Tips for Your Toes
Hello dear knitalong knitters!
More students have forged ahead, some finishing their socks and wrestling with the bind-off, some feeling great success after turning the heels.
For those of you still on the toe (which is where we are officially in the knitalong), I have gathered another handful of tips and tricks inspired by reader questions and comments.
If you are already knitting the foot of your sock (you overacheiver), skip to the bottom of this post - I have guidance for you on how far to knit the foot before beginning the heel gusset increases.
Tips For Not Losing Your Cast-On Stitches: Part 2
"Also, instead of cutting the tail to preclude working with it, I've found it helpful to weave it in if I'm satisfied with my CO row. That way, the tails are out of my way, and I continue knitting with the toes already shaping themselves into little pockets."
For Those Struggilng with M1s: Is There a Way to Do Easier Increases?
For them, and you, I've made the following video:
How to Do a KFB (Knit Front-and-Back) Instead of M1 on Toe-Up Socks
What If You Need To Re-Do One Sock? Can You Take It Off And Just Fix That One Sock And Then Put It Back On The Two-at-at-Time?
Here's how to do so correctly.
How to Remove One or Both Socks from Two-at-a-Time Needles to Unravel and Put Back On
Tips On Reading A Pattern If It Gets Confusing
In most cases, the knitters have solved their problems by reading problem bits of the pattern
1) Out loud,
2) To a friend, or
3) Writing an email to me with the parts that were confusing, and explaining what they've done.
When you read a pattern out loud or explain it to someone else, 90% of the time you notice what you didn't notice when you were reading it to yourself.
Common Confusion: Total Stitch Count
1) In Magic Loop, the sock stitches are divided in half. Half the stitches are on the heel needle, and half are on the instep needle. The total stitches of the sock are the total of the entire sock.
2) When doing two-at-a-time, do not add the stitches of both socks together. The numbers in the pattern are for one individual sock at a time.
Next Steps: Finish Increasing for the Toe and Knit the Foot
You'll have a while to knit this next section. Follow the directions in your sock pattern and in your Toe-Up Sock class videos to finish increasing for the toe and knit the foot of your sock.
Knit the Foot Until...
There is a section and video in your Toe-Up Socks class that shows you exactly where that is.
For the faux-heel-flap socks, you'll knit until your knitting the specified number of inches FROM THE BACK OF YOUR HEEL.
Be aware - the faux-heel-flap socks pattern does not measure from the toe but rather from the back of the heel.
Leave a Comment with Questions
I'm here to help you if you have questions! I've created 7 new videos this month based on student questions, and if there's anything confusing that's not already answered in your class, I'll be happy to write up solutions and/or create new videos to solve your sock problem.
Happy knitting!
Hi liat,
Your videos are excellent. I am now trying the faux heel flap sock. A couple questions Are the markers for toe increase just so you don’t forget to m1 at end. The M 1 is always the second and second to last stitch correct? Can i use kfb for this. I still find the M1 r so fiddly with fingering yarn. Any tips? Will this ever get easier? I read somewhere if doing kfb to do on first stitch and second to last so little bumps line up. Any thoughts?
On the faux heel flap i don’t see the seed stitch heel instruction. Is that somewhere else? What flap do you like best? I also have trouble recognizing wrapped stitch with fingering yarn for picking up later. Any tips on that as well. It seems like outside the six unwrapped all stitches on each side are wrapped. What would happen if I didn’t pick them up? Some patterns say pick up if you choose
Also during heel construction stitches seem to be “very loose” not sure if I am doing something wrong? In general with size 2 needle and fingering yarn stitches seem looser.
For one sock at a time would you still recommend 47 inch loop?
Sorry so many questions
Hi dear,
What wonderful questions! Thank you so much for answering them. I will answer each one in-depth tomorrow. Looking forward to it!
Thanks for your patience.
Cheers,
Liat
Hi there!
I reviewed the pattern and removed the reference to markers in the toe instructions. I think it’s just confusing. You can download the updated pattern here:
https://www.knitfreedom.com/free-pattern/toe-up-socks-faux-heel-flap-fingering/
You can definitely use KFB instead of M1 for the toe increases. Here’s a video:
https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/kfb-instead-of-m1r-on-toe-up-socks-easier-toe-up-sock-increases/
It will absolutely get easier! You will learn how to manipulate the stitches with your fingers to allow more room to insert the needle tip. But when you are just starting out, a sharper needle like Addi Lace will make increases easier.
See this blog post:
https://www.knitfreedom.com/blog/are-you-using-the-right-tools-for-the-job-comparing-knitting-needles/
I have added instructions for the slip-stitch heel to the faux-heel-flap pattern (see link to download above).
I like both the Slip-Stitch Heel and the Eye-of-the Partridge Heel stitch patterns. I think they’re both super-fun. The Eye-of-the-Partridge Heel is a bit fancier. :)
Outside the six unwrapped stitches in the middle, all stitches SHOULD be wrapped! That’s correct. I think nothing bad would happen if you didn’t pick up the wraps. Here are my videos on picking up wraps:
https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/wrap-and-turn-short-rows/
https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/pick-up-and-hide-purl-wraps-wrap-and-turn-on-the-purl-side/
The stitches on your heel may be loose if your yarn is not very stretchy and you are not feeling very comfortable yet. As you get more confident your tension will improve. But it may be the case that your yarn is sort of stiff. If you don’t like the look of your stitches you should go down a needle size or two, or use different yarn. But if these are your first socks I wouldn’t worry about it.
For one sock at a time, 40-inch needles may be more comfortable, but there’s nothing wrong with using a 47-inch needle. The trouble usually happens the other way around, when you try to use a 40-inch needle to do two-at-a-time. That is not very fun.
I hope this helps!
Hugs,
Liat
Hi there! I am still on the toe and have started over numerous times. Now I have 19 stitches on one needle and 20 on the other. Do I have to start over? I thought I had done all the increases but I guess I missed one. Thanks, Nancy
I’m not sure how I did it but I fixed it!!!
Nancy this is fabulous! I’m so glad to hear it. In the future (like on the gusset, where you will be increasing as well and you may forget an increase or two), this video may help you:
https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/forgot-to-increase-for-fleegle-heel-gusset/
Yes – sorry my mind was working in a different way: like gusset or height of heel part before start knitting up ankle. 🙃
(I’m not sure gussett was right word- mean heel part)
Hi Julie!
Ok so I didn’t exactly answer your question and I think I don’t really understand it. Can you tell me exactly where you are stuck, and what pattern you are using? What problem have you run into while knitting?
Thanks,
Liat
Hi Liat, In today’s email, you said: “Increase for basic socks until your knitting reaches the front of your ankle.
For the basic toe-up sock, you’ll knit the foot until your knitting reaches the front of your ankle.
There is a section and video in your Toe-Up Socks class that shows you exactly where that is.”
Where is that video and section. For some reason, I’m not seeing it. Thanks! gayle
Hi Gayle,
Whoops! Sorry about that. I investigated the Knitting Superstar class and I see that the tips about when to start increasing for the foot are not there! I’ve added it now.
Go to your Knitting Superstar class (https://www.knitfreedom.com/my-classes/knitting-superstar/part-iii-toe-up-socks/ch-9-project-toe-up-socks/) and scroll down to the part where it says “Knit Foot.”
I hope this helps!
Hugs,
Liat
Liat and team,
I have a question about the toes. I keep getting purl stitches when i have increased about 4 stitches when the toe starts to form a little pocket. Am I turning the work wrong? Also does the working yarn always come from the bottom needle or the needle that has the stitches on the cable?
Thanks for you help
Angie
Hi Angie,
Great questions! I’m so glad you commented here to ask. Yes, it sounds like something’s going wrong there, and I think the purl stitch issue is related to your confusion about where the working yarn should be. Usually when you see purl stitches on the outside of your work it’s because you’ve forgotten to come back to Ready Position and you accidentally start knitting back the wrong way.
I’m going to recommend two videos for you. Please let me know if these help:
https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/going-the-wrong-way-getting-turned-around-on-magic-loop/
https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/knitting-into-judys-magic-cast-on-back-needle/
I’m done. I wish the pattern had been more specific on measuring the foot from the heel; the socks were a little too long for me. I’ll give them to my bigfoot daughter. I found myself surprisingly rusty on magic loop even though I had been using it with other projects recently, but I was able to get on track. I think using a 47″ needle is much too long for a pair of socks; the loops were getting in the way, so I switched to a 40″, which was much more manageable. This was the first sock project I ever finished. I am not a fan of the heel. Are there other heels that can be used in toe-ups? My next socks will be top down, for the experience. I have a challenging pattern, so I will learn a lot from it. I find myself reverting to your videos for techniques and refreshers, and I am very happy to have them.
Hi Helen,
Thanks for your comment and congratulations for finishing your socks!! You now have many more socks in your future. There are so many cool patterns out there.
Which pattern did you use, the Faux-Heel-Flap?
If you didn’t like that heel, you may like the Fleegle heel (a VERY popular toe-up heel) that is in our basic toe-up sock pattern.
https://www.knitfreedom.com/free-pattern/toe-up-socks-beginner-magic-loop-fingering/
There are also other popular heels like Cat Bordhi’s “Sweet Tomato” heel and the afterthought heel. I don’t teach them on my site but a quick Google search will get you all you need.
We have a basic top-down sock pattern on KnitFreedom as well as videos showing how to knit top-down socks two-at-a-time (it’s all in the cast-on).
https://www.knitfreedom.com/free-pattern/top-down-socks-beginner-magic-loop-fingering/
https://www.knitfreedom.com/knitting-video/liats-limitless-cast-on-for-two-at-a-time-anything/
Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help.
Cheers,
Liat
When you say this:
“ Be aware – the faux-heel-flap socks pattern does not measure from the toe but rather from the back of the heel.”
Do you have now or can you please make a picture showing this area exactly- have arrows pointing to back and bottom of “heel inches”?
Hi Julie!
Good question. Yes, I’d be happy to make a drawing of this for you. In the meantime, here’s what I suggest you do: stand on a piece of paper and use a pen to make a mark directly behind your heel. This is the “back of the heel.”
You can then try your sock on and measure from the knitting to the back of the heel.
Does this help?
Cheers,
Liat