I made Stripy Socks and I'm Obsessed With Them
the Finest Fit Socks, FFS.
In the distant past (June) we experienced a miraculous few days of sunshine and I was able to enjoy my favourite pastime: knitting in the garden with an audiobook, whilst nipping in and out every 5 minutes for a hat / sunglasses / suncream / cup of tea. It’s up there with my top 5 ways to spend a Sunday, for sure.
I’d felt the urge to cast on a sock on the Saturday evening (as one does), and by 10am Sunday had accidentally knit the whole leg. I’m not entirely sure how that happens - we all know stripes are potato chip knitting (just. one. more) but these seriously flew off my needles at a rate I can’t quite explain.
Use code FINESTFITTING for 10% off via Ravelry & Payhip - expires midnight BST on Sunday 14th July
After a brief interlude to calculate the heel shaping and, more importantly, plot my stripy heel placement, I was on my merry way and the sock was finished by bedtime. Weaving in ends was a somewhat tedious project the following day but we won’t talk about that.
Note: the pattern includes blank charts to colour in your heel colours, in case you obtain the same satisfaction from symmetrical stripe placement as I do.
I’ve knit my fair share of socks over the years, and to be honest I was slightly surprised by how much joy this silly little sock brought me. Just a vanilla sock, who knew! I’ve used this particular heel construction a few times but am not sure why it took me so long to use it as a simple blank canvas.
The short-row heel that actually fits
I firmly believe short rows are the best thing since sliced bread. There aren’t many patterns that can’t be improved by going back and forth on yourself for a wee while.
However, I was somewhat reluctant to give short row heels a whirl for quite some time - they don’t provide enough sticky out-y ness to comfortably fit a human foot, in the way a heel flap and gusset easily does. So the resulting sock is usually overstretched across the heel and arch, thus distorting any stitch pattern and feeling tight and uncomfortable. At least I imagine so, having never actually knit one.
2022 Lily figured that additional gusset shaping was the answer to this problem, and the After Hours Socks & Sun Up Socks feature lace and cables in this gusset respectively.
2023 Lily whipped up a ribbed pair with a neat colourwork & braid panel around the cuff - the Sidestep Socks.
2024 Lily then realised that a plain sock would’ve been the logical starting point for this sock series, but better late than never. Enter the LKM Finest Fit Sock, featuring gusset shaping for a perfect fit no matter your heel sticky out-y ness. Hurrah.
I highly recommend stripes to make the process 10x more addictive, but of course one could use any sock yarn one wishes. I will be making several more. The pattern is now available in all the usual places and I can’t wait to see it used as a blank canvas!
Aforementioned full day of sock knitting marked the beginning of a knitting marathon of sorts, for which I am now paying the price; my upper back, neck, and shoulders feel about as knotted as a skein of yarn that flew off the winder halfway through (IYKYK). So, for the first time in I DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW LONG, I am going to take an enforced knitting break. This messes with my head far more than it probably should. Stay tuned for how a full-time knitwear designer copes without knitting for a week - wish me luck.
Happy knitting! (For you, not me)
Lily Kate x
You're so right in knitting stripes being like eating potato chips! It's hard to resist just one more. 😊 I love the colors on your socks, they're so cheery! I've shared your design and the thoughts behind it in this post with my readers in my Tuesday issue.
Hope you’re able to get some rest! Perhaps paint your nails? That always helps me slow down on knitting. Or get in the kitchen, play some board games…lots of possibilities!