Crazy Toes and Heels Socks by Queen Kahuna

Hey fellow fiber enthusiasts! Since the ’90s, I’ve had the joy of watching fiber artists’ online communities flourish. It’s been a journey full of inspiring people, some of whom leave a lasting impression in your heart. One such remarkable person was Mary Ann Beatty, affectionately known as “Queen Kahuna,” renowned for her “two at a time, toe-up socks.” She was not only kind and intelligent but also shared her expertise by self-publishing “Crazy Toes and Heels.” In my opinion, this book is the ultimate guide to crafting gorgeous socks. Unfortunately, Queen Kahuna has passed away, making her book a rare gem to find.

Sock making, my friends, is an art form filled with numerous techniques and creative decisions. From choosing the perfect toe style (I’m a big fan of Judy’s magic toe cast-on – just Google it for tutorials!) to deciding on the heel and gusset designs, and whether you want an intricate or plain foot. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend visiting http://ravelry.com. It’s a fantastic free community with more patterns than you can imagine. Take some time to explore and admire the vast array of designs.

Then there’s the choice of fiber – oh, the possibilities! Have you ever thought about Alpaca socks? I haven’t made any yet, but they’re definitely on my to-do list. Just picturing my feet snuggled in a soft, cloud-like alpaca sock makes me smile.

Now, let’s talk about the key steps to successful sock making: measuring your foot and knitting a swatch. Accuracy is crucial here

. Start by finding a “sock bible” that speaks to you and work through it. Once you’ve got the basics down, you can play around with different techniques – before you know it, you’ll be knitting socks non-stop and filling your drawers with your creations!

So, whether you’re a seasoned sock knitter or just starting, remember it’s all about experimenting, learning, and most importantly, having fun with it. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your own unique style and become the next ‘sock guru’ in our vibrant fiber community.

Until next time friends…