Rules for Feeding the Stash

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Something New

I'm trying something new.

That's the great thing about knitting-there's always something new. And when you've mastered everything there is to know, there's someone even cleverer than you that's come up with something new, or just different, and you can go learn that too.

I've been knitting socks since I started knitting. When I started knitting, back in college, I knit three washcloths, then cast on a pair of socks. I've knit quite a few pairs since then, and they've pretty much all been knit from the cuff down on DPNs.

I did try, eventually, to knit from the toe up on DPNs. That didn't work out so well, but I still plan on trying again. Eventually.

I also am not a huge fan of magic loop-I can do it, and I do it fine, but I generally prefer not to. I just prefer DPNs, or a 16-inch circular. They're comfortable, familiar.

Keeping all of this in mind, I saw a sock pattern that I knew my mum would love. It's cabley and pretty, and I have the most perfect heathered pink yarn. When I showed my mum the pattern, she liked it as much as I thought she would. So I stuck it in my queue and let it sit for a while.

Eventually, I opened the pattern to look at it, and of course, it's written for toe-up construction. I have experience rewriting patterns to work cuff-down, but I really didn't feel like doing that this time. And I knew that if I ever actually managed to finish the first one toe-up, I might never want to do the second one. While I'm comfortable leaving projects for me half-done for indefinite periods of time, I'd rather keep my mother well-supplied with wool stuff.

I really hope this doesn't end in tears.


13 comments:

  1. good luck!! I love your yarn, what a beautiful pink color!
    I like how you explain that there is always a cleverer person out there. Knitters are definitely a clever bunch (: there are so many techniques and tricks there is always something new and exciting to learn (yay)

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    1. Thanks! I am constantly amazed by the cleverness of knitters :)

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  2. You can do it! I switch my preference - sometimes it's toe up, sometimes it's cuff down. Sometimes it's two at a time, sometimes it's one on dpns. My brain is weird like that. Once you get started on the toe up, it really moves along nicely. It looks like you've already tackled the hard part. ;)

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    1. I certainly hope they get into their rhythm soon :) Intellectually I know it makes sense to embrace different techniques for different projects, but I also like sticking with what I know works! Good to hear that the toes are the hard part, fingers crossed for the rest!

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  3. it looks great so far! I haven't' tried two at a time or toe up, but it's a popular method and that's no doubt because it works. Good luck!

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    1. Thanks! I see so many other knitters doing it this way, and my first inclination is always to yell "Witchcraft!" It's still a little intimidating, but hopefully I'm getting the hang of it :)

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  4. Good luck with the toe up construction. I feel the same way about sock knitting, if possible I stick to my cuff down DPN construction. And it's very impressive you started knitting socks so early on in your knitting career. It took me a lot of basic scarfs and stuffed animals to get there.

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    1. I really like sticking with what works, but I guess it's time to try something new :) I was a little nervous doing socks right away, but I had it in my head that I wanted to be a "real knitter," and at the time I though that meant no basic scarves!

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  5. Oh wow! Brave! I've not yet braved the toe-up sock, but I may have to at some point! I think those little toes at the start just look so cute! :)

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    1. I've really been putting off toe-up socks-hopefully these turn out all right! I do think the little does are charming-I keep putting them on and holding my feet up saying, "look at my little toe caps!" It's pretty ridiculous :)

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    2. Haha - toe caps! Love it! :P

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  6. So great that you are trying to challenge yourself to try new things. I love those pink beginnings!

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    1. Thanks! I think it's good to stretch every once in a while-even if it's intimidating :)

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