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.

Next Pattern:

I’ve shared a lot of Christmas stocking knitting patterns over the years (see posts 1, 2, 3 for example) but what if you want to knit a stocking for a non-human member of your family. If you’re looking for Christmas stocking knitting patterns for your cats or dogs, this is the post for you.

These large paw print stockings are perfect for either dogs or cats, so they’re great to knit if you have both. They are worked in the round using DK weight yarn, and the stocking measures about 17 inches/43 cm from the top to the heel. You can get the pattern from nicolaluke.

The K4 Project has a super cute Kitty Christmas stocking pattern, which is worked in worsted weight yarn. They also have a dog version, or you can buy both and get a discount if you have both dogs and cats to knit for. Both projects have two patterns, showing how to work the stockings flat or in the round.

Put your dog into a Christmas scene with this stocking pattern from ifanhourChild. It shows a dog in a dog house in the snow, and has room for the dog’s name at the top. It’s worked flat using worsted weight yarn and the pattern includes charts for many small and medium dog breeds (there’s a separate listing for bigger dogs) so you can stitch a dog that looks like yours.

Annie’s Woolens has both dog and cat stocking knitting patterns that are worked in worsted weight yarn in the round. You can change up the colors to suit your pet if you want, and they come with an alphabet chart for personalization. Or you can stick with holiday colors and buy a kit to make the dog or cat stocking.

Waiting for Santa Paws is a pattern from Kate Agner on Ravelry that would be cute for a dog or a cat. It looks like a leg with a paw print on the bottom part of the foot and more paw prints running around the top of the leg. This is a great option if you don’t want to mess with a heel turn because it doesn’t have a heel, because dogs and cats don’t have heels so why would their stockings?

Book Review – 20 to Knit: Tiny Christmas Toys to Knit

Book Review – Knit Christmas Stockings

Next Pattern:

Comments

Have you read?

Leave a Reply