Socks for men -advice needed.

malteser · Socks for men -advice needed.

I am going to knit dh a pair of socks for Christmas. I know a basic sock for me is 60 stitches on 2.5mm needles using 4ply weight yarn but how much for a man. He is quite slim with size 9 feet. I have seen patterns for either 68 or 72 stitches but would welcome any advice.

I will probably knit a couple of inches and then measure them against a pair of his socks anyway.

pictish

I think I remember FC saying 68st was what she used on 2.5mm - haven't made any myself tho.

Jobo

My hubby has size 8-9 feet and I usually cast on 64 sts Very Happy

Sprite64

If you can measure his foot that would be better - you can do a swatch and then work out how many stitches to use. I'm just having the same issue with knitting socks for my BIL & SIL. I have their measurements and I've compared what I do for OH. I get 9sts/inch and OH has quite small feet - the ball of his foot is 8.5inches - the last pair I made I cast on 80 stitches (A bit more than the maths works out - but it was for a particular pattern). It's easy knitting for OH as I can get him to try them on as I go (no chance of making secret socks for him as he's not away very often). I have made socks for me with anything from 68 stitches to about 80 stitches.

n

I do 72 sts for DH as he has quite wide feet and he also has wide toes if you know what I mean - not that he's a hobbit or anything (!!!) but his toes have not been squashed by silly high heeled shoes Laughing

I do 2x2 rib to the ankle - a labour of love - but they don't crumple or fall down without them being tight. Sometimes I do k3P1 rib instead and keep it going along the top pf the foot too (if I'm feeling particularly nice!)

This is with bonny sock yarn and 2.5mm dpns. And he wears a nine or a ten depending on the shoes.

I have the current ones pictured on my blog a couple of days ago, if that helps.

n

jessica

i find 68 sts work for most of the men i knit for

n

You may be right Jessica.
I have broad-ish feet and they are a 6-7 and I do 64 for myself, and if I was knitting for the boys who have bigger feet than me I'd probably do a 64 for them too, but I just know they wouldn't be wide enough for him.
He wears New Balance running shoes because they come in width fittings and he needs to buy the wide ones.
All those extra 4 sts every round add up though. Shocked

Fi

Do you want a copy of the Regia sock pattern I have a spare one if you do.

It gives sizes for DK and 4ply socks.

PM if you do, its now problem.

FatCat

Mr FC has size 9 feet, quite wide too and I do his socks over 68 stitches on 2.5mm needles (spot on as always Pictish! Laughing

)

malteser

Thanks everyone. I have casted on 68 stitches and they look like they will fit.

YarnAddict

the number of cast on stitches all depends on whether you're doing plain stocking stitch or a pattern. Cables for example pulls in mor eso need more stitches. My latest sock pattern, Twisted cables, comes in a medium ladies and medium men's size.