Another finished object for the year and another work-in-progress off the needles! This time it’s the Tiled Steps socks by Melissa Lemmons.
This pattern is really fun to knit, though does require a level of concentration I didn’t always have. So these socks are absolutely related but I’d hesitate to call them siblings, much less twins.
The Tiled Steps Socks
Knit from the toe up, these socks feature a slipped stitch pattern that is worked on the top of the foot and then around the back of the leg. The pattern comes in multiple sizes, and I knit the largest size. Slipped stitches really show off a variegated yarn to perfection, breaking up any pooling or flashing that might happen.
The downside is, the fabric is really not stretchy at all. Once the socks are on my feet, they’re very comfortable. While I do enjoy knitting both toe up and top down socks, I do find I’m generally better at getting socks the right length when I knit them toe up for some reason. Even though both methods allow you to pretty easily try on the sock in progress, I find that I tend to accidentally shorten the length of the sock foot when I knit top down. Probably because I’m ready to be done with that particular sock at that moment.
Anyway, the socks fit comfortably when they’re on. Getting them past my heel was a work out and act of faith and thankfully no stitches appear to have popped. I will now be wearing these socks for the rest of the month.
The heel turn is worked with a shadow-wrap short-row heel, which was easy to work, and then a slipped stitch heel flap. It’s been a while since I a) knit a pair of socks, b) knit a pair of toe up socks, and c) knit a heel flap with a toe-up sock pattern, if I’ve ever done it at all. I feel like most of the toe-up socks I’ve knit have used short-row heels but I may just not remember.
A really, really slow start
I have no idea when I started these socks. I’m not even sure if I started these socks. Earlier this year, I mentioned that I had found a knitted toe for a pair of toe-up socks in one of my project bags. But I have no recollection of starting this pair of socks. I matched the stitch count to the Tiled Steps socks, which I had purchased in 2013. Is it possible that these socks are nearly a 10 year old work in progress? Yes. Is it possible that they’re also a 3 week old work in progress? Yes.
That said, once I got started on these socks. they zipped right along. I had to pay more attention to the chart than I expected, but it did start to cement around the time I finished the first sock.
I’m pretty sure the yarn is Lorna’s Laces’ Shepherd Sock in the color Iris Garden. I will not stake any money on that.
The Details
Cast on: That is a fantastic question
Bind off: May 2, 2022
Yarn: Probably Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport (now LL Sock) (80% superwash merino, 20% nylon; 430 yds to 100 g) in Iris Garden. I used less than one full skein.
Size: 9″ circumference
Modifications: No intentional modifications
