Crank a sock with contrasting colours on a circular sock machine with me! I’m using my Erlbacher Speedster CSM to crank a sock with contrasting cuffs, heels, and toes using the “Faux Russian Join” technique to lock in the ends of the yarn.
In this video, I’m using the SweetGeorgia Secret Stash Club yarn for June 2024 called “Lightning Rod” in Tough Love Sock along with a mini-skein of Tough Love Sock in “Deep Orchid”.
Just a quick note to let you know that I filmed a SECOND way to crank contrasting heels and toes too that involves not cutting the main colour yarn at the heel but I haven’t had a chance to edit and publish it. If you are using the Lightning Rod colour, I would try to avoid cutting the main colour, otherwise it produces a bit of a “jog” in the colour pooling. I show all of that in the second, yet-to-be edited video. But this faux Russian join technique is great for most yarns and colours!
At first, I cranked a sock using the “Lightning Rod” colourway the same way that I always do — just one cone of yarn, one colour, all the way through. But after cranking the sock, I thought it would be extra fun if we added a mini skein of contrasting colour so that you could use this for contrasting heels, toes, and cuffs.
For these socks, I used my Erlbacher Speedster Circular Sock Knitting Machine, also known as a CSM. The 64-stitch cylinder has become by “go to” size for cranking socks that fit my feet. I cranked a hung hem stockinette sock with a short row heel and toe, using the “Deep Orchid” contrasting colour for the cuff, heel, and toe.
There are lots of different ways that you can change colours on a circular sock knitting machine, but one of the ways that I want to show you is a technique that is sometimes called “clasped weft” or “faux Russian join.” The faux Russian join technique involves clasping the old yarn with the new yarn and knitting them both together at the same time. The whole point of this faux Russian join technique is that you don’t have to weave in any ends with a needle when the sock is complete.
Just for reference, I crank 20 rounds of contrasting colour for the hung hem, 70 rounds for the leg in the main colour, and 63 rounds for the foot in the main colour as well. I describe how I crank my standard stockinette CSM sock with short row heels and toes here. You may choose different cuff, leg, and foot rounds depending on the size of sock you want to crank. Once you finish the sock, you can graft the toe closed.
And that’s it! This is just ONE of the ways to crank a sock with contrasting heels and toes and we’ll look at other ways in the future. For now, enjoy your happy, fun socks!
Notes from this episode:
- I’m wearing the Wool & Honey design by Andrea Mowry, knit in SweetGeorgia BFL+Silk Fine yarn in Honey Gold.
- I crank my socks on my Erlbacher Speedster Circular Sock Machine with a 64-stitch cylinder.
