This is an easy, fun knit. The pattern is easy to follow, but definitely takes some trust. I made some adjustments in the in the mini-gusset increase section to give me a wider leg. I want to try the controlled striped version next.

Summary

• Stockinette gauge is 12 rows / inch and 8 stitches per inch.

• I modified the SSK to be Slip first stitch purlwise, slip second stitch knit wise. Knit through both. I wanted to see how it paired with the K2tog.

• I use M1L and M1R for my increases.

• My foot length is 8 3/4 so I knitted to 6 3/4” instead of the specified 7 1/2”

• I modified the gusset decrease section to adjust the leg stitch count: Decrease 2 to 40 stitches on front, Increase 4 on the back of the sock for 41 stitches. The ratio of the effective 60 stitch leg to the 72 stitches on the needle is about 83%. By this calculation, 82 stitches on the needle gives me an effective 68 stitch leg.

• Added 8 extra rows at the end of the gusset decrease sections to increase the leg length.

• Ribbed section is 18 rows.

• 20 grams of yarn remaining.

• A detailed description of the construction pictures can be found at: Can You Skew?

Journal

2012-03-13: Completed big toe for both socks.

2012-03-14: Completed Mid-toe for both socks -- pretty funky looking at this stage. This section just has increases on one side to start the “skew”.

2012-03-15: Completed 6 3/4” right foot. My foot length is 8 3/4”, 3/4” shorter than the 9 1/2” foot length this pattern is designed for. Even though my gauge is correct, the 14 additional repeats landed me at 6 3/4” which is good, but the pattern says I should be at 7 1/2” at this point. I’m going to drop a lifeline here in case i need to rip back.

Completed ankle section of right sock. I’m dropping another lifeline. Given the unusual construction of this sock, I need to get past the heel to determine fit before I continue with the left sock.

2012-03-16-10.00: Completed mini-gusset section of right sock. Ready to move on to right foot specific shaping.

2012-03-16-18.00: Completed Heel shaping and the Kitchener of the heel. Tried on the right sock and it fits !!! I can move back to the left sock.

2012-03-17: Completed foot, inner ankle, increase mini-gusset sections of left sock.

2012-03-18: Completed the origami moment for the left sock. Sock fits, although the left sock is a bit tighter than the right sock. (I discovered later that I had dropped a stitch.) Continued and completed the left gusset decrease section, although I didn’t really decrease. I went from 42 to 41 stitches on the front of the sock and 36 to 41 on the back of the sock.

2012-03-19: Completed the right gusset decrease in the same manner as the left gusset decrease. Added 8 additional rows to increase the leg length. Completed left leg short rows, adjusting for additional stitches. Completed rib transition row, ending with 42 stitches on each needle and have transitioned to US0 needles.

2012-03-20: Completed right leg short rows and ribbed cuff. Completed ribbed cuff of left sock. Bound off both socks using JSSBO.

Next Time

• Change toe as follows: Using Judy’s Magic Cast On, cast on 6 stitches, leaving enough tail to knit with. Using tail and yarn knit 1 row (12 stitches) using the 12 stitches. Mark the beginning of the row and continue with round 1. This method will get rid of the little “wings” at the corner of the toe.

• Shorten the foot section by 2 rows, stopping at 12 repeats.

• Increase the size of the foot by about 4-6 stitches. My preferred sock size is 62-66 stitches at this gauge, so adding a bit will get me closer to this preference.

• Instead of using M1R & M1L per pattern in the ribbed cuff setup row, use an appropriately aligned KFB.

• when I’m ready to do a “manly” sock, start with the designer’s blog: 84 stitch skew

First Time

• What can I say? The entire sock was a first time!