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Socks Blog - Wednesday 26 May 2004

Gussets and shaping the instep

I finished turning the heels of both socks and started shaping the gusset.

This is a good time to talk about the rate of decrease. I have seen patterns where the decrease is every round (typically for socks for babies and young children), every other round, and every third round. The "correct" answer is what best fits the shape of the foot of the person who will wear it and you can even change between two rates of decrease if it makes the socks fit better. I am shooting for the middle, so started decreasing every other round.

Socks showing instep gussets

I am making "mirrored" decreases. Starting from where the heel divides, I knit to within three stitches of the end of the needle, then knit two together, then knit 1, knit the 36 stitches across the top of the foot needle, knit one, then SSK on the next needle, then knit one round without decreasing.

As of 4 PM I have finished the decreasing on the right sock in the photo and am 10 rounds into the gusset decrease on the left sock.

After I finish decreasing, probably tonight or , I will knit around for several inches to approach the toe.