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Sock Blog Hop #5 - Toe up or Cuff down socks?

Welcome to the 5th instalment for the Sock CAL 2018 Blog Hop.  If you have been following from the beginning, I should imagine that you are well on your way to choosing your sock design, yarn and have a pretty good understanding of the construction of a sock.

Then comes the next question - Toe Up or Cuff Down?  Does it really matter?  Surely they all come out the same.  You are right, they do look the same and there is no discernible difference.  I have crocheted a fair number of socks over the last few years and I must admit that I have a preference - Cuff down.  To put it simply, I don't like adding a ribbed cuff at the end of the sock.

I admit that I am just not very good at crocheting the ribbed cuff at the end of the pattern. I get confused and when I start to work on it I don't like how mine looks.   I prefer to work the cuff first and then work from the ankle down (I like the cuffs nice and neat).   I like to try on the sock as I go and know that I can adjust the number of stitches to suit once I work the decrease for the toe.

Not avoiding toe up construction altogether, I have, in the past, substituted a ribbed cuff where the pattern calls for one. In the case of the Sparkler Socks (below) by Vix Brown, I switched the ribbing for a scalloped edge from one of her other patterns in her book.  Of course not every toe-up sock has a ribbed cuff and to those I make an exception.



With both techniques you can try on as you go and adjust the pattern if you need to so in that respect, there is no difference.  It just depends on which end of the foot you want to work on last i.e. start the decrease for the toe or start the heel turn.

Obviously there are benefits of both techniques and one of the aspects that I do like about working from the toe up is the neatness of the toe and the fact that you don't get a seam that can rub.  You have a clever pattern of stitches that create a snug area for your toes to sit in without the worry of them being uncomfortable.


So does it matter what technique you choose?  No it doesn't.  It's just a question of personal preference and you never know until you try.  Don't be disheartened if one way doesn't work for you, find one that does and become confident with your sock making ability before going on to conquer the unfamiliar.  Remember, this is crochet, anything is possible.

Don't forget to Hop over to Marta's blog next week for her hot topic of Colour & Colour Patterns (link below)

Happy crocheting!

Blog 1 Sat 15th Sep - Sock Making Tips - Tamara (http://www.craftyescapism.com/)
Blog 2 Sat 22nd Sep - Yarn Choice - Fay (https://www.knitit-hookit-craftit.com/)
Blog 3 Sat 29th Sep - Knit vs Crochet Socks - Caroline (https://www.mindandmusecrafts.com/)
Blog 4 Sun 30th Sep -  Sock Anatomy - Deanne (http://www.addydae.com/)
Blog 5 Sat 6 Oct - Toe up vs Cuff down Socks - Jo (http://jojotwinkletoes.blogspot.com/)
Blog 6 Sat 13th Oct - Colour & colour patterns - Marta (http://mrsdaftspaniel.blogspot.com/)
Blog 7 Sat 20th Oct - Customising socks - Kathryn (http://crafternoontreats.com/)
Blog 8 Sat 27th Oct - Crochet Sock Heels are not Scary - Karen (https://www.karenwhooley.com/)

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