Knit Socks - Betsy Lee Mccarthy [9]
• Find home position after you've turned your work around and both needles point to your right;
• Find the needle with the yarn attached, which is the needle tip of the stitches just worked;
• Pull that needle out far enough to give yourself enough slack, that is, make the ear;
• Continue knitting the stitches off the next needle. Continue this process of pulling the cord to create a loop, working across, backing the left needle into a knit-ready position, turning the work around and leaving a loop between stitches, and pulling the needle just used out for another ear.
On the Decrease
Because the decreases that you work for the heel gusset and toe shaping show in the finished sock, it's important to use the decrease method that makes the finished stitches lean in the correct direction. Decreasing by knitting two stitches together (K2tog) results in a right-leaning stitch, whereas decreasing by knitting slipped stitches together (ssk) results in a left-leaning stitch. The patterns specify which of these two to use. Here's how to do them:
K2TOG
For a finished stitch that slants to the right, simply knit two stitches together by inserting the needle into both loops, just as you would to knit. K2tog (knit 2 together) is generally used at the end of a row or round.
SSK
For the method known as ssk (slip, slip, knit the two slipped stitches together), slip two stitches knitwise, one at a time, from your left needle tip to your right. Then, insert the left needle tip from left to right through the front loops of the slipped stitches, and knit the two stitches together from this position. This technique makes a finished stitch that slants to the left on the finished side and is often used at the beginning of a row or round.
A Better SSK?
Some sock knitters prefer using an alternative ssk at the gusset and toe for the shaping. Slip the first stitch knitwise, then slip the second stitch purlwise from your left needle to your right, and knit them together.
On the Increase
Occasionally, you'll need to increase the number of stitches you're working on. This might happen when a pattern on the leg requires more stitches than you used for the ribbed cuff. Either the bar increase or the technique known as “make 1” is appropriate for these sock patterns. Note that when you use make 1, it's important to twist the new stitch so that you don't leave a hole at the point of increase.
BAR INCREASE
This is a tight increase that leaves no hole, but it does show as a short, horizontal bar on the right side of the fabric. Make it by knitting into the front of the loop in the usual way, but do not remove the stitch from the needle. Instead, knit into the back of the same stitch, and slip both new stitches onto the right needle.
MAKE 1
1. Look for the horizontal strand of yarn between the first stitch on your left needle and the last stitch on your right needle. With the tip of your left needle, pick up this strand from back to front.
2. Knit into the front of the bar, which twists the new stitch to the left and avoids any holes.
Adding in New Yarn
When you run out of yarn or need to change yarn colors, try to start the new yarn in a place where it will not be very noticeable, such as in the middle of the sole of the sock or at the beginning of a new round. Here are some ways to add yarn easily:
• Overlap the new yarn with the old, then hold the two yarns together while you work three or four stitches before dropping the old yarn. Leave enough of a tail on both ends so that you can weave them in later with a yarn needle. This is not a good method to use if you're working