Preventing Dog Ears in Grafted Sock Toes // Technique Tuesday

This video demonstrates how to set up a toe graft so that dog ears (corners that poke straight up at the edges of the graft) are minimized. While the actual grafting process is also shown, this video is not meant as a tutorial for learning to graft. To learn more about the actual process of grafting see my previous video here:

To jump to a specific point in this video, click on the adjacent timestamped link:
Introduction 0:00
Explanation of dog ears and why they form: 0:34
Passing the end stitches over: 1:57
Grafting the toe: 3:53
Adjusting the tension: 5:55
How it looks on my foot: 8:26
Wrap up/reminders: 8:47

[tds]

Your hint to knit off the front needle because those stitches look like knits and purl off the back needle because those stitches look like purls has made it much easier for my brain to remember. Thank you! And such a genius way to eliminate dog ears!

[samanthahendren]

I love the text directions so you can still tell what’s going on without sound.

[gsparks]

Thanks for this video! I just used your technique to graft the toes of my socks and it came out perfect!

[hokey-osrx]

That was so simple and so very helpful. i just have memorized the Kitchner stitch but wasn't sure how to avoid the "dog ears". Not only does this eliminate that, but also gives us fewer stitches to graft. Thank you!

[macareuxmoine]

Excellent! I like knitting with you 😊 Just great how the internet lets us draw on the wisdom of fellow crafters worldwide 😍

[caswucher]

I love this! Thank you.
I put my sock over an orange or a tennis ball when doing the final tightening up.

[aroundtheworldfibers]

So glad I went back and reviewed this as I just made a sock (only had time for 1, the 2nd is under way). I intentionally used a very tight knit, and smaller than normal needles on gorgeous Canadian Indie dyed yarn purchased while in Canada over Christmas. I knew the day I originally grafted the toe I would be redoing it, on a day when I could actually see what I was doing. I needed a refresher on dogless ear sock toes. Once back in bright sun, I took apart the toe, not all that easy on this beautifully dyed yarn - but definitely worth it. I now have a lovely smooth rounded toe, even before washing. Grateful for all the sock knitting tips. 🧶🧦😊

[thaisoneon]

You are hands down the best knitting teacher on the internet! The class dunce here has to ask a question about adjusting the tension after grafting. How do you know which of those yarns to pull on? I grafted a pair last night using your brilliant technique so I “passed the course”. I couldn’t score bonus marks, though, because after gently but wrongly tugging a few yarns, I stopped for fear of ruining my already improved pair of socks.

[karenleighcass]

Thank you! I finally understand knitting socks due to the way you teach. thank you, again I love your videos!

[DorisMorris-uvfc]

Thanks so much I have never did before it was most interesting.i have knit a lot off socks but never did this.

[debracubitt]

Thank you for your videos Roxanne I was such a novice and had no idea about many techniques in knitting I slowed my pace enjoyed the knit and the learning process I tried to stress less over mistakes because I was making progress I consider myself a beginner but enjoy where I am THANK YOU!

[Needtoknit]

Wow! This is wonderful. I like the idea of correcting the tension from the inside. My socks at the toe area never looked better. Thanks so very much for this video. 😉

[denisekrupa]

Thank you so much! I have always though that some sort of decrease might be the key to minimizing dog ears, but I could never come up with anything that worked to my satisfaction. What a simple and elegant solution you present! The dog ear is especially noticeable on worsted mittens. Thanks to you, my future socks and mittens will be dog ear free!

[eileenholderness]

Absolutely amazing!! Such a simple technique which one would never have thought of!! Thank you so much Roxanne for sharing this fantastic knowledge! I will now look forward to grafting instead of dreading it!

[nryane]

Thanks.

I tend to prefer toe-up, yet this way of eliminating dog ears after grafting the toe is spectacular! I’ll keep it in mind for the future!

Blessings!🥰

[sje]

I love, love your channel. It is the first thing I look for Tuesday's and Thursdays. I have learned so much from you and really appreciate all the tidbit sessions and interesting info you look into, thank you, thankyou. Sandra, Ontario, canada

[susiecollins]

This video helped me so much to get into grafting again. I have a few pair of socks that are all done except for the grafting. I like seeing you adjust the tension from the inside; a new perspective but personally I like adjusting the tension right-side-out using a darning egg. Thank you Roxanne. 🌺

[GrandmaMarlayne]

This is the best and simplest way to graft a toe. Thank you as this is one of my worst problems.

[barenddutoit]

Hi Rox. Greetings from South Africa. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world. You are amazing!

[mlhserm]

Another great video! Thanks so much. Now... a request: please do more on. Stranded color work, particularly for socks. I’ve made a couple pairs of socks with color work on just a portion of the leg. I’ve played around with various options to accommodate for the loss of stretch due to the color work. I’ve added stitches to just that portion of the leg as was suggested by Kate Atherley in her book Custom Socks. I was very careful to be consistent with how I carried my yarns and managed my floats. It helped, but it was still difficult to get the sock over the instep. You always seem to have such insightful solutions to our knitting woes, please consider this one!