Socks: October 2004 Archives
If there's one thing you've heard me whine about probably more than anything else on this blog it is my utter aversion to knitting in the round on double pointed needles. My first ever attempt at sock knitting involved double points. It wasn't a very successful experience (ladders, ladders everywhere) and after discovering first socks on two circs I decided that I would probably never purchase a set of double points again in my life. More than that, I decided that I would say disparaging things about double pointed needles at every possible future opportunity.
Ahem.
Never diss an innocent tool, Ladies and Gentlemen, unless you actually know how to use the tool.
Here to present you with my current serving of humble pie, is the toe of a new sock project. My problem with double points seems to come primarily from one thing: I wasn't using enough of them.
You see, my first sock project was worked on three needles. This one is worked on four. I know the picture isn't close-up for you to see, but there is no laddering going on here, my friends. None whatsoever.
What prompted me to go back in search of my inner double pointed sock knitter? Lucy Neatby. The quest for a beautiful short-row heel. And the nagging feeling that perhaps I had left an important tool out of my sock knitting arsenal. But mostly it was Lucy Neatby.
If you like socks, and you love to read about technique, then Cool Socks, Warm Feet really should already be in your library. I constantly find myself being drawn back to it. And not just for the patterns, but also for her excellent explanations of the hows an whys of sock knitting. The book is geared towards making nifty socks in self-patterning sock yarn, but most of what she describes can be applied to any pair socks. But all her instructions are geared to those who are happiest with double points.
And I am terribly lazy when it comes to converting pattern instructions.
So when this lovely tutti-fruiti neopolitan sock yarn arrived from Knit Picks recently, the first thing I did was pick up the book and look at all the patterns. I wanted to try something new, but not something too hard that required a lot of attention. The Crenellated Toe Up Socks seemed like a good option: I've never made toe up socks before and the picot edging on the cuff combined with the Bosnian toe and a Turkish (Afterthought) heel seemed like the right combination. I picked up a set of size 0's and got to work.
And while I won't admit to being completely in love (it's still early yet, and I haven't quite mastered the process of maneuvering 4 needles and the yarn), I will admit that double pointed needles are acceptable sock knitting tools. Watch out world bamboo stocks...
