Just in case you weren't sure

http://www.innergeek.us/geek.html

And you?

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Speaking of geekery, I've been playing around with toe-up sock patterns for the last week or two, just to see if I like them.  I love the idea of being able to do all the custom-fitty stuff for the foot, then basically just knit 'til the yarn runs out. The lazy knitter's way to no leftovers! Hooray! I'm lazy. I knit. This is a plan I can (maybe) get behind.  First I have to find a toe-up toe that works for me (heel construction drama to follow soon I'd bet).

I started out with the free toe-up on two circulars pattern at Knitpicks(I'm just doing one)
Verdict: Undecided.
Pros: It was easy to understand and to execute and I love the way the sock fits so far.
Cons: Two words that simply do not belong together - Toe Nipple.  Seriously, the toe area is crazy looking. I'll get a picture up here soon so you can see it. I can only hope this thing blocks out, but we shall see.

Next up was Wendy's basic toe up sock pattern. 
Verdict: Good.
Pros: It was easy to understand and execute (my gauge issues notwithstanding) and I like the look of the toe produced.
Cons: Um, dunno, I like this one so far.

This week there will also be a test run of Cat Bordi's 'Turned Toe' from Socks Soar on Two Circulars, and I'll let you know how that goes.  That's as far as I've gotten in my idle, dilettante's research - aside from a Google search (linky-links below).

Now I'm throwing open the floor.  Who out there has an opinion on the toe-up vs. top-down debate?  Does anyone have a favorite toe-up pattern they're willing to share?  And what about the afterthought vs. shortrow vs. flap heel construction question for toe-up socks?  Any thoughts? 

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Toe up links:
Elann.com
http://knitting.about.com/library/blsocktoeup.htm
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8mnnp/amyssocks.html
http://tiajudy.com/putmeon.htm
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer04/PATTlolita.html
http://www.knitsnbytes.com/spiral-ll.html
http://www.hellchick.net/needles/patterns/toeupsocks.shtml
http://www.knitlist.com/96gift/giftksocks.htm
http://www.knitlist.com/2002/ToeUpSock.htm
http://www.needletrax.com/toeupon2circulars.htm
http://www.socknitters.com/toe-up/index.htm
http://www.planetshoup.com/easy/knit/sqrtoe.shtml
http://www.planetshoup.com/easy/knit/sqrtoe.shtml

Comments

[Laurie]

Been only doing top down. Was thinking about trying Wendy's pattern. I SO love geeks.

[Kate]

My only issue with toe-up is I can't find a cast off that is stretchy yet neat looking.

[Danielle]

Geeks unite! I have done toe-up patterns with short row heels, and heel flaps. I've also done afterthought heels, but I can't remember if it was on a toe-up pair. I think it was a cuff down pair.

Here's my two cents:

I like the short row toe from Wendy's pattern. Disadvantage for me is that you have to do a provisional cast on. Not a huge issue, but an extra piece of fiddliness to make sure you have the right yarn for the provisional part , etc. I also like her short row heel. But, in general, I think that short row heels feel somewhat unsubstantial compared to heel flaps.

I've used the short row heel from http://www.socknitters.com/toe-up/index.htm and the socks I made with it are my favorite handknit socks so far. More of my thoughts are at http://aswiminknits.blogspot.com/2005/10/sock-complishment.html -- although, I like the heel much more as I've worn it than I did after I knit it.

I don't like afterthought heels. I think that most of them look too much like the toes. But, that's more of an aesthetic complaint than a functional one. And, I'm sure that I haven't explored all the options yet. The main disadvantage is that without a heel in place, you can't try on the sock as you go.

I can't wait to read more comments on the topic!

[maryse]

i'm just a geek. not enough natural science questions and no star trek in my past.

[--Deb]

Toe-up, for sure.

And, my current favorite (by a lot) start? The Turkish Cast-on. Love. It.

Here are some great links for a whole slew of toes, heels, cast-ons and cast-offs:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze8mnnp/toesheels.html

[Kat]

I'm a toe-up gal, that way I know I'll never run out of yarn or have odd amounts of leftovers. I knit them two at a time using the magic loop method. Start with the Turkish cast on from Misocrafty - http://misocrafty.squarespace.com/journal/2006/1/30/turkish-cast-on-tutorial.html. It's great commuter knitting to knit the tubes. Then I move onto the Turkish after thought heel from Lucy Neatby's Cool Socks, Warm Feet. And finish off with the just discovered, wonderfully stretchy, sewn cast off (the instructions in Montse Stanely's book are easy to follow). I am really close to finally figureing out the perfect for me sock pattern.

[Ella]

I can't do a loose cast on to save my life, so I'm a toe up gal. Have tried Wendys (which I love) and am presently knitting Elfine socks using the figure 8 cast on, which after 4 trys I finally got the hang of. Love the way it looks. I usually cast off using an Italian cast off which gives a nice stretchy small edge, just very time consuming!

[JessaLu]

I like toe-up and my fav cast on so far is the turkish cast on. I also like the short-row heels. I don't have a specific pattern that I follow, I just kind of wing it.

[Bethany]

I think I prefer top down, but I've done a few toe up. Another vote for the Turkish Cast-On. It's easiest with circular needles, but I have managed it with dpns. I hate short rows heels, so I do the heel from the You're Putting Me On Sock pattern.

[Kristen]

I am simply a geek. Too bad, cause had I stuck with the biochem field I'd probably be a total geek...

[Teresa C]

I love doing toe up socks. I usually use the Priscilla Gibson-Roberts short row. Probably similar to others, I use a crochet provisional cast on and work the short row toe. It makes me happy. You can see her method on the IK subscriber's only section of the website.

I can't say that I necessarily prefer up or down. I just do some for a while, then get bored and change. I like it all.

[Chris]

Alas, I'm getting less geeky with age. I'm merely a Geek now.

http://www.socknitters.com/toe-up/tulessonone.htm is my favorite toe-up cast on, using numbers from Judy Gibson's Generic pattern. I use her pattern (with a slip stitch heel flap for the rest of the basic sock construction numbers and simply substitute in stitch patterns that I find interesting.

[Karola]

If you don't feel comfortable with any of those toe up patterns give me a shout and i'll give you a sure fired one to play with.. you might really wind up loving it :-)
karola in the heart of harlem

[Tam]

Toe nipple sounds bad. Hope you can block it out! =)

[Lillian]

Get a copy of Priscilla Gibson-Robert's book Ethnic Socks and Stockings. It's ALL toe-up socks, and there's plenty of different toes and heels to try.

[Juno]

Forget about the socks - I want to see these fleeces I've heard so much about. In person.

[Elizabeth]

I do toe-up because I can't graft stitches in a neat manner.

I use the figure-8 cast-on. The first row is definitely "fiddley" but I like that I can "snug up the stitches later.

I do a slip-stitch heel (for which I have never seen instructions). Basically, I took a top-down heel that I liked and figured out how to reverse it.

[Judi]

Have a look at Queen Kahuna's Crazy Toes and Heels. The book isn't organized the way I would do it, but I DID learn to knit socks.

Toe up is definitely how I would go, the top down version just doesn't make sense to me. I am so far doing one at a time because it seems like two at a time would make them much less portable, but I might try it.