With so many of you knitting socks these days, I thought I would share with you a few of the tips and tricks we have learnt over the years to make sock knitting easier. The first one involves the loose stitches that often occur when joining the round after casting on. If you slip the first stitch cast on onto the last needle, and the last stitch onto the first needle (in effect, crossing the stitches), then proceed with the ribbing, you will find you have a nice firm join. This tip works, of course, any time you have to join a round.
Next, we come to the heel flap. Whatever stitch you decide to use for your heel flap, try knitting the first stitch of
every row. This gives a straighter edge for picking up stitches for the instep and makes counting the rows easier, also adds a little decorative detail to the heel. Talking about picking up stitches, pick up an extra stitch at the end of the 1st needle, right in the corner and also at the beginning of the 4th needle. On the first round, knit this extra stitch (through the back of the loops) together with the first stitch on needle 2 and the last stitch of needle 3. This should prevent a hole from appearing. This trick works well when you are picking up stitches for mitten thumbs!!!
Now we come to the toe and I know what a pain grafting can be. I avoid it as much as possible, especially when I am using fine yarn. Decrease in the usual manner to 12 stitches (or so), knit 2 together all around, break yarn, thread through the remaining stitches and pull up firmly, darn in end.
I know many of you will already be using some of these tricks and perhaps have a few more. We would love to hear them - anything that will make life easier!!
