tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466385.post3753364046193156375..comments2024-03-29T15:15:12.231+00:00Comments on Jean's Knitting: Jeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12038517988391228260noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466385.post-10281237547768298282012-05-18T20:13:26.288+01:002012-05-18T20:13:26.288+01:00My preferred toe-up cast-on is the least fiddly th...My preferred toe-up cast-on is the least fiddly thing I've come across. I suspect someone else has a proper name for the thing (and your current quest has probably turned up what that name is). <br /><br />I cast-on 12 or 14 stitches via a cable cast-on, then kfb in each stitch. I slip the stitches onto two needles, alternating front and back. Then I knit them onto the three or four needles I'm using for the sock and start my increases. <br /><br />Because I've practiced it so much, I can whip off a cast-on in under 15 minutes. Grafting is elegant, but it takes me much longer because I don't do it as frequently.Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01175287704687068472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466385.post-42768566601076867082012-05-18T17:26:50.836+01:002012-05-18T17:26:50.836+01:00I'm intrigued that top-down versus toe-up on s...I'm intrigued that top-down versus toe-up on socks is almost guaranteed to generate strong feelings. I have an unproven hypothesis that how one learns to knit socks is often the lasting preferred method.<br /><br />That's true in my case: toe-up. However, I've knit on the order of 30 pairs (not all toe-up) & the toe-up fitting of my wonky sized foot/heel makes more sense in my brain if I approach it in that direction.<br /><br />I'll have to re-evaluate after another 30 pairs to see if I sussed out my peculiar fit issues enough to feel comfortable executing what I need to do in either direction.<br /><br />By the way (since this is my first check in after our Oberlin trip), Kid #1 really liked Oberlin & had several great conversations with professors. However, she's elected to attend St. Olaf in Minnesota in the fall. It came down to some indefinable "feel" of the place/people.<br /><br />Cheers!Sarah JSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466385.post-81644827143493699272012-05-18T17:04:35.466+01:002012-05-18T17:04:35.466+01:00Toe-up is the approach if you wish to know exactly...Toe-up is the approach if you wish to know exactly how long you can make the pair using every bit of a given yarn, but otherwise it's not the best plan for me. Like you, I found it an interesting learning experience, but four pairs were enough. I particulary dislike short-row heels: they don't fit well and look clumsy (even when knit by expert test-knitters and photographed for books and magazines!) After two pairs with that heel, I tried Veronik Avery's toe-up version of a heel-flap and gusset heel. Fit and look are just as beautiful as the cuff-down original, but it's much more finicky to execute, as one's fingers are working in very tight quarters. Verdict: back to cuff-down. I can try them on as I go, too - and I work on dpns - so don't see that as a reason to prefer the other approach.<br />The real benefit of practicing toe-up socks was learning a stretchy bind-off. Definitely useful, not only in toe-up socks.<br />Rant over! Best wishes for the insurance wrangling,<br /> GretchenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466385.post-42574951701619450852012-05-18T16:10:17.589+01:002012-05-18T16:10:17.589+01:00I learned socks cuff-down, and did them exclusivel...I learned socks cuff-down, and did them exclusively for quite awhile. Then I learned toe-up, from wendyknits.net. And THEN I learned JMCO from watching the Cat Bordhi video...the first few times was a bit fiddly, but now I absolutely adore it. It works with many different kinds of heels, and when knitting socks for feet not present, I just do a measurement of foot length (keeping notes in Ravelry), and of course the best part is being able to divide balls of yarn in half, knit both socks a chunk at a time, knit as tall as I want with no fear of running out of yarn, end with the cast off, and have just enough yarn for mending left. No second sock syndrome, no running out of yarn.<br />I initially learned socks on DPNs, then learned Cat's 2-circular method, and finally switched to magic loop. I use the Knitter's Pride Dreamz circulars, absolutely love the cables for Magic Looping.catmumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05340783525589988900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466385.post-54255170352645838992012-05-18T12:46:27.207+01:002012-05-18T12:46:27.207+01:00Toe-up socks 'rock' in my opinion which se...Toe-up socks 'rock' in my opinion which seems to be in the minority here. For years I knit socks from the ribbing down and without fail my finished toes were lumpy and bumpy. Kitchner toe and I have had a no fault divorce! After trying many toe-up cast on methods with limited success I discovered Judy's Magic Cast On and haven't looked back! I do use two circular needles and have found that my toe is most successful when I cast on and knit the first couple of rows with needles one size smaller than those I'll use to knit the sock.Mundihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192233136687265457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466385.post-60560153690468424922012-05-18T12:28:13.889+01:002012-05-18T12:28:13.889+01:00I don't like toe-up either: I always misjudge...I don't like toe-up either: I always misjudge when to start the heel and they don't fit properly.<br /><br />Too late now... but Loopy Ewe's customer service is amazingly good and you could have emailed to ask to apply the certificate retrospectively. They might ship the two balls together as they will spot the same address, I'm sure.<br /><br />My cranberry zauberball leaked an immense amount of red when I washed my shawl. I now have a pink shawl instead of a red and cream one. Grrr. Especially as it was kntted for a young man!Roobeedoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02395340950409421904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466385.post-25934227532305130872012-05-18T12:06:40.478+01:002012-05-18T12:06:40.478+01:00I do toe up when I'm not sure if there is enou...I do toe up when I'm not sure if there is enough yarn, which I split into two balls. Since ribbing doesn't help keep socks up, and can't be seen, I no longer do it, or just do two rows a half inch from the end, to keep it from rolling. Very simple socks for us.rosesmamanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466385.post-26401972740293072492012-05-18T10:52:28.815+01:002012-05-18T10:52:28.815+01:00Good luck with the insurance ping pong.
Water is ...Good luck with the insurance ping pong.<br /><br />Water is a big issues in our lives at the moment, because we are having some works done to our lower villa and the kitchen is on the drafty and wet side of things now that the builders have knocked down various walls and made various holes in the external masonry. The very wet Edinburgh weather is not helping. At all. <br /><br />Tried toe up socks once, but didnt get on with them. I'm not ruling it out entirely...Knitlasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10694849211711608460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466385.post-67437492350733281352012-05-18T09:49:44.400+01:002012-05-18T09:49:44.400+01:00I tried one pair of socks toe up - never ever agai...I tried one pair of socks toe up - never ever again. Yet I know other people who only knit toe-up. I can knit a plain sock top down without a pattern and, as you so rightly point out, you get rid of the ribbing first.catdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8466385.post-80913095182933487642012-05-18T09:42:17.586+01:002012-05-18T09:42:17.586+01:00I don't really "get" the toe-up craz...I don't really "get" the toe-up craze, either. I've done a couple pairs this way to see what all the fuss was about. As a learning exercise, it was fine but nothing so revolutionary that I would make the switch from my regular top-down version.<br /> I do my socks by the Magic Loop (one long circular needle) method, so I can try the sock on for fit as I go. I knit both socks at the same time on one needle. <br /><br /> For me, this is the perfect way and avoids lots of counting. When you have one cuff as long as you want, the other cuff is also done, et cetera. If I make a change in a pattern of one sock, the other sock is done at the same time, so I don't have to make notes to remember to do the same change on the other sock. I can also match self-striping yarn exactly, if I choose.<br /><br />In your Year of the Sock Quest, you might consider trying a Magic Loop sock.Louhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08004651109262737552noreply@blogger.com