Stranded Colourwork - Socks

#1

Hi there, hope everyone is well!
I’ve a couple of questions regarding a sock that I’m currently knitting which I’ve made up based on a picture.
Firstly, it has a heel that I’ve not seen before, does anyone know if this type of heel has a name?

1000001094
10000010942000×1128 224 KB

And a question regarding stranding. I’ve worked this by crossing the yarn at the back on every stitch.
1000001113
10000011132000×1128 219 KB

Having since read a few how to’s, it appears that no-one does this. My method obviously means I am continually unwinding the yarns. Just curious to know what others do with colourwork as I’m about to rip it out and do it again.
Although I’m happy with the result, it’s just too big, so ripped it will be - and not for the first time, many trials and errors.
Many thanks
Sarah

1 Like
#2

I’ve not seen that heel either.
On the stranding, if you consistently bring one color up from under the other, the yarns won’t tangle and twist. It’s like this technique.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hzIjTYQS7s
The exception is when you catch a float which necessarily twists the yarns.

1 Like
#3

Ok, that makes sense, what I’m doing is taking each new colour over over the previous colour resulting in twisted bobbins, which, when working 1 stitch horizontal stripes means a lot of unwinding. Attempt 5 won’t be twisted.
Thankyou
Sarah

#4

Your stranded colorwork will look different when you change. Parallel floats (less tangling) will give you color dominance, rotating floats (what you were doing) doesn’t. This may or may not matter to you.

Stranded Colorwork: Parallel and Rotating Floats // Technique Tuesday

I’ll see if I can find info on the heel for you.

#5

How did you work the heel? Toe up, I’m thinking Fleegle, cuff down, Strong heel (named for a person, not that the heel is tougher wearing).

1 Like
#6

Thankyou GG, I think you’ve just answered a question I didn’t ask, is there a different visual result?
The picture of the socks I copied is done wholly in 1 stitch vertical stripes, and I thought it was me (do I need new glasses?) because 1 sock was definitely Blue/pink and the other was Pink/blue. I’m happy you’ve sorted that out for me. I’m thinking I’ll stick with twisting/rotating to avoid a dominant colour.
And thankyou for looking into the name of this heel, I’ve looked and can find nothing.
Thanks again
Sarah

#7

Toe-up, I’ve never worked a cuff down sock.
Started with JMCO, and just worked the standard toe, although for this sock, I did make it for a left foot. Knit 2/3 of the foot , then short rows for the rest of the sole. I made a series of increases on the row where I worked all the double stitches (my short rows are German) and then back to knitting in the round, decreasing the heel flap in the centre and on the sides which created the heel triangle. It was fun. Had about 4 goes until I was happy, then I made it too big!! :joy:
Thanks again for your help GG.
Cheers
Sarah

2 Likes
#8

Just had a look at the parallel/rotating vid. Very helpful and explained a lot. I’m definitely sticking with the very annoying, twisted method :rofl:

#9

This might interest you.

How to avoid 2 balls of yarn twisting, when you knit stranded colorwork. ARNE & CARLOS

#10

It’s a tension problem between the two colors. I like even tension so that there isn’t color dominence. Arne and Carlos also address this with work-arounds so that the tension is even across all the sts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-98son-gSA
I don’t always succeed but it can be done with consistently bringing one strand up from below the other across a row.

#11

I like the effect you have made both inside and outside on that sock. If you feel able to cope with the twisting and untwisting the result is lovely.

Letting the yarn untwist by holding up the balls and dangling the knitting looks very successful in the video.

#12

I’ve long been a dangler! It doesn’t help either that I’m using 2 strands from each ball, 1 from the middle and the other from the outside :roll_eyes:

1 Like
#13

Eek. 2 strands from each ball sounds extra awkward. You don’t feel like winding them separately? Would that even make a difference, I’m not sure.

I wondered if working with loose yarn might be less twisty, but maybe you wouldn’t want additional ends woven inside a sock as it sounds uncomfortable. I dont do socks so I can barely imagine.