Knitting socks: Toe-up or cuff-down?

[peainthepod]

I just knitted my first pair of socks using a Magic Loop cuff-down pattern. I found it really difficult to get the stitches around the heel flap and gusset to stay together with no laddering, and I ended up being dissatisfied with the length of the sock cuff itself. The socks are cute and functional but they were a huge hassle and I didn't enjoy knitting them very much. So the next pattern I'm doing is toe-up.

Do you like toe-up or cuff-down socks better, and why? Which would you say are easier for a beginner?

[Shantimama]

Do you think it was the cuff down approach ir using Magic loop that caused you so much frustration?

I like using ML to do two socks at one time but I prefer knitting socks on dpn's as far as the actual knitting goes. The heel is easier to manage and ladders are less of a problem.

I have done a few pair of toe up socks and while I like the idea I haven't been satisfied with any of the socks so far. They have all come up very baggy around the heel and ankle. I am going to try again and see if I can figure out what the problem is. I do like being able to use all of the yarn. I divide the skein into two equal balls so I know that each sock has the same amount of yarn and just knit until there is no yarn left!

Over the years I have found just how long I like my socks to be and so I make them all about the same length.

I learned to knit socks from the top down and did them that way for about 30 years before trying toe up. Understanding how socks are constructed and why made it easier to try something new. I have a feeling that if I just try a different heel construction with my next toe ups I will be happier.

[peainthepod]

Hi, Shantimama!

I think I had laddering because when I picked up stitches after rounding the heel, there was a gap between the picked up stitches and the next row. Even knitting through the back didn't help much and I had to sort of fix it with a crochet hook and knitting two together one row in (I have no idea if that makes sense--knitting is so hard to describe).

I've knitted in the round with both ML and DPN's and I prefer ML because there are only two spaces to worry about where laddering could happen, instead of three or four. But every knitter is different and I'm far from an expert. I just don't like all those points with DPN's...the working yarn gets caught on them and I find it awkward to handle.

Anyway, I'm shaping the gusset on my toe-up sock right now...I'm fitting it to my foot as I go and not increasing as much as the pattern calls for because I have really narrow feet and I think it would be baggy. We'll see how it works out once I'm done with the heel. I've never wrapped and turned before so this will be interesting. 

Here's the pattern I'm using now (I only increased by 6 stitches at the gusset, and am using sport weight yarn on 24-inch #2 circulars for ML): Faux Flap, Toe Up, Easy as Cake Socks

Oh, and I have never knitted two socks at once! Maybe next time...

[Shantimama]

 How is that sock coming along?

[peainthepod]

I frogged it three, count 'em THREE times and am taking a break from knitting socks for awhile. I adore knitting and crocheting baby hats so that sock yarn is coming in handy.

Maybe when I can be a little more cerebral while knitting I'll try it again. For now at least I know I can do cuff-down socks if I really have to. 

[Shantimama]

[tabstha]

I knit my socks cuff down.  I've made a couple of pairs toe up (2 socks on 2 circulars) but I always go back to cuff down.  The upside of toe up is that you can knit as long as you'd like, until you run out of yarn.  Cuff down is always a guestimate of cuff length.

[les_oiseau]

I am working on my first pair of socks which are toe-up. I'm not really finding it difficult... although did have to re-do the toe several times to get the hang of that magic cast on

[4evermom]

I'm doing my first pair of socks, too.  I'm doing toe up, magic loop.  I redid the heel a few times.  Ultimately, I added some stitches on each side of the bottom when I got to the arch and then did a short row heel.  The short row heel didn't fit right without the added stitches.  Now I'm just knitting a 4X4 ribbed cuff until I run out of yarn.  I'm happy I'm doing toe up because I can try it on as I go.  I think I have a very nice fit now and am keeping my fingers crossed that I can make another sock to match, lol.

[LaughingHyena]

I've only done cuff down. The yarn and needles were a present and came with a free pattern so I just followed that. I like warn socks so I'm planning to experiment with more patterns when I get time.

[katiecat]

I learned to do them toe up and almost always do that, 2 at a time on magic loop. I've found when I find a pattern I like it almost always works toe up even if it was written for cuff down. (It might look slightly different!) But I also do a lot of plain/ribbed socks. There are times I've had to do the toe 4 or 5 times before I get it going but I'm getting more used to it now.

I hate picking up stitches so almost always do a short row heel. It's not as durable as a heel flap but I don't wear my socks so much that wearing them out quickly is a problem. (I make few pairs for myself - most I end up giving away.) I never increase (or decrease) for the heel but I think I am going to try a different type of heel where you do increase because I never find the heel/ankle too baggy but do find that the sock needs to stetch more over the ankle and therefore it kinda distorts the pattern. Not a big deal but I think I'll try the pattern you posted peainthepod - or something similar.

[joyrises]

Am working my 1st two pairs of socks right now- one set is 2-at-a-time toe up on one circular, and the other is one at a time on dpns. It was a little cumbersome to try on the cuff of the top-down sock (had to thread it off dpns and onto yarn temporarily), but so far no strong preference for my next pair.

Still surprised at myself that I'm spending (won't say how much!) time making items that will go on people's FEET! :D