Cybersocks
Sideways Cuff Socks

On-line Socknitting Classes with Carol Griffin

Introduction

Learn to knit socks a la "Carol's Garter Cuff Sock" as shown at Socknitter Photo Pages

This is not a sock pattern. Instead it is a gathering of techniques that you can utilize in any sock at any time. This 'class' will include sideways garter stitch cuff, picking up sts from the edge of garter stitch to knit in the round, a shortrow yarnover heel, a simply shaped arch with ribbing, and fitted toes. At any time during the knitting of these socks, you may prefer to substitute your own favorite technique for the ones described here.

Yarn

Look through your stash or shop for sock yarn. Generally two balls will make an average pair of socks. If you want to make a really large sock and/or a longer leg...or incorporate a fancy Aran stitch design,  have extra yarn on hand to be on the safe side.

Any size sock yarn from fingering weight to bulky is fine. Use a set of 5 [preferably] dpns that are the appropriate diameter for your yarn. If you like the alternated color in the cuff seen in the picture above, you need to find a contrast color [CC] that goes with your yarn. The CC is not necessary, however, but does show off the garter cuff nicely. I have only done this sock in wool, but see no reason for it not to work using other fibers or combinations of fibers.

My sock was done in Koigu Premium Merino Handpaint.

Needles

I used two sets of 5 each [because I like to work both socks at the same time] of size 1 needles. Koigu may be worked on size 1 or 0 needles, or up to size 3 needles, depending on personal preference for
fabric density. I will do my next Koigu sock on size 0 or 00 needles, as the yarn is tightly spun and has a great deal of stretch on the foot. I did knit the sock three times on needles of descending size. Even on size 1, I find this sock is a bit roomy for my taste.

Gauge

Hate doing gauge swatches and counting stitches to arrive at gauge? No swatch is necessary to size this sock. You may want to work a needle-size swatch to determine your needle-size preference. Think about how wide you want your cuff to be. Note that this cuff is worked back and forth, grafted together, and then turned edgewise to pick up sts for the circular knit leg...so, the term width here means from the top edge of the cuff to the bottom edge where the sts will be picked up. The number of sts you cast on
[CO], will determine this cuff width measurement.

For a standard ribbed cuff, you would be casting on for the circumference of your leg. This cuff is different. It is a straight, maybe 10 to 20 sts wide [your decision], band that becomes a tube when the CO is grafted to the last row of the band. This garter cuff is very flexible and fits my leg right up
to the knee [I did legwarmers in the sideways garter]. I did add ribbing to the bottom of my legwarmers, but guess what!...the garter hugs the leg wonderfully well while the ribbing is saggy and baggy.

My cuff is about 3.25 inches wide. The leg after the cuff and before the heel measures about the same. You can do more cuff and less leg or vice versa as you wish. If you are making this sock for yourself, you need no measurement. You'll just fit it as you work it.  If it's for someone else, you need to get a leg circumference and foot length measurement.

There are two assignments you will need to review before moving on to Lesson One.

Cybersocks Assignment one  Crochet or Itsy Bitsy Spider Cast On

Cybersocks Assignment two  Kitchener Stitch or grafting

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Copyright 1999 by Carol T. Griffin. All rights reserved. This material may be used by individuals for personal use only. It can be distributed to and shared with others as long as it remains fully intact, including this copyright notice. It may not be sold, used to produce items for sale, or used on a web page or in a compilation or archive without written permission from the author.