Knee socks

Just finished twenty minutes ago.



Pattern detail:



Pattern: Gentleman's Sock with Lozenge Pattern, from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot, color "Crazy Woman"
Needles: Boye size 0 double-points
Modifications: Really I only took the "lozenge pattern" and the foot shaping and heel construction from the book; I sized these to fit my legs as full-length knee socks. Four sets of the rib pattern (3-3 rib for nine rows, then a row of purl) over 96 sts. Then decreased to 90 sts by k2tog after 14 sts six times on the next row (an all-knit row). Two sets of the 10-row lozenge pattern, then decreased to 80 st over the next 10 row pattern, one pattern even, another 10-st decrease over then next pattern, two patterns even, 10-st decrease pattern, two patterns even...now at 60 sts and start the heel working over 30 sts (rather than the 41 recommended in the book).

I should have used 31 sts for the heel, however, because I failed to keep in mind that the lozenge pattern would not be symmetrical without dropping one stitch off the end of it. Oh well.

Knee socks

I made this pair near the end of last year.



Pattern: Invented myself. The stitch pattern goes

Rows 1 & 2: k2 p3 around Row 3: 2st cable, p3 around Rows 4 & 5 as 1 & 2 Row 6: 2st cable, yo, p3tog, yo around

I worked over 65 stitches, starting on size 1 needles and then changing to size 0 at nine inches. The heel is a German heel (instructions on page 17 of Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush) over 41 sts. I decreased as if for the instep gusset almost all the way to the toe.

Yarn: Trekking
Needles: as mentioned: Boye sizes 1 and 0

I really like the way the socks look, but I'm disappointed in the way they fit. They slouch down around my ankles. I think my gauge was too big and the stitch pattern doesn't have enough take-up to really hold its shape. Also, my Kitchener stitch attempts failed. We have subsequently found good instructions here at knitty.com.