My FIRST PAIR of Toe Up Socks.........Thanks Wendy Johnson

I have had several friends ask me, "how come you only knit from the cuff down?"  And I tell them, it is because of the short-row heel.  I've tried doing short-row heels on 3 pair of cuff down socks, and every pair has tiny holes in the heel that, for some reason, I am not able to avoid.  I have practiced making them as well, trying different methods.  But for me, there are always holes,  AND I had noticed that the majority of toe-up socks that I saw, were all using short-row heels.  So...........no toe-up socks.

Then one day, while visiting Wendy Johnson's blog, I left a comment about how much I liked the look of her socks, but I had not yet accomplished a toe-up because I was unable to manage a short-row heel.   I was  surprised, but very pleased, when she responded to my comment and mentioned to me that many of her patterns did NOT use a short-row heel, but used a standard flap heel.  I was therefore surprised, and shamed that I had not really noticed that fact while looking at her socks.  I was also then inspired then to give it a try.  I did just that, and I can now say that I CAN KNIT A TOE-UP SOCK, and they are a perfect fit.

                               Wendy Johnson's Double Eyelet Rib Socks w/flap heel.

The yarn is Koigu, 100% merino, very tightly twisted.  So much there were many kinks to smooth out.  The needles were Knitpicks Harmony circular needles, 40" - 2.50 mm (US#1).  Because of the yarn, the double eyelets don't really show very well, but they look great up close, and I am very happy with them.  And I must say, there are short rows using in turning the heel, but I dare anyone to find a hole.  For some reason, it is as smooth as the rest of the sock, and not a hole to be found, even where a few short rows were actually done.   I will definitely be knitting more toe-up socks in the future, and I am very thankful to Wendy Johnson for pointing it out to me, that not all toe-up socks have short-row heels, and by doing that she encouraged me to try.  I think I can honestly say that if she had not written, I most likely would have continued knitting all socks from the cuff down, and would never even tried them from the toe-up.    I can now say that I knit them from the cuff down because that is my preference, not because I can't do them any other way.  And yes, now that I have tried both methods, I still prefer knitting from the cuff down.  But it's always nice to have options.  Don't you agree?  :)

On the home front, for the first time ever, I have a "resident" chipmunk!

I couple days back, as I stepped out onto the porch, I was so surprised to see a chipmunk dashing across the porch and slipping out of sight in a flash!  I've been keeping my bird and squirrel seed in old cleaned out kitty-litter buckets, on the porch.  And I found that something had been gnawing through the lid of one of the buckets.  I think it must have been this little critter.  The gnawing has stopped, so I guess he gave up, finding it a bit too difficult to get through and get to what he wanted.  But he sure came close to succeeding.

Look at that little face.  Stuffed to the gills!!!  hahaha    My bird feeders are weighted to allow the smaller birds access, but if a squirrel or Blue Jay lands on them, they close up the access to the feed, and the critter can only get to what is laying on the lip.  Obviously the chipmunk is either too light to close up the feeder, or there was sufficient food on the lip for him to satisfy himself.  He sure looks full to me!  :D