Cotton sock yarn recommendation?
When I went home for my mother's surgery, I brought my first-ever pair of socks to show off. She admired them greatly and repeatedly said things about how impressed she was, how she wished she could knit socks (although not in wool since she got so hot) and so forth. Eventually it dawned on me that she might want me to knit her a pair of socks... Seems like a funny Christmas present, but those sure sounded like hints to me.
Anyway, that leads to two questions.
Question one: Any suggestions for knitting socks for someone when you don't have foot measurements? I know my mother's shoe size but asking her to measure her feet would sort of kill the surprise. Should I try to make a stretchy pattern like ribbing, or would lace socks be stretchy enough? (I was sort of hoping to do something with very simple lace since she seemed so impressed with the angel and the lace stole I was working on while I was there.) My first pairs of socks have been toe-up, but I'm thinking toe-down would be easier to modify if it turns out the foot was too long or too short?
Question two: Can someone suggest a good cotton sock yarn? I was initially thinking Cascade Fixation until I saw how heavy it was -- I was thinking something closer to fingering weight. I considered the new Risata yarn from Knitpicks but I'm concerned that, at 40% wool, it may still be too hot for her. (She really is hot all the time.)
Anyway, that leads to two questions.
Question one: Any suggestions for knitting socks for someone when you don't have foot measurements? I know my mother's shoe size but asking her to measure her feet would sort of kill the surprise. Should I try to make a stretchy pattern like ribbing, or would lace socks be stretchy enough? (I was sort of hoping to do something with very simple lace since she seemed so impressed with the angel and the lace stole I was working on while I was there.) My first pairs of socks have been toe-up, but I'm thinking toe-down would be easier to modify if it turns out the foot was too long or too short?
Question two: Can someone suggest a good cotton sock yarn? I was initially thinking Cascade Fixation until I saw how heavy it was -- I was thinking something closer to fingering weight. I considered the new Risata yarn from Knitpicks but I'm concerned that, at 40% wool, it may still be too hot for her. (She really is hot all the time.)