I tried another version of socks I’ve been trying to size down beyond small.
On this attempt I am using the same yarn as the earlier version: my own 1 ply 70/30 Wool/Nylon fingering weight, dyed in Reddish Brown. And I am using the 54 needle cylinder and 36 slot ribber dial on the Legare 400.
For this pair I began with a 2 x 1 rib for 25 rows, and then, instead of switching to stockinette went to a 5:1 rib for the leg and top of the foot.
The resulting sock is about 1/4 inch narrower on the leg, and a bit less than that on the foot, as compared to the same yarn/pattern done in stockinette.
I’m not sure if that is ‘enough slimmer’ – will have to have it test driven!
And, since the purpose of the socks if Hiking, I’ll also have to find out if the purl stitches are an irritant.
If I had a 27 slot ribber dial, I would have done a 1:1 topper and 3:1 leg/instep – but I don’t. (Trying to find one.)
And a suggestion from a reader to try using every other slot on the 80 cylinder is worth a try. I don’t have an 80 but I’ve got an 84, so half of that would be 42 stitchs, a good drop down from 54. This would be a reduced size without the purl stitches.
I love these sizing down posts. Thanks. My feet is sized 6.5 and my mom’s feet is sized 5.5 and I’m forever tweaking my sock machines to knit me a pair of socks that fits.
Hey,
I often read your posts (find them all so helpful) and this pattern I’m gonna give a try this evening. I don’t have the 27 tappet plate neither to go with the 54 cylinder, but I’m going to order one with Jacquie from New Zealand along with some other items I think in the future.
She has a website http://www.autoknitter.com where she lists her products.
Greetings, Marjan
Thanks for your comments. I actually did send J a note about a 27 ribber dial but haven’t heard back yet. I presume she’s been on the road to conference and crank-ins in the States, so I’ll pop another email in a few weeks and see what’s available.
The 2:1 rib using the 36 on the 54 actually isn’t half bad. I find that it doesn’t roll and it gives a reasonably crisp top, admittedly not quite as crisp as the 1:1 – at least on fingering weight.
I tried the 2:1 with worsted weight yesterday and it was a little rough looking on the edge (the ribbing itself was fine).
Hey,
I experimented with the 2:1 on the 54/36 setup: but the test turned out not so good. The bars between the 2 stocking stitches appear to be too large. Tension was approx.2 whole turns away from maximum. Should I increase it to maximum tension? Oh, and I used a leftover of regular sock yarn from Regia on my old Legare 400. Or would it be a too much weight question?
Greetings, Marjan
I used comparable tension that I would use for the same yarn using a stockinette knit.
For me that was about #2 on the dial, with the needle indicator just a smidge below the 3/4 (from the bottom) mark (oh, and I use the heel spring full time).
BUT there are several different cam set ups that were available on the Legare 400, so I’d go with whatever your ‘normal’ setting is for that weight of yarn.
I don’t think too much weight would be an issue – I use the set of 3 standard weights plus I always hold the work down with my left hand with a little pressure applied.
There is a good tip on starting a selvage on the 54/36 here:
My selvage looks a bit sloppy after the knit, but shapes nicely after a wash and block.
wow, thanks a lot, I’m going to run some more tests then till I get it right, greetings,