If you’re going to go to the trouble of knitting a pair of socks, they should fit you properly. A well-fitted sock is more comfortable to wear, and will last much longer. Socks should be worn with a little bit of negative ease—that is, they should be smaller than the foot (and leg) they’re to cover.
How long should the foot of a knitted sock be?
Knit the cuff to your desired length (1 to 2 inches for anklets, 6 to 8 inches for standard socks). Keep in mind that if you make very long cuffs, it may be necessary to start out with more stitches, because your leg gets wider toward the top.
Do knitted socks stay up?
A sock that stretches to fit will stay up on your leg, and stay in place on your foot. A common problem cited with hand-knit socks is that the legs don’t stay up: in many cases, this is simply because the sock is made too big.
How much shorter than your foot should you knit a sock?
The circumference of your socks should be about one inch smaller than the measurement around the ball of your foot. From heel to toe, your socks should be about one inch shorter than the length of your foot.
What is negative ease in knitting socks?
Negative ease concerning socks means that the finished sock circumference measures smaller than the intended wearer’s foot circumference. … If you knit your sock to your exact measurements, you’ll have ill-fitting socks that won’t stay on and won’t support all the foot contours, leaving floppy glops of fabric.
How do you shrink hand knit socks?
Shrinking Socks by Drying. Soak your socks. Getting your socks wet with warm or hot water before putting them in the dryer will help them react to the heat better and shrink more, faster! Set the dryer to the hottest setting for cotton or polyester socks.
How many stitches should I cast on for socks?
If you knit from the top-down, as a rule of thumb, you’ll need to cast on around 14 or 15 stitches per needle (56 or 60 stitches total) if you have a regular woman’s size and 16 or 17 stitches per needle (64 or 68 stitches total) for a regular men’s size.
Should I swatch for socks?
A properly dense sock fabric will last longer and feel better on your feet, and if you’re knitting to an existing pattern, matching gauge will make sure the socks come out precisely the right size. To determine your gauge, you’ll need to knit a swatch that’s about 6” (15 cm) in circumference.
How many stitches does a child need for a sock?
Cast on 40 (44) stitches. Divide sts evenly onto three needles and join for working in the round, placing marker for beginning of round. Work in 2×2 Rib for 1 inch. Continue in Stockinette stitch (knit every stitch in every round) until piece measures 2 1/2 (3) inches.
How long should the leg of a sock be?
You want your socks to stretch some on the feet, to adjust for the “stretch” factor. The length of the leg of a sock for short socks is “F”, and this usually averages around 6 inches.
Are knitting socks worthwhile?
Knitting socks in wool will keep your feet from getting stinky. On the other hand, if you knit your own socks, you can choose the fiber mix that works for you. Wool is antimicrobial, which means less smelly socks. There are cotton blends for those of you who like your feet to be a little cooler.
Are hand knitted socks worth it?
When made correctly, hand knit socks are incredibly comfortable. A pair of socks is a relatively quick and easy project. Socks are great skill builders. There are various ways to do the shaping of the toes and heels, with stitches and techniques that you will encounter in larger projects.
How long does it take to knit a pair of socks?
It takes me about two to three weeks to knit an adult male-size pair of socks using fingering yarn and size US 1 needles. With needles in size US 2, they will be finished in about two weeks. Regular adult-sized socks made with worsted yarn and size 4 or 5 needles take me about a week.