Here they are at work on my soon-to-be sock:
I went to Yarn & Fibers yesterday and asked the lady there to help me find stuff to make socks with. She directed me to some great yarn and pointed out a book-Knit Socks! by Betsy Lee McCarthy-to get me started on my first pair of socks. I then recieved a lesson from another lady, Anita, who showed me how to a.do the knitted cast-on and b.use the DPNs. I had always thought they would be the hardest needle in the world to work with, and had shied (shyed?) away from them. I now wish I had picked them up sooner, because they are so much fun to work with and, I believe, way more useful than any of the others.
So, while I was there, I bought 2 skeins of Galway-turquoise and lime green-, 2 skeins of Cascade-black and white-, and, on a whim, a skein of Artyarn Supermerino in an unspecified color, but dye lot #130. I also bought the book, two tapestry needles, the #3 DPNs and #2 DPNs. The ladies there gave me some needle caps (not sure what the proper terminology is) and a rubber stitch marker (which I lost today), and Anita gave me a lot of useful advice on making socks.
Can you tell yet that I'm kind of new-okay, a complete novice-at socks? Actually, the only thing I've ever finished was a belt, and technically I never finished that because I didn't crochet on the strings to fasten it with. I've knit many a scarf, but I've always become frustrated after botching it and unravelled it. I have 18 skeins of acryllic yarn. Yes, that's right. I said acryllic. I bought the stuff before I knew what a joke it was and have since been very particular in selecting yarn. The most expensive yarn I own is that $9.00 skein of Artyarns Supermerino. Yes, I'm cheap.
I saw my old music teacher from elementary school there (Y & F). She recently took up knitting and was just hanging out and making a scarf. I hadn't seen her in years and couldn't believe how much shorter she is than me!! My mom said she was shocked at my height, too.
Well, anyways, I started on that first sock of mine yesterday, but totally ruined the ribbing. I was going to just leave it be, but it's been bugging me all day, so finally I just started over. 4 times. I kept messing up the first row, or casting on too tight, or dropping and losing stitches. Finally, however, I salvaged the project and am now back on track, working on the third row (and to think, I was probably on the fourteenth row of the stockinette before I unravelled it!)
It's going to be turquoise, but with a lime green heel and toe...I hope I got enough yarn for a full pair! I don't remember if she said one skein would cover one sock or one pair...Whatever, I'm going to try to get to Y & F this weekend, if I need more yarn, I'll buy more.
Well, on to the big news...I'm a Girl Scout, and my friend and I decided to do our project together! We're going to start a knitting group or something to give hats to chemo patients, socks to homeless shelters, blankets to animal shelters, etc. It's going to be SO FUN! A lot of work, but definitely fun! That's all there is for now, but I'll keep you posted on that...
Back to socks: I was wondering about a couple of things.
A: When you are making stripes...Well...How do you do it? Like what do you do with the yarn you're not using at the moment?
B: What yarn is best for knitting socks? (thinking durability, thickness, etc.)
C: I know that for stockinette stitch in the round, you just knit the whole way...But what if you want it to look like garter stitch?
D: How long does it usually take you to knit a pair of socks? How long have you been knitting them?
E: Any general sock-knitting advice?
Oh, my word...I hope someone comments...That was a bit long for a first post, eh? Thanks so much for reading this far!
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