe up socks for family members. I am very familiar with Judi’s magic cast on and comfortable with it. I will not sell tell or otherwise use any of your info to anyone.
I obviously had a bit of trouble trying to copy and paste but please add me to the test Knitters toe up group
Thanks
Chrissy OBrien
On Thu, Mar 21, 2019 at 11:51 AM Knitting Nuances wrote:
> Laura Cunitz posted: ” Is anyone interested in a sock playdate? I’ve been > designing and knitting socks over the past several months, lots of socks. > It started with my trip to New Zealand in October. Socks make a great > travel project and I really wanted to try some Nuance te” >
I received your message on WordPress but don’t have an email to send the info to you. You can email me at laura@knittingnuances.com.
Dear Laura, YES! I would love to knit some toes. I have been knitting for _3_ years and
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