Crochet Sock Construction Methods

Hello! I've been thinking about how my choice of construction method plays a vital role in creating crochet socks that are both comfortable and fit well. This blog post will initially focus on the two principal methods for crocheting socks, toe-up and top-down, and subsequently look at other construction techniques.

Toe-Up Crochet Sock Construction:

• Easy Fitting: The toe-up method allows for frequent fitting, ensuring a perfect fit throughout the sock making process.

• Gradual Shaping: Shaping the foot is more gradual, potentially resulting in a more comfortable fit.

• Early Enjoyment: You can share photos of yourself on social media wearing the toe portion, providing a sense of accomplishment.

Top-Down Crochet Sock Construction:

• Bulkier Toe: Because you’re starting at the leg, you may have too much fabric around the foot, creating more bulk at the toe.

• Difficult Fitting: Fitting the foot can be more challenging towards the end.

• Less Control Over Fit: Less opportunity for adjustments during the process.

Sideways Crochet Sock Construction:

• Unique Approach: This sock is worked in rows back and forth to create a fabric tube. This method allows for interesting stitch patterns and colourwork possibilities, as the design will flow horizontally along the sock. 

• Short Rows: The heel is often created using short rows or a similar technique to shape the curve. Finally, the toe is closed, and any necessary seams are joined.

• Snug Fit: While it might seem unconventional at first, crocheting socks sideways can be a fun and rewarding way to create a really good fitting sock.

After-thought Heel:

• Popular Technique: Used in both top-down and toe-up socks; a gap is left where the heel will go and on completion of the sock, stitches are picked up to crochet the heel. 

• Fun Designs: This kind of heel can be worked in rows or in the round. I’ve seen some fun examples of a spiral heel too!

Choosing the Right Crochet Sock Construction Method For You:

All these sock construction methods have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, the best method is the one you enjoy working with most and to figure this out, you’ll need to try a few different construction methods. Over time, you will be able to choose the method that best suits your needs, adapt the pattern where necessary and you’ll be able to create a pair of comfortable and stylish socks.

Ready to level up your crochet sock game? Grab my comprehensive PDF sock guide today and discover even more secrets to creating perfectly fitting and beautifully crocheted socks!

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

Spring Shortie Socks for Pattern of the Month in April

Hello! I don't know about you, but I'm so happy we're finally into April! I'm on the east coast of Scotland and the weather has really warmed up, the clocks have changed to BST (signifiying lighter evenings) and it's my birthday month, yay!

To celebrate the arrival of Spring, I've chosen my Lazy Days Shortie Socks for my 10% off April promotion. Get ready to kick back and relax in style with these playful and practical socks. Designed for ultimate comfort, they're perfect for lounging around the house or adding a touch of whimsy to your everyday outfits. Say goodbye to cold toes and hello to happy feet!

These socks crochet up quickly with DK weight yarn and feature a classic heel turn, making them a satisfying project for intermediate crocheters.

Here’s what you’ll love about the Lazy Days Shortie Socks pattern:

Toe-up design with traditional heel flap & gusset: For a perfect fit and classic sock construction.

Easy-to-follow pattern: With detailed instructions and helpful video tutorials to guide you every step of the way.

Multiple sizes available: Adult Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large, ensuring a perfect fit for everyone.

Crocheted with DK weight yarn: For those who read my last blog post and thought "Meh! 4ply yarn takes a-g-e-s to work up", you'll love this as a quick project!
Written in UK terminology.

Dual terms: Digital version written in both UK & US terminology. Printed version is in UK terms only.

NEW!:

There is now a printed version of the pattern available! It's folded A4 size and has been professionally printed on quality paper. UK delivery only for this item (sorry, international shipping is a pain at the moment). It will be posted in a sturdy envelope.

To crochet your own pair of shortie socks, you'll need:

• 100g skein of superwash DK (75% superwash merino/ 25% nylon, 225m/ 100g), I used yarn from The Wool Shed.

• 4.5mm crochet hook

• Needle for sewing in ends

• 3 (cute) stitch markers

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to add a touch of handmade warmth to your wardrobe! Your special 10% discount is only available for the month of April and is valid on digital copies and printed copies. Use the code APR24 on my website and on Ravelry.

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

Your Ultimate Guide To Crocheting Socks

Hello! Over the last few weeks, with my Lazy Days Shortie Sock CAL on the horizon, I've received quite a few questions from subscribers and followers about crocheting socks. So, with this in mind I've created a round up blog post: a resource you can use if you need any information about crocheting socks. It pulls all my years of knowledge & experience, all my techniques & skills together in one place for you. 

Sock it to Me: Measuring Feet for the Perfect Fit: Let's start at the beginning with how to properly measure feet for socks. I pulled my dad in to help with the video to accompany this blog post! This step is super important to get right if you want to create a sock that fits well and feels comfortable all day long. Read post here.

Demystifying Sock Crochet Terms: No More Head-Scratching!: You have your pattern, but help! What on earth do all these terms mean? Don't worry, this blog post demistifies them all for you, no more struggling to decipher abbreviations or confusing techniques. Read post here.

My Pro Crochet Sock Tips: Here's a blog post with my top 5 tips for crocheting socks, a good one to refer to for some sound advice. These tips will help you avoid common mistakes and make the sock crocheting process a smoother and more enjoyable one. Read post here.

Designing Crochet Socks that Fit: A Resource for Designers: If you are a crochet designer, or a budding crochet designer, I have a blog post dedicated to designing crochet socks that FIT. It has some useful pointers for crocheters too about achieving the fit you want. Read post here.

Choosing Colours and Yarn for Perfect Crochet Socks: My oldest crochet sock blog post is from a blog hop back in 2018 (yes, I've been blogging a LONG time!). The topic is choosing colours for socks and has lots of useful tips in it. Read post here.

5 Must-Try Crochet Sock Patterns: Looking for more crochet sock patterns to try? I have a round up blog post with 5 of the best, all tried and tested by me! My top 5 feature a variety of sock styles and difficulty levels, so there's something for everyone. Read post here.

I really hope this round up is useful for you! If you'd like to receive my weekly wisdom on all things crochet, consider subscribing to my mailing list here.

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

my Fiddle Sock pattern

My 5 Tips For Crocheting (or knitting!) Socks

Hello! Today I'd like to share my experience with you and give you my 5 top tips for crocheting (or knitting!) socks! Maybe you've never tried making socks before or perhaps you're a sock addict like me? Either way, there should be something here to help you on your crochet sock journey.

my Banjo Sock pattern

1.  Take each step as it comes. 

Don't go diving in, looking ahead at what comes up next and freaking out about how you're going to manage that heel! Simply look at row 1 or round 1 and take it from there. Follow that round exactly as the instructions tell you and then work onto round 2 and so on. I think when we leap ahead and see the big scary heel - that's when we're more likely to second-guess ourselves and make mistakes early on.

2.  Wind your yarn into two balls (or cakes). 

This is really easy if you're starting with a skein of sock yarn; I simply wind and when I reach the about halfway I pop the yarn on the scales and make sure that I end up with two balls, roughly 50g each. I've shared this tip before and it's one that I find very useful because then I know exactly how much yarn I have for each sock and I'm not panicking about running out of yarn.

3.  Choose yarn with 20 or 25% nylon content. 

This will ensure your socks are durable and washable. There are lots of different types of sock yarn on the market! Commercial sock yarn is a great choice and is typically 75% superwash merino/ 25% nylon. It's especially good for a beginner because it's less expensive meaning you're less likely to be upset when mistakes happen. There are lots of indie yarns dyers out there too, producing all sorts of gorgeous colours to choose from. These tend to have a 20-25% nylon content, perhaps with Blue Faced Leicester instead of merino. There are also smaller yarn companies producing more traditional sock yarn if you want to go for something fancier. At the moment I'm using a sock yarn with 80% Blue Faced Leicester/ 10% Yak/ 10% silk - it's gorgeous to work with!

4.  Work socks two at a time. 

I've shared this tip before and it's a good one to keep your motivation up. It's especially easy to do if you have measured your yarn into equal balls too! If you choose not to work two together it's a good idea, while your motivation levels are high, to jump straight in and start sock no. 2 as soon as you have finished sock no. 1. You can add the hashtag #nosecondsocksyndrome on Instagram - it's a popular one!

5.  Try on your sock as you go. 

This way you will have the perfect fit - you can get the length and width exactly right. Although most sock patterns are customisable you may need to make adjustments and this is easiest to do if you can try your sock on as you work.

my Synthesiser Sock pattern

Did you know that I have multiple crochet sock patterns available on my website and on Ravelry if you're curious and would like to give crocheted socks a go! Check them out today and remember that I'm always here to help if you have any questions.

I hope you found my 5 top tips for crocheting (or knitting!) socks helpful. Why not share with a friend who would find them useful too - help me spread the word.

Don't want to miss my posts? Subscribe to my mailing list today and have them delivered straight to your inbox. There's a FREE pdf waiting for you when you sign up too, with 25 of my best crochet tips!

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx

 

5 of the best crochet sock patterns!

Hello! I'm here today to share 5 of the best crochet sock patterns - tried & tested by me! I love crocheting socks, they're one of my favourite things to make - partly because they're a small project so they work up fast, partly because there's such a beautiful range of sock yarn out there to choose from. Some of these patterns I have Ravelry links to, others require a bit more tracking down as you will see. All the photos below are my versions of them, let's have a look ...

No.1  Tipping The Scales by Joanne Scrace. This pattern was released on Boxing day 2020 as a 5 part mystery crochet along and I remember starting straight away on that day! It's now available as a complete pattern on Ravelry. Written for 7 sizes (baby to adult) this pattern is a fantastic stash buster. I made mine in a UK2, they're tiny! 

No.2  Brickyard Socks by Rohn Strong. One of my favourite sock patterns - I've made about 5 pairs of these! I love Rohn Strong's sock patterns, they're easy to follow and often combine more than 1 colour throughout the sock which keeps things interesting. I had a look online and can only find the pattern in Rohn's book 'Step Into Crochet'. I've crocheted about half the socks in this book, I'd definitely recommend it.

No.3  Sparkler Socks by Vicki Brown. I had a hard job choosing my favourite Vicki Brown sock pattern, I've made quite a few of these too! This design uses linked half trebles (UK terms) to create a lovely flat fabric - perfect for socks. Available in 3 adult sizes, you can download it from Ravelry on its own or as part of a 6 sock pattern bundle which is excellent value. Popping Vicki's website here too, although this pattern isn't on there, many other good ones are!

No.4  Everyone (Needs) Socks by Kat Goldin. This is the first pair of socks I ever crocheted so they're very special (on that note, please excuse my photography - this was back in 2017 and my photography skills have come a long way since then!). I can't seem to find this pattern anywhere online, but it is available in Kat's 2nd crochet book 'Hook, Stitch & Give' - another book well worth investing in. Amazingly it's written for 12 sizes, from baby throught to UK12 and it's very adaptable for different widths.

No.5  is one of my own designs - Fabulous Socks! This is my most purchased pattern and an excellent choice for the first time sock crocheter. It's a toe-up design with extended double crochet stitches for stretch and finished with a ribbed cuff. Designed using Paintbox Yarns sock wool, 100g is enough for each of the 3 adult sizes available. The pattern is downloadable from Ravelry and from my website.

I hope you've found this mini guide useful! I send regular emails to my list covering topics like this, together with discount codes, free patterns, crochet tips & advice. If you'd like to subscribe to my list please sign up here.

Until next time, happy crocheting,

Marta xx