The Knitting Fiend

A long, long time ago, I wrote an Argyle Sockulator. I was going to test knit with several socks, but I’m afraid stuff happened. (I don’t remember quite what. I think it was a blend of my old url got slammed, I was having trouble describing things and a home server I used to develop and test my perl scripts blew up.) Anyway…I test knit the program, but not fully. The result is the directions are, well, less than clear!

Test knitting this pattern is strangely difficult for this pattern. One reason is that the knitting technique is one I haven’t actually seen anywhere; I unvented it. It’s actually not to difficult to actually do, in fact, once I have the technique in my head, I generally “automatically” do the right thing. Unfortunately, that means forcing myself to read the directions can be tough! The problem: To test knit, you really, honestly do have to read and follow the directions as written!

Ok, but even though I never properly test knit, I kept the program in place, always planning to “get around” to test knitting; (it’s here: Seamless Handknit Argyles. Though I don’t chat up the program, it not actually hidden, and it is “findable”. Stitchay woman found it. Then, StitchayWoman arrived at my forum and asked some questions (which is a good thing.)

Unfortunately, it has been so long since I knit an Argyle, I just didn’t know the answer!

So it sounds like I’m just doing this for StitchayWoman, right? Sort of, but I suspect I have created a worse problem. When I wrote the program, I didn’t blog. Maybe 20 visitors a day came to my whole site. Then I began to blog. I get about 700 visitors a day to the blog. Most get here by way of google. People see things, click, and since the sock pattern isn’t hidden, the say “what the heck”. Some may be casting on, knitting, getting frustrated, and they may be too shy to ask. Still, I think I can someone cursing “Dang the directions for these seamless argyles to heck!” in Turkish, Finnish and Aussy accented English.

Not good.

So….. I am now test-knitting an Argyle sock! (I’m also finishing up the shawl. I’m just pausing while I make a “creative” decision– that is, what type of edging trim to add!)

Ok, so as far as blogging goes, here’s the plan: I’m going to show the “general idea” while knitting the first sock. I won’t get too much into details because I may find I need to step back and redo something. But, I will point out obvious mistakes.

Then, while knitting the second sock, I’ll show operations in more detail, and rewrite the “sockulator” in php (because that’s an easier language to maintain on the web than perl.) Then, the “corrected” program will be available.

Will the corrected program be perfect? Beats me. But, I’m going to try.

Ok: Since I said I would reveal “the general idea”. The first “general idea” is the diamonds for an Argyle are formed by working “short rows”. I have a special wrapping technique designed to prevent holes. I do not know if this technique is the easiest possible way to do this. It’s just the method I unvented, and it works. (It’s also poorly described, so part of this test knit process will involve describing the process better.)

If people want to knit along with me, start thinking about your yarn. I’ll be fresh and ready to answer questions when I hit my second sock. (I’m slow, so that might not be for about two or three weeks.) Warning: I’d love everyone to knit an Argyle, but a) the technique is not horridly difficult, but this is not a first sock project and b) the frustration level may be high not because the sock is stupendously difficult, but the directions are miserably confusing unclear. Ripping may be required.

Were you interested in the sock-knit-a-long, but got sidetracked when my site did it’s magical vanishing act? Well, I think all the vanishing is cured now, and the sock-knit-a-long is up and running at my forum (aka bulletin board.)

To participate, visit the forum and join. Then, read the thread “announcing the knee sock knitalong”.

Or, if you just want to get the pattern, visit Hourglass Sockulator and have fun fiddling with the pattern.

Don’t have yarn yet? Worried you’ll be behind?

Don’t worry, knit-a-longs aren’t contests! They are just organized to provide you more access to information and to share your results with others knitting the same thing. No one cares who’s first, second third or last. Just join sometime during the next month. I’m pretty much always here, and I’ll be monitoring questions and posting answers either here or at the forum. (Long illustrated answers go here; short ones appear there.)

Now, I have to admit, I finished the socks I was making for the knit-a-long. No problem though, I have new yarn, and Monday, I’m going to cast on another set!

Now, having said I’m pretty much always here. . .

Today Jim and I will be celebrating our 22nd wedding anniversary. (Wow!) So, starting this afternoon, I’ll be a bit scarce. Any questions either by private email, in comments or at the forum will have to wait a bit.

Now I’ll show how to work the heel flap when knitting a sock toe up. It’s a very simple process that involves “seam as you go”. (That’s a handy think to know should you ever want to knit a saddle shoulder in the round.)

At this point, you have already worked the gusset and heel turn and you have three sets of stitches held on three separate strings of yarn. I’m mostly quoting the directions written for magic loop below with translations in blue.

Note that in the instructions I translated, the flap had 18 stitches. When working magic loop, all 18 stitches are knit in one fell swoop; so the number “18″ appears in rows 3 and 4. When working on DPN’s the flap is divided on 2 needles, so you will notice the number 9 (or 18/2) appears in rows 3 and 4.)

As you work back and forth over the stitches, you will “seam” the flap to gusset. It’s very easy to do, but first two rows are a bit fiddly, because you have to transfer the gusset stitches from a string to a needle tip right in the middle of the seaming operation!

• Row 1: P1, L1B, Purl until one stitch remains on left needle tip. Slip that stitch to the right needle tip. You will see gusset stitches on a string to the left; slide the gusset stitches onto another DPN (see below — do pull the string out before knitting!). Slip the stitch on the right tip back to the left tip, then purl two stitches together. Turn so knit side faces. (You have seamed the edge flap stitch to the gusset; the flap stitch should cover the gusset stitch.)
  
• Row 2: Slip 1, knit; 1 stitch remains on left needle tip. Slip last stitch knit-wise. Transfer gusset stitches from string to another DPN. Slip first stitch, knit together with previously slipped stitch. Turn so purl side faces. (You just worked an “ssk”.
• You should now be working with two DPN’s.)
• Row 3: Slip 1, purl 9; pick up another dpn purl 9, p2tog; turn.
• Row 4: Slip 1, knit 9; you reach the end of one dpn; knit 9, ssk; turn.
• Work in pattern established by rows 3 and 4. Each time you turn, there will be one fewer stitch on the left tip. Continue until there are no stitches on the left tip when you turn to complete a knit row.



• Pick up the instep stitches and divide stitches on three needles keeping the points in the center back of the heel flap.. (– 40 stitches on needle.)

Yep. the heel flap is complete and you’ve learned to seam as you go. (I bet you’ll want to do more of that from now on!) I advise you try the sock on at this point just to verify it really, really fits!

The rest of the sock? Well, if it’s an unshaped sock, you’ll just knit rounds until it’s long enough. Then switch to smaller needles, knit some ribbing and bind off.

If the sock is shaped, you’ll want to increase stitches. My sockulator pattern has you increase them along the center back. (That’s why I suggest keeping the two points in the center back of the sock; they act as stitch markers. ) You could also increase stitches in other locations. Some people like to increase at the sides. However, if you increase at the sides, you’ll need to figure out how to do line them up. (Hint, increasing 4 stitches on the increase rows and leaving more plain rows in between works.)

Either way, you’ve just got fairly ordinary knitting up ahead. The whole gusset / heel turn / flap bit is done! Watch some tv and relax.