I knit socks toe-up. When I decided to master the art of sock-knitting I was drawn to the idea of being able to try them on as you go. This has turned out to be a good thing. I knit socks on skinny 2mm (US 0) needles and only need 60 stitches to get a snug but not tight sock. Sometimes I have to fiddle with a pattern but most of the time that works out alright. Knitting a pair of Hermione socks upside-down is no big challenge. At first I was going to knit this yarn as plain come-as-they-will stripes but there are plenty of patterned Hermiones on Ravelry. They are textured socks rather than lacy or cable-patterned socks – it’s a kind of expanded moss/seed stitch and I think it works well with these stripes. This time it was particularly serendipitous that I knit my socks starting at the toe. There was a knot in the second ball, so although my stripes began identically, they didn’t finish that way. You can see that my socks are different from the heels up.
Since I’m quite taken with my sock knitting abilities and love nothing more than showing them off wearing them with T-bar/Mary Jane style shoes I still appear to have a pair of identical socks!
These socks are part of the Socks with Sarah KAL
soknitsome 
I love knitting socks!!!! I’m doing Hermione’s Everyday socks too – but I knit top down. I have noticed that my first two pair have been not snug enough so I’m taking the foot down to 60 stitches. I’m knitting on 1s so I might have to go find some 0s! Thanks. And I’m in Socks with Sarah too!
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You really need a bit of negative ease with socks. Sometimes they look really skinny on the needles (especially all-over ribbing) but the comfort and wear are far improved!
So are you doing the May challenge with Socks with Sarah?
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Yes! I’m using a Zen Yarn Garden weird dyed in pink, green and yellow – I love the pattern it makes. Since this is my 3rd pair of socks —— it’s nice to have a new pattern. But I gotta get ’em smaller!
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I look forward to seeing them!
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great socks. I love the colors you chose.
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Thanks. I love this kind of yarn that does the striping for you.
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Great job on converting the pattern. Is it hard to do? The cuff down socks I’ve knitted are loose on me. Toe up fit me so much better. I was going to try cuff down again with smaller needles but don’t know if it’s worth it.
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If you use the same number of stitches and needle size as when knitting toe-up then top-down should also fit but it may be the different heel construction that is making them too loose for you. I use either the fleegle heel or Cat Bordhi’s sweet tomato heel (with increases for the sole stitches just beforehand. These heel types fit me well.
As to the design, well if it’s charted you just end up with the patterning facing in the other direction. I don’t turn the charts upside-down. The major problem is patterns with a stitch repeat that doesn’t work evenly with 60 stitches. I have one pair where I just stopped short so there is a ‘join’ on the inside ankle (see here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/soknitsome/lattice-socks)
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Thank you for the tips. Cuff down is loose all over for me. I have no meat on my chicken feet.
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Then definitely thinner needles and fewer stitches. When you start toe-up, the increases should stop as soon as you can put the sock tip over 4 toes. Your pinky toe should not be covered. Then the sock will have the right amount of ease. It works!
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I love your socks and after trying toe up, I now understand why everyone loves knitting socks this way!
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Thank you. I have heard that top-down last better but I just intend to have sooo many pairs that I won’t have to worry about wear ‘n’ tear for a while 😉
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Reblogged this on The Sheepwalk Fiber Arts Studio and commented:
For my sock knitters….
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