Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Knitting - Spiral Socks for Servicemen


From the servicemen's section of Smart Knitting, Volume 8, 1951.  Slightly cattywampus but still readable instructions on my Flickr account.

6 comments:

Skubitwo said...

why "spiral" ? do they mean knit in the round, or heel-less? I have seen patterns for spiral bed socks which seem to be tube socks, without a heel, like a gym sock. They sometimes have a spiral texture design, also, but the main feature seems to be the lack of a heel.

Shay said...

Yes, it's a heel-less tube sock, knit in a spiral so it conforms to your foot. Presumably a pattern aimed at those eager to knit but for whom the turning of a heel remains a mystery.

Or for knitters like me, for whom the turning of a heel becomes an exercise in frustration and cursing and results in an end product with bulgy heels.

Skubitwo said...

I was told by someone once that tube socks last longer because there's no fixed heel to wear out or outgrow. However, I remember with teenage boys that no socks, with or without heels, ever last more than 10 days before they are lost, shredded, or outgrown.
I finally figured out short row heels, but it still takes me slowing down and fixating on those parts to avoid losing count and ending up with something wonky.

Shay said...

With teenage boys NOTHING lasts more than 10 days before it's lost, shredded or outgrown.

Bunnykins said...

Shay - Have you looked for an old Beehive sock knitting book? They usually had decent how-to instructions for heels, and how to replace the 'magic' heel or, sometimes, how to replace the heels and toes without unravelling. Don't as me how; I hate knitting socks as I don't like making two of the same thing and really only like wearing plain black knee socks

Shay said...

My next pair of socks I'm going to use the instructions in the Elizabeth Zimmerman Knitting Without Tears. They look pretty straightforward.