by yarnfly » Tue Mar 01, 2016 2:56 am
Hello Socksters,
Knitting with metal DP's is my favorite and I can do a pair in 4 evenings, with K2-P2 rib to the start of the heel which keeps the socks from snaking down your lower leg, and love Wool Ease for the care and use #4 needles and knit continental so it goes very fast. I no longer have holes along the gussets, and keep the rib on the upper foot only for a better fit. I use to make socks that were not the same length then started using a long strand of contrasting yarn with a darning needle and run the needle into 1 stitch to count every 10 rows and go to the start of the heel (usually 14 or 16 rows), turn the heel and start the thread again with marking every 10th row, this way the socks are exactly the same length, row for row. I Kitchner stitch for the toe, but found a new way with Lucy Neatby's sock video, but have not tried it yet, it looks super easy. I've never done anything super fancy, due to not being able to watch basketkball and have to concentrate on a pattern. It's just a nice way to go "mindless". Ms. Neatby also has a German cast-on for edges and I'm going to try it on my next pair.
My favorite yarn for socks is Cascade 220 Superwash, well most superwash yarns are great for socks, and wear well, but this one wears great. I love striping yarns (thin), Cleckheaton is wonderful (wool) and wears well, also dog fur if the spin is just right. They are extremely warm and fuzzy, but you have to wash very carefully. I've had 2 wolf/hybrids and brushed them a lot and had a lot of the hair processed into yarn, also have some Bouvier, Golden Retriever, Aussie, and lots of Great Pyranees (white), I'm currently working on a pair of mittens out of Samoyed. Very beautiful and fuzzy.
I made a video (VHS ) and sent it to a woman in Los Angeles, and wished I had made a copy, but since that media has gone south, I might make one for a DVD next winter. I posted all my steps via photos on my business web-site. I always have 2 or 3 pairs of socks going at one time for sitting in waiting rooms, and waiting in CalTrans lines as they do their road repair along US395 in the Eastern Sierra, and keep a baby blanket in progress under my car seat. I just hate wasting time sitting and waiting. I'm a bit of a workaholic also. I only knit during the winter (Nov. thru April), and tie flies when time permits at work.
Sorry, this is a bit long. Just wanted to say hi and look forward to reading a lot about what type of socks everyone is working on and see if anyone is doing anything new as in the Cat Bordhi book Pathways.........some really unusual methods.....Yarnfly.
In order to do that I must knit the 2nd. I always cast on as soon as I finish the first.
