new: I added a
little for my personal favorites!
(Feel free to take my
blinkie!)
I have been a moderator
(or list "auntie") of the huge socknitters list for about four years now,
be warned that it
is a HIGH volume list!! However, you won't find more sock knitting
information anywhere else on the web!
General Sock Knitting Websites
Beginner's Sock Class - This is a fairly new and excellent tutorial. Lots of photos!
Socknitters.com - While not updated often, still the biggest site dedicated to sock knitting.
Socks 101 - Terry's great photo tutorial.
Knitters Review Sock Forum - Another good place to discuss sock knitting.
Socknitters Forum - Back from a recent hack, another good place to discuss sock knitting and view sock knitting ads!
Casting On
Long Tail Cast On - This is the cast on I always use for top-down socks, usually casting on over a double needle, or several size larger needle. JMHO.
Provisional Cast On using a Crochet Hook - I use this one for toe-up socks.
Another Provisional Cast On - This one is from Knitting Fiend and has great pictures.
Knitted-On Cast On - With pictures, plus a lovely cable cast on description, too.
Traditional Thumb Cast On - This isn't the best cast on for top-down sock cuffs.
Twisted German Cast On - This site shows excellent step-by-step photos.
Cable Cast On - Another good one from about.com showing steps and pictures.
Tubular Cast On - I've never tried it, but supposedly it gives a nice, stretchy cuff.
Cast on for Two Circular Needles - My daughter uses this one for all her socks - great directions!
Binding Off
Russian Bind Off - My new, favorite stretchy bind off for toe-up socks! Scroll down to the fourth post (by Spinerella) - it also works with "knit"!!! Try it!!!
Basic Bind Off - I can't seem to do a stretchy enough job with this type of bind off, but many do.
Elizabeth Zimmermann's Sewn Bind Off - An excellent bind-off. A little practice helps to get the tension right. There are other stretchy bind off stitches at this link - most of them I have included in this section.
Peggy's Stretchy Bind Off - From the socknitters website
Denise's Grafted Cast Off - Also w/info on EZ's sewn bind off
Faux Kitchener Bind Off - And several other helpful hints of stretchy bind off techniques
Crocheted Bind Off - With pictures (very nice!) also included is a sewn invisible bind off with pictures.
Italian
Bind Off - I haven't tried this one but it has pictures,
and you might want to check it out.
Grafting (aka Kitchener):
Knittinghelp.com's kitchener video - This is my very, very favorite instruction for the dreaded (not!) kitchener stitch. I downloaded it, learned the tricks and easily memorized the sequence. I can now kitchener in public without directions. Ha ha! ALERT!! It's a movie and it's rather large, I suggest you do a "right click" and download the movie before watching it.
Tata-Tatao.to Kitchener Directions (Really excellent step-by-step pics)
Sock Wizard Kitchener Directions
Knitting Fiend's Kitchener Directions
Queen Kahuna Kitchener Directions - In pdf format; it requires Adobe Acrobat.
Chimney Bind Off (grafting alternative)
Three Needle Bind Off (grafting alternative)
Lucy
Neatby's Toe Chimney (another grafting alternative)
Top Down Toes:
note: short row toes
can be found below in the Short Row section
Star Toe (no grafting) - The star toe is a favorite of knitters as it requires no grafting. I used a star-toe type decrease on my daughter's Rainbow socks. They seem to be wearing well, and she finds them very comfortable. You can find more information on the star toe at the socknitters toe page.
Joan's Favorite (no grafting) Toe - I used a modification of this toe on my son's sockotta socks, it's a very nice one which does not require grafting.
Round Toe Shaping (no grafting)
Basic German Round Toe (no grafting) - This is a lovely and comfortable toe which I used on my mother's opal socks. Note - this is an archived version of the page, some photos are missing but it's still a great toe.
Traditional (Standard) Toe - This traditional toe uses grafting (also called kitchenering) to close the toe stitches. (It's nothing to fear - see several kitchenering links above!) You can find more information on the standard toe at the socknitters toe page. I use this toe on most of my socks!
Heel Stitch Toe - This isn't a pattern, but a pic and description of how I used the heel stitch (k1, sl1) on the toe of a pair of socks. I think the effect was striking.
Toe Up Toes:
Aloha Cast On Toe - In pdf format; it requires Adobe Acrobat. This is a very speedy cast on.
Judy's Phony Grafted Toe- (Archived version)
Easy Rectangle Toe - This is a terrific toe. My (then) 13 year old daughter used it for a pair of Koigu socks she made me; they are extremely comfortable socks, by the way. You also might try Lela's pattern for more detailed directions and see Mary's socks made using Lela's pattern.
Knitting Fiend's Toe Up Cast On - This is an interesting cast on! It looks a bit like the Aloha Cast On, but begins with working one row back and forth before picking up and working rounds. Neat!
Other Toes
SpunMag's Thong Toes/No-Toes - Cute little summer socks with a standard toe, with a thong-toe, and with no toes at all!
Experimental Tabi Socks - You must be a member of socknitters to access this pattern.
Mittentoes - Thong socks.
Opal Sandal Socklets - Barely a sock - just a tiny bit of knitting to wear under your flip flops. In pdf format.
General Heels Information:
Heels, Heels, Heels from the Knitting Geek
'
Traditional Flap-Style Heels - Top Down:
Band Heel Sock - No Gusset (top down) - Oh, how I love this heel. It fits skinny ankles to perfection, it doesn't not require any gusset decrease, and it looks smashing with those self patterning sock yarns.
Traditional Flap & Gusset (eye of partridge) (top down) - an excellent (and printable on one page) description of that eye of partridge stitch.
Traditional Flap & Gusset (stocking stitch) (top down) - Terri's super simple (or beautifully basic) instructions.
Traditional Flap & Gusset (heel stitch) (top down) - The Blueberry Waffle pattern is world famous; it uses the heel stitch and has a clear photo. A few more photos can be found here.
No-Pick Up Gusset Heel (either top down and toe up) Version 1 - This is similar to the "strong" heel in that you increase and knit the heel flap at the same time, so there's no pick up for the gusset. This version has a plain, stocking-stitch heel and is written in a child size.
No-Pick Up Gusset Heel (either top down and toe up) Version 2 - Here's my version done using eye of partridge stitch on the heel. It's worked in an adult size.
French (Round) Heel (top down)- (Archived version)
Dutch (Square) Heel (top down)- (Archived version)
Half Handkerchief Heel (top down) - Scroll down to Twinkletoes Socks pattern. You might also try Nancy Bush's Little Arrowhead pattern.
Lynn H's No Purl Heel (top down)
Flor's
Eclectic Heel (part short-row, part flap) (toe up or top down)-
(Archived version)
Traditional Flap-Style Heels - Toe Up:
Toe Up Flap & Gusset (heel stitch) - this is in pdf format.
No-Pick Up Gusset Heel (either top down and toe up) Version 1 - This is similar to the "strong" heel in that you increase and knit the heel flap at the same time, so there's no pick up for the gusset. This version has a plain, stocking-stitch heel and is written in a child size.
No-Pick Up Gusset Heel (either top down and toe up) Version 2 - Here's my version done using eye of partridge stitch on the heel. It's worked in an adult size.
Flor's Eclectic Heel (part short-row, part flap) (toe up or top down)- (Archived version)
Judy's Putting Me On Heel (flap and gusset) (toe up)- (Archived version)
Denise's Reverse Dutch Heel (toe up) - To do this heel, you must do gusset increases, which are explained on lesson three. The heel itself begins on lesson four.
Short Row Heels and/or Toes
The technique used for short-row heels is identical in toe-up and top-down.and short-row heels is identical, the difference is in the cast-on. If doing toe-up short-row toes, you'll do a provisional cast on. If doing top-down short-row toes, you'll need to kitchener the stitches to end off your sock. If you discover a short-rowing technique which suits you, you might choose to use it for both heels and toes.
Nona Knits' Japanese Short Rows - What a cool technique! This isn't a sock pattern, gives a very interesting twist to the no-wrap short row! And FYI, check out Nona's comparison of the various short row techniques - enlightening!
Hellchick's (wrapped) Toe Up Short Short Row Socks - Remember, though, there is Absolutely No Difference between toe-up short rows and top-down short rows. But here's one with wraps in case you want it! :)
Wendy Johnson's Sock (with wrapping) - Wendy does an excellent job explaining the process of wrapping and double wrapping - it's nothing to fear and makes lovely heels. I've done a few heels this way. Wendy's detailed, pictorial short-row technique is featured in the Winter 2002 issue of Knitty Magazine.
No Wrap Short Row Tutorial - Not a pattern, but a technique for another type of short rowing.
Michelle's Basic Socks aka Hour Glass Heel (no wrapping) - Michelle's technique is the same one used in the Twisted Sisters' Sock Workbook. She does a yarn-over at the beginning of each row instead of the wrapping. I've done one heel this way and found the p3tog and k3tog to be a bit bulky but still lovely. I used it on my son's Ribby Sockotta Socks and my daughter's Tiger Socks.
Purlwise's PGR Short Row Heel Tutorial - Lots of step-by-step pictures for the "yarn over/no wrap" method begun by Priscilla Gibson Roberts. While not a pattern, this will show you how to do PGR's heel technique with ANY sock pattern you choose to use! Excellent!
Oz Yarn's Easy Sock (no wrapping) - This pattern is in .pdf format so you must have Adobe Acrobat installed on your pc in order to view it. This technique has you picking up a stitch in the "gap" left by the short-rowing. Here is a similar unwrapped short row with good pictures. Archived version.
Stasia's Garter Stitch Heel (with wrapping) - There seems to be quite good step-by-step directions, though I've never tried this particular pattern. Archived version.
Ingrid's Unique Wrap Toe & Heel - Ingrid has a unique way of dealing with wraps, whereby you don't need to unwrap and knit that pesky wrap. Special thanks to Vicky for telling me about this one, she says she finds this type of short-row heel much easier. Archived version.
Lucy Neatby's Garter Stitch Heel (wrapping, but no pick-up) - Also in .pdf format. I used this heel recently on a pair of socks for my 5 year-old daughter. She found them very squashy and comfortable, though very wide. (Probably good for wide feet/heels.) And here's a Lucy Neatby Twist on the Japanese Short Row.
Knitting Fiend's Short Row Heels - This is a traditional short row, using wraps.
Other Heels
Afterthought (no gusset, no short-rowing, no grafting) Heel - Dawn Brocco's afterthought heel directions. You must be a member of socknitters to read this post, but it's a great one! Check out the socknitters tutorial for afterthought heels as well.
And be sure to check out:
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