Sock Knitting Formula

[merryknitter]

I am really enjoying knitting socks right now. My question is: is there a formula to figure out how many stitches to cast on for a child's sock? My granddaughter is 7 and I measured the widest part of her foot, the length of her foot, and from the bottom of her heel to the top of the sock.
Thanks,
Merry

[GrumpyGramma]

If you're knitting toe up you might find some useful info if you look at lifestyle socks. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/libr...-swatch-needed The way I learned from them is the way I knit socks.

[salmonmac]

And Knitty has a very nice method for making your own pattern for top down socks.
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/FEATsocks101.html

[Woodi]

This looks so good - copied it for my files. Thank you! I too love knitting socks but have never tried the toe-up.

[GrumpyGramma]

I too love knitting socks but have never tried the toe-up.

If you promise not to tell anyone else, I'll tell you why I love toe up socks. Now this is just between you and me, mind. The truth is: I like a lazy, just-get-it-started project to pick up. With yarn I don't have to worry about shrinking, I can completely skip swatching, if I decide the yarn is too finicky to work with, I can skip adding pattern stitches or I can decide to do them if I want, I stop increasing when it fits my foot, and I don't worry about the top being too long and running out of yarn before the toe is done; by starting with Judy's magic cast on or another that starts with a closed toe, and 2 @ a time, when I bind off I'm done! except for weaving in the loose ends and there might be only 4 of those.

When KIP 2 @ a time socks can get some interesting glances, too, which makes it more fun.

ETA: I don't have to worry about misplacing a pattern for my basic socks because there isn't one.

[Jan in CA]

I'm doing toe up right now. 3 pair actually. It's for a class, but I've done another method as well. I always use a turkish cast on and much prefer it to Judys.

I used to have a cool sock chart, but can't find it!!

Found it! There's one for DPN and one for circular. These are cuff down.
http://www.siskiyouknits.com/grannie...s/socknote.htm

[GrumpyGramma]

Jan, I think I'll try the Turkish cast on for my next pair of socks. I found a video and in case someone else wants to see, here's the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4nwHG15lJc I once used what I think was called a figure 8 cast on when I couldn't find instructions for anything else (and I had no internet for months) and that was OK. I have to print that chart you linked to.

How are your 3 prs of socks coming along?

[Jan in CA]

How are your 3 prs of socks coming along?

I've cast on 3 toes in different colors (3 pair of socks) and have the gusset done on one. We do the heel turn in the next class. One other toe is now about 4 inches. The heel in this one is different than I've done before. Hence the class.

I'm using 2 different colors on each sock. The toes, heel and ribbing will be a solid and then I'm single row striping the foot and top with the solid and and stripy hand paints. I've added one pic on Rav and will soon have another.

[sewreal]

Thank you so much for the link to the sock charts and pattern.