Fri, 30 October 2009
Episode 2: Sock Options! (featuring Charlene Schurch)  There's a million crafters in Fiber City and we've all got a yarn to spin. For many sock knitters, their first book of patterns is Sensational Knitting Socks by Charlene Schurch. In some ways, it's the only sock book you'll ever need, but fortunately, you don't have to settle for just one. There's More Sensational Knitted Socks, Little Box of Socks and the forthcoming Sock Club. And when you tire of socks (heaven forfend!), there are pattern collections devoted to hats and to mittens. This episode I sat down with Charlene Schurch before her Sock Summit class on durability. We talked about Charlene's journey into knitwear design and her strategies for creating durable socks in a variety of configurations. The following people, places and things were mentioned:
The WINNER of our first Fiber Beat CONTEST is Tamara and she receives the Moccasin Sock pattern along with two skeins of Schoolhouse Press Quebecoise. We also dipped our toes into the world of Twitter and had a promotional contest for the podcast. Our winner for that contest is Tim and he receives 2 wheels of Un-spun Icelandic wool in the denim colorway. Our next Fiber Beat CONTEST for Episode No. 2 I have the Little Box of Socks by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott. All you need to do is tell us what advice you'd like to help face your sock challenges? To enter, please leave a comment on fiberbeat.com or on the Fiber Beat Ravelry forum. The winner will be randomly selected from all the entries. DEADLINE FOR ENTERING IS NOVEMBER 30, 2009. I look forward to seeing what everyone has to say! A MASSIVE thank you to everyone who downloaded and listened to the first two episodes of Fiber Beat. Let me know what you think and leave a review on iTunes! A very special thanks to our Townspeople actors: Seana and Ron! We used snippets of the songs below in this episode. If you like the music, please support the artists (links provided for your convenience):
My name is WonderMike and I'll see YOU on the Fiber Beat!! Comments[23]
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- I enjoyed your new podcasts. One of my sock knitting problems is that I use the same basic sock pattern for everyone because I trust it (with my basic changes)and would like to know how to choose another sock pattern that would be as trustworthy so that I can do something different.
- Love the audio podcast, and can\'t wait to find time to watch the video casts! I appreciate the humor, the fiber stuff, and the excellent production quality. My sock issue is the little holes that show up at the gusset. I\'m a new sock knitter (on my second pair) and the first pair ended up with holes on one and no holes on the other. Don\'t know how that works. I\'d also like to know more about matching the knit pattern to the sock pattern. I tried a colorful yarn with a fairly \'interesting\' stitch pattern, and totally lost the stitches in the color. I frogged it and am now back to a rib.
- What makes me crazed about socks? Well, I love sock knitting but I have yet to find a toe up sock solution that works with my arches - they just don\'t pull up over my foot. So I always end up knmitting top down, which is fine most of the time, but I\'d love a good tow up primer that deals with this issue.
posted by: LisaK aka Convoluted String on 2009-11-30 20:20:00
- I love the new podcast and especially love the video segments!
I have two sock problems. One is that I often have to alter patterns to fit my unusually high instep which can be a real pain. The other is that I have yet to find the perfect shoes to really show off hand-knit socks.
Keep it up! - What a great interview!
My issue is with fitting handmade socks inside my shoes - how is this possible? Buying a size larger shoe is not usually an option as I wear a ladies size 11. Wide.
And another thing: a pair of socks for me, knit on size 0 needles, is a daunting prospect. If I ever do this, what\'s a good combination of pattern and yarn so I will stay interested for the years of knitting it will take to finish?
Love the podcast, glad you dusted off the microphone. - First - must say LOVE the podcast and I can\'t wait for the next posting. Humor along with knitting - what a great fit.
Now as for my sock issues - I always knit from the top down 2 on 1 circ. Where I usually have an issue is trying to get the sock over the heal ankle when the leg fits perfectly. I also struggle as a new knitting knowing exactly how knit a gauge swatch when the item is knitted in the round. - Great episode, Mike!
I vastly prefer a heel flap to a short row heel because it\'s roomier and, I think, easier to knit. I usually knit cuff down. I\'d like more info on toe-up heel flap construction - how to measure so you know you\'re beginning the flap in the right place, etc. I know how to do it cuff-down but not toe-up.
Also, more information on durable sock yarn is always of interest. No more superwash merino!!! - I really have enjoyed the first two eps, as I mentioned on Twitter.
My sock challenge is finding patterns that play nice with variegated handpaints that don\'t require me to sit down with said pattern the whole time. I have a 2 yr old and tend to bring sock projects to playgroups & parks where I can\'t really keep track of a pattern that isn\'t memorized or super easy to read from my knitting. - Adding this to my (sadly shrinking) list of great craft podcasts.
Now to my sock question. I love knitting socks. BUT I can\'t wear wool myself -as soon as my feet get warm, they itch me into madness. When I try to use other yarns, there isn\'t the stretch or cushioning I feel in the knit socks I make (that my friends all LOVE). Can anyone recommend good sock yarns sans wool that still stretch and cushion?
- I love the show and enjoy it very much but wonder why you have to interrupt the interviews with music quite so much? I loved your interview with Charlese though (awesome).
Thank you very much for a very polished show, and I look forward to the only other knitting podcast I listen to apart from Sticks and String (I don\'t so shreik-y hysterical women or ramblers - so that cuts out most LOL!)
My sock challenge is focussing when I get to a heel and not losing my way. I am awful at counting and if I don't write down WHERE I am EVERY time I have to rip back to the start of turning a heel * sigh * - left a comment on Ravelry but wanted to congratulate you on another fabulous podcast with the BEST interview which I will now listen to for a second time because I want to make sure I \"heard\" all the good tips.
sock issues? having socks for me that don\'t bag so much at the ankles -- who knew mine were \"thin\"? but then need to have instructions for enough stitches for a high instep, too.... - GREAT episode! I met Charlene at SS09 (hi sweetie - I'm the acupuncturist!) and it was such a pleasure. My big question... I always tend to knit tightly and make a "cast iron" fabric, particularly on the heels and toes. How do you find the perfect gauge for a comfortable yet durable sock?
- I just listened to your interview with Charlene. Here is what bugs me the most about sock knitting: it is not anything with the knitting itself, it is the gadzillion different yardages of balls/skeins of sock yarn. I like the leg of my sock to be 7 or 8 inches. Some yarns will not allow for this much length. I am a top-down person and I don\'t like to be surprised when I get to the toe (not enough yarn). Why, oh why are sock yarns put up in so many different lengths?
- Oh gosh, I love your new podcast and I can\'t wait to listen to this episode! I just finished my first pair of socks from Charlene Schurch\'s first book, so the timing is great. What I need to know, though, is how to tell what size to make socks so they\'re not too loose? I\'ve heard of subtracting 10% from your measurements, subtracting half an inch from length, etc. What works?