As someone with swollen feet and ankles, I knit toe-up, to measure along the way, and use simple 3x3 or 4x2 ribbing across the stop and up into the ribbed ankle. I plan for 5% negative ease and let the ribbing take up the rest for when I’m not swollen and give myself the extra 5% when I am.
What I have found is that different yarns give me different gauges also. I will note the brand of yarn I used and the result I got so next time I use that yarn I can make adjustments accordingly.
I so appreciate the details you’ve shared. Thank you! What I love about socks is all the refining that is possible as I’m knitting. I find it a really fascinating process.
@@lovemesomeslippers that's awesome! So far I have worked from people's shoe size and an idea if they have wide feet or not but this is gonna be really helpful!
I just love your channel! And this sock is so helpful. I’m making a pair of socks right now and I’m fixing to start the hill, so I really appreciate this.
A shadow wrap heel for me fits best- if I increase 2-4sts on the back a few rows before I start the heel. A flap & gusset for hubby with a square heel. He is hard on socks, and with a square heel, I can easily continue the slip sts to reinforce the bottom of the heel so the socks last. Still perfecting after 60+ pairs made though. Always experimenting. Sometimes I do a slight mod on just one sock in a pair so they are wearable (matching enough) as a pair, but I can really compare the fit. Thanks for another great video.
@@NerdyKnitting- this is why sock knitting is so intimidating to me despite being an experienced and accomplished knitter. I have a very high instep and just cannot seem to get socks to fit comfortably. I even had a cardboard cutout of my foot. I've only knit one pair successfully and those were more house socks out of worsted. One pair I knitted and frogged so many times I gave up. Another lace pair is way too loose. Maybe I can finally learn enough I can get confidence to try again.
@@EsmereldaPea I think the place to start with a very high instep is with a heel flap and gusset pattern - it will provide more room for the foot. Short-row heels (unless heavily modified) just don't fit as well for a high instep. Then it's a matter of playing around with the number of rows for the heel flap which will affect how many stitches you pick up on each side for the gusset. If you have a basic sock pattern with a heel flap and gusset, just do a bit of rib and stockinette and do the heel part of the sock only before finishing with a bit of stockinette and rib again - you can work on getting the right fit for the heel without knitting a whole sock.
@NerdyKnitting - you don't know how helpful this is! I've been dying short rows and now it makes sense. Ilk give what you suggested a go. You've got a new subscriber!
I also made cardboard cutouts for my husband, my son and I. I have made socks for someone else but I knew she had size 6, I looked it up on a few websites and I lucked out they were perfect fit.
I'll get back to your video. I need to digest what you are saying. Thank you so much! I thought I was doing something wrong. I need to make some adjustments. THANK YOU!😊
OMG this is brilliant advice but if I followed it I would go nuts. I knit socks and I always knit a heel flap and gusset and measure a persons foot for length, I check needle size and stitch count but that’s it. I have tried short row heels and always had foot fit problems so I stick to heel flaps. I have never had problems with socks fitting beautifully. I wish I had the knowledge that you have and you are so generous in sharing it. Thank you
I cant wear a short row heel due to a high instep, but to do tow up socks have found that the Fleegle heel works really well. Its basically a heel flap and gusset but in reverse. I want to have a go at a sweet tomato heel and see if that is any better than a standard short row heel.
Thank you for the tips. I'm learning to do adjustments for my child and myself who have very narrow feet, high instep and a more narrow heel. My mom had a 3A foot with a 5A heel size 9 and a half back in the day when they didn't make 9.5 shoe and we couldn't wear a size 10 shoe it was too big and we slipped out of them.
Could you PLEASE do a Tutorial on the Mini-Gusset for high insteps? I've read the articles on this method, and know I need it, but exactly HOW to do that? Where do I add the stitches, and how do I knit it in the gusset? PLEASE? I have 3" of difference between my ball and Instep. It's hard for me, being relatively new to knitting, to understand. I LOVE this tutorial! I appreciate that you included the High Instep and heel change methods. It's really hard to find info on the High Instep, esp. And when you do find it they speak in Advanced terms, not like you, in plain English :) Not too many videos on it. You gave us SO much info and I sincerely Thank You!
It will probably be a while before I get to around to doing more specific videos on sock fit but Roxanne Richardson has some great videos that might be helpful: This one on improving the fit of short-row heels: ua-cam.com/video/ah9wAEeFiyE/v-deo.html And this one on adding space for a high instep with short-row heels: ua-cam.com/video/1GWB-wGDg4s/v-deo.html For heel flap and gusset - using the heel diagonal to adjust fit: ua-cam.com/video/8sXx-_jJy-c/v-deo.html
Thank for your information! I feel like I do have a high instep. So I only make socks with a heel flap and gusset. I’m not a fan of the afterthought heel. I have made mittens with the afterthought thumb. But still not a fan!! Your instructions are fantastic. Thanks!
I have very small feet for an adult woman with a high instep. I use 80 stitches on a 1.5mm US 000 needle, top down. I have been knitting this type of sock for my adult family members as well and I have never has a sock wear out with this dense fabric.
This is all very helpful and I think I need to watch a few more times. I did some measurements and I indeed do have a high instep, about 1.4” difference between the widest part of my foot and instep. To add more difficulty, I have a narrow heal and probably long, as I’m tall. Also a short foot, other than Morton’s foot where that one toe is longer. I’ve had super difficulty all my life in fitting into shoes or boots. No high leather boots for me. I can’t even get my foot into one that is actually a couple sizes too big. When I was young I used to be so embarrassed and thought my size 7 foot was so huge, as I couldn’t fit it into boots. I internalized that so much that when I blurted out one day shopping that my big foot couldn’t fit into those shoes, prompting the clerk to inform me otherwise.
Isn't it strange how one thing can affect our whole body image - I felt the same about my 9.5 wide-foot - I was so embarrassed about having such large feet when I was a teenager.
My big toe is my longest, so I have developed my own toe decrease pattern and knit customized left and right socks. I keep meaning to post it on Ravelry for others to check out, but haven't gotten around to it yet 😅
Great episode !!!! Oh, i am a franken-sock for sure . Toe up I need to cover 8.5 " for ball but I add , going toward heel to fit 9.25" instep, especially for short row heel , added 4-6 stitches to the bottom, it gives me more stitches to work with for the heel, but.... ankle goes back down to 8.25" after the heel, so ankles just don't end up with the negative ease the rest of the sock has but I am not doing shorties and have been lucky , leg eventually widens and socks never falls down. But I can see this being tricky for a shorter leg/cuff , would have to take stitch count back down right after the heel :)
I also do a frankensock! wonder if you went down a needle size for the ankle area? I don't recall who recommended this but I have a couple of pairs of socks which have a band of ribbing above the back of the ankle. My ribbing tends to stretch out so I don't know that it actually gets any additional negative ease there.
i have tiny narrow feet, so although my current project fits well in the ankles (and probably won’t fall down) they came out quite baggy in the instep and toes. i’m definitely gonna try some of these tricks and see if i can get a better fit - i’m now realizing that even commercial socks tend to be a bit loose around the middle of my foot, so i might really end up liking handmade socks better if i can figure this out!
Sounds like you might benefit from combining two sizes - use one size for the ankle and then after the heel, decrease until you get to one size smaller.
@@NerdyKnitting yeah! honestly i’m pretty tempted to take my current project apart and do just that, though it might also be fun to leave them as-is as evidence of the learning process - either way my next pair will definitely be better.
Thank you for sharing this. I need to digest this for my socks, but my Mum has very swollen feet, could you suggest anything that I could do to make her a pair as we are struggling to find socks that fit her. Thank you again for your help and advice. Hx💕🧶🧵
Some of this I had figured out myself, like the gauge affecting durability, but it was SO nice to hear a Master Knitter say it! That being said, I learned a TON from this video. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Hey Tonya. This isn’t a sock question but I need your help…. If I wanted to make a 1x1 rib hat (so it’s stretchy over my big head) would I do a gauge swatch in stockinette? I know it may sound dumb but I just don’t want anything too tight because I get headaches Thank you in advance ❤
If you want to swatch I would do it in 1x1 rib then lightly stretch it to get measurements. I'm in the 'too lazy to swatch for a hat camp' - if you are too (and don't mind ripping out to start over if it's not working out!) you could estimate using your head measurement multiplied by the one-inch stitch gauge for the yarn you're using. If you want it on the looser side add an inch - 1x1 rib is pretty forgiving.
@@NerdyKnitting thank you so much!!! I have been wrapping my head to try and combat how my head feels but some days I can’t manage it and having my hair everywhere makes things difficult. I have a lot of postpartum hair loss Thank you so so much . ❤️❤️❤️
I'm just now thinking of picking up knitting again after a few years off. I love doing an afterthought heel - love cutting into the sock tube, but I have difficulty getting them on. Once on, they're comfortable. So I measured my foot at the widest & my instep & there's a 2" difference. Could that be? I'll measure again tomorrow. But that's probably why they were hard to get on.
So.... I have no idea what size needles to use. I've only ever knit dish cloths... my dream is to learn how to knit socks and sweaters (eventually nordic/icelandic sweater)... So, I did purchase a set of Chigoo circular needles. But now, I don't even know what to use.
Find a pattern you like and cast on with the recommended needle size (if you know you're a tight knitter you could go up a needle size or if you're a loose knitter go down a needle size). After you've knit for a bit, stop and take your gauge measurements to see if you're getting about 8-9 sts to the inch (measuring the widest area possible to get the most accurate measurement).
I have narrow feet and so many patterns start at 8"for a finished sock; I need only 7". Usually, the stitch pattern cannot accommodate my casting on fewer stitches. An example is #3 Bagshot Row by Claire Ellen. Finished circumference is 8" and the pattern doesn't look like I can make it smaller. Any suggestions? Unfortunately, I can't really find out if I can make changes until after I buy the pattern. 😞
A few things - you could try removing stitches from the heel side of the foot - which is usually worked in Stockinette stitch. Or try to figure out what the stitch multiple is for the pattern to see if you can change the cast on number. A final alternative is to get a book like Custom Socks by Kate Atherley to develop your own 'vanilla' sock pattern that you can use as a base pattern to add stitch patterns to.
Thanks for the advice. Kate and I have had long chats about my non-standard feet! I appreciate your solution, but knowing the stitch multiple or the cast-on is information I won't have until after I buy the book or pattern. I have a wonderful book by Hunter Hammersen, and I can only use 2 or 3 of the patterns. I have designed several pairs based on Kate's book.
It depends on the length of the short-row heel (how many rows are worked in the first half), but in general, if you try it on and the sock foot is hitting that point where the foot and leg intersect that's usually the right time to start the heel.
Hi just found your channel and enjoying it very much. You may want to check out the book by Andi Smith entitled Big Foot Knits. Theres lots of information for heels and variations on toes.
One rhing i am finding is that i can fet a goodnfit if thr socknis all stockinette. When I add a texture, my siycks turn out too big. I just have too much extra yarn when I switch between knits and purls. :(. Ive evwn been wrapping mynypurls in the opposite direction.
It depends on the fibers, but generally, socks will/can stretch out while wearing them. Washing and drying help get them to shrink back into shape. I find that just washing is enough to do that so I usually wash them on a gentle cycle and hang to dry but I occasionally toss them in the dryer if it feels like they are too stretched out.
My solution for slightly too large or slightly too small socks is to give them to my family - they're a few sizes either side of me so it works out pretty well, and everyone likes free socks! I do find sock construction and fit to be a super interesting topic though, I want to know all about it 😅 Thanks for the tip on swatching colorwork! I'm starting my first colorwork socks soon (first time working with multiple yarns at once) and I do really want to keep those for myself 😂
I made a pair of socks for my daughter and she brought it up to the heel and it would not go over the heel. Where do I need to increase or what do I need to do to make it so as long as you can bring it up over the heal cuz it's toe to heal knitting?
You need to choose a size that fits the heel (you could measure around the foot where the foot and leg meet and use that to choose the right size to knit).
I did a swatch, and modified this socks still slouch everywhere! Heel doesn't stay on heel. Grrr. Only suiable for house socks because I can't wear bunchy socks with shoes.
@NerdyKnitting my first cast on was too small for diagonal. Somehow, one sock is bigger than the other on same needles. With swatch my gauge was correct on size 1 for stockinette but 2 for the lace. I didnt know which to use on cuff and heel. I guess I picked wrong. I knit 1 for high arches (higher instep but circumference is smaller) and both decreasing more for instep but its still saggy there. Maybe it's the superwash? All my house socks are not super wash but I had this to use up. I put elastic on cuff and Ill try washing them in hot water to shrink. I had hand washed when blocking. Hot tap water. I had knitted the heel narrower too. None of my adjustments helped. It was first time knitting socks that had a leg. I usually make 2in ankle and then do the heel.
I need to figure out a sock yarn that I like. I've done wool only but darn them a lot. Kroy sock yarn seens to behave strangely. Even with swatching. Its my learn to knit cheap yarn. The pattern was made for cascade 220 which I havent used yet or seen locally. I have some wool with nylon to try but its woolen spun so I think it won't be strong enough.
Well, you could knit one sock as normal. For the other, it depends on the shape - you could work some decreases to round off the sides (like you're beginning toe shaping) but stop when it looks suitable and graft the edges together.
I'd say a short-row heel is probably a better choice - and you could work it on fewer stitches (instead of half the sock stitches) to make it narrower.
As someone with swollen feet and ankles, I knit toe-up, to measure along the way, and use simple 3x3 or 4x2 ribbing across the stop and up into the ribbed ankle. I plan for 5% negative ease and let the ribbing take up the rest for when I’m not swollen and give myself the extra 5% when I am.
What I have found is that different yarns give me different gauges also. I will note the brand of yarn I used and the result I got so next time I use that yarn I can make adjustments accordingly.
Good tip!
Excellent video and advice. I was thinking about negative ease calculations for socks and this is exactly what I needed. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
I so appreciate the details you’ve shared. Thank you! What I love about socks is all the refining that is possible as I’m knitting. I find it a really fascinating process.
I totally agree! There's so much to explore when we're refining the fit of our socks.
Don't mind me, I need to go and draw around my family's feet and measure them all. 😀 Awesome video!
Haha! 🧦🧶 It feels very silly - but it's really worth the effort!
I remembered to trace my oldest daughters feet when we went to see her. I’m much more confident about the socks I’m just about done with. They’ll fit!
@@lovemesomeslippers that's awesome! So far I have worked from people's shoe size and an idea if they have wide feet or not but this is gonna be really helpful!
@@NerdyKnitting my family enjoy the silly bits of life so I think they are looking forward to it. 🤣
I just love your channel! And this sock is so helpful. I’m making a pair of socks right now and I’m fixing to start the hill, so I really appreciate this.
A shadow wrap heel for me fits best- if I increase 2-4sts on the back a few rows before I start the heel. A flap & gusset for hubby with a square heel. He is hard on socks, and with a square heel, I can easily continue the slip sts to reinforce the bottom of the heel so the socks last. Still perfecting after 60+ pairs made though. Always experimenting. Sometimes I do a slight mod on just one sock in a pair so they are wearable (matching enough) as a pair, but I can really compare the fit. Thanks for another great video.
Sock knitting is such a rabbit hole! There are so many things you can tweak for that perfect fit - and it sounds like you are doing exactly that! 🧦
@@NerdyKnitting- this is why sock knitting is so intimidating to me despite being an experienced and accomplished knitter.
I have a very high instep and just cannot seem to get socks to fit comfortably. I even had a cardboard cutout of my foot.
I've only knit one pair successfully and those were more house socks out of worsted.
One pair I knitted and frogged so many times I gave up. Another lace pair is way too loose.
Maybe I can finally learn enough I can get confidence to try again.
@@EsmereldaPea I think the place to start with a very high instep is with a heel flap and gusset pattern - it will provide more room for the foot. Short-row heels (unless heavily modified) just don't fit as well for a high instep. Then it's a matter of playing around with the number of rows for the heel flap which will affect how many stitches you pick up on each side for the gusset. If you have a basic sock pattern with a heel flap and gusset, just do a bit of rib and stockinette and do the heel part of the sock only before finishing with a bit of stockinette and rib again - you can work on getting the right fit for the heel without knitting a whole sock.
@NerdyKnitting - you don't know how helpful this is! I've been dying short rows and now it makes sense. Ilk give what you suggested a go. You've got a new subscriber!
I also made cardboard cutouts for my husband, my son and I. I have made socks for someone else but I knew she had size 6, I looked it up on a few websites and I lucked out they were perfect fit.
I'll get back to your video. I need to digest what you are saying. Thank you so much! I thought I was doing something wrong. I need to make some adjustments. THANK YOU!😊
Glad it was helpful!
Wonderful video! Probably the best I’ve found with all the needed information for fitting socks. Thank you so much.
I'm glad you found it helpful!
OMG this is brilliant advice but if I followed it I would go nuts. I knit socks and I always knit a heel flap and gusset and measure a persons foot for length, I check needle size and stitch count but that’s it. I have tried short row heels and always had foot fit problems so I stick to heel flaps. I have never had problems with socks fitting beautifully. I wish I had the knowledge that you have and you are so generous in sharing it. Thank you
That knowledge mostly comes from lots of trial and error! 😁 Glad you enjoyed the video.
Thanks!
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing ❤
I cant wear a short row heel due to a high instep, but to do tow up socks have found that the Fleegle heel works really well. Its basically a heel flap and gusset but in reverse.
I want to have a go at a sweet tomato heel and see if that is any better than a standard short row heel.
I like the Fleegle heel too! And, as for high-instep alternatives, the Sweet Tomato Heel is a better fit for my instep than a regular short-row heel.
Thanks again! ❤❤❤
The Sock Knitting Bible by Lynne Rowe is a great book. It’s going to keep me busy for a while.
This is thorough & helpful advice. Your knowledge of knitting is excellent. Thank you. Have a great day.
Thank you!
Thank you for the tips. I'm learning to do adjustments for my child and myself who have very narrow feet, high instep and a more narrow heel. My mom had a 3A foot with a 5A heel size 9 and a half back in the day when they didn't make 9.5 shoe and we couldn't wear a size 10 shoe it was too big and we slipped out of them.
Could you PLEASE do a Tutorial on the Mini-Gusset for high insteps? I've read the articles on this method, and know I need it, but exactly HOW to do that? Where do I add the stitches, and how do I knit it in the gusset? PLEASE? I have 3" of difference between my ball and Instep. It's hard for me, being relatively new to knitting, to understand.
I LOVE this tutorial! I appreciate that you included the High Instep and heel change methods. It's really hard to find info on the High Instep, esp. And when you do find it they speak in Advanced terms, not like you, in plain English :) Not too many videos on it. You gave us SO much info and I sincerely Thank You!
It will probably be a while before I get to around to doing more specific videos on sock fit but Roxanne Richardson has some great videos that might be helpful:
This one on improving the fit of short-row heels: ua-cam.com/video/ah9wAEeFiyE/v-deo.html
And this one on adding space for a high instep with short-row heels: ua-cam.com/video/1GWB-wGDg4s/v-deo.html
For heel flap and gusset - using the heel diagonal to adjust fit: ua-cam.com/video/8sXx-_jJy-c/v-deo.html
Thank for your information! I feel like I do have a high instep. So I only make socks with a heel flap and gusset. I’m not a fan of the afterthought heel. I have made mittens with the afterthought thumb. But still not a fan!! Your instructions are fantastic. Thanks!
I have very small feet for an adult woman with a high instep. I use 80 stitches on a 1.5mm US 000 needle, top down. I have been knitting this type of sock for my adult family members as well and I have never has a sock wear out with this dense fabric.
Yes! Dense fabric is key to long-lasting socks.
This is all very helpful and I think I need to watch a few more times. I did some measurements and I indeed do have a high instep, about 1.4” difference between the widest part of my foot and instep. To add more difficulty, I have a narrow heal and probably long, as I’m tall. Also a short foot, other than Morton’s foot where that one toe is longer. I’ve had super difficulty all my life in fitting into shoes or boots. No high leather boots for me. I can’t even get my foot into one that is actually a couple sizes too big. When I was young I used to be so embarrassed and thought my size 7 foot was so huge, as I couldn’t fit it into boots. I internalized that so much that when I blurted out one day shopping that my big foot couldn’t fit into those shoes, prompting the clerk to inform me otherwise.
Isn't it strange how one thing can affect our whole body image - I felt the same about my 9.5 wide-foot - I was so embarrassed about having such large feet when I was a teenager.
I make socks toe up, and I use Elizabeth Zimmerman bind-off.
My big toe is my longest, so I have developed my own toe decrease pattern and knit customized left and right socks. I keep meaning to post it on Ravelry for others to check out, but haven't gotten around to it yet 😅
I've done some anatomical toe shaping before - those socks fit so well! Interested to see your pattern when you get around to it!
Oh wow this is a fantastic video. Thanks so much for sharing all this information!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge.
My pleasure!
You’re wonderful. Thank you for your time and knowledge 🙏🏻👏🏻👍🏻
Thanks for watching!
Wowwwww what a nice video those explanation s are very clear. Thank you very much
Glad it was helpful!
Great episode !!!!
Oh, i am a franken-sock for sure . Toe up I need to cover 8.5 " for ball but I add , going toward heel to fit 9.25" instep, especially for short row heel , added 4-6 stitches to the bottom, it gives me more stitches to work with for the heel,
but.... ankle goes back down to 8.25" after the heel, so ankles just don't end up with the negative ease the rest of the sock has but I am not doing shorties and have been lucky , leg eventually widens and socks never falls down. But I can see this being tricky for a shorter leg/cuff , would have to take stitch count back down right after the heel :)
Sounds like you have a really good idea of what works for your foot shape - that's such an important part of getting a good fitting sock!
I also do a frankensock! wonder if you went down a needle size for the ankle area? I don't recall who recommended this but I have a couple of pairs of socks which have a band of ribbing above the back of the ankle. My ribbing tends to stretch out so I don't know that it actually gets any additional negative ease there.
Great topic! Well done! Now I want to cast on a pair of socks 😆
i have tiny narrow feet, so although my current project fits well in the ankles (and probably won’t fall down) they came out quite baggy in the instep and toes. i’m definitely gonna try some of these tricks and see if i can get a better fit - i’m now realizing that even commercial socks tend to be a bit loose around the middle of my foot, so i might really end up liking handmade socks better if i can figure this out!
Sounds like you might benefit from combining two sizes - use one size for the ankle and then after the heel, decrease until you get to one size smaller.
@@NerdyKnitting yeah! honestly i’m pretty tempted to take my current project apart and do just that, though it might also be fun to leave them as-is as evidence of the learning process - either way my next pair will definitely be better.
That was very informative. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for sharing this.
I need to digest this for my socks, but my Mum has very swollen feet, could you suggest anything that I could do to make her a pair as we are struggling to find socks that fit her.
Thank you again for your help and advice.
Hx💕🧶🧵
Some of this I had figured out myself, like the gauge affecting durability, but it was SO nice to hear a Master Knitter say it! That being said, I learned a TON from this video. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Hey Tonya. This isn’t a sock question but I need your help…. If I wanted to make a 1x1 rib hat (so it’s stretchy over my big head) would I do a gauge swatch in stockinette? I know it may sound dumb but I just don’t want anything too tight because I get headaches
Thank you in advance ❤
If you want to swatch I would do it in 1x1 rib then lightly stretch it to get measurements. I'm in the 'too lazy to swatch for a hat camp' - if you are too (and don't mind ripping out to start over if it's not working out!) you could estimate using your head measurement multiplied by the one-inch stitch gauge for the yarn you're using. If you want it on the looser side add an inch - 1x1 rib is pretty forgiving.
@@NerdyKnitting thank you so much!!!
I have been wrapping my head to try and combat how my head feels but some days I can’t manage it and having my hair everywhere makes things difficult. I have a lot of postpartum hair loss
Thank you so so much . ❤️❤️❤️
You are genius🎉
Haha, no - just slightly obsessive about knitting! 😆
So far I’ve tried a heel flap/gusset and it fit great. So should I even try the short rows? 😬
That's up to you - but I think it's always a good idea to try new things!
I'm just now thinking of picking up knitting again after a few years off. I love doing an afterthought heel - love cutting into the sock tube, but I have difficulty getting them on. Once on, they're comfortable. So I measured my foot at the widest & my instep & there's a 2" difference. Could that be? I'll measure again tomorrow. But that's probably why they were hard to get on.
That could be why!
So.... I have no idea what size needles to use.
I've only ever knit dish cloths... my dream is to learn how to knit socks and sweaters (eventually nordic/icelandic sweater)...
So, I did purchase a set of Chigoo circular needles. But now, I don't even know what to use.
Find a pattern you like and cast on with the recommended needle size (if you know you're a tight knitter you could go up a needle size or if you're a loose knitter go down a needle size). After you've knit for a bit, stop and take your gauge measurements to see if you're getting about 8-9 sts to the inch (measuring the widest area possible to get the most accurate measurement).
I have narrow feet and so many patterns start at 8"for a finished sock; I need only 7". Usually, the stitch pattern cannot accommodate my casting on fewer stitches. An example is #3 Bagshot Row by Claire Ellen. Finished circumference is 8" and the pattern doesn't look like I can make it smaller. Any suggestions? Unfortunately, I can't really find out if I can make changes until after I buy the pattern. 😞
A few things - you could try removing stitches from the heel side of the foot - which is usually worked in Stockinette stitch. Or try to figure out what the stitch multiple is for the pattern to see if you can change the cast on number. A final alternative is to get a book like Custom Socks by Kate Atherley to develop your own 'vanilla' sock pattern that you can use as a base pattern to add stitch patterns to.
Thanks for the advice. Kate and I have had long chats about my non-standard feet! I appreciate your solution, but knowing the stitch multiple or the cast-on is information I won't have until after I buy the book or pattern. I have a wonderful book by Hunter Hammersen, and I can only use 2 or 3 of the patterns. I have designed several pairs based on Kate's book.
You said how soon to begin a toe, but if you are working toe up, when should you start a short row heel to get the right foot length?
It depends on the length of the short-row heel (how many rows are worked in the first half), but in general, if you try it on and the sock foot is hitting that point where the foot and leg intersect that's usually the right time to start the heel.
Hi just found your channel and enjoying it very much. You may want to check out the book by Andi Smith entitled Big Foot Knits. Theres lots of information for heels and variations on toes.
Thanks! I hadn't heard of that one - will definitely look it up.
One rhing i am finding is that i can fet a goodnfit if thr socknis all stockinette. When I add a texture, my siycks turn out too big. I just have too much extra yarn when I switch between knits and purls. :(. Ive evwn been wrapping mynypurls in the opposite direction.
You could try going down a needle size to work a textured pattern.
Does sock yarn stretch out or shrink after washing? What about if you put it in the dryer for a bit?
It depends on the fibers, but generally, socks will/can stretch out while wearing them. Washing and drying help get them to shrink back into shape. I find that just washing is enough to do that so I usually wash them on a gentle cycle and hang to dry but I occasionally toss them in the dryer if it feels like they are too stretched out.
My solution for slightly too large or slightly too small socks is to give them to my family - they're a few sizes either side of me so it works out pretty well, and everyone likes free socks! I do find sock construction and fit to be a super interesting topic though, I want to know all about it 😅
Thanks for the tip on swatching colorwork! I'm starting my first colorwork socks soon (first time working with multiple yarns at once) and I do really want to keep those for myself 😂
I made a pair of socks for my daughter and she brought it up to the heel and it would not go over the heel. Where do I need to increase or what do I need to do to make it so as long as you can bring it up over the heal cuz it's toe to heal knitting?
You need to choose a size that fits the heel (you could measure around the foot where the foot and leg meet and use that to choose the right size to knit).
great tips but what if your sock fits lovely all the way through the knitting and then you start wearing them for a day and they start to slouch....
Perhaps a slightly tighter gauge. Or if the foot is okay and it's the leg that's getting slouchy, decrease a few stitches in the leg.
I did a swatch, and modified this socks still slouch everywhere! Heel doesn't stay on heel. Grrr. Only suiable for house socks because I can't wear bunchy socks with shoes.
Sounds like it might be too many stitches. You could try less stitches next time for a tighter sock.
@NerdyKnitting my first cast on was too small for diagonal. Somehow, one sock is bigger than the other on same needles. With swatch my gauge was correct on size 1 for stockinette but 2 for the lace. I didnt know which to use on cuff and heel. I guess I picked wrong. I knit 1 for high arches (higher instep but circumference is smaller) and both decreasing more for instep but its still saggy there. Maybe it's the superwash? All my house socks are not super wash but I had this to use up. I put elastic on cuff and Ill try washing them in hot water to shrink. I had hand washed when blocking. Hot tap water. I had knitted the heel narrower too. None of my adjustments helped. It was first time knitting socks that had a leg. I usually make 2in ankle and then do the heel.
I need to figure out a sock yarn that I like. I've done wool only but darn them a lot. Kroy sock yarn seens to behave strangely. Even with swatching. Its my learn to knit cheap yarn. The pattern was made for cascade 220 which I havent used yet or seen locally. I have some wool with nylon to try but its woolen spun so I think it won't be strong enough.
My one foot has no toes, I'd love to knit myself socks as run of the mill socks really don't fit
Well, you could knit one sock as normal. For the other, it depends on the shape - you could work some decreases to round off the sides (like you're beginning toe shaping) but stop when it looks suitable and graft the edges together.
Looks like your socks fit me 😂, size 11?
Close - 9 1/2!
What about accommodations for a narrow heel😊
I'd say a short-row heel is probably a better choice - and you could work it on fewer stitches (instead of half the sock stitches) to make it narrower.
What I need to know is what isto do once the sock had been knitted , how to release the tightness of the cuff.
That's tough. The only thing I can think of is to cut if off, pick up the stitches and re-do the bind off.
Britney Spears vibe :)