I’ve started working my way down the front of the leg on General Hogbuffer’s U-Turn socks from page 96 of New Directions in Sock Knitting.
It’s a bit of an awkward join that begins with a provisional cast-on of the front-of-leg stitches. The piece needs to be oriented so that the provisional cast-on is at the top of the leg and so that the right side of the front of the leg is aligned with the right side of the back of the leg. The new stitches are joined to the existing back leg stitches at the end of every row — the last front leg stitch is worked together with the first back leg stitch with a ssk (on right-side rows) or p2tog (on wrong-side rows).
There’s a note at the end of page 100 that’s helpful — the needle holding the stitches at the beginning of RS rows is the left back needle; the needle holding the stitches at the end of RS rows is the right back needle.
The instructions don’t mention it, but I cut both yarns at the end of the Back-Leg-and-Heel before working the provisional cast-on for the Front-Leg section. I’m not sure that this was necessary, but it certainly helped me get started in the new direction for the front leg.
Because I’m not good at keeping two circular needles separate for the back leg stitches, I transferred them onto a single longer circular needle and used the magic-loop method. This may or may not be easier for you.
Once I get to the first marker on each back-leg needle, I’ll rejoin for working in rounds and continue to work decreases to shape the gussets.
This sock is a LOT of fun to knit!
Comment on this post to tell me what yarn(s) you’d use to knit these socks to enter a drawing for a FREE copy of New Directions in Sock Knitting, courtesy of my publisher, Interweave Press/F&W Media. I’ll draw a winner Friday morning, April 22.
I would probably use the yarn that was called for, Schoppel-Wolle Crazy Zauberball. I knit some socks out of that last year, and it was a real joy to work with! Rav ID: sewknittystar
I have a ball of Noro -the world of nature which I think would be perfect for this pattern
Since Idon’t have alot of experience with self striping yarns, I likely would use what the pattern recommdended.
I would knit them in almost anything from String Theory Colorworks, or maybe one of the beauties by Knitcircus.
I would try biscotte bis-sock in the clownfish color way. I love their crazy colors.
I’d probably mix Must Stash Yarn and Desert Vista Dyeworks! Wouldn’t that make a fun pair of socks? Your sock looks amazing Ann!
I would use Jawoll Magic from Lang Yarns. Fun colours and although it’s a single, it holds itself well in heavy use.
I must have at least a hundred skeins of sock yarn in my stash. I’m going to croak before I get half of them knit. I most definitely would use stash yarn. I have a lot of indie dyed yarn from the likes of Spincerely, mustkeepknitting, LibertysYarn,
htnevele and many others.
The design is intriguing. Knitters are so imaginative.
I’d stick with trying to use what’s recommended in the pattern because I haven’t used that yarn before…
Ooh, those look like fun! Probably Regia, in the most rainbowy color I could find 🙂
I have some stash yarn that stripes like a tiger. I think I’d use that for this sock.
I have a London House Yarn self striping in the Four Founder colourway that I think would look so good in this pattern.
I’ve got a Zauberball that’s been marinating in the stash for years. I’d probably use that. That sock looks like challenging fun to knit.
Have never used a Zauberball, but had one in hand recently at yarn shop. Also, would like to try Knitcircus. Those socks look a bit challenging. Thanks for a chance in your wonderful giveaway!
I think that pattern would be smashing in black and white, would resemble piano keys!! looks like lots of fun!