Thigh high stockings or socks

[exotik1]

Hi, I know nothing about crocheting but I want to make thigh high socks/stockings out of soft (yet stretchy) chenille-cotton yarn (if theres such a thing as stretchy chenille yarn), with scalloped tops (deep scallops....for scrappers, thing of a scallop border punch only bigger). Does anyone have any tips on how to get started please? Is knitting or crocheting best and do i need some sort of loom or a particular kind of needle? I was thinking of a set of 12 aluminum needles i saw on ebay (similer to Boye and Bates hooks).

 

I was thinking toe-less socks might be cool and maybe easier…with a scalloped top that would be easy for a beginner to do…they are supposed to be sexy and not for everyday wear I need help finding patterns please and need tips on what kind of non-bulky and stretchy and soft yarns to use.

 

Thank you for any tips,

Petra

[RoseRed]

I think your best bet would be to check out Ravelry. They have a HUGE pattern base.

http://www.ravelry.com

[hhensler]

I personally think that knitting is better for socks - if you know how...and RoseRed is right...Ravelry has some fantastic sock patterns!

[Amy]

Here's a thigh-high crochet stocking pattern, found in the book Crochet Me: Designs to Fuel the Crochet Revolution. It's made with Cascade Fixation, which is a sock-weight cotton yearn, with a bit of elastic in it to add stretchiness.

 

The pattern has you switch hook sizes as you're working to get a custom fit. Since you don't know anything about crochet, this pattern would probably not be ideal for a first project.

 

I would suggest learning how to crochet first: learning how to make the stitches, how to keep tension, how to get and keep gauge, and how to read patterns. Maybe make a few simple projects to get comfortable with crocheting first. Washcloths make good learning projects: you can learn new stitches and techniques on a relatively small project, and have something pretty and useful at the end.

 

Good luck!

[Granny Square]

Since you are still learning you might consider leg warmers, they are simply a tube with ribbing at either end, and would be a good beginner project. Something like this maybe?

The first site has free patterns from Annie's Attic and related publications, you need to register but no cost; this looks simple. http://www.freepatterns.com/search.html?criteria=FC00752

http://craftiblog.wordpress.com/2005/10/15/legwarmers/

 

Not quite as simple, but fun

http://www.crochetmagazine.com/newsletters-proofing.php?mode=article&article_id=466

 

Funky, more thigh-high . Again you need to register but it's free

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90681AD.html

[exotik1]

Wow, alot of great suggestions! I was thinking of a simple-looking pattern similer to the "Belle Epoque" thigh high design in the book "Toe-up socks for everybody", but with a scallop edge at the top and done in crochet,not knitting. For the fishnet stocking, i was looking for a fishnet where you see more skin than stocking...the idea being the yarn can be super soft and perhaps easier to make than tighter-woven fishnets...I would probably have to purchase the yarn online so I have to do lots of research on what kind would work best and be very stretchy. What are your thoughts on acrylic vs cotton? and Do I need 2 or 3 ply yarn for this kind of clingy pattern? Thank you everyone!

[Amy]

If you want really stretchy, you may be better off going with a knit pattern instead of a crochet one.

 

Also, cotton thread typically isn't very stretchy by itself unless it has elastic added to it, like Cascade Fixation.

 

I really don't know of any other crochet patterns that meet your specifications.

[exotik1]

I hear the Cascade fixation is thick, Is there a thinner (non wool) version which is very strechy? I've heard of "sock candy" brand, im not familier with other names tho.

[Amy]

Cascade Fixation is listed as a DK weight, but it is used for socks.

 

You can go to yarndex.com and search for all kinds of different yarns.

[Empress Busy Bee]

Maybe this is something you are looking for:

 

http://www.crazycoley.com/2009/07/july-sock.html

 

[Admin Note: Comments on blog-link above are not safe for children. But then, this whole topic really isn't suitable for children.]

 

Here is the Ravelry project page for it:

 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/julys-sock---pink-and-green-foo-foo/people

 

You'll see lots of people found it easy to do. Maybe their notes will help you.