These are basic toe-up socks with a Turkish cast-on. The Turkish cast-on is a figure 8 or loop-de-loop over two needles, casting on between 16 and 24 stitches depending on your foot size. You then knit into the top needle's stitches, turn 'em around and knit into the other needle's stitches, keep going adding on at the corners every other row until you've made a little cup shape that fits your foot, dividing the stitches. Now knit even until you get to your leg. Split the stitches in half by placing a marker at the halfway point, increase one stitch after your first stitch and one stitch before the marker until you've knit to your ankle every other row. Now decrease back the same way to your original number of stitches and knit up your leg about 4 to 5 inches and then k1, p1 for 2 inches. Bind off using a needle 2 sizes larger for nice comfortable fit. That's the rough idea of a toe-up sock--at least my version.
These are knit using Cestari sock yarn dyed in Woolbearers' Matts Tattoos, a DK weight yarn, on # 2 needles. They are old aluminum needles, probably Susan Bates. I cast on 52 stitches and increased up to 68. Also, to accommodate my chunky calf, I increased 4 stitches every 13 st at the 2 inch mark and again at the 4 inch mark. I just did it randomly at those points and it seems to have worked. The yarn knits so tightly that the socks feel as if they are felted, they are just heavenly on and yummy warm and yummier soft.
I'm now knitting a pair using the exact same pair of needles but Kona DK Superwash, in Woolbearers' I'm Falling. Same cast-on style and number of stitches. The first foot is done and if I can find the other skein... it's hiding out amongst all the OTHER skeins. I don't understand why it does not want to become a much used, adored and beloved object of both utility and beauty: the humble yet necessary SOCK!
