I’ve cast on a new pair of spiral socks. This time I’m trying a 3×3 offset rib. The yarn I purchased years ago, tried to make a sweater, but frogged the whole project, so am now using the yarn for socks.
I do think it is an interesting phenomenon that the spiral rib presents the garter stitch, while a straight rib shows the stockinette as predominant.
I finished the pair of spiral socks that I started in September. The special thing about spiral ribbed socks is that there is no heel, the rib expands to fit the heel without bunching at the ankle like tube socks.
I was dubious on fit as I was making them, but after blocking they stretched out and they fit as advertised.
My youngest struggles with sock heel placement, so these socks are much easier to get on. I will now always have a set of these socks on a pair of needles, to outfit her with friendly socks. I did check with a sock knitting machine company, with the idea to speed up production, but knitting machines can’t do the offset ribbing, so they have to be hand knit.
I’m trying a new-to-me sock pattern that dates from the World Wars and was distributed to help with war relief efforts. The spiral pattern creates a stretchy fabric that conforms to the heel without having to stitch a heel. For soldiers this meant a longer wearing sock, since the heel rotates and takes longer to wear out than a designated heel. For my family, my youngest has trouble lining up a heel on her foot, so this is a potentially frustration-saving accommodation. The stitch pattern is easy, but does require paying attention. The body of the sock is a 4×4 rib, but offset one stitch each row, which is what forms the spiral. I’m using Cascade Heritage Prints yarn, which is self striping.
My spiral is not forming the tight twist that I have seen in vintage pictures, and I’m hoping that when the socks are finished and blocked, I’ll get the right structure. If this does work for my youngest, I see many, many spiral socks in my future.
Critters and Craft 