Welcome to Knit a Bit of Magic

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Sockapalooza photo


I put the photo over here for now: http://knitabit.tribe.net/photos/e2318582-d9cb-4090-b29e-cb9ec70bc846 Hopefully "HELLO" will be working tomorrow so I can put it here again.

Practice safe sox.

I had such a hard time with that first pattern. Everything was just getting too bulky and funky, so I set that aside and started fresh with a new pattern, different yarn, and different needles. This pattern is from the Socks, Socks, Socks book. I am about done with the second sock and I tried to post photos but for some reason 'hello' just doesn't want to work today.
I thought the deadline for the socks was today, but as I look through the 600+ of sock makers, I see very few 'red' names that indicate people have finished their socks. Is everyone behind or is it just that it's a pain to update the lists with that many people on it? Okay, back to knitting!

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Complications.

The sock pattern I'm using has two sizes. The regular size requires 48 stitches to be cast on. The larger size uses 60. When it came time to turn the heel, it referred me to another page. The entire book hinges on understanding the directions on that one page. After trying over and over again to turn the heel, and getting mutant results, it finally dawned on me what was wrong. The directions are for people that started out by casting on 48 stitches. Those directions don't work if you have 12 extra stitches for the larger size. The book forgot to mention that those directions are only for the smaller size and failed to include any advice on how to add the extra stitches to make them work on the larger size. I'm guessing that the author never tried making the larger size. So after searching google for tips on how to basically rewrite the trickiest part of the pattern, I finally found an animation that at least got me moving in the right direction at knittinghelp.com. Unfortunately the animation is for making a baby sock, so I took my best educated guess on just how many stitches I needed to adjust. I finally got what looks like a decent heel, but I won't know for sure until I finish the sock and try it on. I just hope I understand my notes when I get back to that part on the next sock. I want the socks to match. It's almost 3 AM so the rest of the gussets will have to wait until tomorrow.

Wednesday, February 15, 2006


This is my sock so far. Posted by Picasa

Sockapaloooza update

I am turning the first heel on my trade socks. I will post a photo as soon as I figure out where I put my digital camera. I've been knitting a bunch of things the last 2 weeks, but I haven't had time to photograph them and post them yet. I'm using a pattern in the book Sock Hop: Socks to make your feet dance by Joseph Madl. Wish me luck.