The Second Sock is a Slacker

The sock is growing. I'm about halfway done with the cuff although I have no idea how. The sock seems to just lie around in the hammock all day. I'm glad its almost finished, seeing as I have yarn for two more pairs already spun and roving for 3 or 4 more pairs here in the house. That's not counting the roving in the mail that I just had processed from Wooly Knob Fiber Mill that's another 4 or 5 socks. I will have some seriously toasty tootsies this Winter! I plan on making Caleb some socks from some of this and Mickael will get some if he wants them too.

There has been some discussion on Spindler's list lately about sock making so here's my two cents. I make toe up style socks because I detest Kitchener Stitch. I avoid it like the plague and when I'm forced to do it, its not pretty. I basically use the measuring technique from Wendy's Generic Toe Up pattern, but instead of the short row toe she gives in the pattern, I use the Easy Toe which you can find in her Knitty article here. I have my own little variations and tweaks that I've figured out that make it easier for me to fit my own feet, but these two sites will get you on your way to toe up socks. I do use a short row heel on my socks that gives the little diagonal line you find on commercial socks. I like the way this feels more than the feel of a heel flap. I don't use a wooly nylon or sock reinforcement knit along on the heel or toe and I haven't found that I'm wearing through my socks without it. The roving that is coming from Wooly Knob does have some mohair added to it for extra strength. I've heard that mohair wears like iron and will really strengthen socks. I like mohair enough that I don't mind adding a little whether this is true or not.