I was rooting around through a yarn drawer and found the above blue sock. I had started it as part of a pair of two-at-a-time socks ... and by two-at-a-time, I mean one pair of socks on 4 dpns, a la Anna Karenina. Or was it War and Peace? In any case, it's where you knit one inside the other, alternating skeins of yarn, purling the one on the inside and knitting the one on the outside. It was fun, but tedious, and once I figured out how to do it, I grew frustrated by how slowly it was going. And how worried I was I would cross a stitch and wind up with useless socks! I pulled them apart and will knit them one at a time.
So, to follow Socktoberfest, which is also a Ravelry group, I will finish both these pairs of socks. I set aside the pink one to finish the cowl. I am determined to finish them this month, though. And have two new pairs of socks for winter.
The Bohus sweater creeps along slowly ... I'm just not that into it right now, you know? I don't blame the Bohus. I tell it, "It's not you, it's me!" I just want to knit socks.
So I have a question for you sock knitters, and I hope you'll answer in the comments. Do you have problems with your heels wearing through quickly? Because I do, no matter what the yarn (fingering, worsted, wool, acrylic) the heel wears through. It's frustrating. I would blame my rough skin, but it happens to the socks I knit for friends, as well. What am I doing wrong?
Don't forget to visit Tamis Amis on Wednesday, for Work-in-Progress Wednesday!
I have no idea about the sock heels... but I do want to wish you a very merry and productive Socktober. :-)
ReplyDeleteI waaaay too new to sock knitting to be of any use, sorry. I'm just now wearing my first pair, so I hopefully have a way to go before the heel wears through. I will be watching the replies though, so I can make notes for the future. Once I finished one successful pair I couldn't wait to start more--addiction!!
ReplyDeleteYay for socktober!
ReplyDeleteI had to cast on a pair yesterday :)
As for the heel problem.
I always knit socks with a blend of wool and nylon. So I have never had a problem with holes in the heels... Not sure if that's your "problem", but I never knit socks out of 100% wool as they will not last long.
Hooray for Socktober!
ReplyDeleteI refuse to knit a pair of socks...I don't care how much those skeins of yarn call out to me ;-)
I haven't had issues with the heels. I wear mine out on the balls of my feet.
Can't answer the question; maybe double knit the heels? Are you knitting partridge heels? They seem to work and hold up better.
ReplyDeleteBut the important question is...how in the heck to you knit two pairs of socks one inside the other as you are talking about. It is a rhetorical question, so you don't have to answer. I just never heard of it. Now I will have to do a Google search on that technique.
Merry Socktober. I hope you figure out the heel thing.
ReplyDeleteI always knit my sock heels in partridge as well as using the extra yarn we get with our sock wool here especially for that purpose - so nifty. The first time I bought sock wool in Europe I wondered what the tiny spool of extra yarn was for, until my sister-in-law explained it to me. I use it all the time. If you don't get that extra spool, maybe double up on your yarn at the heel?
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I love socktober but then again I knit socks all year long.
ReplyDeleteAs for your heels, what type do you knit? I think a heel flap wears the best if the socks are wearing out at the back of the heel. Also what gauge do you knit your socks at? I knit mine quite tightly, maybe 8 or 9 sts to the inch. This helps with the bottom of the foot. One more thing, does the yarn you use have some nylon in it? I think the best long wearing sock yarn is 75% wool and 25% nylon. If your yarn doesn't have nylon you can buy reinforcing thread for the heels and toes. It comes in many colors to match yarn. Good luck with your socks!
I knit socks on 2mm (US 0) needles - if I have to I'll alter the pattern and add to the primary stitch count so that I can knit on small needles. I only use sock yarns with some nylon in them. I usually opt for eye of partridge heel patterning. And I make my heel flaps a bit longer bit longer so that the sock slips easily over the ankle and heel. Don't know if the secret is in there somewhere, but I've had very good luck.
ReplyDeleteI've joined up with the Ravelry group. If I'm going to knit through my Christmas list I've got A LOT of socks to knit!
I always usw a thin yarn (it's called Fächtli in Switzerland) together with the yarn when knitting the heel and the top of the tip to make these parts stronger. I use 3mm dpns for common sock yarn.
ReplyDeleteI don't knit sock, but the sock knitters I know add a nylon yarn to the heels and toes. It's called Wooly Nylon and your LYS should have it. If not, I know the Knitting Boutique does (grin).
ReplyDeleteMelodye
LOL! I have some reinforcing thread, I'll look to see if it's Wooly Nylon or not! I got it at All About Yarn. Thanks!
DeleteKnitting two socks one inside the other sounds so cool! I want to try it just for the novelty factor. As for the heels, I would try the reinforcing nylon thread.
ReplyDeleteMost of my socks have heel flaps are tightly knit so I've not had this issue.....yet.
ReplyDeleteHum, I am not a sock knitter. I wish I could help. Knitting two socks together seems so complicated but fun and challenging.
ReplyDeleteWith my knitted socks, mine usually worn out on the ball of the foot, and my son's worn out at the heels. I think it has more to do with how the person bears weight on the foot than the socks. I have never used re-enforcement threads, seems too much nylon than I'd prefer, but if you can stand it, I hear it works really well.
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