Socks (Knitting)

[ina]

Scarves are good, too... Or those socks that are meant to be worn around the house, without shoes - it's the heels that tend to rub against the wool, creating holes. You can also sow leather soles on them, to make kind of woolly slippers for cold evenings.

[StripyPixieSocks]

If you're aiming for 100% authenticity,have you found evidence for knitted socks in period(please,please,please-am sick of cold wet feet) .The earliest we've ever found is a surviving pair(with knitted vest)for a small child,dating from the 16th century in (I think ) the museum of London.All the wool "sockes" prior to that have been generally interpreted as being made of woolen cloth made in a similar way to footed hose.

Well I haven't dug very deep tonight and I haven't got my other clothes related research to hand but they had knitted woolen socks in Egypt from at least the 3rd C and as spices and other stuff such as wool items would have been well traded all over Europe by certainly the 14th century (as we portray) there is evidence for knitted socks.

Having said this it might only have been the well off who had these items and as I portray a VERY well off Lady and my OH a Knight of the Edward III Realm I can afford the very best items from far off lands. Peasants of course probably would not be quite so lucky so it depends who and in what period you portray :)

That's not to say that strumpets wouldn't have been given socks by errant Knights as we all know what them so and so's are / were like

There's also this about Naalbinding from Regia Anglorum and the Vikings were everywhere and there was a sock found at Coppergate in York so chances are it wasn't just the Vikings wearing them they must have been traded all over Europe again.

There's lots more evidence for the wearing of many, many types of socks and just because they haven't found them doesn't mean they don't exist. I mean why document something that was taken for granted? and wool, unless we are very lucky doesn't preserve very well and so it's not likely we will find very many at Archaeology sites. :)

[Brij]

I don't know if it's already been mentioned, but I find that 100% cotton is best for socks, though I do "heelstitch" them as standard. The only pair I've ever had wear through were a wool-acrylic blend, but that was at the toe.

If anyone's near Southampton and wants some lessons, or just to knit in company, just PM me! I don't have an internet connection chez moi, but I do check my messages from time to time.

[growingthings]

Has anyone tried the 'toe up' method for socks yet?

This means that there is no trying to negotiate with casting off at the toe end which can cause a lump.

DH definately prefers this method for his work socks - as they are in boots all day, and doesn't mind about his house socks as they are generally not encased in shoes.

If you do stitch leather to your socks as slippers, if you have wood floors (as we do) can I recommend that you stitch them suede side out as I don't think I have to tell you what happened the first time my DH tried to move at speed wearing a pair leather side down!

I agree that 100% cotton is fantastic for making really durable socks - but then again cotton is fantastic for making really durable anythings.

Lorna x

[snapdragon]

.... or, could I ply it with something else thats nylonish, any suggestions? ww.

I'd think it would depend on what fleece you're spinning - merino is soft but not known for strength, but if you were to draft and blend some cheviot or romney wool in with your softer fleece and spin the mixture, that should strengthen it up a lot. I had this advice when I asked on the Spindlers yahoo group but I still haven't done any socks as I needed a jumper more

[ina]

I don't find cotton socks very comfortable in wellies, and not warm enough - and since I wear wellies most of the day, and heavy boots the rest of my spare time, that's important. I have a few old cotton ones for summer.... Ready for if and when it arrives!

[StripyPixieSocks]

Ok being new to knitting I haven't got this gauge thing down yet and want to make some really thick, warm socks... can anyone tell me what gauge wool (or whatever would be best) I would need to make this please.

I have no idea how to substitute the different named wools like DK, Angora etc and don't want to end up with socks you can hang up for Santa they are that big :D

Can you get thermal stuff?

[ina]

I don't find cotton socks very comfortable in wellies, and not warm enough - and since I wear wellies most of the day, and heavy boots the rest of my spare time, that's important. I have a few old cotton ones for summer.... Ready for if and when it arrives!

[Brij]

Has anyone tried the 'toe up' method for socks yet?

I started off knitting them from the cuff, but now I've got the knack of a figure-8 cast-on, I always always toe-up. It means I can get them as long as possible (I like warm ankles!), and I don't end up with lots of useless scraps of wool, especially since I usually buy my wool discounted when shops aren't planning on stocking them any more, so I can't usually just go and buy another ball.

I've been spoiling myself of late though, I found the "Miski" range in John Lewis, and any time soon will have a scarf and a pair of gloves in 100% baby llama wool (that's even softer than lambswool, tis!)....

[the.fee.fairy]

I can't knit socks!!

I've got half a toe-up sock on the needles, and half an idiot sock on the needles at the moment.

I've decided to learn cables first. They look easier...

I definitely prefer the idea of making toe-up socks, because then i can buy 2 balls of yarn and knit each on into a sock. If they make ankle length socks, then at least i've got 2 ankle length socks, if they make longer socks then fab!

[Berti]

rest assured fee fairy, ANYONE can knit socks........the basics are easy to learn and once you have got that down you can knit socks to measure.
I would rather have a beginner start with the cuff up (the oldfashioned way) as this is much easier to learn and to remember the "recipe".
it took me a few months to learn but then I was off and knitting socks for years now.
speaking of socks.
I better set up a pair today, as I am running out after those years :) and I need some mindless knitting, too.

if anyone needs help with how to start socks and how to figure out how much stitches to cast on, just yell and I will try to help.
and yes, there is a test knit involved in figuring out......but then, you could do with any yarn, you see :)

berti

[snapdragon]

I found these on the 'Spindlers' yahoo group

http://www.woolfestival.com/patterns/toeupsock.htm

http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTuniversalsock.html

http://www.knitlist.com/2002/ToeUpSock.htm

not sure how easy they'll be

[the.fee.fairy]

I've taken the idiot sock apart. I can't do it.

I can't do DPNs either! They're nigh on impossible! I think i'll stick to my jumper that i'm in the middle of!

[StripyPixieSocks]

I've taken the idiot sock apart. I can't do it.

I can't do DPNs either! They're nigh on impossible! I think i'll stick to my jumper that i'm in the middle of!

It gets easier, honest... I felt like I was wrestling a metal octopus when I first started but eventually you kind of get into a pattern with them and it gets really easy.

I have to say though, my lovely patient OH had to go retrieve them from the other side of the room on several occasions after I vented my frustration

[Berti]

hi fee fairy,
don't give up.
tell yourself you WANT to knit socks..........and persevere!
see if someone can show you in person, that might make it easier to get it.
otherwise you could try knitting socks on (very short) circular needles.
and it helps to have short DPN's like 12 or 15 cm.

cheers
berti