Guage on SOCKS! ACKKKKKKKKK! HELP!

How-to Questions
1

Ok gotta Q on gauge. How do I do the gauge on the sock pattern below…?? St st?? garter st? what!!! :shock: Do I do the swatch on the dpn’s?? Or just on straight needles?? HELP??? :rollseyes:

Here is the pattern info. below:

LION BRAND® WOOL-EASE SPORTWEIGHT
Family of Socks

SIZE
Man’s (woman’s, child’s)

MATERIALS
• LION BRAND Wool-Ease Sportweight: 1 ball color of your choice. Shown in the following colors: #152 Oxford Grey (#233 Autumn Print, ##130 Green Heather)
• Set of 5 (five) size 3 (3.25 mm) double-pointed needles OR SIZE TO OBTAIN GAUGE

GAUGE
24 sts = 4”. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE.

STITCH EXPLANATIONS
M1 (make 1): An increase worked by lifting the horizontal thread lying between the needles and placing it onto the left-hand needle. Work this new stitch through the back loop.
Ssk (slip slip knit) Sl the next 2 sts as if to knit, one at a time, from the tip of the left needle to the tip of the right needle; insert the left needle into the fronts of these 2 sts from the left and k them tog from this position to dec 1 st.

STITCH PATTERN (6 st repeat)
Rnds 1 & 3 *K 1, p 2, k 3; rep from * around.
Rnd 2 and all even rounds Knit.
Rnds 5 & 7 *K 4, p 2; rep from * around.
Rnd 8 Knit.

Garter Check Socks

Cast on 48 (48, 36) sts over 4 (4, 3) needles - 12 sts per needle.

For man’s socks, work 1 1/2 “ of k1, p1 rib.

For woman’s socks, work 6 rnds of St st. Work one rnd of (yo, k2tog) for picot-edged hem, then 6 more rnds of St st.

For child’s socks, work 8 rnds of St st, then k2, p2 rib for 1”.

Work Stitch Pattern until leg measures 7 (6, 4 1/2)” from beg (picot row, beg of rib).

HEEL FLAP

Adult Socks

Ending with Row 3 or 7 of Pattern Stitch, knit across Needle 1. Turn work.

Row 1 Sl 1, then purl across Needles 1 and 4, placing all sts onto one needle for heel flap.

Row 2 (Sl 1, k 1) across needle.

Rep Rows 1 and 2, complete 25 rows, ending with a purl row and RS facing.

Child’s Socks

Ending with Row 3 or 7 of Pattern Stitch, k 9 sts on Needle 1. Move rem 3 sts to Needle 2 and turn work. Slip 1, purl 9 sts plus 9 sts from Needle 3. Move rem 3 sts to Needle 2 and turn work. You now have 18 instep sts on needle 2 and 18 heel flap sts on the other needle. (Note You may wish to divide the 18 instep sts onto 2 needles for ease in knitting.)

Row 1 Turn work, (Sl 1, k 1); rep across heel flap.
Row 2 Turn work, Sl 1, then p 1 across needle.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2, complete 15 rows, ending with a purl row and RS facing.

TURN HEEL

Row 1 Sl 1, k 13 (13, 10), ssk, k 1, turn.
Row 2 Sl 1, p 5, p2tog, p 1, turn.
Row 3 Sl 1, k 6, ssk, k 1, turn.
Row 4 Sl 1, p 7, p2tog, p 1, turn.

Cont in this manner, working one more st before dec on each row until 14 (14, 12) sts rem. Knit across.

GUSSETS

Pick up 12 (12, 8) sts along the side of the heel flap, M1 in loop between heel flap and instep needle, cont Pattern Stitch across 2 (2, 1) instep needle(s), M1 in loop between instep needle and heel flap, pick up 12 (12, 8) sts along other side of heel flap. Divide heel sts between Needles 1 & 4 (1 & 4, 1 & 3). Work 1 rnd knitting M1 sts tog with 1st and last instep sts, maintaining pattern on instep sts.

Rnd 1 (Dec) Knit to 3 sts from end of first needle, ssk, k 1. Work pattern on instep sts. K 1, ssk, knit rem sts on last needle.
Rnd 2 Work even, maintaining pattern on instep sts.
Rep Rnds 1 and 2 until heel needles have 12 (12, 9) sts each - total 48 (48, 36) sts.

FOOT
Work around in pattern as est until foot is 1 1/2” less than desired length from back of heel.

TOE

Adult
Rnd 1 (Dec) Work until 3 sts rem on Needle 1, k2tog, k 1. K 1, k2tog, k rem sts on needle 2. K to last 3 sts on Needle 3, k2tog, k 1. K 1, ssk, k rem sts on Needle 4.
Rnd 2 Knit.
Rep Rnds 1 and 2 three times more, then work Rnd 1 only until 4 sts rem on each needle. Combine sts from Needles 1 and 4 on one needle and sts from Needles 2 and 3 on one needle.

Child
Rnd 1 (Dec) Work until 3 sts rem on Needle 1, k2tog, k 1. K 1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k 1 on Needle 2. K 1, ssk, k rem sts on Needle 4.
Rnd 2 Knit.
Rep Rnds 1 and 2 until 8 sts rem on instep needle and 4 sts each on Needles 1 and 3. Combine sts from Needles 1 and 3 onto one needle.

FINISHING

Graft toe sts together as follows: Holding the 2 needles parallel with wrong sides of fabric together, thread a blunt tapestry needle with one of the yarn ends and 1) insert it as if to knit through the first st on the front needle and let the st drop from the needle. 2) Insert the needle into the second st on the front needle as if to purl and pull the yarn through, leaving the st on the needle. 3) Insert the needle into the first st on the back needle as if to purl and let it drop from the needle, then 4) insert it as if to knit through the second st on the back needle and pull the yarn through, leaving the st on the needle. Repeat 1-4 until all sts are gone. When finished, adjust tension as necessary.

Woman’s socks Fold hem at yo/k2tog row to inside and slip st loosely so sock will slip easily over foot.

2

I would swatch in the main st pattern:

STITCH PATTERN (6 st repeat)
Rnds 1 & 3 *K 1, p 2, k 3; rep from * around.
Rnd 2 and all even rounds Knit.
Rnds 5 & 7 *K 4, p 2; rep from * around.
Rnd 8 Knit.

3

Thanks Kel!! :thumbsup:

KNITBIT :XX:

4

Ok, this is gonna be a silly question…but oh well…

The guage is supposed to be knit on dpn’s? Right? Just want to make sure. So knit in the main swatch pattern below on dpn’s? I’m just saying cuz sometimes I notice some patterns that are a dpn/circular pattern; say to knit on straight needles or whatever for the guage…so just thought i’d ask.

STITCH PATTERN (6 st repeat)
Rnds 1 & 3 *K 1, p 2, k 3; rep from * around.
Rnd 2 and all even rounds Knit.
Rnds 5 & 7 *K 4, p 2; rep from * around.
Rnd 8 Knit.

5

oooh. I dont know about that one. shrugs shoulders

6

Hm… I always check my gage on st st. Though it would be curious to find out how the pattern will change that; but as far as I know, gage is generally done off st st unless the pattern states othewise (sometimes it will).

And as for doing a gage check on straits or in the round, here’s two schools of thought.

  1. Doing it on strait needles: When you knit back and forth on strait needles, your gage may be off a bit from working in the round because knitters tend to use different tension between knit and purl rows. However, it can give you a good aproximation of what your gage will be. It really shouldn’t matter whether you do it on dpns or not, except that it’s certainly possible that the ACTUAL diameter of the needles may be slightly different between brands/styles of needles. All size 5 needles are not exactly the same diameter, though they are probably really close. This is due to manufaturing technique etc. I’d work on the needles you were going to knit you socks in.

  2. Doing it “in the round” on strait needles: This is a strange technique that many swear by. It allows you to check your gage using only knit stitches, just like you would create working in the round. The explanation is a little wierd.

CO a number of stitches on dpns (or circular needles, as it works the same for them), do a garger edge if you want. Then knit the first row of the gage test section. Instead of turning the work (you will in fact not turn the work again), slide the stitches over to the other end of the needles. The working yarn, which would normally be coming from the first stitch on the end of the needle, will now be coming from the last stitch on the needle. Loop the feed yarn around the back of the fabric to bring it around to the first stitch and begin to knit with it. Knit across the row. When you get to the end, slide the stitches to the other end of the needle, loop the yarn across the back, and begin to knit again. Repeat.

What this will do is create a swatch of st st with lots of strands across the back. You can snip the strands so they are not loops so the swatch will more comfortably lay flat when you measure your gage. Let me know if this doesn’t make sense, and I will knit up a test swatch, take some pictures, and show you visually.

I guess the “proper” way of testing a swatch for in the round knitting is using method 2. Most books will tell you to do it that way.

However, for what it’s worth, I use method 1. I’ve found that my gage is pretty darn close working flat and working in the round. Granted, that’s taking into account my personal knitting style and it may not work for you.

7

Thank You Yellowness for your VERY informative post. :thumbsup: I really appreciate it. :smiley:

Ya, I had read that too somewhere…as far as the gauge goes. If the pattern doesn’t specify how to knit up the swatch, to do it in St st.

So…if I go ahead and knit up the swatch in St st. I should be able to do it on my size 3 dpn’s? (Cuz I don’t have size 3 straight needles).

Ok, I think I understand what you mean as far as doing the St st on the dpns. So umm knit the first row…then slide it to the other side instead of turning the work then purl? Then slide to other side and knit? Am I hearing you right?

Thanks again for your help. :cheering:

KNITBIT :XX:

8

You’re going to knit every row; that’s what all that sliding business is going to allow.

Were you turning the work, you would have to alternate knit and purl rows… but since you are working with the same side of the fabric facing you always, you will knit every row - just like you would in the round.

Go ahead and knit your swatch on your dpns. There’s nothing to stop you from doing that at all. They are, after all, regular needles without a bobble on the end. They’ll work fine whether you work flat, alternating knit and purl, or simulate in the round, by squishing across to the other side and knitting every row.

9

Thank you so much for explaining the swatch/dpn/gauge situation. :smiley: A HUGE help!!

Hehe…I’m currently working on the “Martha Poncho” and was getting a bit bored. I wanted to learn to knit socks in the WORST way…but, figured i’d finish the poncho first. But then was like the heck with it…i’m gonna do the socks also on the side…and switch between the 2 projects. So hopefully in the next day or 2 I get start the swatch now that I know what to do. :happydance: Gotta find time when I can focus on the socks. When my kids are in school probably.

Thanks again Yellowness!!
KNITBIT :XX: