Gosh — you bloggy peeps are awesome! Thanks for all the cupcake cake love and birthday wishes for MyDadLovesMeBestSister! We had a fun family get-together and tried out a new local restaurant — Granite City. It’s a chain restaurant and they had a great Sunday brunch. I’m sure we’ll be going back.
When I flew home from New Jersey on Saturday morning, I plopped down in my seat and whipped out my knitting, in my usual oblivious-to-everything-around-me manner. Pretty soon, the “girl” next to me said “Oh, I brought mine too.” She was knitting a beautiful cashmere scarf. Pretty soon she said “Are you on Ravelry?” I laughed and said yes. (‘Cause I’m sort of on Ravelry — I get so caught up in blogs, I keep forgetting to go to Ravelry.) Then I said “Do you have a blog?” Nope. Darn it — but at least there’s Ravelry, LOL. (Anyway, Hi Liz!) It was really fun to sit and visit for the duration of the trip. Liz was working on a pretty complicated pattern so I had to try not to talk too much — I didn’t want to make her mess up! Here’s what I was working on:
Don’t look now Cami! I’m finally doing the two socks on one circular needle method that you swear by. Or two socks on one circ. Or magic loop. Or, I think I really like this method, but I’m not sure. No… come to think of it, I really like it. I was afraid I might have trouble adjusting to this new method, so I chose to do a simple stockinette pattern this time. I’m using a nice neutral knit picks yarn that my sweet quilty peep Jewels gave me ages ago. (Thanks Jewels!)
And thanks Cami for the encouragement in convincing me that I could do it. Cami also convinced me to switch from size US 2 needles to US 0. Man, it seems to be taking a lot longer (more stitches) but as Cami promised, the fabric is tighter, so in theory they should wear better.
I’ve noticed a few other knitters out there wondering about the magic loop, so I thought I’d share my thoughts so far on this method (I’m only about 1/2 way down the cuffs):
Pros:
- Two socks at once! You won’t have second sock syndrome.
- I’ve always struggled trying to make sure that the cuff on my second sock was exactly the same length as the cuff on the first sock by counting rows. With this method you don’t have that problem anymore, as you’re knitting both cuffs at the same time.
- No more dpn’s to drop or stab myself with.
Cons:
- Two socks at once LOL! It feels like progress is slo-o-o-w.
- Getting these socks started is a pain in the … arsenal. I really struggled for those first two rows, just to keep the needles from pulling apart.
- It seems that a fair amount of time is wasted shifting the needle cable around. It’s a necessary evil.
Surprises:
- I’m amazed that the join between the two needles doesn’t leave big ladders all the way down the sock. But it doesn’t. Magic!
- You have to work with a separate skein of yarn for each sock. I’ve been very pleasantly surprised that those yarns don’t get really tangled up — I thought for sure that would be a hazard of this method. Another pleasant surprise.
So, if you’re a sock knitter and you’ve been on the fence about trying this method, give it a go — it’s pretty fun! And if you need help, stop in at Clementine’s — Cami is awesome and I know she’d gladly lead another sheep off the cliff!
Before I scamper off to bed, I have to show you what loveliness arrived in my mailbox this week:
I won a blog drawing from Lisa at Colors Outside the Lines! Look at all the fun stuff! One of her fabulous aprons in beautiful blue vintage-y flowers and stripes. I’ve admired Lisa’s aprons from afar for a long time — I just love how she attaches a towel to the apron. I’m always searching for a towel, and therefore wiping my hands on my apron, when I’m cooking. This is the coolest idea and it’s detachable with buttons. And another cool thing — look how Lisa has used the fringing from the other end of the towel as trim on the pocket! Too, too cute! I’m just noticing that this picture is a bit misleading — somehow, the folds of the apron don’t really show that every other panel is made of the striped fabric. You can kind of see it if you really look — the panels are of equal width across the apron, alternating between flowers and stripes. It’s a very full apron and will provide great protection!
Lisa also thoughtfully included one of her famous shopping bags (to match the apron!), an adorable little fabric covered notepad (tucked into the apron pocket) that will be perfect for my purse (I’m a note taker!), and a fabulous doily — look at all those cute little flowers around it!
And I had to do a close-up — look at Lisa’s cool tags! Very, very clever! Thank you SO much Lisa — I love it all and I’m feeling so very lucky to have won your giveaway!!!
Now…nighty, night all you bloggy peeps and sweet dreams!
XOXO,
Anna
The apron with towel is genius!! I should wear one everyday wherever I go!!
Lluffly socks. You are so clever.
Oh Anna, I am very impressed with your sox – I am much too scared to try anything like that. Maybe it is just not the right time in my life to be trying to knit a pair of sox when all we do in our household is look for them. We have a sock monster that lives at our house!!!
Nice job anyway, can’t wait to see it when it is finished.
Thanks for the shout-out, doll-face! Don’t flip out when you see the latest sock (begun while waiting for the Harlot’s talk to commence)… it’s on wooden dpns. I do revert to type when I don’t want to have to concentrate too hard. Your socks look gorgeous. Do you get to keep them???
I appreciate your review of the magic loop method. Your socks are looking good!
What a great package of goodies you received. The apron, towel, and tote are so pretty.
I don’t know… that magic loop looks scary! But the socks look great.
Glad you like the goodies. Sorry there were no produce bags in there. Can’t keep up with them! Thanks for the nice plug, but did you have to zoom in so close on the cr*ppy stitching?? That zoom is so tight I can see the pin holes in the label! LOL
I love Granite City, we ate there twice and maybe again for lunch today LOL. I adore the apron and all of the goodies. I have the Magic Loop Book …..maybe I will need to get it out and practice. I’m seeing another lesson in the Horizon :)
Knitted socks! Maybe in another life I’ll take that up. Cute stuff to win though. What a darling apron. Nice.
Brilliant! that apron is so cool with the towel attached. I, too, am always wiping my hands with the apron. I don’t knit but am amazed by those of you who do; you socks are lovely.
Moving to the PNW brought back the knitter in me. I also live fairly close to a knit shop where they use the Magic Loop and knit the socks from the toe up. All I wanted to learn was how to make socks, but I kept missing the beginning classes – so instead I learned how to make a felted bag called The Lucy Bag, by Two Old Bags. I made 6 of them over the winter – and gave them all away! I really need to learn how to make socks.
I haven’t knit a pair of socks since I learned how from the nuns in third grade. Like knitting sleeves, it’s so nice when you get the first one finished. But THEN you have to start all over again on the second…..I love this method where they get made alongside each other….I know my oldest son would love some mom-made socks….After the quilting, and the lino-cutting and the blogging and the books—oh dear!
You are so talented – two socks at a time! I am impressed, but then again, you never cease to amaze me! And all your lovely presents! Wow! Lucky you!
YIKES 2 socks on 1 circular needle – now I’m not sure about that one, but not having so many needles to work with with be awesome and getting 2 done at the same time would be even better. Cute apron you got in the mail. Love the idea of a towel attached – how smart is that. Now Granite City -woooo nellie – it’s one of my fav’s to eat at. Love their Granite City dip for fries – did you try it. Their’s one up in Fargo and we eat there when we are in town. BIG portions sister – not that I eat all of mine, LOL.
Hugs – Karen – btw love the socks and the fine ribbing on them
Wow, what a great prize package – that is a super cute apron! I’ve never tried socks that way, I don’t know if I’d like the loopy-ness of the needles and using 2 balls of yarn. I like everything kind of contained, if that makes any sense. (probably not) I can really see the advantage of 2 at once though, when you’re done, you’re done!! That would be really nice.
Shhh, don’t tell my single socks that there is a solution. I have seen magic loop and it looks great but I can’t quite figure out how they do two at once.
What a great prize! I love the towel idea, I am always looking for a towel also :) O.k I have to go google ravelry as I haven’t the slightest idea what it is except something to do with knitting lol!
Oh those socks are just awesome…you are my hero!
What a wonderful prize Anna, I love that apron, what a great idea to have a towel attached. As for the socks they’re looking great too but you kind of lost me once you started to talk about knitting, I just don’t speak the language (maybe one day when we’re neighbours …!)
Kimxxx
I am fascinated by your complete discussion of the magic loop method of knitting – I didn’t understand some of it, but it was certainly interesting! Love the yarn you’re using.
The winnings from Lisa are wonderful! That apron is so cute, and I love the towel attached to the apron – what a great idea! Now, what are you cooking for us? LOL
I so wanna try that magic loop method but I’m chicken. Do like the thought of no “ladders” though. Lucky you! That apron is lovely.
I can’t even knit one sock so I’m full of admiration for you doing two at once!!
I love your pretty apron and goodies from Lisa :)
xxxx
The magic loop does rock! And your socks look like they are going along swimmingly. I hear the two socks at once is the only way to kill the dreaded second sock syndrome.
And that apron is adorable!
congratulations on winning Lisa’s giveaway! She’s a very generous one she is. I can’t even THINK about starting to knit a pair of socks unless I used the chunkiest fibre out there. OMG!!! It would take me YEARS otherwise, and all in the name of socks. Na, don’t think so. Yours look great though!
Anna,
I enjoyed meeting you too on the plane! This is the first time my knitting has been written about in anyone’s blog! Thank you! While I might not keep my own blog, I definitely read them and will add yours to my bloglines.
Also thank you for calling me a “girl” as at 42, I don’t hear that very often.
Take care and a belated happy birthday!
Liz
Hi Anna. I’ve seen the magic loop before from a knitting group that I’m in. I decided that if I ever decide to knit socks, the magic loop would be the way to go. If I knitted one sock at a time, I just know that two decades would pass before I got to the second sock.
Your socks look fabulous!
And what a great prize you received! The detachable towel is clever!
XO