Mutant Test Sock
February 28th, 2005 at 5:31 am (socks)
Anyone who has knit a few socks knows there are some basic parts to knitting a sock:
The more you knit socks, the more you realize how these parts fit together. The ribbing & cuff are sometimes the same - there might not be a separate ribbing (like k2p2) to hold the sock up. In this example, there is a k2p2 ribbing that is different than the cuff pattern. This sock also uses a heel flap, with a turned heel - and therefore has a gusset. FYI: This site gives good instructions on knitting some different heel styles.
When I come up with a sock design in my head, I decide if I want ribbing or not at the top, I get a general idea for the cuff pattern - this is usually extended down on the instep. I’ve already stated my heel preference, and I prefer a rounded toe. This pattern is usually some scribbles on a piece of paper; and may or may not get written up more formally when I’m done making the pair of socks.
When I buy a pattern for a sock, I sometimes follow the pattern exactly, but other times I am using different yarn, or the sock I want to make is a size not given. I fudge, and alter, and generally scribble all over the pattern in question to get my desired result. Sometimes I just really like the pattern used on the cuff and completely change the rest of the sock.
However, when test knitting a pattern, you need to follow the pattern exactly to see if what you end up with is really what the designer intended! Every part of the sock pattern needs to be tested, from the number of stitches to cast on, how to turn the heel - and how to finish off the toe. I’ve already mentioned I’m test knitting the march SOTM for theknitter.com. Another person is knitting the sock that will be used in the picture; so my purpose is only to test the instructions. The sock she is knitting is the size small. I had originally started out with the small size, but realized that nobody was testing the large size instructions.
This is how I ended up with my Mutant Test Sock. :)
In order to expedite the process (and because I started this part late) I had to take a few shortcuts. I started with the actual yarn in the pattern, and cast on for the larger size. This told me if the # of stitches, setup and chart was correct for the larger size. About 2 inches in, with time running out, I had to hurry things along.
Knowing I would be ripping out this stubby version of a sock, I decided to switch to an easier to rip out cotton yarn. I immediately started the heel flap. This pointed out a problem with where the pattern said to put the heel, made some notes for the designer and continuing on, I only knit about 6 rows of the heel flap. I went to the heel turning directions, and then picked up the stitches for the gusset area. I can continue the sock with a really short foot, and do the toe. Voila - a tested sock! Not one you could wear, but all the instructions work out so that if I had spent the time to knit the rest of the cuff and a full length heel, it would be wearable.
For those interested in what the cuff of the sock really looks like, here’s my "small" size all started:
While this shows you the pattern very well, the real sock kits come with a pretty green yarn.
