I’m hoping you sock fanatics can help me. I recently made a pair of socks with sock yarn on #3 DPN"S and used the long tail cast on, casting on 54 stitches. The socks turned out great for a beginners first pair. However, they aren’t as tightly knitted as I like. So I have started another pair. This time I have used the same cast on method, the same yarn, but I have increased to 60 stitches and changed to #2 DPN"s. After making one inch of 1x1 ribbing I stopped to see how wide it will stretch. It isn’t nearly enough. So now I will have to start over yet another time. Please, tell me the steps you go through to get a good fit. I wear a size 7 1/2 shoe. How many stitches do you cast on and which cast on method do you use? :shrug:
I think that how many stitches you cast on depends a lot on your gauge. Personally, I tend to knit about middle of the road as far as tight/loose, and a 56 stitch sock is about right for me on a US2 needle. But that could be different for different people.
I would HIGHLY recommend to you the book called Sensational Knitted Socksby Charlene Schurch. It has charts for nearly ANY possible gauge and for many foot circumferences so that you are pretty much guaranteed a perfect fit as long as you measure your gauge properly.
Thanks knitqueen. Which cast on do you use?
Have any of you used the Alternate Cable Cast-On?
It is in the cast on section on this site.
I use a regular long tail cast on with the two needles held together so the cast on is loose. I’ve never had problems with the cuff ending up too tight.
Another suggested resource, that I just happened to check out from my library today, is “The Purl Stitch” by Sally Melville". On page 118 she has a chart of needle size, stitch gauge and resulting circumferences. She suggests going 1/2-1" less than the actual foot circumference – so you don’t end up with a baggy sock.
Good luck with your socks! Socks are next on my project list. I already bought two different skeins for socks.
I love the books by Sally Melville, the author of the book you mention and one on the knit stitch as well. Plus others. I happen to have it checked out too. I’ll go back and re read it.
I think that I should also do another gauge test. With me knitting these tighter and on #2’s instead of #3’s as before, that is probably the cause of my problem.
The tighter 1x1 rib looks better too than the 2x2 that I used on the first pair. Thanks.