Category Archives: Technique

2-at-a-time Socks

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21x-dcHUuVL2-at-a-Time Socks: Revealed Inside. . . The Secret of Knitting Two at Once on One Circular Needle Works for any Sock Pattern! by Melissa Morgan Oakes is one of the best books on knitting two socks at the same time. The only weakness in my mind is that none of the patterns are toe-up!

Truthfully, I’m incapable of doing one sock at a time anymore. I make too many mistakes with any given pattern and it makes it so much easier to have matching socks when you are knitting both at the same time!

I have knitted the Beloved pattern – mostly without the errata (http://www.storey.com/books/book.php/y/5/p/0/order_no/67691), but they look great anyway! I found Melissa’s Ravelry group after finishing the leg – and I hate to frog anything. Yes, I am a lazy knitter.

Her instructions are very clear with really clear photographs. There are some corrections in the errata (linked above). This is a great book and belongs in any sock knitters library – from beginner to advanced.

200th Post – And It IS About Knitting!

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Well, yesterday I was sick, and it was my birthday. This is normal. My birthdays never exactly go very well…

But enough of the whining. I have knitting news! I think I am getting to be a faster knitter! And I bought myself a little gift!

Why is this relevant to knitting? Because, on a birthday whim, I got myself Stitch Motif Maker and Sock Wizard PC. Now the Stitch Motif Maker makes making knitting charts a breeze. I just wish that there had been warning that you cannot use it for any sort of profit-making before it is installed. I didn’t see anything indicating that!  I will still have to learn Photoshop or Excel design unless there is a commercial license available since I want to learn to create designs for others. (I believe in respecting the intellectual property of the small designer/writer/artist/etc.!) I’m somewhat less impressed with Sock Wizard since you don’t have the ability to actually put in your designs and let the computer do the math for yardage.

I have been knitting up a storm – for me – between canning tomatoes, apples, etc. On August 28 (before I got the software), I had only had this much done on the toe-up socks I made (and designed) for my Mother-in-Law:

I made it with Fixation Cotton Sock Yarn in a really pretty purple that I just could not capture for the blog. I finished – including the picot edge – on September 18 :

Here are some details of the pattern:

and the edging:

Of course, I had to block the socks since they were a gift (a great excuse to get a blocker).

This left me just enough time to knit a hat for my nephew’s first birthday being celebrated on 9/23 (not the actual date):

I used the Motif Stitch Maker software to figure out the design and knit it up in Encore Yarn on size 8 dpn and circular needles.

My nephew really seemed to love the hat. His mother was appropriately annoyed (SIL), my brother was like “cool.” Since it is double-stranded, I’m thinking a matching sweater (with room to grow) and attachable mittens?

But I have a ton of sock knitting to do first, though:

This is only the first of the “birthday” shopping trips I gave myself. I hit two LYS’s – one has a nice birthday discount, and well, who can resist that?

So, now I have to figure out where to start. I have explicit sock requests, Cat Bordhi’s awesome new book, and the very nice (but lacking an index) Vogue Sock book – not to mention the things I just want to try.

This, of course, does not include the Christmas knitting that is being kept secret from those who might, possibly, run into this blog, but rest assured, some of them will be getting what they requested!

Yarn diets, of course, do not include yarn bought for sock knitting or gift knitting, right?

I am going to do the Rockin’ Girl Blogger nominations very soon, but darn, Pamela Jean, (coming2terms), it is really, really, really hard to nominate just 5 people! I read too many different blogospheres and am afraid to offend someone!

Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitter’s Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures

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In a surprise even to me, I’m actually writing a review of a knitting book again. Of course, this is MLO Knitting.

Mason-Dixon Knitting

I’ve had Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitters’ Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne but have not been able to review it because I’m too busy trying out the different projects. This book is jam-packed with knitting goodness.

Projects included are:

  • Ballband Dishcloth – A nice, quick gift to those who can appreciate the work put into it. It is so easy you can use it as a test gift to see if folks will appreciate it. Of course, Kay and Ann do warn that many people who receive these gifts are afraid to use them because they are “so nice.”
  • Chevron Stripes Hand Towel & Moss Grid Hand Towel – Match these with a Ballband Dischcloth and you have a nice set for a housewarming.
  • Dragon Jacket – A knitted applique that can be sewn onto anything the knitter likes.
  • Flower Jacket – Another applique.
  • Big Dotty Cushion – Need some cushions for your couch or bed? Try this and see what is said.
  • Bubbly Curtain – Not my style but may appeal to some with the proper motif in their home. Perhaps cover the kitchen window to make a complete kitchen set with the dishcloth and hand towels?
  • Mason-Dixon After-Dark Nightie & Robe – Kay and Ann show that knitted items can be sexy without being racy. I don’t know if I’ll try this or go with something from one of the new lace knitting books.)
  • Mason-Dixon Washcloth – Another addition to the growing set of towels and washcloths – but this time in a star configuration.
  • Felted Boxes – Felting? I still haven’t tried it, but these boxes may make me as I have a constant need for containers – all those knitting implements, not to mention computer items.
  • Joseph’s Blankie of Many Colors, Courthouse Steps Denim Blanket, Moderne Log Cabin, Moderne Baby Blanket, Absorba the Great Bathmat, Tailgate Rag Rug, & Snazzy Bath Rug - This was the concept I used for the blankie for my nephew’s Easter blanket.
  • Flying Geese Blanket – Just like the quilt design it makes a lovely lap blanket that could easily be adapted into a larger version.
  • Superfancy Potholder Loop Rug, Dizzy Rug, & Dishrag Rug – Scraps you have around that are long enough to turn into strips that you tie together? Knit them up into a neat new and useful item.
  • Circle-of-Fun Rug - Using a combination of triangles and semi-circles, make a round rug that you can use just about anywhere depending on your color choice.
  • Mitered Square Blanket – Lots of yarn from projects about the house that you need to use up? Make up bunches of squares and sew them together to create a unique scrap yarn blanket or design with all new yarn and colors.
  • Nina Shawl - colors and pattern combine to make a unique shawl – your choice of color, but follow Nina’s pattern.
  • Baby Bib O’ Love & Baby Genius Burp Cloths – A friend or relative having a baby? These are quick to knit lovely and unique gifts to give.
  • Keepsake Blanket- A baby blanket that builds on everything you learn in this book. You can stretch your skills or stay within your comfort level to make a unique blanket that someone will cherish for a long time. This would also make a lovely lap blanket for an elderly person or someone confined to a wheelchair.
  • Moses Basket, Ambitious Grandmother Version & Moses Basket, Stovetop Version - A basket liner with lace. The Grandmother version includes the lining, the Stovetop version is just the edging. (Personally, I think a blanket would be a better bet, so I will not be doing this project as the basket just wouldn’t be sturdy enough to be trusted.)

    • Every single one of these patterns are on my to-do list – or has inspired an already existing project. The only one I probably won’t do is the Ballband Dishcloth as I prefer medallion dish and face cloths. I decided I can use up some of my collection of cotton yarn in making a burp cloth and bib for the inevitable baby showers that I get invited to. Even if I can’t make it, who can object to receiving a handknit bib and burp cloth set?

    Each set of projects is attached to a set of instructions for technique. The most complex technique involves a wee bit of lace work – but not enough to scare off a beginner. If you are looking for a great book for your collection or to give as a first project-centric book to a beginning knitter.

    The techniques include log cabin knitting, mitered knitting, lace knitting, and color technique. You will need an accompanying technique book for some knitting instructions. Kay and Ann tried to include as much as they could, but there is limited space when doing a project-centric book. You only need the basic knit and purl so any primer should be ok.

    I highly recommend adding Mason-Dixon Knitting: The Curious Knitters’ Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne to your collection of knitting books, and if you are a librarian, you might consider this book for your general knitting collection.