Open Hands Socks

Forever and ever ago, I heard an interview of Barbara Walker by the Knitmore Girls on their podcast and she mentioned that she always worked the bottom of her socks in purl stitches (purls on the right side, knit fabric on the inside of the sock).  I was intrigued and recently decided to try this out.

I used some leftover Stroll from my Geometry Shawl and a simple stitch pattern out of Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume Five: Lace Knitting.  And attempted to do what Barbara does...

I really hated knitting these socks.  At first I thought it was because of the needles.  I started on a pair of KnitPicks metal size 0s and the join was terrible.  Absolutely the worst.  But then I switched to my Chiaogoo's and I still hated working on them.

I definitely hated having to do all the purling.  It was no fun.  But I really didn't like the stitch pattern much either.  Now I knew it wasn't the best choice for this yarn, but I just wanted something simple so it wasn't a plain stockinette sock.  But the pattern really wasn't memorize-able and that I think was the real problem for me.

I would definitely try this again.  It really was pretty cushy under my feet.  But I wouldn't do the WHOLE half of the sock in purls.  I'd do at least a couple knits on either end of the needle.

I even did the heel in purl but the gusset in knits.

I'll keep you updated on how they hold up!