Toe up socks with contrasting toes and afterthought heels.

Tip Toe Up

$10 CAD

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As the name suggests, the Tip Toe Up sock is worked from the toe to the cuff and has a completely replaceable heel and toe. This is a skill-building pattern with step by step instructions for Turkish cast on, grafting on the needles, a stretchy sewn bind off with no sewing, forethought heel, and heel/toe replacement included.

A recent 6-page addendum includes Holli’s Top Tip Toe Up Tips:

A Better Way to Minimize Holes;
Detailed Afterthought Heel instructions and photos;
Tips for measuring and placing the heel in the right spot for better fit;
Working with self-striping yarns and coordinating the striping and the heel placement;
Knitting in the Dark, where I explain how to knit long tubes and then put the toes, heels, cuffs on as an afterthought.

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Construction

The socks begin with a Turkish cast on and are worked from the toe up. A waste yarn placeholder is inserted for the heel. After the cuff is bound off, stitches are picked up around the heel placeholder and a large hole is created for the heel. The heel is worked with decreases and ends with a grafting on the needles closure.

Instructions are written for your preferred choice of needles: one long or two short circular needles, flexi or straight DPNs, or mini circular.

What's Included

This knitting pattern includes written description and instructions/links for specified techniques. There are several pages of tips and suggestions for customizing fit, working with self-striping yarn, and knitting in the dark modifications.

Sizes + Finished Measurements

To fit foot circumference: 5¼ (6¼, 7¼, 8¼, 9½)(10½, 11½, 12½, 13½)” / 13.5 (16, 18.5, 21, 24)(26.5, 29, 32, 34.5) cm.
Finished foot circumference: 4¾ (5¾, 6½, 7½, 8½)(9½, 10¼, 11¼, 12¼)” / 12 (14.5, 16.5, 19, 21.5)(24, 26, 28.5, 31) cm.
Finished foot length: 5¼ (6¼, 7, 8¼, 9½)(10½, 11½, 12¾, 13¾)” / 13.5 (16, 18, 21, 24)(26.5, 29, 32.5, 35) cm.

While every body is unique. If gift knitting, it might be helpful to know that the sizing is loosely as follows: baby (child, preteen, adult S, M)(L, XL, 2X, 3X).

Yarn

Fingering weight sock yarn;
Main Colour 100 (150, 225, 285, 375)(450, 525, 645, 765) yd / 90 (135, 205, 260, 345)(415, 480, 590, 700) m.
Contrasting Colour 35 (45, 60, 85, 105)(125, 160, 185, 215) yd / 30 (45, 55, 80, 95)(115, 145, 170, 195) m.

Shown in RainCityKnits Superwash Sock (discontinued)(75% superwash wool / 25% nylon; 423 m / 463 yd per 100 g / 4 oz).

Substitution Notes

Use a yarn especially made for sock knitting with some nylon in it. If you want to stay away from man-made fibres, a blend with silk or mohair will add strength to the yarn or look for a multi-plied yarn with a tight twist. The gauge should be quite tight to make the socks long-wearing.

Gauge

34 sts and 50 rnds to 4” (10cm) over stocking stitch in the round.

Needles + Notions

2.25 mm (US 1) needle(s) for small circumference in the round: your choice of one long or two short circular needles, flexi or straight DPNs, or mini circular with alternate method for the toe and heel;
Locking Stitch Marker;
Scrap Yarn.

Skills

Knit & purl sts, knitting in the round, Turkish cast on (described), raised increases (tutorial links), toe up sock construction, afterthought heel, yarn placeholder (tutorial link), replaceable heel, on the needles grafting, stretchy no sewing sewn bind off (tutorial link).