Hello! To indicate that I’m not a sock-ruler-expert, I’ve added a question mark to the title of today’s post – How to Use a Sock Ruler? They may have been around longer, but I only came across them recently and my curiosity was aroused. So I purchased one, worked out how to use it and am now reporting my findings to you. Please correct me if I’m wrong or am missing something.
Mine is from German yarn manufacturer Lana Grossa. It is in German, and uses only centimetres and European shoe sizes. You may want to look for a different brand if you live in a different part of the world. Here it is:
It can be used for shoe sizes 30-47. (There is a separate sock ruler for smaller children.) And these are the areas of interest the numbers refer to:
- Yarn weight
- Needle sizes
- Number of stitches to cast on
- Foot length from heel to toe
- Total foot length
I’ll try to describe everything in a logical order, starting with:
Yarn weight and needle sizes
4-F (1. in the photos above and below) stands for 4-fach in German, meaning 4-ply. This refers to the yarn weight this side of the sock ruler is to be used for – thinner sock yarns with around 400m/437yds to 100g.
The row of holes (2. in the photos above) is a needle gauge for the range of knitting needle sizes used for 4-ply yarns. The reverse side of my sock ruler is for thicker 6-F (6-fach/6-ply) yarns (shown below):
Casting on
Before starting on a sock we need to look at the area called Maschenanschlag (4-f).
This is a handy table showing how many stitches (Maschen) to cast on for socks for different shoe sizes using 4-ply yarn. I’m knitting size 38 socks and need to look at: Gr 36-39: 60M. (Gr = Größe/size; 36-39 is the range my size 38 falls in; 60M = 60 Maschen/stitches). So I need to cast on 60 stitches, and that’s exactly what I always do for these kind of socks.
Cuff and leg
The sock ruler can be used to measure the length of the cuff and leg instead of a tape measure. How long you want them to be is up to you.
Heel
Alas, the sock ruler doesn’t help with the heel – you’ll have to figure that out for yourself. I’m knitting a pair of socks with a traditional Dutch heel flap.
Foot
To determine when you need to start on the toe, you need to look at Fusslänge: Fersenmitte bis Spitzenbeginn (Foot length: from middle of heel to start of toe). Insert the sock ruler in the sock, with one end (the end without the hole) pushed against the centre of the heel flap. The sock ruler now indicates when it’s time to start on the toe.
I’m nearly there:
The sock ruler indicates that Gr/size 38/39 needs to be 20 centimetres long from the middle of the heel to the start of the toe. That’s exactly how I always knit it.
Toe
The area called Gesamte Fusslänge (total foot length) is meant to help us with the toe. Oh, I’m starting to worry now. I’ll need to knit a very long toe (5 centimetres), to get from start of toe (indicated on left of sock ruler) to total foot length (indicated on right of sock ruler).
I ignore this and knit my usual toe, because I know that always fits and I’ll see what happens with the sock ruler.
Finished, my sock is shorter than it should be according to the sock ruler. I stretch it a bit, and then a bit more, and… then it’s the correct size by the sock ruler.
Verdict
So, what’s the verdict? Do you need a sock ruler?
Pros:
- This particular sock ruler is made from beautiful smooth beech wood and is simply a lovely thing to hold in your hands.
- A yarn gauge for double pointed needles always comes in handy.
- Measuring the foot length from heel to toe is a little easier with the sock ruler than with a tape measure.
- The table with shoe sizes and number of stitches to cast on for them is a very useful kind of cheat sheet.
- The sock ruler tells you accurately when to start on the toe.
Cons:
- You can just as easily use a tape measure for measuring length of cuff and leg.
- The sock ruler doesn’t help with the heel.
- This sock ruler is only suitable for cuff-down socks and not for toe-up ones, as far as I can see.
- Measuring the total sock length is very inaccurate with the sock ruler.
So…
In my humble opinion you can live very well without a sock ruler, but it’s nice to have one. I will use it again, especially for sock sizes that I don’t knit very often.
Knitting in rain, sunshine and rain again
When I started on these socks, it was raining a lot and I had to take photographs on the dining table indoors. Then it became hot and sunny, and I could use the outdoor table. And then it started pouring again, with rain pattering on the outdoor table and in the bird bath.
Fortunately for the blackbird the bird table has a roof. The perfect place to shelter during a downpour.
Well, I hope this has been helpful/interesting/enjoyable to read. Are you a sock knitter, too? Have you ever used a sock ruler? What did you think of it?
I’m not much of a sock knitter but if I were, I think I would like to have a sock ruler. From your description it seems to be a very satisfying tool. (Dear me, how did that sound! Satisfying in an engineering, crafting way I mean of course.)
I seldom use gauge measures etc although I own a couple. To me, the tape measure is priceless. Now that is an ingenious invention!
Haha, very satisfying indeed. And where would we be without tape measures!
I have never heard of a sock ruler, but it was interesting to read about. I doubt that I would use one as I prefer to knit toe up socks since I want to use up all the yarn.
You have a beautiful backyard.
There is a lot to be said for toe-up socks – you never need to worry about running out of yarn. Thank you for reading!