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Once upon a sock - the one with the sneaker liner musings

Last month I wrote about my sock draw, and Kate asked me "Could you please write a post about knitting socks specially for exercising? Recommendations for patterns, construction and yarn types?"

 And I would be happy to, because I have thought about this a lot.

 In fact I've tried a number of heels and, when I started knitting sneaker liners in a serious way, even published a rough pattern for my favourite pattern at the time. I later decided I hate afterthought heels, although I do like the way they look in stripes they are fiddly to work and I always get holes on the edges. I have done fish-lips-kiss heels, sweet tomato heels, hat heels, all the heels. After a great deal of thought and wear I've realised that the challenge of sports socks is that, over time, they shrink through the heel. A heel flap and gusset seems to fit and wears the best. To accommodate this phenomena, I do 16 rounds of ribbing, rather than the 12 I used to do.

 It doesn't seem to matter what I make them out of. I still wear the first pair I ever made, in 2009: out of yarn from Lincraft . They wear like iron.
 I've made them out of Jameson and Smith, which have moulded wonderfully to my feet, and out of a cashmere blend, which have no holes in them. In fact, I've never had a hole in a sports sock, which is very strange, since I wear them riding my bike, and without shoes on the rubber gym floor, and in the rain.
I've tried ALL the heels (from top left, Sweet Tomato, Fish Lips Kiss, fancy heel flap and gusset, blended Rose City Rollers, green cashmere socks, crystal heel in Jameson and Smiths, first pair ever and an adaptation of Kate Davies Baffies)


 My current favourite way to knit sports socks is out of left over sock yarn. Stripped, blended, heels and toes on different colours, any old way, but I'm very much leaning towards a heel flap and gusset. It just seems to avoid that shrinking problem more. 

 I was about to write this up, when I realised that today I wore Rose City Rollers, which is a sock design that fulfils my requirements. It's written for a roll top, which works too, because i can knit more rows without getting a higher cuff.

 So, in conclusion, I love knitting and wearing sneaker liners. Heel flap and gusset is my favourite way ... right now, anyway.
       
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  1. Paula09 February, 2019

    Thanks for the awesome post about sneaker liners :) I like that you outline the types of heels you've tried and what's actually worked the best. I want to do a whole bunch of rose city rollers, trying out some different variations. Especially since my last pair turned out so awesome! I love all of yours...and I agree that it's a great way to use up leftovers!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rosalind Aymes10 February, 2019

    Thanks Sharon!

    ReplyDelete

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