My TATU Sock Pattern

     The first time I taught knitting (and was paid for it) was at our local Michael's Art & Craft store in 2006.  It was very part time.  I was asked to teach a "Learn to Knit" class, and I wrote a little pattern on how to knit a small square which included photos showing creative things to do with a small knitted square.  I also wrote a dishcloth pattern.  Later I offered a felted knitting class and a cable class.  I gave my free pattern, Both Sides Now , in the cable class.

     By early 2009, I had been teaching at an LYS named 'Cozy Cabin' for several months.  I wanted to teach a toe up sock class.  Only thing is, I had not yet made a toe up sock.  I was sure that I wanted to write a pattern to teach making a toe up sock to students who had previously made only cuff down socks.  I also knew that I would use two circular needles.  I researched methods of casting on, making the heel, and the cuff bind off.  I found the ones that I not only liked best, but knew that I could teach.  I titled my pattern 'TATU Sock, Try A Toe Up Sock'.

     I chose to make the sock from sport weight yarn so that it would knit up quickly.  I felt that experienced sock knitters could learn to make one in a two-session class.  I have also offered it as a three-session class with shorter length classes (better).

     Most knitters enjoyed making the socks and did like how quickly they knit up.  You will find the free TATU Sock pattern here.

     Some have had difficulty getting the right tension on the 'Kitchener' bind-off.  It is such a beautiful finish to the top of the sock and well worth the time it takes to learn to tension it.  A much easier bind-off would be the sewn bind-off for those who just can't get the Kitchener one.  In a future post, I will show pictures of both with hopefully a bit of a tutorial.

     I would like to now offer a helpful hint for knitting the heel.  I had one email question from a knitter who had trouble counting stitches when working the rows with wrapped stitches.  I actually use two markers to help with the

counting...
In the "Start Heel" section, 
Row 1:  After you slip 1, place a marker, then continue to work the row. 
Row 2:  After you slip 1, place a marker, continue to work row to the other marker, remove marker, slip and wrap next stitch. 
Row 3:  (Similar to row 2) after you slip 1, place a marker (the one you just removed at the end of previous row), continue to work row to the other marker, remove marker, slip and wrap next stitch.
Continue to work each row placing and removing markers  as in row 3.
     When I work this way, I find that I do not have to count stitches every row.  I just check every so often that on the knit side I knit an odd number, and on the purl side I purl an even number -- stopping when I am down to purl 8.
     HTH (Hope That Helps)
     Happy Knitting, my friend!