Oh my gosh, do I have a special post for you today, dear readers, as I have a finished project to share and some gifts for you guys!
As you may recall, I recently conquered cuff-down socks. You may not know this about me yet, but sometimes I am a bit of an overachiever. That simply wasn’t enough! I also had to conquer toe-up socks. And so I did, with the help of a class on Craftsy taught by Donna Druchunas called Knit Original Toe-Up Socks. This was not just my first sock class on Craftsy, but also my first class ever on Craftsy! Let’s see how I did, what the class was like, and what is in store for you. 
To make things more timely, give myself a break due to all the new things I’d be learning (big needles and big yarn = much easier to manipulate), and test Donna’s method of using her calculations and a swatch in the chosen yarn and needles to make a perfectly fitting sock for anyone, I chose to use Spud & Chloë Sweater! My needles were size 6 (4mm) double pointed needles.
In my chosen contrast color of Ice Cream #7500, I began with a moccasin toe, which I chose because it was a new-to-me toe type that was also fairly easy, so I could learn without too much pressure.
My very first moccasin toe!
I then used stockinette stitch for the foot in Life Jacket #7528, adding some interest with some Ice Cream stripes thrown in near the toe.
Striping the foot with Life Jacket and Ice Cream!
Since I elected to do an afterthought heel (again, because it was new-to-me but also pretty easy), I simply left the space for it as instructed by placing half my stitches on a spare piece of yarn, then I continued in stockinette stitch, adding Ice Cream stripes near the cuff so it matched the toe. I chose a simple 2×2 rib pattern for the cuff, then I bound off using Donna’s “stretchy” bind off, which was really fun to do!
Just the heel is left!
Then it was time to go back and finish up my heel in Ice Cream. As I completed each section of the sock (remember our Sock Song!), I simply rewatched the videos on Craftsy to refresh my memory and mindfully worked on each section (no rushing while learning—as Donna says, “Take your time and enjoy your hobby and just relax with it!”). Before I knew it, I had a pair of unique finished and blocked socks that were just the right size for me!
Here they are, my finished original toe-up socks modeled on my actual feet! 
So… final thoughts. As demonstrated above, my results were that, by using Donna’s method, I was indeed able to make original toe-up socks with yarn and needles of my choice that fit me perfectly!
If you choose to go for it, Craftsy is a comfortable life preserver to cling to because there are so many ways you can get help (maybe that’s why I felt compelled to make “Life Jacket” socks? ). You can rewatch and pause the videos as much as you like, take notes about important stuff using the My Notes feature so you can find it again easily, and even ask questions directly to Donna and the other students. With Craftsy, you may not be in the same room as everyone, but you sure feel like you are!
Aside from the help you can get, this class rocks because you can learn:
• How to take foot measurements and calculate sizes
• Three toe types and how to do them either on double pointed needles or a circular needle
• Three heel types and how to do them either on double pointed needles or a circular needle
• Several fancy stitch types for the foot or leg, and how to work those fancy stitch types evenly around any size sock
• A universal sock pattern plus three bonus patterns
• How to read a foot size chart to make socks for someone whose foot you can’t measure in person
• How to read pattern charts
• How to knit two socks at a time using circular needles
• Some history about socks
• How and why to use certain types of fibers or stitch patterns
• How and why certain yarns work better with particular patterns
• A new bind off technique that includes an embroidery trick
• How to block
• New techniques that will help with any project, not just socks
• The most common mistake in sock-making: making them too big
Whew! I even learned that Donna used to write computer manuals, and before I came to work at Spud & Chloë World Headquarters, I was an editor for software manuals for over ten years, so we have similar backgrounds. Neat!
Now enough about my socks, let’s talk about your socks!
We have partnered with Craftsy to bring you, dear readers, this sock class at a discount! If you’ve ever wanted to learn toe-up socks, are interested in understanding more about sock design, or simply want to give socks a go for the first time, use this special code to receive this class at half-price. Cool!
And… it gets better! To three lucky readers, we are giving away tons of sock-related happiness! First, in honor of cuff-down socks, as a winner you get two hanks of Spud & Chloë Fine (any colors you wish!) and can pick one of these two patterns: Sassy Stockings or Two-for-One Socks. Then, in honor of toe-up socks, you will also get two hanks of Spud & Chloë Sweater (any colors you wish!) to get you on your way with your very own original toe-up socks with Craftsy (don’t forget to nab Donna’s class with your coupon!)!
To enter, leave us a comment telling us why you’re mad for socks! We’ll announce the winners here on Spud says (the blog!) soon.
Nate, our imaging specialist, let me hold the camera for this POV shot! Cool!
Design Coordinator extraordinaire and resident social butterfly, keeping you up to date on her wee cousin Chloë and her pal Spud. Find her musings at 
