Cranky Socks

 Even though it is summer here I keep making socks. 

This is the toe on another pair of monster socks. Machine-knit socks use a simple short-row heel and toe. 

Every once in a while I get a comment on my sock photos asking why the toes are open, or how someone is supposed to wear these. The simple answer is that these aren't finished. 

The next step is where I pick up the live stitches onto two short circular needles and remove the waste yarn. This is very similar to how commercially made socks are finished. Just look at a pair of store-bought socks and you should be able to see the stitching across the toes. That is where the machine-knit sock was sewn closed after it came of the machine. The main difference is I close these up using the Kitchener stitch. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Knitter's Pride Aqua Sock Blockers, Medium

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook (picking up dropped stitches)
Cable Clamp PRO Cable Management 4 Pack (used in place of weight buckle)
Brightech Lightview Pro Flex - Hands Free, Magnifying Glass Desk Lamp for Close Work (lens removed)
Zibra PB100LZR Grip-n-Glide 1-Inch Round Trim Paint Brush (to clean lint/dust from machine)
24 Pack Metal Rectangular Empty Hinged Tins (hold extra machine needles)
addi Express Hook (picking up dropped stitches, hanging setup bonnet, finishing missed stitches)
Do4U Drinking Home Office Table Desk Side Huge Clip (I use it to hold the ball/cake of yarn while I crank but it could hold your drink, too)
BLACK+DECKER WM225-A Portable Project Center and Vise (this is my machine stand, slightly modified for a larger work surface)

RuMe Bags Baggie All (Aspen) (to hold my hand-finishing supplies: yarn needle, needle threader, scissors, Kitchener directions, stitch markers, etc)