toeup

Toe-up is a knitting method primarily used for hand-knit socks that starts at the toe and increases outward toward the cuff. This approach contrasts with the traditional cuff-down method, which starts at the cuff and proceeds toward the toe. Toe-up allows the knitter to adjust the sock length more easily and can make efficient use of yarn, often enabling the use of partial skeins without leftover waste.

In practice, toe-up socks are started with a toe shaping technique that creates a seamless toe, commonly using a toe cast-on such as Judy’s Magic Cast-On or other toe-up cast-ons like the Turkish cast-on. After the toe is formed, the knitting continues in the round toward the heel. The heel itself can be constructed using various methods, with short-row heels and heel flaps being among the most common. Once the heel is established, the leg portion is worked to the desired length before finishing the sock.

Advantages of the toe-up method include adjustable toe and overall length, better control over fit, and efficient yarn use. Disadvantages include a steeper learning curve for beginners, since it combines several techniques (toe cast-on, heel construction, and length management) that must be coordinated.

Toe-up socks have a broad presence in pattern catalogs and knitting books and are a widely taught alternative to cuff-down construction. While predominantly used for socks, the toe-up approach is associated with a flexible workflow that appeals to knitters seeking customizable fit and yarn efficiency.