I've been busy...

I've been busy working (yes, actually I do have a job, even though I spend too much time blogging and surfing the internet... not to mention crocheting!)
I didn't stop crocheting though... I may actually spend more time crocheting as my new job is quite far from my home, and I will take advantage of the time I spend in buses and trains to crochet... as soon as I get used to having my sore cold fingers crochet as if I were warm and comfortable at home.

I wonder why I never thought of crocheting socks before I found crochetville.org...

For this first try I used a n# 3 crochet and a sport weight acrylic...
Not the best choice : the material is quite thick and will only fit in my (too) big boots, besides, it's starting to pill already :/
The stitch I chose is a kind of back post single crochet (the actual name of it is "back loop single crochet" if I trust stichguide.com : the hook is inserted in the back strand of the stitch from the previous row), not the best choice either, it tends to stretch into an openwork material, which goes against its primary purpose : keep me warm...
I've completed a pair of socks for myself, I'm making another for my daughter. Here's how I did it :

1. I started with a chain of x=15 chain stitches
2. I crocheted single crochet stitches in round around this base, making increases at the ends of the chain
3. once the work was wide enough to accomodate the toes, I continued working sc in rounds but with slip stitches where the little toe was supposed to be and half double crochet where the great toe was supposed to end up, I did that during 3 - 4 rounds
4. I then crocheted the body of the sock with sc only
5. when I reached the ankle, I start crocheting in rows on half the body (if the body is a 50 stitches circle, I crochet on 25 stitches)in order to cover the upper part of the ankle (this will be 5 - 7 rows)
6. after finishing the last ankle row, I crocheted a chain of y=20 chain stitches and attached it to the beginning of the last row, thus making a new circle to accomodate the ankle
7. crochet in rounds untill satisfied with the height of the sock
8. cut the yarn, start crocheting in round in the heel area, decrease regularly at the corners,
9. when there are only a few stitches left, cut the yarn leaving a 10 cm tail, sew the opening, weave in the end of the tail.
   
10. Repeat all steps to make the second sock making sure slip stitches and half double crochets will match the little toe and the great toe of the second foot.

X stands for any number of chain stitches that will equate the length that there is between four of your toes... Yeah, that's weard, I know, but couldn't figure out something more accurate.
Y stands for any number of chain stitches that will allow you to finish the row creating a circle around your ankle.
More pictures available here.


For your info, my daughter's sock started with a chain of 8 chain stitches. I added a ruffle to have a more "girly" look, it's just 5 - 6 - 7 or 8 double crochet in one single crochet from the previous row (I alternated numbers, I didn't want an "even" look)


I may - or may not ;) - write down a more accurate pattern, but you'll have to be patient... My job is being tough on me.

Happy crocheting everyone!