Sock Knits 2022 - Traditional Heel Socks, No-Heel-Turn Socks and Cardboard Sock Blockers

Traditional Heel Socks, No-Heel-Turn Socks and Cardboard Sock Blockers 

I finished several pairs of ankle socks recently and it's high time to take stock of my latest sock knitting adventures. This is a brief update on this year's sock knitting projects so far. I will add projects to this post, as and when new socks are being completed throughout the remainder of the year. 

All of the socks shown in the images are knitted from the cuff down on double-pointed needles. The heels in two of the pairs featured are worked the traditional way, i.e. by separating heel stitches, knitting back- and forward before finally picking up and rejoining the heel section with the remainder of the sock. 

For the third pair of socks in this round-up (the stripy sock) I tried a new technique, in which the heel is created by simply working increases and then decreases. (I will elaborate on this technique in a separate post.) 

In case you are wondering, all of the socks are blocked on makeshift, homemade cardboard sock blockers. Even though I knit a fair amount of socks, I still haven't invested in a pair of professional sock blockers. Every time I look at the available options, I feel overwhelmed by the different types of sock blockers on the market and cannot decide which design is best. 

With every finished sock I end up cutting up a new pair of makeshift blockers from a piece of discarded cardboard. This option seems to work for me. Over time, the shape of my homemade sock blockers has improved considerably and as a cardboard blocker weighs next to nothing, they are the perfect option for sending ready-to-wear socks on blockers in the mail. 

Without further ado, let's look at the sock projects. 

Drops Fabel Socks in Blue Sea Print 

First up, here we have a pair of top-down vanilla socks with a ribbed heel. The yarn is Drops Fabel (colour: Blue Sea Print). 50 grams (one ball) will be just enough for a pair of ankle-length socks. If opting for this yarn, be aware that the finished socks will not be completely identical, but the colour repeats will match. 

Top-Down Vanilla Sock with ribbed heel (Yarn: Drops Fabel) 

This was the first time I used Drops Fabel and I was not disappointed. Fabel is composed of 75% Wool and 25% Polyamide. The recommended needle size is 3mm. When working with Fabel, I got the impression that this yarn is certainly on the bulkier side compared to other sock yarns in general and specifically when compared to Regia's 4 ply, which I have used for the next project. 

Regia 4-ply Socks in Twilight (Design Line by Arne and Carlos) 

I love Regia's range of yarns and their 4 ply sock yarn is no exception. This pair of plain vanilla ankle socks is knitted on 2.5 mm double-pointed needles in Regia's 4-ply sock yarn (Design Line by Arne and Carlos, colour: Twilight). Again, the finished socks will not be completely identical, but the colour repeats will match. In fact, my socks seem to be a very close match.  

Regia 4-ply Socks (Shade: Twilight - Design Line by Arne and Carlos)

At first I was not sure about the colours, but they work really well once knitted. One ball (50g) will be enough for two ankle-length socks. The composition of this yarn is 75% wool and 25% polyamide (exactly the same as Drops Fabel), but this yarn feels delicate and appears to be more tightly spun than Drops Fabel.

Regia 4-ply Socks (Shade: Twilight - Design Line by Arne and Carlos)

No Heel Turning Socks

UPDATE - The pattern for the No Heel Turn Sock is now available here.

Next up is a very special sock-knitting project and a sneak peek of my first pair of 'No Heel Turning Socks'. 

As mentioned above, I will elaborate on the construction of the no heel turning socks in more detail in a separate blog post. For now, it suffices to say that this technique is perfect for creating seamless, uninterrupted stripes when using self-striping sock yarn. It's also probably the simplest way of knitting a sock. There is no need for a heel-flap and no picking-up of stitches. The heel is created by simply working increases, followed by decreases. 

No Heel Turning Socks 

No Heel Turning Socks 

The yarn used for the main part of the stripy sock above is James C Brett Funny Feetz with Bamboo and an unidentified skein of generic sock yarn for both the cuff and toe sections of the socks. 

I really enjoyed working with Funny Feetz, which is composed of 50% Wool, 25% Polyamide and 25% Bamboo. I have never knitted with bamboo sock yarn before and was pleasantly surprised. It's super soft, a bit on the bulky side but has a nice stitch definition. 

No Heel Turning Socks - Heel Detail

No Heel Turning Socks  - Heel Detail 

No Heel Turning Socks  -  Heel Detail 

That's all the socks for today. As 2022 goes on, I am sure there will be more to come.  

UPDATE - The pattern for the No Heel Turn Sock is now available here.