By AmeliaA brief history of my sock knitting ...
I started out knitting socks on 4 double pointed needles -- the work in a triangle on three, the fourth actively knitting. It was annoyingly tight at the ends of the needles. Someone suggested I try five DPNs, so I did -- much better. But those around me still had to be aware of my porcupine personality, or risk a poke if they got too close.
Then along came this amazing book, Socks Soar on Two Circulars by Cat Bordhi. I absorbed it rapidly and was happily amassing an amazing collection of circulars, two in each size. I did everything on two circulars -- socks, hats, scarves (okay, those were flat knitting, they only took one). All of a sudden, I was much more popular and less prickly.
Then this little pamphlet started appearing on my radar ... The Magic Loop ... I pondered and pondered and pondered. Couldn't make it out, how to do my socks and other circular knitting on just one circular needle. Finally another spinner at a retreat was knitting that way, and as I looked over her shoulders, I thought, "Mickey Mouse Ears!" and from there on out, I was a one circular gal.
Of course, it meant alot of my circs were too short, so they gathered dust on my circular storage solution holder (which is terrific, By The Way!)
But I still ran into a problem, when it came time to turn a traditional flap heel. In particular, when I picked up the gussets, I either had too many stitches on one of the "rows" on my needles, or had to move stitches around to balance things out, which messed up my counting for the gusset decreases. (When I knit, I don't want to have to think too hard. It's supposed to be relaxing.)
This last year, I had upgraded to the KnitPicks circulars with their very flexible cables. So even the 30-plus inch cable has plenty of give for the "magic loop". In fact, there seemed to be extra, I thought as I pondered my latest sock.
So, I tried it.
And I give you, my evolution of the magic loop, the Triple Loop:
That sounds a bit like a figure skating move, doesn't it?
When I reached the gusset pick-up stage, I put the first side on the same "length" as the bottom of the heel. I then "looped" and knit across the top of the foot per normal. Then I put in a second loop and picked up the second gusset side. Once I finished those pick-ups, I added a third loop and started the round again, at the bottom of the heel. Yay! No stretching of uneven numbers of stitches, no moving of stitches, just blissful knitting. Once the gusset was done, the few stitches left on the new, short third leg slipped easily onto the bottom half to return me to the good old magic loop.
Now the sock is done ... time to cast on for number two!
Merry New Year!
~~
posted 31 December 2008 at http://askthebellwether.blogspot.com/
