Help with Knitting Socks that Fit

It’s rare that I write about a knitting book before I’ve read it or even seen it, but I’m super excited about Kate Atherley’s new book, Custom Socks: Knits to Fit Your Feet.

The book, as you can imagine, is all about figuring out the size of sock you actually need to knit and ways to get a better fit in your sock.

This post from Knitting Daily has a great overview of some of the basics, such as the notion that socks need to be 10 percent smaller than the actual foot measurement. It talks about where and how to measure your foot and what to do when sizes are given as a foot circumference, a shoe size, foot length, in sizes like small, medium and large or when there is only one size given.

Because of the 10 percent rule and my slightly smaller than average feet I often need to cast on fewer stitches than a pattern calls for, and then I wonder how to deal with that as a designer, so I’m really looking forward to reading this book and will be sure to let you know when I have. But for now this article is a great reference.

Do you have problems with sock fit? I’d love to hear about it.

[Photo via Knitting Daily.]

Looking for more knitted socks designs and patterns to keep you warm this winter? Check out these knitted sock patterns Etsy. And these Knitting Pattern books on Amazon.

Looking to buy your Yarn online? Check out these online yarn specials.

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I happen to live in the Northern Hemisphere, but I know we have a lot of Southern Hemisphere friends, too, who are heading into the cooler months as we are warming up. Whichever one of the seasons you’re in, you might want to stitch up this sweet little hood.

This pattern by saskie&co is called snug hood and it uses two colors of yarn to make a close-fitting pixie style hood (almost a balaclava but it doesn’t cover your face, though there is a neck covering portion to keep you a little warmer). You can use the fingering weight wool and mohair held together that are called for in the pattern, or use a single strand of DK weight yarn.

The neck portion and the edging around the face are worked in ribbing in a single color, while the body of the hat includes an allover colorwork flower pattern. The project is worked both flat and in the round and there is colorwork that is knit flat, which means you’ll have to purl in colorwork (which some people don’t like; also, you can’t see what you’re doing as well on the back of the work).

The pattern comes in one size and the colorwork is charted. Testers noted this is a quick and easy project and a great way to learn some new skills (chart reading, working stranded colorwork flat) if you’ve never tried those things before. They noted the hood is cute, comfortable and warm, and a few said it didn’t take as much yarn as the pattern suggests, so bear that in mind if you’re trying to use stash.

Speaking of the pattern notes, check out all the cute color variations in the projects on Ravelry. From pink and red to blue and white to gray and cream, there are lots of great options to think about.

You can buy this pattern on Ravelry.

[Photo: saskie&co]

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