Cybersocks
Toe-up Sock
On-line Socknitting Classes with Denise Powell

Introduction

We are fortunate to have Denise Powell, workshop and seminar specialist, as our instructor for this series of Cybersocks lessons - the toe-up sock. She starts us off with a preliminary assignment for different types of Symmetrical Increases so we can learn to make smooth increases in the toe. The entire lesson plan is outlined below.

This is what your completed Toe Up Cybersock will look like. 
Click on the photo for a larger image. Use the back button on your browser to return to this page.

Lesson Plan:
Preliminary Lesson: Symmetrical Increases
Lesson 1: Square Toe Cast On - makes a blunter toe, a little easier than the pointy cast on
Lesson 2: Pointy Cast on - makes a sharper toe, particularly good if you want to make right and left footed socks
Lesson 3: Knitting the foot, Instep Gusset Increases - includes the twist stitch pattern I used for the socks in the photo, but this is optional
Lesson 4: Reverse Dutch Heel - like its namesake, this makes a square heel
Lesson 5: Reverse Round Heel - some people prefer a more rounded heel. Here it is, going backwards!
Lesson 6: Leg, Cuff, Two Stretchy Methods of Casting Off - just like socks from the top down, except you have to make a nice stretchy cast off. Two methods, one easy, one more difficult - but really effective!

Materials you will need:

* Yarn of your choice. I am using Paton's Classic Wool and will need 1 100 gm ball to complete the pair of socks. The lessons will also sometimes show a pair I knitted in Koigu Premium Merino, which required two skeins.
* A set of double-pointed needles that will produce a nice firm gauge with your chosen yarn. For socks, this should be smaller than recommended on most ball bands. For example, Classic Wool shows its gauge as 20 st = 10 cm (5 st/inch) on 4.5 (US &) needles. I used 3.5 needles and worked at 24 st = 10 cm (6 st/inch) * For the Square Toe cast on only, you will also need ONE double pointed needle of a smaller size (I used 2.5 mm).
* A tapestry or yarn needle, for the cast off

Why Start Socks from the Toes Up?

You do not need to know your gauge before you start!!!  You simply have to know that the needles you are using produce a reasonably firm fabric for your yarn.

Don't worry about how many stitches to cast on - the answer is 8 (usually) for the square toe and 4 (always) for the pointy toe.

When you start at the toe, you simply make toe increases until the toe section fits the foot.

You make the foot section long enough to cover the foot up to the front of the ankle.

You make gusset increases for 4 to 5 centimetres (up to 2 inches), then turn the heel and make the backward equivalent of the heel flap.

You can try on the sock at any time.

You can knit the legs until you're almost out of yarn (my favourite technique) or stop sooner if you want. Now on to Lesson one - Square Toe Cast On

Denise Powell
Knitting Design, Workshops, and Talks

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Denise Powell, Copyright 1999. 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.