Socknitters Forum

[laurie in maine]

Hi~
What size needles/ numbers of "cast on" do you most often use?
Your own shoe size...do you most often knit socks for yourself or for others?

I'm still experimenting with cheap (Red Heart) yarn and different size needles/ number of cast on stitches (using basic k2 p2 rib - JUST KNIT! rest of foot) to get different sized socks. Made some baby socks yesterday afternoon for my daughter to give her boss - about to give birth anyday. Just made the pattern up as I went along. Did remember to take notes so I could do it again if they came out right. They were a little bigger than I hoped. Used size 7 dpns 8/8/8 moved to 6/12/6 when I got to the heel flap. Will probably just use smaller needles to go smaller next time but I was trying for lacy baby bootie look.

(Why are all the cute baby booties sewn halves together instead of in the round?)

I did buy a skein of Patons Peacock wool with a 40% off coupon yesterday to test how it feels working with/wearing - but unless I want felted socks I assume they can't be tossed in with regular laundry? Not sure I would dig hand washing socks on a regular basis I guess I didn't know acrylic yarn makes your feet sweat until I read it online. I wear crocs most of the time so maybe the open back prevents sweaty feet - at least in winter?
Laurie

[Eli]

When I use sock weight yarn (right now I'm hooked on Sockotta), I co 60 on size 2 needles. My favorite fitting pattern is a K2P2 ribbed leg and these fit well for by size 8 foot. They are a bit big initially, but since the Sockotta yarn has 40% cotton, they shrink up a bit after washing and drying.
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Gina

[twobrownears]

My husband and I have size 91/2 feet. Both my boys have 10 to size 13 feet so my socks tend to be BIG.

I cast on 76 stitches and go from there. I use the fingering weight yarn, size 0 for the ribbing and 2 for the remainder of the sock. My guys like long socks.

I must use the Regia because my guys feet do not like cotton at all. I get the 100g skeing of Regia only because of the foot size of my guys. I need almost a whole 100g skein for one sock.

The mailman just dropped off the Regia for my youngest son's socks, so, here I go.

bjr

[knitsinchurch]

Dear Laurie,
I love Red Heart! Their baby sport-weight yarn comes in loads of fun colors, wears like iron, and is totally machine washable. Ironically, I've never made baby socks out of it. However, I use it almost exclusively for making adult socks. I cast on 56 stitches on size 2 needles for a size 8 woman's foot.
Red Heart worsted weight makes great machine-washable socks on size 5 needles. (Cast on 36 or 40 for size 8.)
Hope it helps,
Naomi

[Daniele]

For hubby, me and several friends and family members, I consistently use #7/40 stitches for heavy worsted and #5/48 stitches for light worsted or sport weight. I'm just starting out with my second pair of fingering weight using #2 and 64 stitches.... seems a little on the large side with this Kroy self-striping yarn, so will have to keep them for myself. Oh, well. I still haven't quite got the hang of sizing children's socks and getting it right. I'm pretty fanatical about doing gauge swatches, but have learned there is definitely a difference in a swatch knitted flat vs. in the round.
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SK Rescue Site
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[otherwiseka]

for any kind of yarn and needle size:

1. make a swatch to get the gauge.
2. Measure or guess receipient's ankle size - ave. woman's is 9 inches - and subtract an inch.
3. multiply ankle size minus an inch by the gauge to get the cast on number.

db

[knitsinchurch]

I learned this technique from the Stitch 'n' *** books.
Cast on about 20 stitches, and work row. At the end of the row, Don't turn it. Instead, bring the yarn back to the begining (like for I-cord, but much looser) and work across the row. Repeat as needed.
It requires less stitches than an actual round swatch, but is more accurate than a flat swatch.
Naomi

[Daniele]

[silfert]

Most of the socks I make are for my Mom. She's got arthritis in both ankles, and wool socks really help. Sock weight on size 2 US for her, 56 stitches. 60 on size one for me, and 60 in worsted on size four for my husband the construction worker. No more cold tootsies!

[otherwiseka]

Hey Knitsinchurch (c'mon! do you really????)

Thanks for the idea pass-along on swatching - I'll try it. I never swatch in the round because I have the patience of a flea and anything that reduces purling in the swatch will speed things up for me. Thanks.

-db

[Pogo]

When I swatch flat, and then work the garment in the round, the garment is smaller than I expected. I work more tightly in the round, even when I'm using the same circular needle for both. And if the garment is worked on dpns, it's considerably smaller.

For a flat-worked item, I'd be leary of swatching by working stockinette always from the right side. Very few people have exactly the same tension for both knit and purl stitches. I know one who gets those two so different that she's given up doing hand-knitting -- uses only those machine thingies (why bother? is what say).

Pogo

[knitsinchurch]

To Everyone,
Yes, I knit in church. And in classes. And in required university chapels. And on road trips. And....
About the only place I don't knit is when I'm at the hospital, because I'm so busy I rarely get to eat, let alone sit down long enough to knit something on my lunch break. (I am a senior nursing student.)
And for the record, I generally ignore guage swatches and just use the first half inch as my guage. It's probably a bad habit, but I'm okay with that.
Naomi

[yarnblossom]

Usually I use fingering weight with size 1 needles and 72 stitches, if it is a very fine fingering weight I use size 0 and 84 stitches. Baby yarn sometimes is fingering weight and sometimes it is a bit heavier and I use size 2 needles and 64 stitches
with light worsted weight I use size 3 needles and 52 stitches and for heavier worsted size 4 and 48 stitches

I never check gauge and my socks have always fit so far. I have made socks for my 2 daughters, a neighbor and my self.

Sheila

[rubyplaid]

When I use sock weight/fingering weight, I use size #1 DPNs when the pattern calls for #2. I was taught this way when I first learned how to do socks because the fabric is finer. I still cast on the same number of stitches that the pattern calls for and the result is just fine, not too small or too tight.