I might have mentioned before that I like to knit socks. They’re the perfect portable project, meaning everything needed to knit them up doesn’t take up much space. I use sock knitting as my mindless knitting; I knit them while watching TV, while talking on the phone, while waiting...for anything from doctor’s appointments to being in the car (not behind the wheel, of course). Most of the socks I knit end up being for my husband, but my daughter gets a pair every year on her birthday, and a few end up in my sock drawer, as well.

I confess that my husband’s socks were the ones I used for honing my sock knitting skills. (Those first few were experiments that turned out well enough to be worn, but weren’t perfect by any description.) I use the socks I knit for my daughter to try out new stitch patterns in lace or a different cuff method. Socks I knit for myself I use to try out different stitch gauges using smaller needles.

I’ve pretty much got the sock knitting down now, so I’m always a bit surprised by people who say they could never knit something as complicated as a pair of socks. There is nothing complicated about knitting socks that I can see. Each sock has a cuff, a leg, a heel, an instep, a foot, and a toe. Getting from one part to the next is not difficult, though the journey might take a tiny bit of extra attention.

But then, I do remember my very first sock. Not a pair of socks, just a single sock. I wanted to learn how to knit using double pointed needles and socks were the only thing I could think of to try. I bought skinny little needles and a ball of self-striping sock yarn that included a sock pattern on the inside of the ball band. It wasn’t extremely difficult, but not exactly easy either, to follow the directions of the pattern while keeping all those needles under control. The finished sock actually fit, but I didn’t like it enough to knit the second one. (It’s actually hanging on the wall of my craft room now as a reminder of how far I’ve progressed in the knitting of socks.)

To prove to myself that sock knitting is simple, I decided to write down everything I did while knitting my daughter’s last pair of birthday socks. I wrote out (and took photos) of each step. I ended up with a 12-page pattern filled with 24 photos and everything written out in excruciating detail. And, then I sent everything to my daughter for her opinion. Here’s what she had to say:

While she is probably just a little bit prejudiced, she knows I want her honest opinion and not just a simple "very nice, thanks." I can get the 2-3 word response from my husband any time when it comes to knitting. It’s not his thing, but he does appreciate my efforts, I believe.

Since I went to all the trouble of writing out the sock pattern, I thought I would offer it to others who might be interested in giving it a try. Anyone who doesn’t already understand how to knit using the Magic Loop method can find plenty of videos on Youtube that will demonstrate the technique. I think I’ve explained everything else needed within the pattern itself. I am not a professional photographer, nor do I have the equipment required to take photos like a pro. But, the photos I include with the pattern are clear enough to show the details needed. They were taken at all different times of day and night so the colors appear slightly different at times. Still, they do the job.

I have to say that I now have a whole new appreciation for pattern writers. It's not easy trying to explain in words how to do something. Showing is much, much easier.

I’ve put the pattern up for sale on Ravelry and you can get it there by clicking here. You don’t need to be a member of Ravelry, but registering is free (and I highly recommend it for all knitters). I'd love to know what you think about the pattern: ease of use, clarity, layout, etc., so let me hear from you. Also, I've written up a much shorter (one page) version of this sock pattern. It's for very experienced sock knitters as the only information provided is very basic: materials needed, gauge, stitch count, stitch chart, etc.) I haven't put it on Ravelry yet, so if you're interested in buying it, let me know and I'll get it up there asap.

What are you knitting today?

Hello, my name is Jill. It’s been two months since my last post here. Remember me? I’m the knitter who was christened with one name, but answers to another; who knit a big pile of squares and finally made them all into an afghan; who can’t get another designer’s gauge because she knits too tightly; who knits so slowly it can take years just to finish a single project; who has more knitting slumps than a new cook has lumps in the gravy; who tried to give away two books that nobody wanted; who is not giving up...yet.

I honestly haven’t done much knitting lately. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t have UFOs scattered everywhere. On the needles are multiple projects:

So, what have I been doing, since I’ve obviously not been knitting all that much? So glad you asked.

My husband and I have an online business called Tymely Moments. We recently switched to a new host and decided to let them design a new look for us, as well. The new site required that we re-enter all of our inventory, and while my husband did most of the actual product descriptions, etc., I took on the job of importing and posting some of the photos. Boring, boring, boring work that was and time consuming, but it had to be done. And, now it is done...mostly. I also create the monthly newsletters. If you would, take a tymely moment and check it out. Even knitters need a stylish way to tell time.

From now until December 15th, my blog readers can get free shipping, plus a 20% discount on any watch in our newest line, Classique. Just enter the code JK1112 in your shopping cart. Christmas is coming, people!

This is just one of the beautiful Classique watches that we offer. This particular watch is model 28-11R which features an 18 caret rose gold plated stainless steel case and bracelet, as well as having 18 caret gold Roman numerals on the face. It is part of the Slimline collection which are some of the thinnest watches available today. This watch compares with any of the most expensive watches on the market for quality and workmanship.




So, how are you marking time and what are you knitting today?

Even though I already knew there were many other knitting sites on the interwebs offering all kinds of knitting advice and help, I wanted to put my own spin out there, too. Just as there are tons of knitting books available, each offering a little something different (and that’s why knitters everywhere have groaning bookshelves), I wanted to offer a little something different, too. There are plenty of sites offering instructions, and even videos, to help knitters learn how to execute particular stitch maneuvers from casting on through casting off. My main objective is to offer a collection of tips and tricks that make the whole spectrum of knitting easier and more enjoyable. Every knitter has some little trick she uses so regularly, she probably doesn’t even think about it any longer. Most of us have quite a few of those little tips and tricks in our knitting arsenal. I want to have a place where a new knitter (or even more experienced knitters) can learn about those nifty tips and put them to use for herself.

Meet just one of those three requirements, and if your name is drawn, I’ll notify you by e-mail that you’re the winner. We can then make arrangements together for you to receive your prize. While there is a Contact page on the knitting tips website, it will be easier to keep track of entries if they are all in one place, so please remember to come back here to enter your comments.

You have until Sunday, September 25^th to enter the drawing. Don’t forget that you must meet one of the three requirements to be eligible to win.

I’ll thank you all now for participating and wish you all good luck in the drawing.

What are you knitting today?

I just couldn’t resist buying five skeins of this:

That’s Telemark sport weight yarn in Alpine Frost. The picture doesn’t do the color justice. It’s really a very pretty medium blue. Care to guess what my favorite color might be?

And, I’d been wanting a set of cable connectors because I use Knit Picks interchangeable needles a lot. Using these connectors I should be able to screw together several cables when I want to try on a top-down sweater. I really hate using waste yarn or dental floss to help spread out the stitches. It’s time consuming threading and rethreading all those stitches. I’m basically very lazy so anything that makes my knitting life easier, I’m all for it...usually. So, this found its way into my shopping cart:

However, I didn’t forget about the size 7 needles. I bought them, too:

I was so enamored with the yarn, that I couldn’t resist casting on right away. I decided that I needed a hat to celebrate the cooling temps. I love the fall and winter seasons. I came up with this:

Since the tam only took 1½ skeins of the five I bought, I think I just might knit up a pair of mitts and maybe a neck scarf to go with my new hat.

What are you knitting today?

While browsing the knitting videos on youtube, I was a bit amazed at just how many videos there are promoting ways to increase the speed of knitting. Now, I have always considered myself to be a slow knitter just because it seems to take such a very long time to finish whatever project I’ve started. I thought it was because I get distracted so easily to the point that I might be holding the needles and yarn, but there’s no real knitting going on. The other day I actually watched myself knit and discovered that I really do knit very slowly. Each stitch is deliberately made and the next is executed just as slowly and deliberately. Can I knit faster? Of course, I can, but do I want to?

I’ve experimented with holding the needles and yarn in different ways. My usual method is throwing, meaning that I tension the yarn with my right hand. I can also knit (but not purl) continental, meaning that I tension the yarn using my left hand. It’s interesting that many knitters who knit predominately continental believe that their way is the best, and fastest, way to knit. When they demonstrate the difference, their movements seem overly exaggerated when bemoaning the horrors of throwing the yarn instead of scooping or picking. When I knit, either way, the only parts of me moving are my fingers. I don’t need to wildly swing my right arm from the shoulder just to loop the yarn over the left hand needle. I’ve rarely heard people who knit using the throwing method try to convince anyone that their way is the best way. But, my real point here is that no matter which method I use to knit, I still knit slowly.

Perhaps the reasoning for some people to want to knit faster comes from wanting to finish each project as quickly as possible so they can move on to the next. I like to finish my projects, too, but the real pleasure for me comes from the act of knitting itself. It’s soothing, calming, and unless the pattern is a real bear, it allows me time to think about...stuff. Stuff that isn’t knitting. Stuff like what I’d like to be doing this time next year. Stuff like wishing a bunch of industrious elves would show up during the night and clean my house for me. Stuff like wondering where the heck the days have gone; wasn’t it just the beginning of the weekend a few minutes ago, how did it suddenly become Wednesday?

Really, I don’t actually believe that there is only one truly best way to knit. Part of the attraction—the charm, if you will—of knitting is that there are many different ways to accomplish the same (if not identical) finished result. Just look at all the different ways there are to decrease one stitch: k2tog, ssk, psso, bind off, etc. They might all produce a different look, but still accomplish the same result: one less stitch. And, each of those methods can be done differently, whether it’s knitting through the back loop or slipping a stitch as if to knit or as if to purl. Knitting is so diverse. What other craft has so many different ways to achieve the same goal?

I knit because I enjoy the process. There’s no competition and it’s not a race...for me. Still, I would like to finish this sweater some day in the not too distant future.

 
               


It's getting there, slowly but surely. Hope I've got enough yarn in the stash, 'cause Knit Picks doesn't carry Essential in Carbon Twist any longer.

My next sweater is going to require worsted weight yarn and bigger needles,instead of fingering weight. What was I thinking?!

I still can’t seem to find my knitting groove.

I spent the last week and a half trying to decide how I should proceed in my design for a fairly simple cardigan. I spent two days implementing that design decision, and one day ripping it back out. The cardigan is back into the time out zone of my craft room.

I knit the cuff for a cabled sock destined for my husband who is not the least bit picky about the design nor color of his socks. I could not, for the life of me, get those cables to suit me. The sock has joined the cardigan.

Pictures can be a bit deceiving sometimes. Perhaps, the next one will give you a clearer idea of the size of the sock that took me TWO days to knit.

Now what do I do? No, I’m not going to knit a mate for the tiny sock. I don’t have any of that particular yarn left. And, who could wear them anyway? Nothing is calling to me to cast on, yet I feel out of sorts without some sort of knitting in my hands. Am I crazy or does anyone else feel that way, too?

What are you knitting today?