Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Toe Up Socks

I started my first toe up socks. Once I finished the Rock and Weave socks I decided that I wanted to knit another pair of socks with a new technique for me to learn. I was reading through some knitting blogs and came across the Anastasia Sock pattern by Pepperknit.

The pattern is a toe up sock with a eyelet detail and was knit using Koigu KPPM. I have a little bit of that in the stash so I decided to give this pattern a try.

I have made a couple of modifications to the pattern. The pattern calls for a short row heel and casting on provisional stitches. I decided to try the Queen Kahuna Aloha" toe-up cast-on. It was actually really easy and quick. It basically uses a long tail cast on and two sets of circular needles. Basically you cast on alternating needles for each stitch until you have the total number of stitches needed. Then just start the rounds for the toe. I think this is the quickest I ever got a sock started. There was really no worrying about casting on a large number of stitches and worrying about twisting them as I knitted the first row.

The pattern has a chart for two swirls of eyelets up the foot and leg. I recharted the stitches and added a third swirl by decreasing the space between the swirls. You can't really see the eyelets in my picture - but they run up both sides of the narrow diagonal ribs. I'll get a better shot of that detail for the next picture. It does show up more when the sock in on a foot.

I'm using some koigu that I bought while on a trip for work last fall. So far the pattern is great. It is interesting to watch the swirls form as I knit up the foot and it is easy enough that I don't really need to look at the chart any more. But now I'm getting close to having to start the heel. The pattern has instructions for a short row heel based on Wendy Johnson's Generic Toe-Up Sock pattern. I'm thinking of trying something else. If you can offer a suggestion on heel instructions for a toe up sock, leave me a note. I'd love to check out several options before I pick one to use.

11 comments:

sheep#100 said...

Looks very pretty!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely beautiful! I love that you've modified the pattern to work best for you--exactly what I hoped people would do. The yarn is looking great with the more-frequent spirals. Can't wait to see your progress. (And the only toe-up heel I know how to do is the short-row heel, so I will be reading closely to see what you choose!)

Jen said...

Beautiful! I may have to use my Black Bunny stash to make those. :)

Try this heel - on a 64-stitch sock, knit till the sock is at the point where your foot meets your leg. Then start increasing - increase every other round at the bottom corners only 14x until you have 88 stitches. Then turn the heel just as you normally would - knit to 2 past the middle, ssk, k1, turn; sl 1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn, and then work over the gaps just like any heel till you don't have any gaps left. Knit about five rounds plain, then increase back to your original stitch count if needed.

This is the best, easiest heel I have ever done. It fits my foot like a glove.

I am the toe-up and heel flap heel evangelist!

Zonda said...

Looking good!!! I am going to have to bite the bullet and try a pair! :)

Sarah said...

Nice!

I like the pattern too, I'll be saving that link! And trying the toe up for my next pair.

Cool!

Angela said...

Love the pattern and the yarn is pretty, too. I am working on one for my Mom. I'll try to post pics soon.

Ang

Anonymous said...

These socks are going to look so beautiful - I really love that pattern and have it high up on my "Have to do" list as well - looking forward to seeing yours once they're finished! Awesome colors too!

Monika said...

I love this pattern and will make it again. It's just right for variegated yarn.

Batty said...

Very pretty sock, and I love the yarn! I'm going to try toe-up socks someday. The ones I've seen people knit seem to fit perfectly. Yours is going to be gorgeous, I can already tell!

Anonymous said...

Those look great--I've been considering that pattern myself, but I didn't think about the extra spiral--very nice.

Unknown said...

what a beautiful Anastasia. I will add another eyelet row the next time I make a pair. Try the Jojo heel. I really like the look of it.