Sock Knitting 101 - Sock Knit Along - Part III - Final Segment

Oh my, I can't believe I've been writing this sock tutorial for these past few of weeks.  Have you enjoyed reading or knitting along?  I hope so.....anyway, this is the last segment and it's going to be easy.  So, let's get started. (if you've discovered this blog, the previous links to Sock Knitting 101 can be found at the bottom of this post)

Note:  I just found out that I made a mistake in last week's post....I called the "instep" the "leg"...I hope I didn't confuse you!  Sorry :(

Instep:
Last week you had completed the gusset and now we are ready to knit the instep or foot.  Just continue to knit each row in the round until the instep measures approximately 2" from your desired length.  You can measure from the end of the heel.  At this point, I slip the sock on my foot with the needles and all!  It works for me and it's easier to gauge the length.

 The photo above shows the instep is completed and ready for the toe decrease.  We will continue to work with three needles.

Toe Decrease:
We are going to be decreasing stitches, similar to how you decreased with the gusset but the decreases will be taking place on each needle as follows:

Row 1:  Knit each stitch
Row 2:  Needle 1:  Knit to the last 3 stitches then K2tog, k1
             Needle 2:  K1, SSK, knit to the last 3 stitches then K2tog, K1
             Needle 3:  K1, SSK, knit to end

Repeat these two rows until you have approximately 12 to 16 total stitches remaining.  The stitches remaining will be sewn together with the kitchener stitch and become the toe.

 Above in the photo you can see the completed toe decrease.

Kitchener Stitch:
The kitchener stitch is a seamless grafting technique that allows you to weave the live stitches on your needle so that it looks like it was knitted.  It came about during World War 1.  Socks played a big part in the war and the seams of the socks would irritate the soldiers feet.  Thus, they came up with this seamless toe.  This particular stitch is to obtain a "knit" or stockinette type weave.  It's a different technique if you are purling.....


To begin, after you have completed the toe decrease, knit across the stitches of needle 1.  You should now have only two needles with an equal number of stitches on each needle.   Cut your yarn leaving approximately a 12" tail.  Thread the yarn through a tapestry needle and begin following the directions below.

Holding your two needles with wrong sides of fabric together (as shown in the photo above), start the following steps:
Step 1: insert the needle as if to knit through the first stitch on the front needle and let the stitch drop from the needle,
Step 2: insert the needle into the second stitch on the front needle as if to purl and pull the yarn through, leaving the stitch on the needle,
Step 3: Insert the needle into the first stitch on the back needle as if to purl and let it drop from the needle, then
Step 4: insert the needle as if to knit through the second stitch on the back needle and pull the yarn through, leaving the stitch on the needle

Repeat steps 1 through 4 until all stitches are gone.  Thread in tail of yarn and secure.

Notes:  Please adjust your tension as you go along in this process.  Also, it's best to perform steps 1 through 4 without any interruption or you may get off track.

Sorry that this is not such a clear picture as my black yarn is hard to photograph.  But, you can see how it looks when completed.

Your sock is now complete!  You can celebrate or you can start on the second one.....
I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial.  It's been fun for me to share my passion of knitting socks.  But, I have a friend who is really an expert in this field and she will be bringing out an e-book for sock knitting.  I highly recommend that you bookmark Winwick Mum and keep in touch for her upcoming sock tutorial.  I'm sure you will enjoy it so much.

I'm linking to Handmade Monday  Until next time, happy knitting and thanks again for reading along. Also linking to Frontier Dreams.

Pat

In case you just discovered this post and wish to follow the sock knit along from the beginning, you can click on the links below.....
Introduction
Part 1
Part II