Monday, April 25, 2016

I don't know what size these socks really are.

My friend Clare brought me some lovely yarn from her last trip to England. It is West Yorshire Spinners yarn. This Pheasant colorway is from their Country Birds line. It was super fun to knit up and watch the stripes change.


I did have two knots in this ball which is why the stripes do not line up exactly. I couldn't knit with them without cutting and joining, because that knot would've irritated a foot. Good thing I don't care, I still think they are striking.

Here's the thing, this pair of socks was most definitely a "please Universe, let me have a few rows of knitting in my life before the insanity sets in." It was late. I admit, I used these socks as a coping mechanism for a few nights of insomnia.

Therefore as pretty as they are, I'm not sure what size they are. I thought they were my size, but they blocked bigger. I don't mind. I have enough yarn leftover to make myself some ankle socks and I think they will make a friend with bigger feet happy. Hand knit socks are happiness, right?

Anyhow, on the note of bigger feet and gifting knit socks I have been eyeing this chart from Zappos. What do you think? Useful? What method do you use to knit someone's "size"?

Good stitches and good sleeping to you. Catch you soon loony tunes. :)

20 comments:

  1. Gifting socks is so hard. I can hardly figure out my own size with my feet right here nevermind someone whose feet I am not well acquainted with. Those are charming though. That is a lovely and unusual stripe.

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  2. I love those socks!

    I have used an online tool to make socks for others, once I determine their shoe size. So far I've been lucky, and it's worked just fine.

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  3. Great socks...I love the name of the yarn, Pheasant!
    I have family members with slightly larger feet so if they are too big for me I know where to send them!

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  4. For knitting various sizes of socks, I use the chart in Charlene Schurch's book, Sensational Knitted Socks.

    Love the way your Pheasant colorway striped.

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  5. I think I'm such a loose knitter that socks always fit since they have so much give.

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  6. Ha! I knit, too, when I can't sleep. Love the socks. As for fit, I either measure or keep my fingers crossed.....

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  7. Cool socks! I guess at the size...seriously. I dont have to . I have a foot chart call SOCK IT TO ME shoe size to Sock Length conversion guide. sockittome@pacvell.net

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  8. i typed it wrong: sockittome@pacbell.net

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  9. I think they are my size!!! I love them. Here's to insomnia, I get it too!
    Hugs,
    MEredith

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  10. These socks look good, Ellen. You can't tell at all. That's a good question. I guess if I were to give someone a pair of socks, I'd try to find out on the sly what shoe size she was.

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  11. Nice socks! I'm a late night knitter myself so I totally get that. I found a free online chart when I was knitting socks for Christmas gifts. I just googled it.

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  12. They turned out really cute.

    I don't really "plan" my sock size. Whoever they fit, they go to them. LOL

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  13. I hope your gift socks fit your person! love them and they look identical to me :)

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  14. that looks pretty darn handy---especially if you don't have the foot near to try on!! a friend gave me a handy dandy little knitting sock guide (cardboard in the shape of a foot) that you slip your knitting onto to tell what size you have. sounds great --and it's cute-- but it's a little awkward to use. Your chart looks better!!!

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  15. I've never used a chart - but there are only a few people I knit socks for. For the ladies with 7-7.5, I knit the sock to seven inches in the foot then start the toe. 8-8.5 is 7.5 inches in the foot and 9-9.5 is 8 inches in the foot
    Most of the men in my life are sizes 10 and 11, and knitting the foot to 9 inches before starting the toe seems to work well.

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  16. I have successfully knit socks for others based on shoe size and I believe I used Cat Bordhi's book New Pathways for Sock Knitters to figure out gauge/stitch count. I honestly can't remember - but I'm pretty sure it was that book. If you know the person well, you can measure their foot.

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  17. I love the socks and especially that the stripes are not strictly uniform. Something in me loves that mismatched thing! I have an old sock sizing chart. I don't know where I got it but it has been in my knitting basket for as long as I have been knitting. Even before I started knitting socks. The sock fairies must have left it.

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  18. Love the socks! I'm going to have to add this colorway to my collection. The chart is handy. For the best fit, Kate Atherley (who is my sock knitting guru) recommends that the sock be about 1/2 inch shorter than the actual foot length and 1 inch smaller than the actual foot circumference. The socks that I've knitted so far have fit great. You do have to be careful with gauge because I am finding that not all fingering weight or sock weight yarns are created equal.

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  19. They look gorgeous! Let me know if you want any other birds! Xxx

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