Hi and welcome!
It is a little confusing. Would you check the numbers in the pattern as you quoted it please? The cast on is 26 sts and you decrease to 28sts?
"Repeat Rows 1 & 2 until [U]28 sts[/U] remain in toe."
What is the next line after the repeat of rows 3 and 4?
I think this is a link to some photos of the pattern.
On the repeats of rows 1 & 2, It looks like you’re working the top of the toe and you’re decreasing 2 stitches per row down to 8sts, then you purl those 8 in row 3. And Rows 3 & 4 are reversing the decreases for the underside of your toe by increasing on each knit row (4).
Row 4: Pick up and knit 1 st from first half of toe, knit to end, pick up and knit 1 st from first half of toe.
I’d work it this way starting with row 4: you’ll be working back up the toe (skinny to wide) by inserting your needle into the edge of the ssk and knit 1 to join(you’re adding a stitch to the row), knit across, then insert your needle into the edge of the k2tog,knit1 to join (adding a 2nd stitch to the row), then turn and purl the next row. When you get to 26 sts on the needle, move on to the unravel provisional cast on step.
Thank you! I I like the look of them, & thought it would be a good first sock/stocking project. I didn’t think a toe would thwart me!
Now, if I understand you correctly, this seems like a simple increase; meaning I can do this by making an M1L or M1R…? Is that right or am I totally missing something? :??
I think any increase you’re happy with should work here. Does the pattern specify a particular increase? It took Charlotte’s explanation for me to understand how the pattern works. It’s interesting.
There are a number of ways to do toes. Toe-up’s biggest challenge is getting started. You’ll do great! Welcome to sock-mania. You’ve lots of company.
You can’t really use any increase here. You’re picking up sts from the decreasing side of the toe. This serves two purposes: you connect the decreasing side of the toe to the increasing side (which you are now doing) to form the pocket of the toe and at the same time you’re adding a stitch at each side (the picked up sts).
Row 4: [U]Pick up and knit [/U]1 st from first half of toe, knit to end, [U]pick up and knit [/U]1 st from first half of toe
I love the look of these socks and they’re going to be fun to knit once you get started.
The pattern doesn’t specify an increase at all, it just says “Pick up and knit 1 st from first half of toe, knit to end, pick up and knit 1 st from first half of toe”. Which seems like a very convoluted way to tell me to increase…
Charlotte’s explanation cleared it up for me, if that is in fact all I have to do. The way the book explains it made me think of picking up stitches to add-on another piece altogether (if [I]that[/I] made any sense).
In this case, you only need to pick up one stitch from the decreasing side at each end of the knit row. You can use a crochet hook for that if it makes it easier.
You could also look on line for other ways of making toes for toe-up socks so that you don’t become bogged down here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blYDahGEa1w
Alternatively you could do as you’re thinking and use an increase at each end of the knit row, then seam the toe on each side to close it up. I’m just afraid that a seam would be bothersome on each side of the toe when you wear the sock.
Sorry to return to the discussion late. Pick up the stitch the same way as on any other piece of knitting. Only fold the toe to bring the two rows together. It makes for a neater join and snug up the first stitches a bit for the first few row 4 repeats. The picked up & knit stitch acts like an increase by adding sts to the row,while it joins the top & bottom of the toe.
For instance, on that first row 4 repeat, you have 8 sts OTN. From the decrease rows already worked, you’ll pick up on the side of the 1st ssk, tighten it a bit and k that stitch, k 8, then pick up the k2tog, tighten it a bit and k1, the row count works like this 1+8+1 for a total of 10 sts now OTN. The next row 4 repeats will have 12,14,16, etc. because you’re adding sts to each row as you work.
I learned to do this while machine knitting. The same pick up technique is used to close toes on machine knitted socks,and join blanket panels together.
warndawn, you can knit socks and they are enjoyable.
Learn to Knit Toe-Up Socks, Part 3 shows a short row version of this toe. I’ve never done it, it seems too too fiddly, and if I did I’d choose a different short row method than W&T. It also requires swatching and I don’t swatch for basic socks, the method I use doesn’t require it. Those are my Caveats & Disclaimers.
I agree with salmonmac that doing the toe a different way might make sense. There’s no point in getting hung up on this part and personally I think this might just be the most difficult way to do the toe. This should be a fun knit and not an exercise in frustration.
Does this mean I do not do anything with the first stitch? That I simply pick up one st, then knit to the end & pick up another st, leaving the final st unknit?
Gosh, I don’t know why I can’t wrap my brain around this! :?? :whoosh: :shrug: Thank you so much for your patience!
If I can’t figure this out soon, I may very well take the advice & work the toe differently! You’re right, I’m easily hung up on “it has to be this way!”
You don’t need to knit the sts, just poking the needle through the knit fabric, wrapping the yarn around the needle and pulling it through is enough. Charlotte’s advice to tug a bit on that first and last stitch is a very good idea. It’ll help close up the two parts of the toe and give you a neat join.
Sometimes the best thing to do is try this out on the needles. When you turn, ready to knit the first row, insert the needle alongside the decrease, pull up the working yarn and continue knitting to the end of the row where you do the same again.
