Blog has been hijacked

10/30/2012

Okay, I only have one piece of news today. If all goes as the club plans Friday the community coop will be moved. I am sad, worried, glad and happy all at the same time. To be honest though I think I covered that in a post a while back so we aren't going to go there.
Just for today, Mom is going to Hijack my blog. Well, Kind of anyway. As everyone knows Mom has been working on her first pair of socks. (Yes they are for me) That is cool but she has had a bit of a problem. If you remember Mom doesn't read patterns. So she is making it from her head and what a sock should look like. So far she has gotten this....

She says when the leg part is done and the end worked in, she thinks it will be fine. Trust me when I say you have not lived until your Mom has stopped you in the middle of the arena and made you take off your boot to try on a sock to see if it fits. Yes, from horseback I tried on her sock. (No one ever tells Mom no, I have no Idea why)
Then later we started talking and she told me she had a few questions that maybe my readers could help her with. Please post your answers in the comment section or you can catch Mom on Ravelry as RJsMom. So here it goes....

       1.) Are there any crochet podcasts? Mom watches some knitting ones but doesn't really knit.

        2.) What makes sock yarn, sock yarn? Is it tougher or does it last longer?

        3.) Is there a way to ribbing in Crochet? Not just the ribbed look but real ribbing.

        4.) Does self striping yarn work when crocheted or is there a certain pattern that you knit to get the stripes?

    Okay, I think that will do for now ... Ready, Set, Answer!!

Sarah

10/30/2012 12:57:05 pm

As long as she crochets around, self striping yarn will automatically stripe.
I think sock yarn has more plys & usually is made of a sturdier fiber. She can use nylon in the heels & toes to make them last & wear longer.
It's hilarious that she stopped you in the arena to make you try the sock on! I can just see it, too! Lol

10/30/2012 01:38:59 pm

Only My Mom would do that huh??

Laura link

10/30/2012 01:04:44 pm

I haven't ever crocheted socks (I mostly knit) but I can tell you a few things about yarn. First, "sock yarn" typically has a very tight twist to it. Sometimes it even feels "over spun" and crinkles up a bit because it has so much twist. The extra twist makes it sturdier and less likely to get holes. Many people like to use merino wool for socks, even though merino isn't a very strong fiber. If she chooses to use a soft fiber like merino its especially important to have a tight twist and maybe use some silk or nylon thread in the heels and toes. Also, if those areas are worked more tightly it will also help them hold up to wear.

self striping yarn may not stripe in crochet-- it depends on how thick the stripes are. Crochet uses up more yarn per row than knitting, so if the yarn makes thin stripes in a knit sock I don't think it'll stripe in crochet.

Sally M

10/30/2012 01:06:12 pm

I am SO impresssed that she is making a sock without a pattern!! But I'm sure if she WANTED a crochet sock pattern she couldl find one on Rav, probably even a free one. Sock yarn is usually made from a "superwash" wool and nylon blend, and is thin-ish, with multi-plys (8 or so) and is fairly sturdy. Can't help with the ribbing question as I only knit socks - and do not crochet at all.

10/30/2012 01:42:14 pm

My Mom crochets without a pattern because she can't make sense of them. She knows most the stitches but she just doesn't understand what the patterns are telling her or how to do it the way they want it done.

Jen link

10/30/2012 01:13:49 pm

I don't know about the podcasts - but a google or Ravelry search would probably find one.

Sock yarn is typically a fine weight, that has a blend of fibers to increase wear. Superwash is common, so that you don't have to handwash them. I'm not fond of sock yarn because the weight is so fine and it takes SO LONG to knit them. I like to use a sport weight and get a thicker sock quicker.

I don't think there is a way to rib in crochet. There are sock patterns in crochet though (if you want something to look at for stitch ideas).

Striping yarn stripes when used in crochet or knit.

Best of luck to her on your socks!

10/30/2012 01:44:36 pm

Mom tried googling crochet podcasts and got a bunch of knitting ones. She watchs some knitting ones but just because she likes to see what others make and hear about the yarns they use. She has tried a few ideas about the ribbing but she doesn't like the way they turn out.

Jen

10/30/2012 03:27:30 pm

Has she tried knitting? I used to crochet and became a knitter ... because I wanted to knit socks. :-) Has she looked on the Knit Picks site? They have a ton of stuff in their tutorial area.

Roiana B

10/30/2012 01:22:26 pm

Yeah there is a way to rib in crochet because I have slippers worked that way, only it was done by a lady with no English and she couldnt explain how she did it. There has to be a Ralverlry crocheter out there who knows how it is done though. I know you said your mom doesnt want to read patterns but from a free crochet sock pattern she should be able just to pick up the formula for the leg. Her own foot and heel look really good!

10/30/2012 01:47:34 pm

Is there a way you could take a picture of the slipper ribbing. One good thing about the way Mom crochets is that she doesn't always need a pattern but a picture she can copy.... LOL

charlotte haas

10/30/2012 02:12:13 pm

here's the tutorial from Knit and Crochet Today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00mcA9I7vm0

two methods that should make a nice stretchy rib.

morandia

10/31/2012 03:21:47 am

1.) Are there any crochet podcasts? Mom watches some knitting ones but doesn't really knit.

Not that I know of but I don't do podcasts.

2.) What makes sock yarn, sock yarn? Is it tougher or does it last longer?

It is the WPI - the "weight" of the yarn. Some people insist that it have nylon in it too, but it really depends on the individual on that. For me it must be superwash - that's about my only requirement, but the nylon is a plus.

3.) Is there a way to ribbing in Crochet? Not just the ribbed look but real ribbing.

Not one that really works like knitted ribbing. You can do pseudo-ribbing for appearance though

4.) Does self striping yarn work when crocheted or is there a certain pattern that you knit to get the stripes?

Should work fine as long as you are crocheting in the round. The only issue might be with very thin stripes - crochet might take more yarn than knitting (or less - not positive) so a thin stripe might be onky

5 - the question about favorite sock yarn

for sturdy socks, opal or regia. I LOVE opal - they have some great/crazy striping patterns! Of course I love my yarn. I don't have a website but you guys can always message me for custom orders. Right now I have BFL/Nylon with a tight twist on hand to dye. I tend to like non-merino for socks also. It's soft but pills badly

Nannaw

10/31/2012 05:59:35 am

I generally crochet a inch of elastic into the yarn as you would silk...I use the very thin/fine elastic that way it give you the feeling that the sock won't fall down..All the other questions seem to be answered already..I knit my socks on 4 needles so stripping is not an issue for me...

vtknitboy

11/1/2012 04:55:53 pm

Sock yarn is really a loose term for a wide variety of yarns. Has nothing to do with number of plies or fiber content. Typically it means a thin yarn that is heavier (thicker diameter) than lace yarn (which itself can b several different weights) and fingering weight yarn. It usually is 7-8sts/inch knitted. But that varies a bit too.

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