Calls for Socks!! Recently, I posted about my Bootstrap socks again and the interesting heel construction…you work the heel flap back and forth and then kitchener up the bottom of the heel, pick up stitches and power down the foot. Lara Neel calls it the Balbriggan heel.
It’s my first time using this construction. I was super intrigued when I was reading the directions. I wasn’t sure how the fit would be so I slipped it on. The heel feels snug, like it will stay put on your foot.
My one hesitation, I had to pick up stitches under the heel & around the gusset to work the foot and I’m not quit sure how those ridges will feel. But a very large part of me just wants to keep going. It’s only the first sock and I love a good experiment.
Plus I’ve got these lovelies on the go as well. Also from Lara Neel’s Sock Architecture are the Strie socks. They are my first pair of toe-up socks…I’m working them 2 at a time on 2 circulars. It’s goes pretty quickly and I’m excited to get to the heel on this one. I’ve never done a toe-up heel, so it should be an adventure.
It’s funny how I’m willing to jump into new construction with socks and shawls and hats, but when I approach sweater knitting, I balk. I’ve finished the Whispers Top last fall and started the Turia sweater. I comb blogs and Ravelry ogling sweaters and feeling like I just can’t accomplish them. I’m nervous to take my own measurements, swatch, pick a size…and yet I’ve bought yarn! I even cast on Turia, but I’m contemplating ripping it out. I keep hearing about the benefits of Top Down Sweater Construction and I want to try it, and I don’t want to keep going on this sweater if it’s not going to fit.
Bah.
Linking up with Nicole at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm Craft On.
& Emily at Snapdragon Crafts for the Love Your Library Challenge!
& Tammy at Life & Yarn for Stitch Along Wednesday (just a little early).
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Jenna
hardknitlife 
Socks! I love knitting socks š I’ve never had a problem with ridges on the feet, but everyone is different š
Socks are great for trying new things aren’t they and it sounds a very interesting heel. Hopefully they’re comfy because they’re very pretty!
Beautiful wips! Thanks for sharing!
Oooh, I’m so curious about that heel! I would be a little worried about ridges too, but come to think of it, there’s nothing that you feel on your foot when you pick up a traditional gusset, so I bet it’ll be the same for this heel. Everytime someone posts about that book it makes me want to pick up a copy even more! Thanks for linking up! š
That heel construction sounds interesting, I’ve not worked one like that before. I tend to knit all my socks toe up and my sweaters I prefer top down lol. I guess it’s what you’re used to š
Best advice I have is to measure a sweater you have that fits well and you love. Take note of width, length from underarm, sleeve length and depth of arm hole. Think about what it is about the sweater you love. Try to find yarn that follows the pattern and the sweater you like. Just go for it!
That heel construction certainly sounds very interesting. I tend to get the same when it comes to knitting sweaters. The time (and usually money) investment is just so much bigger. And you kind of HAVE to swatch for a sweater and I just tend to be so lazy about that. But my goal is to finish at least one more sweater/cardigan in 2015.
Sounds like a fun sock knitting adventure for you. If you do a top down sweater you can try it on as you go, but you do need a super long circular needle (or two circs) to try it on. I find this construction helps alleviate fears of the sweater not fitting and you can adapt the pattern as you go. Once you get past the newness of this style of knitting I think you’ll like it – it’s similar to knitting a toe up sock and you’re tackling that process š