Continuing my experiments with knitting socks, I’m trying out socks with anatomically correct toes.

Store-bought socks are symmetrical. The toe area has a relatively straight shape, like a very flat isosceles trapezoid. Industrially made socks always so stretchy that they fit my toes well.

The standard hand-knit sock pattern also has a symmetrical toe in the shape of a slightly curved isosceles triangle. You can see the shape on the leet feet I made to give away, and on these green socks I made for myself. The knitting does stretch to more or less fit, but not as much as store-bought socks. With a thin yarn I find that this puts unnecessary stress around the big toes.

For this pair I tried to match the actual shape of my feet. My big toes are noticeably longer than the second toe, and the front of the foot very definitely follows a diagonal line. I just started to decrease earlier on the outside, and decreased faster on the outside than the inside, and they came out really nice on the first try.

The next step might be to do something about the final rows. The standard sock toe pattern (which this asymmetrical one is based on) ends with a distinct little tip, where the yarn is pulled through the final four remaining stitches. I might look for a different way to finish off that leaves the end a bit flatter.

By the way, did you see the lovely yarn I found for these socks? Hand-dyed sock yarn from Limmo Design in a wonderfully rich, dark yellow colour. The specks of brown are not too loud, but liven up the surface. The shop labels this colour “curry” but it makes me think of honey. Now that I’ve started looking, I find yarns in so many beautiful colours that I’m going to have to make a lot more socks.

Socks are such a great knitting project. Small and fast, uncomplicated once you get the basic pattern down. Knitting a cardigan is a major investment in time. Socks on the other hand almost finish themselves. And there is always a need for more, because they wear out.