Diving Deep into Vintage Socks // Casual Friday S05E40

[@sonjanordahl3158]

I always love your videos. Anytime I'm looking for something that is not mind numbing to fill a bit of time I go to one of your Casual Fridays and click a link. I would say 90% of the time I learn something and 100% of the time it is interesting. Thank you for all that you do.

[@nicolelafontaine1720]

I finally understood the old Norvegian heel construction, that makes it easy to replace the heels. I love to follow all your research. Thanks Roxanne !

[@debraklein2649]

I recently picked up a copy of interweave knits and read your sock article. It is great! I currently knit the standard wedge toe on my vanilla socks but will definitely try the wedge toe 4-3-2-1 variation on my current pair. I like that you showed different shape feet and the best sock fit for those feet. If the new toe works for me, it will become my standard. Thank you for the needed nudge to change things up.

[@jessmakingit]

I can't even express how excited I was when I saw the title, LOL! I love knitting socks and a deep dive into vintage socks, even a taste of it, is just so interesting to me. I really enjoy all the knitting research that you do. Thank you for the tidbits as well.

[@lindachandler2293]

My hubby has problems with swelling in his lower legs and ankles. I had bought every kind of diabetic, non binding sock on the market trying to stop the elastic top from making a big ditch of a circle around his leg where the top of the sock stopped, with no luck. Eventually I thought I'm just going to try making them. The first pair was a pain. I would knit a few rows, try it on him, tear it back if necessary and knit a few more rows. All the time writing out a pattern of how I did it in great detail. After that I could just make them by my pattern. He does wear out the heels pretty quick. I make sure he only wears them one time before laundering them, even if it's just older ones he wears on the farm and I inspect them every time to catch spots that needs darned before it gets too big. No circles around his legs to speak of any more 😊

[@jenniferelliott2085]

Love your channel - My Sunday morning cup of coffee listen. I'm a pretty basic knitter learn a lot just listening thank you. I do remember having to darn socks well my mother did.

[@traciroberts3048]

I am obsessed with socks! When I knit my first one, I was only going to do it so I could say I'd made one and planned to move on. Now I always have socks on the needles! My other obsession is anything vintage, and have acquired many vintage knitting patterns I plan to frame and hang in my sewing room. I am looking forward to more vintage sock information.

[@judisiver3988]

That was very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@pattyherman6707]

I look forward to following you on your historical sock adventures!

[@joolsa8346]

Hi Roxanne, interesting, as always. I had to laugh at the sheep with the pink hairdos (and go and read the article in the Yorkshire Post), a very unYorkshire way of carrying on! I’ve just finished a new, to me, method of sock construction which is allegedly traditional in Turkey - the pattern (Mahalle toe up sock) is free on the Urth Yarns website. I look forward to your dive into all things sock related and to your advice on hat crowns; I’m sure I’ll learn a lot. As always thank you for taking the time to research these things and for making your findings available to the rest of us, much appreciated. All the best, J x

[@joannmaccready1835]

when my husband's Aunt Helen died several years ago I was gifted all her old knitting books. There are so many sock books from the early part of the century up to the 50's and 60's. Some of the patterns are really interesting. She was a gifted knitter and knew I would preserve them. She knit all the socks for the men in the family. I also have the daring egg she used. Patons had a sock book that had a "removable" sole that allowed the knitter to take off the old sole and reknit when it got too badly damaged to darn. I have made a few of them. What amazes me is the number of stitches for some of the patterns. The yarns were very fine, three ply, which is very hard to find now. They were very colourful with interesting designs.

[@sophiataylor946]

I remember my Dutch mother talking about how my grandfather used to knit the family’s socks in the 1930 and 1940 in the Netherlands with yarn my grandmother had spun. The Dutch have a great textile heritage that they often share in exhibitions all over the country, these might be an avenue or resource that might help in your research. I’m in Melbourne Australia but l visit the Netherlands there is always a exhibition of textiles to visit.

[@user-vz5gl7bm2r]

Thanks!

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Welcome!

[@lindachandler2293]

Awesome old sock patterns!

[@gamergranny285]

I remember my mother had some of those old sock pattern books. Especially int beehive ones.. I'm 68 now. I don't remember her knitting them at all. She had 8 children. So not likely had the time. The books may have possibly been passed down to her from her mother. I found them very interesting but as a young teen, didn't have the skill to tackle them. Lovely to see these books again. Thank you

[@juliemulie1805]

The WW 1 museum in Kansas City was an eye opener for me. There was a knitwear section describing the need especially for socks and the importance of dry feet. Amazingly, wars up through the Korean, had more people dying from exposure than fighting.

[@kathleencarty149]

In the style of sock where the sole of a sock is knit separate from the top of the foot I have used a flat seam similar to the flat garter seam described in your technique video or the one used in the raglan jacket. This seam was very comfortable and definitely strong enough. The sole and heel was very easy to replace on this style of sock.

[@goswamigeeta]

Looking forward to your vintage socks knitting exploration. Enjoyed this video very much. Thank you.

[@shirleemohiuddin7305]

This was fascinating! I love knitting socks and hats, so I am over the moon to learn more about each. I use magic loop for both. I would like to learn more about making the ribbing look neater, I have some difficulty with my tension I think. Thanks Roxanne, I really enjoy your videos!

[@mariehansen2534]

Thank you for your really interesting visit. My mother had quite a few sock knitting books too but as far as I'm aware didn't knit any. I remember when visiting her one weekend and showed her my socks that I was knitting and she was really amazed that I was using dpns because she had not taught me how to use them and only used circular needles for picking up neckline stitches. I use them all the time when knitting now. Times have changed and you forget so much. Nevermind thank you again and hope you enjoy your research on your project. Take care.

[@TheMetatronGirl]

I’m really looking forward to your exploration of socks!! I came across a pattern, years ago, that was very similar in construction to the Grace Ennis patterns you unboxed. It was designed to have a replaceable sole. You could unravel the stitches back to the live heel stitches, then reknit the flap, heel turn, gusset, sole & toe back and forth picking up a stitch from the instep on either side. The toe was turned, similarly to a heel, then seamed to the instep at the base of the toes. The pattern disappeared ages ago, but I’ve used that construction several times.

[@lindarose712]

Interesting sock explorations afoot! (😄) Looking forward to the focus on hat crowns/decreases.

[@TheSuzberry]

I like a pun.

[@MissHoyden]

Even my mother- who didn’t knit in my memory, though she was a gifted seamstress- did, in fact, knit argyle socks in the 1950s. Thank you for all the patterns!

[@dianneevans5492]

I'm excited for a series on socks. Super awesome idea.

[@lainieepstein7753]

Looking forward to your sock adventure! I always have socks on the needles and am keen to learn different construction techniques.

[@tamaragrottker7677]

I really look forward to your hat videos. For me, the crown is always too long. I ofd't really know how to calculate the decreases. I love to know about various crown patterning and decreases. I love all your sock patterns.

[@Chrisesparkle]

Thank you for your thoughtful and inspiring videos. I would be particularly interested in the sock pattern that was used to replace the sole. My sons wear socks around the home without slippers and wear out the soles quickly. I was also wondering if 6 ply would help this problem. I have tried a leather sole but it not so popular. I love learning about the history of knitting and your research.

[@akorio21]

So my friend has a giant head. She's all but given up on cute hats that fit her. I've managed to knit her a few but I'd love a video to show how to enlarge or shrink a pattern past its given dimensions

[@robyn3349]

I need more sock knowledge! I have made myself several pairs from one pattern. I have experimented a bit with toes. I look forward to more socks! I have long admired that beautiful swirl I have seen on some hand knitted hats.

[@theastewart6721]

Hi Roxanne. Interesting sock history presentation. I’m looking forward to seeing where that takes you in the coming year. I’d be very interested in learning more about hat decreases. Love that pink sheep tidbit! Thanks for another great podcast!💕

[@pamelabubeck491]

Elizabeth Zimmerman has the Moccasin Sock where the design allows you to replace only the sole. Unfortunately my husband wears out the toes! I also have a pair of argyle socks my mom knitted for daddy - but the nylon from the fifties is not the nylon of today. I don't know how he wore them - so rough! - but wear them he did. So many darning repairs!

[@lovemesomeslippers]

Oh! I need to replace soles. I’ve never heard about the moccasin socks. So glad you mentioned it! Thanks!

[@kevinorr6880]

I am also interested in the sock construction. I have settled on using the shadow wrap heel, but only because I can remember it. I don’t know if there is actually a better heel that I should learn. I have seen you video on changing the heel depth, but I’ve not gotten to the point of knowing my knitting math,

[@MOLLIMEDIA]

I haven’t seen a brioche stitched hat with decreasing for the crown. Since brioche is so stretchy with wide stitches, how do you calculate the amount and placement of decreases for a smooth curve to the last stitch? Thank you for your interesting and helpful content.

[@michelleellis1290]

Absolutely loving the sock idea, can’t wait to hear about the differences in patterns and techniques.

[@hastenbeck1]

Look forward to following your vintage sock adventures. You mentioned looking at solving problems with hat crowns - I love cabling but crowns on cabled hats always seem so clumsy. I would be interested to see your take on this.

[@annmilleville1983]

Thank you for this interesting video

[@marilyn1228]

I'm looking forward to this upcoming years projects.

[@teriadams7398]

I love Elizabeth Zimmerman's re-tread socks! The pattern is in her Knitting Around book. I've made several pairs, everyone loves them. Easy to repair. I would love to be more proficient in darning however.

[@AKAmommie184]

I'd like to see you knit one of the socks using the original instructions, then knit the other one in updated technique. Could be interesting to compare results!

[@jacquelinelewington5382]

I have recently started collecting vintage sock and stocking patterns and am planning a similar adventure. Looking forward to comparing our approaches.

[@joanmachado9063]

Great podcast thank you 😊

[@devoted2knit177]

I love following your research. The vintage sock patterns are intriguing. I have just completed a pinhole cast on for the Musselburgh hat and found it very difficult with an Alpaca fingering weight yarn. Would you consider any different way to cast on? You mention hat decreases - I just completed hats that had a lot of bobbles at the top and the crown shape is rather flat. Very interesting.

[@elaineenstone6834]

Most interesting. I seem to remember reading about knitting comforts for Canadian troops organised by the Red Cross. The article included socks. 🇬🇧

[@eliengroot8115]

THANK you for tidbit no 5! My name is Eileen and I was born in Holland. I love kitting and I ride a bicycle. :))

[@HarobedKnits]

Oh my goodness! I was just searching for a guide to customizing hat decreases using various decrease patterns and matching increases. I would love to know the math behind this. How fortuitous that you asked!

[@hemlockknits]

It would be interesting to me if you were able to modernize those old sock patterns. I would never want to knit a sock flat but I do like some of those patterns. I think old style knits are in danger of being lost to time because techniques have changed.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

The textured patterns were knit in the round, as had been done for centuries. The intarsia colorwork has to be knit back and forth, which is why so many of those mid-century patterns were constructed with seams.

[@noreenwojtan2859]

So interesting! Thank you.

[@shannongalloway9500]

I would LOVE to learn how socks were made over the years

[@cherylbratten7613]

These may not be vintage, but have you ever knit Albus Argyle Socks by Anne Berk. An ingenious way to knit intarsia in the round. I have knit one pair but will definitely knit another.

[@angelaholsapple8830]

I would love more info on the decrease that was on that "ugly" hat where the decrease started from the crown I believe you said

[@Sequoya]

Great episode!

[@famillewilson3838]

Hello, I wanted to add a comment about something that recently confused me when trying to do a colurwork hat crown. There were double decreases at the beginning of each segment and I eventually worked out that I had to take one stitch from the previous segment to maintain the pattern. I wasn't sure if I had done something wrong but have since seen this somewhere else. I would like to undertand this better and think you can probably ex[plain it!

[@tinakercher8768]

Those patterns are really cute. I might have a Red Cross book from one of the wars that contains patterns to knit for men in the military. I will share if it looks like something you might want to look at.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

I have quite a few "comforts for soldiers" patterns! Thanks, though, :-)

[@vadec5909]

What a great video! I am knitting a sock right now. I like sock knitting. I don’t think I would like to seam socks!

[@lisacox4323]

The problem I have with hats is fit. I have made several hats for my husband, but they don't fit well. He has a really big head and all of his hats just ride up on him. I have tried making them larger and smaller, but it still happens. Would love to be able to have a good vanilla hat that fits. Thanks for all you do Roxanne!

[@RoxanneRichardson]

I do have a video on how to knit a hat without a pattern that explains how to knit a hat with any yarn to any size. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmHOcoSjo7aIZqM

[@pamcadd8658]

Is there a link to the sweater you're wearing? I love the shawl collar.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

Ah, thanks, I forgot to put the link in. I have added it. It's the WWI-era sweater I knit as part of my long term project.

[@xbaczewska4197]

I thought so, but wasnt sure. Great sweater.

[@TheSuzberry]

Would a lace weight yarn in silk and merino be suitable for socks?

[@marietovo3978]

I’m really interested in if you do the vintage sock project. I have a circular sock knitting machine and I’m pretty sure they were developed during WWI to help with the war effort.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

CSMs were invented in the early 19th century! :-)

[@marietovo3978]

@@RoxanneRichardson I didn’t know that! I thought I had read somewhere that they were invented because of the war, but maybe it was that were “used” because of the war. Thanks! Always love your videos.

[@gamergranny285]

Not sure if you would be interested in this. But I just come across this short video on KZbin. Put out by.. campaign for wool -canada. It is called.. the fabric of Canada the knitters of newfoundland and Labrador. It's about how some women managed to supplement their income by knitting and some still do.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

I *think* I may have covered that in a previous tidbit, but I won't know unless I can see the video. You can email me the link (YT will probably delete the comment if it has a link in it). My email addy is on my channel About page.

[@gamergranny285]

@@RoxanneRichardson fabric of Canada is who posted the video. Sorry I couldn't find your email.. they only posted maybe 3 videos in the past month or so. This one was about knitters of Newfoundland. But another is about the prairies and felting wool. By an artist. It also was very short. But very interesting. Hope you can find it.

[@kathyadkins3508]

Regarding HATS -- I just picked up Interweave's Holiday Issue and LOVED your Hat-crown decreases article. Now I feel like I can design my own hat using patterns from sweater yokes, colorwork, and textured items -- so much inspiration! I think that figuring out working colorwork into the decreases is probably the most tricky, but then, one could always work the crown plain. I just finished a hat with an interesting crown that may interest you: (edited to remove link) Faraday by Susan Chin on Ravelry.

[@RoxanneRichardson]

You might be interested in a book called Knitted Tams, by Mary Rowe. I found it helpful for designing the crown of a hat with stranded colorwork. It would be similar to the wedge concept of designing for a circular yoke sweater, except that the top of the wedge ends up at a point.

[@bearitraeb]

Tidbit#2 thank you Well no I’m lost again. It’s me😢 my brain 🚀 I can’t find shop

[@sarahlovesdonuts9601]

I can’t tell how much I dislike the term “nylons”.🤬