Spiral Sock Knitted WITHOUT a G Carriage
by Jayne Rupe
jaynemr@televar.com

Here is my version of a spiral sock using the ribber instead of a g-carriage. The sample top shown below is knitting using symphony – they are to match a sweater in progress that is giving me fits at this point. I am now waiting for the Knitting Goddess to once again smile favorably on this sweater, so thought I would knit the matching socks. At any rate, I used a broken toe cast on and knitted two rows of 1 x 1 – then the transfers begin as follows: This sample I used 60 needles. But as long as it is done in multiples of 4’s then it should work with any gauge or any pattern, and could be used on the bulky machines as well. Machine in Half pitch, same as you would use for 1 x 1

NOTE:  the sock top has just a little more 'oomph' if the sock top is transferred to the main bed on a normal transfer.

x = needles in work, o = needles out of work.
Work is transferred in the same direction at all times – I went to the left.

Main bed:    x x x o x x x o x x x o x x x o x x x ox x x
                    _________________________________
                    o o o x o o o x o o o x o o o x o o o x o o o

Knit 4 rows then transfer ribber stitch to main bed and move main bed needle next to the transferred ribber stitch down. Knit 4 rows and repeat, continuing to move the ribber stitch up into the empty slot and the stitch on the left of the transferred ribber stitch down.

Basically, I knit about 70 rows or whatever the yarn would require to achieve my gauge and length. Transfer all needles to main bed

These socks are then knitted for the foot using April Mill’s Socks that Fit pattern. I have knitted dozens of socks with this pattern and consider it my "Sock Reference Tool". It is a nice sock with a circular foot that helps cut down on seaming time. The heels and toes are short rowed and the toe kitchernered (sp?) for a seamless appearance.

                  Roz's Note:  If you don't have April's pattern, her web address is http://www.everett.net/users/mills/
                  If you already have a sock pattern, it should work too.

My daughter, a product of the mid-eighties high school scene says these are reminiscent of her ‘slouch socks’ and she would have loved to have many pairs of these then! As it is, mine somehow are magically transferred to her sock drawer at her home without any loss of identity. She even took the pair I planned to have a finished picture made from! It is rather annoying though, when she asks me to buy different yarn in her favorite colors. Could this be premeditated?

Enjoy!

Jayne Rupe

One addition that I should have added to the document and didn't, is that the sock top has just a little more 'oomph' if the sock top is transferred to the main bed on a normal transfer.

Sock On!

Jayne Rupe