Strong - Step into crochet: crocheted sock techniques from basic to beyond!

The number one question asked by new sock crocheters is

How can I make my socks fit?

The answer to that question is long and varied. To understand how to make a sock fit, you need to know the different parts of a crocheted sock, the many measurements of your foot, and how to adjust a sock pattern to accommodate your actual feet.

When reading sock patterns, youll notice that almost always give two finished values: the foot circumference and the ankle circumference. Although an average fit can be achieved using these measurements, a custom fit can in no way be guaranteed. Other patterns completely reject the finished measurements and include only the standard small, medium, large, and extra large labels. If no final measurements are given, you should approach these patterns with caution.

Some designers may have a different view as to what these standard sizes are. If a pattern is written to crochet to fit and doesnt give you the actual finished measurements of the sock, you should skip it. These measurements are given for you to correctly choose the perfect size for your feet.

The best way to determine your sock size is to measure your foot. You need specific measurements if you want the sock to fit your foot perfectly. Socks should be worked with negative easethey should be crocheted a bit smaller than your actual foot size.

Most designers use four standard measurements to determine size: the circumferences of the foot, ankle, and gusset plus the length of the foot. They also include three more measurements for people with shapely legs or non-average feet: the circumference of the calf, the heel diagonal, and the length of the toes.

A. Foot circumference: the circumference around the ball of the foot.

B. Ankle circumference: the circumference around the narrowest part of the ankle.

C. Gusset circumference: the circumference around the arch of the foot, just in front of the heel.

D. Foot length: the length of the foot, from the tip of the longest toe to the back of the heel.

E. Low calf circumference: the circumference of the leg, measured 6 inches (15 cm) up from the ground.

F. Heel diagonal: the circumference of the diagonal from the top of the foot at the front of the ankle to the back of the heel, at the floor.

G. Toe length: the length of the longest toe.

Socks are meant to stretch. If you were to grab your favorite pair of store-bought socks from your sock drawer, you would undoubtedly discover that these socks are quite a bit smaller around than your actual foot circumference. Manufactured socks are usually composed of a cotton/polyester blend with a stretch material such as latex rubber or elastic. This allows the sock to stretch to fit a wide variety of feet, enabling manufacturers to make a limited number of sizes that work for nearly all customers.

Choosing a sock pattern based on such a sock will often, if not always, lead you to crocheting a sock that neither fits nor feels good. So, our socks must be crocheted to a size that is closer to our actual foot measurements. While commercial socks may have negative ease around 30 percentthat is, 30 percent smaller than your foot measurementcrocheted socks need to stay within 5 percent negative ease, or 5 percent smaller than your foot measurement.

For the optimal fit, feel, and function, a sock needs to measure 5 percent, or 12" (1.3 cm), less than the finished foot circumference. The foot length should measure 10 percent, or 1" (2.5 cm), less than the finished foot length. This is due to crochet's tendency to stretch vertically but not horizontally. This is also assuming that the sole of the sock is constructed out of a solid fabric.

Because your foot is unique, you need to take your own measurements. Use the chart below to record your actual foot measurements.

The measuring process takes less than five minutes. All you need is a simple, flexible cloth tape measure, a new or rarely used one preferably. This will help ensure that your measurements are accurate.