sock help!!!

[rebeccav]

does this look right at all?:think

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/rebeccav/crochet/th_DSC02753.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/rebeccav/crochet/DSC02753.jpg)

i attempting "Lavender Delight" from crochet Stocking Feet (http://www.maggiescrochet.com/pages/Leaflets/ASN_Annies/AA_873553_stocking_feet_main.htm)

i just can't envision this little canoe becoming a sock :eek

[jpr54_]

did you work in back bar?
do u have the correct number of stitches?
i couldn't tell if u did from pic
joanne

[xantha]

does this look right at all?:think

I'm going to assume that's toes up ...

What was your starting chain?

It looks pretty much right to me -- they always look a little funny starting out toes up. Flatten it down, it should look similar to a U shape... if you don't like the shape of the toe, what you can do is chain a shorter starting chain and do the same increase... you end up with a more angled toe.

Is it too wide for your foot? Put it on top of your toes and see.

With fingering weight yarn I usually chain 8-10 to start, which is somewhere between 1-2".

It straightens out once you stop increasing and just start working in the round.

You can take a look at the sock tutorial pictures (http://www.xantha.org/gallery/socktut1) I have up if they might help... I'm not done writing the actual document, so I'm not sure how useful the pictures will be. :)

[xantha]

The only thing I see is that I would probably have a shorter starting chain than it look like you did. Is there a way you can flatten it out and take a picture of that so we can see the angle?

sorta like this (http://www.xantha.org/gallery/albums/socktut1/sock08.thumb.jpg), only without the foot! :)

[rebeccav]

i read it to work in the back bar on the first row only... and yes, i have the right amount of stitches

it still looks odd to me

[rebeccav]

your tutorial is great! although, i'm not using the toes up pattern....

my starting chain was 21 with sock yarn and a C

[noricum]

your tutorial is great! although, i'm not using the toes up pattern....

my starting chain was 21 with sock yarn and a C
But that is the toe, right? Hmmm... the toes on the cover don't look that stubby...

I don't have that pattern, so I'm not sure. You might want to check that you have enough increases at the toe turning points.

It does look like a potential sock, though. ;)

[rebeccav]

here is where the troubles begin...

all is cool until this

NOTE: flatten sock; place one stitch marker in st at each side edge. Continue to place stitch marker at each side edge after working each rnd.

Rnd 2: (Hdc in each st around to one st before next stitch marker, 2 hdc in each of next 2 sts) 2 times, hdc in each st around.




so my question is: do i (-) coming up to each stitch marker... which will make an increase of 4 stitches this round.......

because it says 2 times... doesn't that then mean that i have completed the round?
then it says hdc in each st around

huh?:think

[xantha]

Rnd 2: (Hdc in each st around to one st before next stitch marker, 2 hdc in each of next 2 sts) 2 times, hdc in each st around.


I think they misplaced the parens in that pattern snippet or something...


hdc in each st around to one st before next stitch marker, (2 hdc in each of next 2 st) 2 times, hdc in each st around.


[aside: I know you aren't working the generic toes-up pattern, but the toe creation is basically the same in terms of shaping and increase for all toes-up socks, it's only the stitches that are different. :) ]

[rebeccav]

well, if this is the case...... then doesn't really change anything... does it?

i have such a mental block when it comes to socks... this could all be in my head.

the other thing is, it still then says hdc in each stitch around, again, wouldn't i be on a NEW round?

man, i think i need illustrations:eek :blush

when hubby gets home, i'm going to have him scan some of this pattern... because the whole thing seems to be confusing in this same manner...

should i just give up and try a different pattern???

[xantha]

the other thing is, it still then says hdc in each stitch around, again, wouldn't i be on a NEW round?


No, you're finishing up the round you're on...

Do you work better from graphs??

I wonder if I can toss some preformatted text in here... I can graph this for you. :)

Basically you have an oval shaped item, right? with st markers at either end. You're increasing by two st on both sides of the sock. The pattern seems to want you to increase by putting 2 st in the st before your st marker and 2 st in the st where your st marker is [?? I am a little skeptical on this]. Then you work over to the other side where your other st marker is ...

Let me see if I can draw a chart in here. :)

[rebeccav]

jess - thank you for your time on this - i'm such a dope :P

[xantha]

I just want to draw someone else into the obsession that is crocheted socks. ;)

[I'm having a little trouble since I don't have that book/pattern and can only guess at it...]

Okay, let's say you've done the first round and you have your oval with the st markers in it. It probably looks something like this (maybe not exactly, assume my + are hdc instead of sc):


+ + + + + + + + + +
+ - - - - - - - - - - /
+ + + + + + + + + +

You only want to increase on the corners of the sock -- your st markers are at the + that juts out on the lefthand side and the / on the righthand side, right? Basically the centerpoint of the two sides.

You'll want to increase by the same number of st on either side per round (does this pattern join rounds or just work in a spiral? That line seemed to work in a spiral, which is fine, but I still think of the rounds and make sure they increase the same on either side).

From Rnd 2:
Rnd 2: (Hdc in each st around to one st before next stitch marker, 2 hdc in each of next 2 sts) 2 times, hdc in each st around.

The way I am reading it, we have this (pretend my + are hdc again):


+ + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + - - - - - - - - - - / +
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
+ + + + + + + + + +


Which has two hdc in the st before the purple one where your st marker is, and two more hdc in the st where the st marker is, plus the same increase on the opposite side.

I keep rereading the pattern snippet and wondering if this is really what it wants or not... it's hard for me to tell! Can you post maybe the first three rounds of the pattern? Or you could wing it. :)

I do think the "canoe" isn't too far off and it will shape up better (an increase of 2 st per side=4st per round is pretty normal for a toe) once your decrease stops.

Did you check to see how wide the "canoe" is relative to your (or whoever the sock is for) foot?

Aiii, I hope I didn't make this worse. It looks like a toe of a sock to me! :)

[xantha]

if all of this makes no sense, you can erase everything I said with a simple abracadabra...

:mdust

[I am very loopy right now from not sleeping much last night and dealing with recovering one of my database servers at work that died, so I fully expect that half of what I said made no sense! heh... ]

[rebeccav]

hmmm - jess - ck your PM

[xantha]

[for anyone else curious about this]

The pattern seems to be right, it's just written strangely (strange relative to every other sock pattern I've read, heh).

Your typical starting chain (I am using 10 just for ease, this isn't to pattern).


- - - - - - - - - /


The first round actually goes around the starting chain 1.5 times. First slst up one side, then hdc all the way around.


+ + + + + + + +
+ - - - - - - - - +
= + - - - - - - - - - / +=
+ + + + + + + + +


The + is the last stitch of the first round. See how the first round goes around the starting chain 1.5 times?

[I put in the = to signify the stitch markers just for explanation's sake]

When you start the second round (where Rebecca was having problems), you're already most of the way to the nearest stitch marker or you're already at the st before the stitch marker, where you increase. Which means that the directions that say:


Rnd 2: (Hdc in each st around to one st before next stitch marker, 2 hdc in each of next 2 sts) 2 times, hdc in each st around.


They're actually correct -- you hdc over to the st before the st marker. This may be 0 hdc or it may just be 1 or 2. It's just not an entire half-side of the round (as many of us would assume).

You increase by 2 on this side, then hdc around to the other stitch marker, where you increase by 2 again. Now you hdc in each st around to where you started this round -- the stitch or two before the increase on the opposite side -- and start round 3.

This is impossibly hard to explain. :)

I hope this helps... the pictures I was attempting to draw weren't working out so well. :|

[rebeccav]

YIKES! what a pattern to start on, heh?

only me :P

[Julie]

It's not a bad pattern, it's just written really weird. I have this book somewhere, of course I can't find it. :rolleyes I figured I could stitch along with you. I'm still hunting. AH HA!!! I've got it! There is the difference between hunting when you're half asleep and hunting when you're half awake. Want me to give it a go? I think Jess has given a good start in the right direction to read the pattern, and it is a little differently phrased than most.

I promise, if you tackle this sock and keep up with it, you'll never doubt another sock pattern again. Socks are really kind of weird to stitch anyway, the stuff they ask you to do doesn't seem quite right and you can't imagine what you're doing is quite right either. Have faith Rebecca, use the force... lol. I know you can do this!! :cheer

[xantha]

It's not a bad pattern, it's just written really weird.

It is written very different than most, I had to sketch it out on paper to really figure it out. It makes sense but aiii! :)

I remember that book and those socks now -- I love those socks. :)

[jpr54_]

i made my first pair of socks using one i found on www.******************.com (http://www.******************.com)

[rebeccav]

i have started over and am feeling much better about this 'go round.... i'll keep you posted :P

[xantha]

i have started over and am feeling much better about this 'go round.... i'll keep you posted :P
You better! :) I can't wait to see them. :P

[rebeccav]

just popping in before i head to catch a few ZZZs


about the sock -



I QUIT! :angry

this pattern completely sucks and i'm in search of a new one.
one that starts from the toe and is made with sock yarn.
suggestions? i think i own every sock book made - really, i want to make a pair.... what is this mental block?

i have: the needlecraft shop - crochet comfy cozy socks
amer school of needlecraft - learn to crochet socks
annies attic - crochet stocking feet
annies attic - crochet love those socks


98% of these start at the top and from what i have read here, the better ones start at the toe

assuming the pattern is written decently :angry

WHICH ONE DO I TRY NEXT:?

[xantha]

one that starts from the toe and is made with sock yarn.
suggestions?

For toes-up socks --

Linda at Grafton Fibers Toe-Up Crocheted Socks (http://www.graftonfibers.com/socks.htm) pattern (this is the general outline pattern I use most frequently, with my own adjustments)

South Bay Crochet Toes Up Crochet Socks (http://members.aol.com/Sbaycgoa/patsock.htm) (this is the pattern that Andrea uses for most of her socks)

I don't have any of the books you do [!!] but I do have Crocheted Socks! which has 2 or 3 toes-up patterns in it.

The first pattern I linked to at the top is the one my tutorial (almost done typing it up, I just need to format it for general consumption which is taking a while) is loosely based upon.

[xantha]

98% of these start at the top and from what i have read here, the better ones start at the toe

I think that's a matter of preference. :)

I like toes-up socks -- especially for people working on their first sock -- because I can try them on as I work on them and adjust them to the exact shape of my foot. Also, if I start to run out of yarn, I can just make them shorter. With top-down socks, if I start to run out of yarn, I have to suddenly find contrast yarn that works for toe + afterthought heel. :)

However, I'm currently working on (my first top-down) sock using the In Your Shoes Ankle Socks (http://www.crochetme.com/issue_1/socks_in_shoes.html) from the original issue of Crochet Me and I mostly love how it is working up. It looks great, but I have a little bunching at the ankle that I am trying to fix. :)

[Julie]

I :heart the Toe Up Socks (http://www.graftonfibers.com/socks.htm) too, it was really easy to work up once I had the idea down of what they wanted me to do. It was one of those close my eyes and go for it stitching events. ;) But it is a great pattern, don't doubt it for a moment.

I did the In Your Shoes Ankle Socks (http://www.crochetme.com/issue_1/socks_in_shoes.html) for my first pair ever. Pam did a great job with it, but I think it is written for folks who are already comfortable with crocheting socks. I had to do a lot of guesswork in the beginning because I just wasn't sure what I was supposed to do. It did help me with heels, I understood the concept of setting a heel from that sock and have stuck with it. Oh, and I do love the cuffs on those socks, I think that looks really nice.