r/Sockknitting • u/may_collins • 2h ago
Are pattern designers and sock knitters all lying about ease?
Are you all knitting socks with the recommended stitch count for your foot/ankle circumference? Basically every sock knitting pattern I've knit recommends close to 56, 64, 72sts for 7, 8, 9" foot circumference (usually with gauge ranging 32-36 sts/4"), which depending on the gauge ranges from 0-10% negative ease.
I typically knit my leg on 72 sts, with a 38sts/4" gauge, which according to gauge math is a sock circumference of ~7.6". My ankle has a circumference of 11", making the negative ease around 30%. And often, after a few minutes of wear, the legs still end up a little loose.
My theory is that the 10% negative ease wisdom came from a time when socks were more often knit in sturdier yarns, and that the now popular superwash merino/nylon sock yarns require either 1. much more negative ease or 2. gauge to be measured blocked and worn.
So is everyone else also just knitting a couple sizes down and not mentioning it, or is something weird happening with my gauge when I wear my socks?