Saturday, February 19, 2011

Socks...?


Hi All!

I have begun! I started my socks. Actually, I'm knitting my first pair of practice socks. I picked up a book written by Melissa Morgan-Oakes. She is the Best-selling author of 2-at-a-Time Socks. I had seen her book some time ago and thought "oh, how cool". But then put it back on the shelf and proceeded to purchase other knitting books not having anything to do with the making of socks. But! The other day, I saw THIS BOOK!




And, as you can see, this book I did not put back on the shelf... noooooo. This book I picked up and purchased because... This looked like the book for someone like me!

I know myself. I know that if I were to make a sock, I'd probably get the first one done and then never get around to making the second one. It's true. It's one of my many flaws. I get bored easily and I want to be able to say "done that" and then move on to something else. And it's probably the reason why, although I have a bunch of sock yarns in my stash, I've yet to make a pair of socks. I'm sure ya'll remember my "yoga sock" fiasco. What a mess. I never even finished that one sock and I'm sure I wouldn't have finished the mate to it had I even bothered to finish the first one! So... what makes this sock project different you ask? Well, let me tell you.

Firstly... This author teaches you how to make TWO socks at ONE TIME!

Secondly... This author teaches you how to make TWO socks at one time from the TOE-UP!

That means that for someone like me, who is constantly wanting to check if everything is going accordingly, I can actually put my foot into the sock to see how much further along I need to go in order to get just the right fit. I don't necessarily HAVE to rely TOTALLY on my math skills (which, I must admit, is rather poor).

Thirdly... I can get little bits of instant gratification every time I am able to put a little more of my foot into the ever growing sock! I mean seriously! Who doesn't love being able to get bits of gratification as you go along?! ;-) LOVE!

This author is a GENIUS!

I looked through this book at least 10 times. Then I read all of her directions three times. Then I looked at the patterns she has in the book. And all this I did IN the book store before I even bought the book! Then I took it home and looked through and read it again and got so excited because I think (feel strongly) that I can do this! Of course, I didn't have the circular needles that I needed so I had to go to the knitting shop to get those. But I had the yarns so, yesterday, with needles and yarn in hand, I cast on and started.

So far so good! I've got the beginnings of the toe bed made. It hasn't been too difficult and I've only ripped out my work once. I'm sure it was me and not the authors fault that I had to rip out the first attempt. Thankfully that happened after the second row so I hadn't gone very far and the author was kind enough to give little directional check ups along the way and that is how I figured out I had gone wrong at the second row. I LOVE THAT!





I'm at the point where I think I'm doing it right. The directions aren't as clear at this point as I would like. But then, it's probably just me being "not so bright". I'm not so clear as to how many actual rounds I'm supposed to do and not exactly clear on when I'm supposed to make my increase. But, I'll just keep plugging away and see what happens. At least there are pictures that I can look at to see if mine is looking like hers. And it's only the sample sock so.... oh and did I mention that the sample sock is small? Like for a toddler size small? So, not only will they not take as long to complete, but, in the event that I do get these completed, my grandbaby will have a pair of socks that are two different colors but still a "pair" of socks! And I really do think that the excitement of having completed my first pair of socks will be so great that I might attempt another sample pair in the same colors just to get more proficient in sock making and then my grandbaby will have TWO PAIRS of socks! ;-)

Okay, now that I've shared this with you. I want to get back to knitting some more on these socks. But! I cannot. I must go back to work on my kitchen cabinets. My house is a wreck with dishes everywhere and painting things ever where else!

Tonight. Tonight I will get to play with my knitting!

I hope ya'll have a great weekend! And......I hope to have the South Side kitchen cabinet reveal on Monday. (Still trying to decide what I'm going to do with the West Side of the kitchen cabinets). Blah.

;-)

6 comments:

pam said...

I want to knit socks, but I'm afraid. Please post pictures every step of the way!

Joan's Good Life said...

I can do that for you Pam! ;-)

Sarah @ Modern Country Style said...

Your knitting is soooo neat and regualr. Mine is wonky and holey. Grrr.

But what a great idea; I love it!!

Sarahx

Corinnea said...

Funny, I was thinking the same thing about making socks! Well, I was thinking if I ever thought about making socks that, that would be what I would think, so two at a time sounds good.

Like Pam said, pictures of the journey please!

Joan's Good Life said...

Why Sarah, what a nice thing to say! Let's see if it continues to be this way. ;-)

And Corinnea, I will continue to take pics along my sock journey! I just hope it's not an extremely long one. Lol...

chellebelle said...

Oh my dear! I always do my socks two at a time and from the toe up.. excellant choice. As you know, I am an avid sock knitter, and I ONLY do my sock this way for all the reasons you've given, and for the very important reason that your socks will always be the same SIZE this way, when I first started on socks and did one at a time one was always slightly longer than the other.. drove me nuts! I still say you sould invest in "Simple Socks" by Pricilla Gibson-Roberts. This will give you all the information you need to make socks of any size without a pattern and to make short row heels and toes.. the only heel and toe I use as it is so much easier that the traditional heel turning and no picking up of stitches.. clean and neat and easy and frankly I think, better looking. I am so happy that you have started this venture. shout out if you have questions!