I have tried and tried to cast on for toe-up socks, but fumble-fingered me has not been able to master it. I have basically watched and tried tried many different ways, but can’t seem to do it. Any ideas? Anyone? I’m a leftie as well, so….
Toe-Up Sock Cast-on
I feel your pain. I couldn’t manage dpn toe up socks. But have no problem using flexi flip then transfer to dpn when toe finished.
Have you tried toe-up star toe? It seems a bit easier than casting on all the sts with the turkish cast on. This tutorial suggests Judy’s magic cast on as an alternative to turkish cast on although you would only need to cast on 8sts either way.
What about cuff-down?
I believe it is the casting on itself that I have trouble with. I did manage do a provisional cast-on, with a crochet hook chain. Then worked the loops and managed a pretty loose looking barn toe. But, tore it out as it was way too loose. It was around the time when I had to stop knitting completely for awhile, because I was having problems with my hands.
That video looked like I just might be able to do it.
This video is for a sock started with an ordinary long tail cast on. I’ve not done it so can’t say I would or wouldn’t like it. The intro ends about 2:00. They have another video on starting the sock and one for the heel.
Another way to start without a closed cast on. Again, I’ve never used it so can’t comment from personal experience.
I’ve been told that using a provisional cast on and closing it with a Russian graft works too. Another one I’ve never done.
I managed to learn Judy’s magic cast on when I started knitting socks and have stuck with it. I’ve used a figure 8 cast on in the past. I never managed the Turkish cast on. I realize that that what works for me doesn’t work so well for other knitters so I notice other ways to start socks. I hope you figure out your solution without a lot more trouble.
When working cuff down, some are making a pointy toe where one decrease 4 stitches each round until something like 8 stitches remain. Then one cut the working yarn and thread it through all the stitches and tighten to close the hole. This could be done toe up too:
Cast on something like 8 stitches using provisional cast on. Join in the round and begin your increase rounds. Once the toe is ready, remove the scrap yarn used for provisional cast on and with a needle pull the tail through the stitches and tighten to close the hole.
(I am not using this method, I prefer Turkish cast on for toe up socks.)
Have you knitted a cuff down sock before? Jump to the toe instruction and use your provisional to cast on the right number of stitches working the toe as you are familiar. If it is like the image with the red toe, then the provisional would be the line of color change.
Will this help?
With a crochet provisional, remember that crochet stitches are bulkier than knit stockinette stitches. Might this have stretched out your previous attempt.
But I have only worked toe up socks. Those socks are now fast on to 15 us old but still on the needles.
I left them half way up the calf, as I had not decided on where or how often to increase. Don’t tell anyone. When I do finish them I want to honestly say my hand knit sock are 15+ years old and haven’t worn out yet.
Deal! I decide when to increase by trying them on. I just did elbow length arm warmers that way.
I have knitted lots of top down socks, but it seems I am becoming attracted to patterns for toe-up. I am going to try the Turkish cast on using the magic loop. This was from one of the kind souls who have responded to my post. I just have to finish my first pair of top town Knee Socks from Winwick Mum. Over half done now, so I will be getting into the Turkish cast on soon.
Thanks for your input.
That is true procrastination, alright!
One thing I always do, is constantly worry whether I will have enough yarn whatever the knitting project is.
I am thinking you are quite right regarding the loose provisional cast-on making the toe to loose. I am (as I said last evening) going to master the Turkish Cast-on on the Magic loop.
Liltylady/
Wendy-Lynne MacKinnon
”Attitude is the paint brush that colours your life!”
Hi again, I watched the Video for the Turkish Cast-on and it worked, using the Magic Loop method. Now I have to pick the toe style (I may use the Star method). Now what I need to figure out is how to get the stitches put on dpns. I like using dpn. And at this point, I don’t think I want to continue on the circular needle.
Any ideas would be welcome.
That sounds as a good plan! When I begun with toe up socks, I ripped and begun over I do not know how many times before I got a result I was happy with. But I learned the techniques.
You just knit the stitches over to DPNs. I also prefer DPNs over circulars.
Good for you for working out Turkish cast on. It is a pretty one. I’m firmly in the dpn camp myself.
Great to hear about your success with the Turkish cast on.
Maybe you’d like to cast on with the dpns rather than the magic loop.
Here’s a video
I’m so glad you found what works for you. Now if I could just manage the Turkish cast on … Seriously, I gave up on it.
Most of the time I use DPNS for Turkish cast on and it is nothing I would recommend at this stage considering what the OP wrote about difficulties in doing the cast on. Having stiff needles makes the task so much more difficult.
Addi FlexiFlips ( https://www.amazon.com/addi-FlexiFlips-Pointed-Knitting-Needles/dp/B078VYJG7H ) could be a good solution for the toe section.
Last pair of toe up socks I used Judy’s magic cast on with hiyahiya flexible dpn for the toe then went to regular dpn after I got past that point because I just could not seem to master the toe with regular dpn. But next sock I think I’ll try the Turkish cast on. Thanks for that video earlier in the post. Knitting is a bit of trial and error and there always seems to be another way to try, that might work better. That’s what makes this craft so interesting and one’s knitting so constantly evolving.
I always now use a Turkish cast on and “the Knitting Swede’s” round toe for toe up. This took PRACTICE and many aborted attempts. Many. But I persevered. It’s now my favourite cast I and my always-go-to. It’s finicky to get started but so worth the effort. Practice. Practice. I can do it easily now.