Broken Rib Socks

I still have to do a pair of socks every now and then. Besides, socks are the best travelling project. Ken and I just took a long weekend to Albuquerque, and I knitted all the way down and all the way back. I finished the blue pair and started the red pair. I am making these socks for a friend of mine who says she is addicted to socks. She doesn't knit, so I am going to send these to her. Just don't tell her, okay?

The pattern is basically the same as the Skylah Lace Panel Socks (April 4, 2014) with just the lace replaced with the rib pattern.  One of the nice things about this rib pattern is that you can continue it to the top of the leg without having to do a cuff.  The rib also gives the socks a nice snug fit without bagging or being too tight. 

This is also a good pattern for men's socks because it is not 'too fancy' -- as my son says -- especially it is done in a solid color.    

Peggy's Broken Rib Socks 

Materials:

• 100 Grams of Sock Yarn.  I used Plymouth Yarn Diversity
  US #2/2.75mm circular needles or double-pointed needles (I do the double-pointed thing only because I have been knitting socks forever and am pretty fast on my DPNs. However use any method that you are comfortable with.)
• Stitch marker
• Yarn needle

Knitting Gauge: 7 - 8 sts = 1"

SIZE: One size will fit an average adult foot. 

Cast on 28 stitches, using your favorite cast on method for socks. I use the magic cast-on because the tip of the toe looks so flawless.  You can watch this method on YouTube. There are several demonstrations, such as:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qehzpuC9mxc

Round 1: Knit.

Round 2: On needle 1, knit 1, knit in the front and back of the next stitch. Knit to the last two stitches on the needle. Knit in the front and back of the next stitch, knit 1. Repeat on needle 2. 

Round 3: Knit. If using DPNs, knit the stitches on Needle 1.  Knit 8 stitches on Needle 2. Add a third needle and knit the remaining 8 stitches.

Round 4: If using DPNs, on Needle 1, knit 2, m1R, knit across to last 2 stitches. M1L, K2. On needle 2, knit 2, m1R, knit across. On needle 3, knit across to last 2 stitches. M1L, K2.

If using circular needles, k2, m1R, k across needle, until 2 stitches remain, m1L, k2. Repeat on second needle.

Repeat rounds 3 and 4 until you have a total of 24 stitches on Needle 1.

Next Round: Knit 2, place marker. Knit to last two stitches, place marker, K2. Knit the rest of the round.

Continue these two rounds, increasing 1 stitch on each side until you have a total of 60 stitches total.

Yes, I will finish the second sock,
but I have to start a sweater first.

 Begin Rib Panel

Working on the 30 stitches on top of the sock, work the rib pattern, continuing stockinette stitch on the sole of the sock.

Rib Panel

-		-		-
-				-

 

Round 1 (over 5 stitches) – P1, k3, p1

Round 2 – P1, k1, p1, k1, p1.

Continue the rib pattern until the sock measures from the toe is 2½” less than the total length of your foot.

Gusset:

While continuing the rib pattern, knit across instep stitches, and then increase one stitch on each side on the sole stitches. Increase stitches every other row until you have increased 10 stitches on each side of the sole.

Turn the Heel:

You will now work only on the sole part of the sock, leaving the instep stitches with the rib panel along for now. Begin on a knit side.

Row 1: Slip the first stitch, k 8. *K1, sl1 purlwise* five times, SSK, k1, turn.

Row 2: Slip the first stitch, p10, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 3: Slip 1, k1, *k1, sl1 purlwise* 5 times , SSK, k1, turn.

Row 4: Slip 1, p12, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 5: Slip 1, k1, *k1, sl1 purlwise*, 6 times, SSK, k1, turn.

Row 6: Slip 1, p14, p2tog, p1, turn

Row 7: Slip 1, k1, *k1, sl1 purlwise* 7 times, SSK, k1, turn

Row 8: Slip 1, p 16, p2tog, p1, turn

Row 9: Slip 1, k1, *k1, s1 purlwise* 8 times, SSK, k1, turn

Row 10: Slip 1, p18, p2tog, p1, turn

Continue in this manner, working back and forth until all of the extra stitches from the gusset increases are worked and the original number of stitches is on your needle again.

Leg and Cuff:

You should be back to 60 stitches. Extend the rib pattern to the entire sock, working the sock to the total desired length. 

Bind off loosely.  Weave in the ends, and then block the socks as you normally would (I just put the socks on my feet and enjoy them! My feet are the best blocking equipment I have.)

Skylah Lace Panel Socks

Materials:

• 100 Grams of Sock Yarn (I used KnitPicks Stroll Brights in Pucker ( 75% Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Nylon)
  US #1/2.5mm circular needles or double-pointed needles (I do the double-pointed thing only because I have been knitting socks forever and am pretty fast on my DPNs. However use any method that you are comfortable with.)
• Stitch marker
• Yarn needle 

Knitting Gauge: 7 - 8 sts = 1"

SIZE  One size will fit an average adult foot.  

 

Cast on 28 stitches, using your favorite cast on method for socks. I use the magic cast-on because the tip of the toe looks so flawless.  You can watch this method on YouTube. There are several demonstrations, such as:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qehzpuC9mxc

Round 1: Knit.

Round 2: On needle 1, knit 1, knit in the front and back of the next stitch. Knit to the last two stitches on the needle. Knit in the front and back of the next stitch, knit 1. Repeat on needle 2.  

Round 3: Knit. If using DPNs, knit the stitches on Needle 1.  Knit 8 stitches on Needle 2. Add a third needle and knit the remaining 8 stitches.

Round 4: If using DPNs, on Needle 1, knit 2, m1R, knit across to last 2 stitches. M1L, K2. On needle 2, knit 2, m1R, knit across. On needle 3, knit across to last 2 stitches. M1L, K2.

If using circular needles, k2, m1R, k across needle, until 2 stitches remain, m1L, k2. Repeat on second needle.

 

Repeat rounds 3 and 4 until you have a total of 24 stitches on Needle 1.

Next Round: K2, place marker. Knit to last two stitches, place marker, K2. Knit the rest of the round.

Lace Panel

-          Purl

\      SSK

/      k2tog

O    Yarn Over

-

\

\

\

O

O

O

O

O

O

/

/

/

-

-

-

Round 1 (over 20 stitches) – P1, k18, p1

Round 2 – P1, K2tog three times, (YO, k1) six times, SSK 3 times, p1.

Begin Lace Panel

Round 1: Knit 2, m1R, slip marker. Work the lace pattern between the markers (20 stitches). Slip marker. M1L, K2. On needle 2, knit 2, m1R, knit across. Needle 3: knit across to last 2 stitches. M1L, K2.

If using circular needles, k2, m1R, slip marker. Work the lace pattern between the markers (20 stitches). Slip marker. M1L, K2. On second needle, K2, M1R, k across needle, until 2 stitches remain, m1L, k2. Repeat on second needle.

Round 2: Knit to marker, slip marker. Work the lace pattern between the markers (20 stitches). Slip marker. Knit to last 2 stitches. M1L, K2. On needle 2, knit 2, m1R, knit across to last 2 stitches. M1L, K2.

Continue these two rounds, increasing 1 stitch on each side until you have a total of 60 stitches total. Working these 60 stitches, continue the lace pattern until the measurement from the toe is 2½” less than the total length of your foot.

Gusset:

While continuing the lace pattern, knit across instep stitches, and then increase one stitch on each side on the sole stitches. Increase stitches every other row until you have increased 10 stitches on each side of the sole.

Turn the Heel:

You will now work only on the sole part of the sock, leaving the instep stitches with the lace panel along for now. Begin on a knit side.

Row 1: Slip the first stitch, k 8. *K1, sl1 purlwise* five times, SSK, k1, turn.

Row 2: Slip the first stitch, p10, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 3: Slip 1, k1, *k1, sl1 purlwise* 5 times , SSK, k1, turn.

Row 4: Slip 1, p12, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 5: Slip 1, k1, *k1, sl1 purlwise*, 6 times, SSK, k1, turn.

Row 6: Slip 1, p14, p2tog, p1, turn

Row 7: Slip 1, k1, *k1, sl1 purlwise* 7 times, SSK, k1, turn

Row 8: Slip 1, p 16, p2tog, p1, turn

Row 9: Slip 1, k1, *k1, s1 purlwise* 8 times, SSK, k1, turn

Row 10: Slip 1, p18, p2tog, p1, turn

Continue in this manner, working back and forth until all of the extra stitches from the gusset increases are worked and the original number of stitches are on your needle again.

Leg:

You should be back to 60 stitches. Continue working the sock with the lace panel until it is 3 inches shorter than the total desired length.

Cuff:

Next Round: K1, P1, K1, P1, K1. Work lace panel. K1, P1 to end of the round.

Continue the 1x1 ribbing and the lace panel for 2½”.  

Next Round: Work 1x1 ribbing over the lace panel (to prevent curling). Continue the 1x1 ribbing for 1/2 inch.

Bind off loosely.

Weave in the ends, and then block the socks as you normally would (I just put the socks on my feet and enjoy them! My feet are the best blocking equipment I have.)

Old Dog, New Tricks - My First Adventure into Toe-Up Socks

I have been knitting since I was maybe 3 or 4 years old. I was so young that I don't even remember learning how. I know it was before I could read. My mother loved to tell the story about one of my first days of school when I recited the alphabet back to the teacher. I said "H, I, J, Knit, L, M, N, O Purl."

I grew up on the prairies of South Dakota so our winters were spent trying to keep warm. Grandma lived only a few miles from us so she was at our house often. Mom and Grandma would sit in the parlor knitting and talking. Since I was a restless child (I think that is what they used to call ADHD), they taught me to give me something to do. Soon I was knitting slipper and doll clothes. I never really played with dolls, but I knitted clothes for them. I also remember knitting hats for my many cats.

I started knitting socks when I was in grade school. It was an easy transition because doll clothes were often done on double-pointed needles. Every single sock I ever knitted was on cuff down and I haven't used a pattern from beginning to end in years. I would look for a lace or rib pattern to use on the sock, do the math, and just start knitting. I have always done the toes and the heels the exact same way. After all, if something works, why fix it.

So at the ripe old age of 60 (yes, I am admitting my age), I decided to try my first pair of toe up socks. It's not like I had anything against toe-up socks; I could just knit socks faster cuff down. However when I found a pattern for hearts as the lace pattern in a toe-up pattern, it was time for this old dog to learn a new trick. I had this bright, bright scarlet red sock that was perfect for a heart lace pattern. So following a sock pattern -- remember I haven't followed a sock pattern from beginning to end in years, if ever -- and tackled a new way of doing toes and heels.  And I loved it! Not only is it fun, but the fit over my toes is even better than my cuff down. It is probably also the joy of learning something new.

So the lesson here is even after knitting for 55+ years, there are always new adventures, new skills, and new methods to learn, not just in knitting, but in life as well. And who knows, maybe one day I'll even try knitting socks on circular needles! Hmm, I'm not so sure about that. I really love my DPNs!

The Revenge of the Double-Pointed Needle

To me, knitting socks has to be done on double-pointed needles. Now, don't go get up in my face about all the other ways to knit socks with circular needles, magic loops or even straight needles. There is no wrong way to knit socks. I learned as a child on double-point needles so it is easy for me to maneuver them. I am sure if I was taught by my mom and grandma to use a different method, that is what I would do. I also learned to knit continental style and that seems to be conducive to double-pointed needles.

However, there is a major problem with knitting with double-pointed needles. Sofas eat them. Needles go through the whole digestive tract of the couch and are dropped out the bottom. (That's all the illustration you need for that.)  It just amazes. I am knitting away in my comfortable blue recliner, watching Peyton Manning throw this ump-teenth pass (yes, I am a big football fan), or the bumbling detective and his brilliant girlfriend solve another murder. My cat Neko is gracing me with his presence in my lap trying to steal all the warmth from my afghan. I finished the stitches on one needle and pause to watch the replay (that was too interference! bad call by the refs), and just as the next beer commercial starts, I look down at my knitting --- and a needle has disappeared! How can that be? I feel around for it and it is gone. I didn't move! I can only figure that the arm of the sofa reached up and took it out of my hand.

And the sofa is not done playing tricks on me yet.

Sometimes -- if I'm lucky -- I find it in the folds of the afghan.  I figure that the needle got caught while being swallowed and was saved.

Sometimes -- if I'm lucky -- I find it stuck behind my ear. I know I didn't put it there.

Sometimes -- if I'm lucky -- I find it between the cushions of the couch. As I grab it from the void, I swear I can hear the couch choke and cough.

But most of the time, it's gone. Success on the part of the sofa. So I have to put my knitting down careful not to lose another needle or stick myself with the three remaining points, kick the foot rest down and disturb my  disturb my precious sleeping cat (who is not that crazy about me anyway), and crawl under the couch to retrieve it. I get my hair caught on the corner and I have stop to pull each strand away individually.  Neko is now sitting on the back of the sofa looking down at me sticking his tongue out. I know he is laughing.

Got it.  Back to the needles.

12-Step Program for Sock Knitters - Step 12

Step 12 – It is Okay to be Selfish.

Now we can all admit it. We make scarves and hats and mittens and even sweaters for other people, but we make socks for ourselves (or a loved one or two).

My Neko Socks - The only way
I can get him to cuddle with me.

Pattern by Donna Druchunas in Kitty Knits

Since socks are more time-consuming than hats or scarves, giving them as gifts must be done carefully. You don’t want to give away a pair of socks to someone who will either not wear them, or will treat them badly such as throwing into a load of wash with their kids’ grass-stained tube socks.

Do you just hate it when you sit down on the train or the bus only to see the person next to you has the exact same pair of socks?  When you make your own socks, that never happens. No one else has an pair of socks just like the ones you have on your feet right now. 

I think my biggest problem is not with socks, but rather with shoes. We go to all this trouble to make lacy or cabled or ribbed socks in beautiful colors in soft, warm yarns, and then we stick those in a smelly old shoe? I've seen clear plastic clogs to show off socks, but those don't seem practical either. Yes, I have cute loafers and a nice pair of Mary Jane shoes, but it still seems like a waste. 

So I have come to the conclusion of my 12-Step Program for Sock Addiction. I now realize that I did not cure anyone's addiction to sock knitting (nor did I really want to), but rather enabled you to carry on. Put those needles to yarn, add your yarn overs and slip, slip knits, master the kitchener stitch, and weave in those ends. Winter is coming. Make your toes happy.

So until I get hit with another subject to blog about, it's back to the needles.

12-Step Program for Sock Knitters - Step 11

Step 11 - Take personal inventory.

What else could ‘personal inventory’ mean but our Stash?  

I have so much stash that I am almost embarrassed (almost).  Don't hate me, but I don’t have a closet -- I have a stash room. 

I married an architect (32 years ago) and so I have a beautiful and unique house. When Ken built it, he actually told me this room was for my craft supplies. So I can blame my stash collection on him -- I was obligated to fill it up, right? I don’t know why he doesn't see it that way.

This is why I am convincing I will live forever because I can't possibly use all of this in my life time. SABLE, right? (Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy).  Good words to life by.

The sad part is that about a third of my stash came from my mother's and my sister-in-law's stash when they passed away. It's fun, though, to make something with those skeins because I seem to think about them the entire time I am knitting.  They must be channeling their way through to my fingers, onto my needles, and holding my yarn, because every now and then, I hear my mom telling me I am knitting too loosely, or my sister-in-law praising my choice of colors. 

One of Neko's favorite hangouts
- the Yarn Room

Yes, Mom, I'm done writing.  Back to the needles. (See what I mean?)

12-Step Program for Sock Knitters - Step 10

Step 10 - Learn the value of patience with the less fortunate ones who don’t knit.

Sometimes, don't you want to just rub a dirty sock in some people's  faces? If you KIP (knit in public), you need to be ready for the stupid questions. The art of patience is the only way to dealing with the non-knitting public. Look at it instead as you are educating the public.

“No, this is not crocheting, this is knitting.”

“Yes, I am making a sock.”

“No, it is not too small.”

“Yes, I know I can buy socks at the grocery store for 1.00.” (But why would I?)

"If you have always wanted to learn how to knit, go for it. There are yarn shops all over the city giving lessons."

"Yes, I believe your grandmother did that. I'm not a grandmother, and yet I am knitting."

“I'm sorry you don’t have patience for this. It is very relaxing.”

I knit in public whenever I can. I knit on the train to and from work. I knit through committee meetings at church that I thought would never end. I knit while waiting for my dentist to finish the patient in front of me before calling me in. I knit while I am waiting for the movie to start and, if it's a simple pattern, I often knit during the movie. 

It is my way of bringing the wonderful art of knitting to the world. I am not afraid of being tagged as 21^st century Madam Defarge although I am beginning to understand her. I bet the French elite asked her dumb questions too, and see what happened to them? 

Back to the needles.

12-Step Program for Sock Knitters - Step 9

Step 9: Use meditation to improve our consciousness. 

I have never been able to just sit and meditate even though all the world seems to think this is something we should do. When I am still, my hand itch for yarn and needles. With my eyes closed and silence around me, my brain kicks into gear with my thoughts drifting to knitting. My mind's eye begins to search my file folders of online patterns to determine what I should knit next.  

“I could begin that pair of socks in green with that interesting rib that was on the cover of the new Vogue Knitting” 

or 

“Where is that red yarn that I purchased at the wool festival last year?” 

or 

“Did I use that self-striping orange yarn to knit a hat or is it still in my stash?"

I struggled with my lack of meditation skills for years until I stumbling upon a concept that may be unique to some of us knitters. 

Making socks, and even knitting in general, is a Zen experience. I get enough peace and contentment from knitting as those trying to clear their minds. I knit while thinking about the person I may knitting the piece (or would it be peace?) for: 

• My husband who has worn through the last pair of socks I made for him; 
• My friend who is pregnant with the child that she has wanted for years;
• My cousin who says she looks terrible in hats until she tries on the one I made for her;
• My son who requested another pair of felted slippers since his apartment gets too cold.

Yeah, this is more my style of meditation. Maybe I can't help inner peace that much, but I can help with inner warmth of the people I love.

Back to the needles.

12-Step Program for Sock Knitters - Step 8

Step 8 - Help others who suffer from the same compulsions.  

I’ll say it again. Ravelry!

A good deal of Ravelry revolves around knitting socks. I entered 'socks' in the pattern search engine and the count was 27,079, a number that will change before I finish writing this blog entry. There are also groups dedicated solely to sock knitting (839 at last count), not to mention all the articles about sock knitting techniques. So if you haven't tried sock knitting yet, it's time to stick your toe in, and soon you will become a well-heeled sock knitter.

There is something about sock knitting that is truly addictive. Remember, however, that there is nothing wrong with being obsessed with sock knitting. Pick up a skein of sock yarn saturated with bright colors in green, gold, and pink, and try not to imagine how they would look on your feet. 

And what you get cold, what is the first part of your body that feels it? When a chill settles in the air, it is an unimaginable pleasure to slip on a pair of wool socks. Suddenly your feet are happy, the warmth spreading up to your legs on into your entire body. Your toes stop feeling like ten individual ice cubes at the end of your feet, and combine into a single block of warmth.

But then, you already knew that.

Back to the needles.

12-Step Program for Socks Knitters - Step 7

Step 7: Be ready to remove the defects of our character. 

This one is easy. The defect in your sock addiction character is not trying new styles or stitches. I like to knit socks from the cuff down, but every now and then, I do one from the toe up, or I try a new heel style. There is no such thing as failure when knitting socks.

• It is not a sign of failure to admit that the sock you are making just doesn't seem right.  (See my post of July 30, 2013) is not a sign of failure to see an error in the cuff of your sock after you have completed the heel.
• It is not a sign of failure to put your sock aside and come back to it later.
• It is not a sign of failure to have several single socks finished without casting on the second one.

This is where making amends comes in. At this point, you have to make a decision: Frog the sock and correct the mistake, or let it go and call it a design choice. 

(Please know that I recognize the difficulty of working through a 12-step program and only have respect and admiration for people who are struggling and/or succeeded.)

12-Step Program for Sock Knitters - Step 6

Step 6: Willing to make amends to people we have harmed.  

Simple. Knit them a pair of socks. 

No one can be mad at you if you present them with a pair of self-striping socks in a flattering array of colors with a comfortable rib that fit perfectly. Tears will come to their eyes, the bottom lips will quiver, and they will be without words to express the joy of having a pair of socks that no one else in the world will have. 

Except for a child. 

They only get mad if you give them socks instead of toys. They don’t care how many hours you spent knitting it. They wanted a new video game.