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Anklet Rant

I am someone who cannot wear shoes without some kind of sock.  Either my feet rub on the shoe, or they get cold, or worst of all they get too hot, which causes an odor problem.  Now as winter recedes and spring is here there is no need for the woolen socks I tend to wear everyday from November to March.  I much prefer the shorter anklets throughout the spring and summer months.  My search for the perfect anklet is on.

But anklets are tricky for someone like me  It seems they are almost universally designed declaring one-size fits all.  However, my experience with several brands is that indeed, one size doesn't fit all.  And why are they either so colourful one's feet seem to be preparing for a clown outfit OR they are white.   Can't there be some compromises made in the colours used?   Here's my own personal selection of anklet failures.



A few words before the rant~~

  1. Adidas brand is made of what appears to be pure polyester, this does not work well for me.  The plastic makes my feet sweat, not something I need a sock to do.  Additionally I don't like that these show so much above my shoes nor am I fond of advertising for Adidas.  I will only use these under duress when every other option needs to be laundered.  
  2. I have owned #2 for years and it shows.  They too are mostly polyester but have a lower rise which drew me to them in the first place.  But the white colour is hard for me to keep clean, obviously.   I should really just throw these out.
  3. The Under Armour brand is made of 100% thick cotton which works well with my feet.  But this anklet fits too tightly, so tight I don't enjoy wearing them for more than 30 minutes at a time.  After that they have left such a ¨sock bruise¨ it seems as if circulation is being cut off to my feet.  So these can be used for my walks, but not for all-day wear.
  4. This pair of anklets is from Tilley Endurables a company specializing in travel wear (best known for the Tilley's Travel Hat).  I like the fact these anklets have a low rise, strips at the heel to keep them in place and are made of material that can be hand washed and will dry over night.  But at $12.50 (CAD) I only purchased one pair.  They do completely meet my anklet needs, but I won't be spending that type of money for daily footwear.
  5. These nude anklets represent the quintessential anklets from my childhood.  They are meant to be nearly invisible in ones shoe, are lightweight and cotton, but they have a tendency to shift around in my shoes.  That means more often than I like I have to stop and pull them back into place.
The Rant (apologies to Rick Mercer) -  Why can't manufacturers create a lightweight, cotton anklet suitable to be worn by women with less than tiny ankles at an affordable price?  Even if we are well beyond our 50s some of us remain active enough to want to use anklets.  And what's with all the neon colours?  If one is wearing runners (tennis shoes) in neon, isn't that enough.  Finally how about making an anklet that stays put, but yet does not cut off circulation.  These characteristics shouldn't be that hard to meet, should they?  Come on!

At the moment I am not totally happy with any of the anklets I own either due to fit, wear-ability, or price.   So with a stash of plenty of suitable sock yarn, I decided to try making a pair for myself using the Pom Pom Anklet pattern by Purl Bee.  This will create a classic anklet with a rise low enough to be hidden in most shoes. (I will not be adding the pom pom they aren't really my style. It is possible to pull an anklet on without a handle.)   I am knitting with a Deborah Norville Serenity Garden variegated yarn in a Twilight (#0021) colourway.   (There is enough yarn to make two pair of anklets if this works out.)   Although the yarn is a micro acrylic, it seems to have a wicking ability, plus it is completely machine washable and dryable.  I added a bit of light blue trim at the top using something I had left from another project.  I will also add the same colour at the toe.

The heel is already turned and the gusset set for the first in the pair.  Here's a glimpse.

The black is the heel

The gusset is the ¨V¨ of the colourway running on the anklet to the right-center


This project was started yesterday and has been moving along quickly.  I am now at the easy foot part made up of straight knitting for several inches on DPN   So if manufacturers don't seem to put together all the characteristics of an anklet that I want and need, I will just go ahead and try to make my own.  Only time will tell if I have put together the right materials to solve my anklet problem.  Rant over, microphone down.

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