Fashion Socks - The New Trend!
 Article by KarensVariety.com

Socks are in! Now they are called Fashion Socks. Wear them with dresses and heels or jeans and sneakers. Men, women and children have all discovered this wonderful new accessory.

Choose a pattern, decide on your yarn; bright, pastels, fuzzy, and create an eyecatching accessory for your wardrobe.

Socks come in every design and colour you can imagine. They are a new form of creative fashion expression.  Anyone I have ever talked to who knits socks is passionate about it. Sock knitters have come into their own. No longer do they have to knit practical socks but can give free rein to their creativity.

Once you have mastered the basics, it is an outlet for your imagination. They are easily carried with you, everyone needs them, they can be simple or complicated, you never get bored because there is an infinite number of styles and variations.

There are basic sock types based on their height.

Anklets / Footlets / Sockees (at or below the ankle)
Ankle / Bobby Socks (just above the ankle)
Slack socks (mid-calf)
Knee socks (just below the knee)
Over the Knee Socks (over the knee)

Many different patterns are used. Some are more common, many are combinations and variations on the same theme.
 

Argyle (Tartan)	Arrowhead	Cables	Checkered
Diamonds	Fair Isle	Houndstooth	Plaid
Plain	Ribbed	Striped	Striped

The first section is the Cuff which is usually done in ribbing, knit in the round. The Leg is worked in plain or patterned stitch. At this point, you separate your knitting and work on the Heel Flap on two needles. The heel flap is a square that covers the heel. This is followed by the Heel Turn which has decrease rows to shape the heel. To rejoin the heel to the sock, you pick up and knit stitches along the side of the heel flap. Then you begin knitting in the round again. To shape the Instep Gusset, decreases are again made. Knit in the round to the required Foot length and then begin decreasing for the Toe.

With practice you will eliminate holes but it isn't necessary to despair over any holes you have left as you knit. Close up any holes with a darning needle and yarn.

Common problems are:

Twisting the yarn as you knit. Check your stitches as you knit to be sure your yarn isn't twisting.

Ladders are loose stitches that occur when you knit with four needles (knitting in the round). When you move from one needle to the next, if you don't keep your yarn tight you leave a loose section which shows as your knitting section gets longer.

There are many tutorials on the internet to help you if needed.

Free Sock Pattern

This is a free sock pattern taken from a vintage Beehive Book No. 127, 1944, entitled Socks for Men, Women and Children. There are many more patterns for socks in vintage books which you can download in PDF format. To see the selection of books, Click Here.

Materials:

Beehive Non-Shrink Sock Wool
Beehive Non-Shring Moorland, 3 Ply
(substitute 3 ply sock yarn)
Sock Needles Size 1

Gauge:

8 1/2 sts make 1 inch
12 rnds make 1 inch