Experimental Farm Toe Up Socks - Recipe

These socks, made for my hubby,  were knit with Roots & Rain yarn Trillium Field Sock.  Naturally dyed with onions skins and walnuts.  The yarn is 70%  Rideau Arcott and 30% nylon - Limited Edition.   

The Rideau Arcott is a purebred sheep.  It was developed entirely in Canada. Agriculture Canada spent 10 to 15 years developing this breed at their research station in Ottawa. I always refer to the place as the Experimental Farm, thus the name for these socks.  The yarn weight is different from what I knit most of my socks with - slightly thicker and more rustic.  The sock will be cozy and warm for the feet.

Here's my recipe for the socks:

Use  Turkish Cast On (Happee Knits) to cast on 12 stitches.  Follow her directions for increasing.  Once you have the number of stitches for the sock size ( used 56 stitches total for men's large), start the foot of the sock.  Pattern on top (3 x 1 rib) and plain knitting on sole.

 

For Experimental Farm Socks for man's size large, I knit until sock measured 8". Then started heel.

Easiest heel is the Shadow Wrap Heel (Purl Together)  There's no counting to worry about, simply decide how many stitches you want for the center of heel.

After the heel, knit all stitches in pattern until sock measures 5" from where you finished Shadow Wrap Heel.  Then start ribbing for cuff.  I usually knit about 2" for the cuff, then bind off.

Although not the prettiest bind off,  Elizabeth Zimmerman bind off   (Knit by Heart) is the stretchiest bind off I've used.  Simple and does the trick.

And voila - a pair of men's socks (size 11 shoe).