| Archive for Crafty Threads 'n' Yarns The Friendly UK Board that invites Knitters, Crocheters, Dressmakers, Quilters, Patchworkers, Jewellery makers and Paper Crafters to join in our chat about Craft |
| blueadt |
'Two Cuff Down Socks at Once on circs' KALI've broken in to gentle but repeated pressure from n & am going to a tutorial of sorts with a KAL.
If you're game post below. You need to start off by splitting your yarn into two balls if not already in 50g amounts. For stripy yarns I've found the best way to get matching stripes is to ball up the first half & then do the second half twice. I keep mine in food bags with clips on to allow the yarn to 'run free' but not freely enough that it gets into an almightly tangle: 
I'll try & post photos wherever I can but they'll be grabbed from various past projects & my current as I get to that stage. So come on, join in & get balling that yarn! *remember to use digital scales to split the yarn into two equal amounts |
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| n |
Yarn will be balled in the morning... sounds rather pr0nographic, doesn't it?
What about needles? Length? How many? Is this a two circs thing or a one-very-long-circ? n PS are the balls actually balls or are they Centre-pulls? |
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| blueadt |
Two circulars of 60cm's. Size to suit your yarn. I'm using Opal Rainforest DK on 2.75mm's | ||||
| Rosie |
oh is this hard to do guys ???
cos it sounds like it saves time & im sure stuck in a non sock knitting thing at mo - in face im not knitting much at all really. off to see if ive got 2 circs .......... |
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| blueadt |
I don't find it hard but you've just got to ensure that you don't knit across both socks with the same ball of yarn but you'll only do it a couple of times & have to tink back.
The socks are split for the heels & then rejoined after the gusset decreases & worked down the foot. At least when you finish & do the grafting then you're done & can start something new 
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| Rosie |
Well id like to have a go BUT i only have a 40cm & a 60 cm in same size 
that wont work will it ? |
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| blueadt |
It might be a bit tight but you could order a second 60cm & cope until it arrives. You'll just have to be careful that the stitches don't come off. Have you got any point protectors or big rubber bands that you could put onto the 40cm's when you're not working on the socks? |
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| Rosie |
hmmm might be able to do that - any good places to order addi circs in 60cm 2.5 mm from ?
The place i ordered from last time took eons to arrive
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| blueadt |
GK have both Addis & Knit picks circs. I like the KP's as I find they've got a sharper point. If you call them with the order it might be quicker. |
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| Rosie |
Oh good move - ive also asked on ravelry as im going to a knitting group on sat soemone ther might have some i can buy 
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| n |
Okay, I need cast on instructions.... I'm going to try this tonight.
n |
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| blueadt |
You need to cast your stitches on using the 'Long Tail Cast On' holding both needles together which creates a looser cast on edge. Alternatively you can use the 'German Twisted Cast On' which is the one that PL raves about. Then split them over two needles with the loops on the outside & join. This is achieved by passing the first stitch from one needle onto the other & the last from the second needle over onto the first. Details here. I like to do two rounds of rib on the first sock, move it onto smaller needles, cast on the second sock, do two rounds & then move the first back onto the needles but you can do it as outlined in the above link. I do it this way as I like to use both needles to cast on to make sure it's stretchy enough & don't have four sets of needles in every size. I'm hoping to put photos up tonight. |
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| blueadt |
You could use Centre-pull balls if you want but you may find that you get into a bit of tangle towards the end if they collapse. I just wind them off into equal 'balls'. It does sound dodgy doesn't it! |
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| n |
I use my centre-pulls from the outside inwards, so maybe that will work.
n |
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| blueadt |
That'll be fine. |
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| Sprite64 |
I must have another go at 2 socks at once - probably toe-up though coz I want to make sure I use as much of my yarn as poss. I did start one - I did the toes separately and then started knitting the foot of them 2 at once. Not sure why I gave up on it now. Must try again! | ||||
| blueadt |
My only 'problem' with toe up socks is the heel. I prefer heel flaps to short row heels & not all of the patterns in SKS & MSKS have heel flap instructions. I need to work out a formula so that I can input the number of stitches for the foot & get the right numbers for the heel. I love the Turkish Cast On & like cuff down cast the toes on separately, do a couple of rounds on each & then put them back together. |
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| Sprite64 |
Hmm I didn't get anywhere near the heel bit. I'm definately going to try again though as I would love to make 2 at once. | ||||
| blueadt |
I've made 3 pairs of toe up socks so far: Oriel with a heel flap & love them, Yarn Over Cable with a short row heel & love the socks but don't find the heels as comfortable & Walking socks for DH on which I fudged the heel instructions from the first pair. DH has offered to help me & write a little program so I can just input the number of stitches & it'll work out the heel
I'll see if we can work out a way of putting a link to the program from my blog so that others can use it. The pair that I'm about to start were due to be toe up so that he could do this but I've bowed to pressure from n & will be going cuff down.
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| n |
Oh dear... I feel like a right bully now... 
My yarn is ready though, casting on after tea. n |
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| blueadt |
Not at all. He can do it for the next pair. I'm just about finished winding the second half of my yarn for the first time & now need to do it again to get the stripes to match. However I'm being 'helped' by two kittens & it's not very productive 'help' 
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| n |
Right, I think I'm a Norwegian LongTail caster-oner anyway so I'll do that one... and I think I may cheat by doing each sock on dpns for the cast on and the first 2 rounds to start with and then swap onto circs.
Back in a wee while.... n |
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| Wildpurl |
Oh I'm interested to see this. I tried this quite successfully with my Father and Son socks, I knitted them together on two circs to the heel flap. I couldn't work out any useful way to knit the heel flaps together, so I split them at that point and never rejoined them! but it is interesting to see that the recommended way would be to split for heel flap and gusset, then rejoin for the foot. That makes sense to me.
I thought it was a good way to knit socks but I wouldn't do it for anything I found really complicated, only for socks I was comfortable knitting. I think it is efficient, even if I did take 9 months to finish mine! |
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| KnittingLadybird |
oooh I think i'm going to give this a go too. I seem to have a promised a rather large amount to people (foolish moi? ) but I usually have to do something inbetween each sock to cope with sss.....
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| n |
Perhaps foolishly, I'm wondering if I can get these done for Valentines Day.... but if not, DH is next away on the 24th so I will slip them into his bag as a surprise.
n |
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| blueadt |
I don't know if it's the recommended way but it's the way I do mine. I've found it the easiest & least 'stressful' way of doing it
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| blueadt |
The more the merrier
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| blueadt |
Mmmm good luck with the deadlines. I can't stand them myself so am going to try & be good & do 'Thingmas' knitting during the year, |
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| n |
The first one is cast on and had its inaugural 2 rounds done on dpns... just about to transfer to circs and bloomin' DH walked in... had to make him walk round the living room with his eyes shut until I had hidden them!!!
n |
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| blueadt |
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| blueadt |
How are you getting on n? (and everyone else who is taking part)
I'm back with it now. I've spent the past two nights sewing name labels into my daughters clothes as she's going on a school trip tomorrow. Lucky devil she's going skiing in Austria! We're also escaping for a few days to Brugge on Sunday & I'll be checking out the LYS
I've cast one sock on & will be doing the other tomorrow & then putting them back on the same needles & away I go....... |
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| Rosie |
ive been sewing up my mums jumper - so havent yet started but should be finsished that today so can start tonight at least with the first sock - gotta wait for my 2nd 60cm needle to arrive !! | ||||
| blueadt |
I've just decided that I'm a fussy witch. After reading a thread on Ravelry about which rib sock knitters preferred I've tinked back my 5 rounds of K1, P1 rib & have restarted it with 'K1tbl, P1'. The rib looks a lot sharper & sort of 'pops out'.
Mmmm hopefully no more tinking from now on. |
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| Libby |
This sound interesting, but very complicated  I need to get some needles, but am happy to follow along a little way behind, can people please post photos, as I'm a 'show me' person rather than a 'tell me'???
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| jam_mam |
I'm just watching at the mo  but hope to join in a week or so
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| n |
My computer will be back tomorrow, so I can take some photos of mine. DH won't look here although he does look at the blog sometimes.
n |
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| ygymraes |
Well, I'm fussy too, then! I really like k2, p2 rib for socks, but find that k1tbl, p1 is much nicer than plain old k1,p1.
And today, I've gone one step further and done k2tbl, p2 which is just fab!
Oh, how sad am I?! 
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| Sprite64 |
Hmmm interesting re. the ribbing - I must try that out. | ||||
| KnittingLadybird |
I'm waiting for extra needles too but I am going to try little socks 2 at a time going with the 60cm and the 40cm needles (hopefully small socks will fit )
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| melody yarns |
I might be a bit late posting here, but the Garnstudio circulars from SKD are just the same as Addis and don't take long to arrive at all
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| blueadt |
I'm really sorry that it's taken me so long to post pics. Here is the "K1tbl, P1" rib that I mentioned further up this thread:
& to prove that I'm doing two at once: 
I'm using the Waterfall Rib pattern from SKS & am continuing the K1tb1 all the way down to the toes. |
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| blueadt |
For those who are used to knitting socks on dpns using circs isn't scary. You just work the front needle first leaving the other to drop with your stitches held safely & then turn the work & use the other needle.
When knitting two socks at once on two circs you continue using one needle at a time & just ensure that you don't knit the same ball of yarn across both socks. I hope that's clear. It's very late & I'm off to bed
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| Rosie |
Thanks melody ill remember that for next time but im now impatiently awaiting for my needle to arrive
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| Libby |
Where can I get 2.75 x 60cm circulars, all the places I've looked only do 2.5???? | ||||
| n |
I'm using one of each, 60cm and 80cm, in 2.5mm addis.
Progress photo on the blog.... all five rows of it! n |
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| Libby |
At long last I have ordered some needles, am following this with great interest, only hope I can actually do it be prepared for yells of help!!!
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| blueadt |
I'm a bit late on this as I've been away but the only stockist I know of is Get Knitted. |
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| n |
Making progress....
Photo later. n 
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| Rosie |
Ok my needles r here & i cast on the first sock yay
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| blueadt |
I think my sock knitting this month is cursed. I had done 12 cm of the legs & have now ripped it back to the cuffs as I didn't think the yarn & pattern went together very well.
So now I'm ready to start again & have a question to put to everyone: Should I knit my Opal Rainforest Flamingo DK in a plain stockinette stitch sock or 3x3 rib? The cuff is knitted in a 'K1tbl, P1' rib. I'll be posting pics of the now frogged Waterfall Lace rib socks soon
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| KnittingLadybird |
Blue, if I can't find a suitable pattern for a yarn - plain stocking stitch is the way i would go. (just mho) | ||||
| blueadt |
The only thing is I get really bored with stocking stitch
Here's how far I got with the Waterfall Ribs: 
I'm now going to try the Twin Rib pattern as it's only a two row repeat. Dead easy but enough to keep me interested hopefully. |
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| KnittingLadybird |
you know Blue, the twisted rib looks really pretty, couldn't you just do stripey bands of the rib all the way down...like x amount of rows k1 p1 and then x amount of rows p1 k1???
That might look nice and keep your interest going...just a thought but the rib is so neat
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| Rosie |
Ok im not doing well with this one
I've cast on 2 socks & got them both on the circular needles but cant seem to be able to knit them both - the instruction seem to say that i should knit a round on one sock then the other but i cant do that cos when i come to the 2nd sock it dont work as the bit i should be knitting is on the cable bit of the needle & thus not accessible. (if that makes sense) HELP please what have i done wrong
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| blueadt |
You need to knit half of the first sock with one ball of yarn & then half of the second sock both on the same needle. Then the second half of both socks on the other needle. Use the needle in front & let the one at the back rest.
I hope that makes sense. |
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| n |
I'm knitting
part 1 of sock 1 part 1 of sock 2 part 2 of sock 2 part 2 of sock 1 is this right? n |
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| blueadt |
Perfect
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| n |
Phew!
For a moment there I thought I was doing it wrong. n |
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| blueadt |
I think you explained it better than I did. I haven't touched my knitting today as have been a bit preoccupied
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| n |
I saw that.
Hope your weekend is better. n |
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| Rosie |
Ah well that makes loads more sense cheers guys - i kept reading & re reading the links & it just didnt work
Thought id done something very very wrong
putting down lappie to try it now (am in bed relaxing after last night) |
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| Rosie |
Ok i tried & still its wrong - both of my ends of yarn for both socks r on the cable bit of the needles so i cant knit anymore than 1 side of first sock ARRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHH
sorry for screaming but im getting cross - now gonna try taking one sock off & turning it round to see if somehow ive got it on the needles the wrong way round as i took it off onto dpns to co 2nd one. I hope that works or this is all going in the bin
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| Binty |
I know how you are feeling Rosie, I really can not get my head around doing socks this way (Im even too scared to try it!!)
Did you get it sorted in the end? |
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| Rosie |
Ok i got it i think - it still takes me ages to knit one row & i think doing an actual pattern is a no no unless its a very simple one !!!
Oh & any tips on how to keep this yarn from getting tangled up ???? its already in 2 bags like ns but seems to forever be tangled round the needles all over the place ! I really wish one of u lived near me cos id be round so i could watch how u guys do this
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| craftylady |
I find the easiest way to stop the yarn tangling is just to hold up my knitting at the end of a half round (so having knitted one side of both socks hold my knitting up, turn it ready to work the next row) place the balls so that they aren't tangled.
It only takes a second and you're away again. I've been keeping an eye on this thread and you are all doing great, yes even you Rosie. What I like about two at a time is there is no second sock syndrome. Keep at it. |
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| Rosie |
OK where do u all live cos its gone totally wrong again this am here is an example of the mess i get into
ive just knitted the 1st row of sock1 (with pig marker) & should be knitting side1 of sock 2 BUT i cant cos the yarn & thus the start is now at an end i cant get to (coming out bottom of photo) this is soooooooo hard to get !! Ive lost count of all the times ive taken one sock off onto dpns & put it back again !!!!!!!!!!! One question when u first start knitting should the yarn be at the same end on each sock or different ends ??? |
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| blueadt |
I can't tell from you photo but I still occasionally move my stitches onto a spare smaller needle & then transfer back again so don't worry. I've found the best thing is not to put the knitting down until you've done both socks on one side. As I knit out & about all the time I normally get confused when I have to stop suddenly or someone interrupts me. So if you don't have time to finish the round at least do the same side on both socks & put it down otherwise it does get confusing.
The cast on tail should be in the same position for both socks. I'm in East Yorkshire so not very close I'm afraid. |
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| blueadt |
Via Ravelry I've found a Tutorial for knitting two socks at once on circs. Also a pattern by the same designer using this method.
Hopefully it'll help. |
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| Sprite64 |
[quote="blueadt"]I'm really sorry that it's taken me so long to post pics. Here is the "K1tbl, P1" rib that I mentioned further up this thread:
quote] Thanks for sharing that k1tbl, p1 - I'm just using it on a sock now and I really like it
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| blueadt |
It's good isn't it. I'm now using the Twin Rib pattern from SKS (Ravelry link) & am still Ktbl but I'm not convinced by the pattern yet. I might tink back & just do a 3x3 rib. This pair of socks are going to take me ages! | ||||
| Sprite64 |
I really had to fight the urge to cast on new socks today - I was good and decided to finish something instead - I'm making some bedsocks out of some alpaca DK - almost finished the first one. | ||||
| blueadt |
But if you made them at the same time you'd finish them together! |
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| n |
I have about two inches done of 2x2 rib. he only real problem I'm finding is that it's not very portable and I kind of need to spread it out to work out where I am. Because of this I'm perhaps slower at knitting them just because I can't get a sock out and just knit a row here and there.
It will be nice to get all this blasted rib done though and know I've done two socks down to the ankles. I could see me having 2 at a time as a house project and having a one at a time project in my bag/car etc as a portable one. n |
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| blueadt |
It'll get easier n as you get used to it. As long as I finish both sides on one needle I'm ok & still use them as my portable knitting project. | ||||
| Sprite64 |
Yeah - I know! The next socks will definately be 2 at once. Just cast off my one bedsock - it's quite snuggly! Going to cast on the next one now - wish I'd written down which toe instructions I used - ooops. I think I know - but I'm not quite sure
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| Rosie |
Yay dont speak too loud but i think i ve finally got this
they r about 2 " long now HURRAH !!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| blueadt |
FAB!
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| craftylady |
Whispers* Oh well done Rosie* |
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| YarnAddict |
I decided last week I would learn to do 2 socks on 2 circs method. Got so many odd socks lying around and I'm desperate for lots more socks. Got some dpns arriving soon (hopefully tomorrow) from GK, so will cast on then. Busy knitting kids socks for Em's school trip next week so may try the new circs on kids socks first. Then a few plain pairs for myself or maybe i'll just go for it on the March Sockamania pair.
not read all the pages of this thread yet, but heel flap on toe up socks is really easy. I keep meaning to do a tutorial on it but not had time yet but if anyone wants to know how I can help. |
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| blueadt |
Yes please. I know 'how' to do it but struggle when I'm converting a cuff down pattern & need to change the figures. |
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| n |
Photo is on the blog. I am down to the ankles!
n |
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| Rosie |
Well here is my progress
But im not enjoying this not sure why maybe cos they dont seem to be getting on very fast but then i keep telling myself that when they r finished they r BOTH done!!! Anyway im still going & dont get in a mess anymore yay |
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| Sprite64 |
They are lovely Rosie - I love the colour!
I've been working on my 2 at once socks - but toe up. Wondering what happens with the heel bits - can you work on them the same (2 at once) for the whole sock? |
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| dreamcatcher |
Thanks for all the info and inspiration on this thread. I've never knitted socks before but I'm going to start with one sock on 2 circs, then move on to 2 on 2 hopefully! Also intend using this method for the Cranford Mitts I really don't get on with DPNs aka porcupine wrangling so this is great. I've ordered some KnitPicks circs as recommended, from GK. I guess the SKS book would be a good investment too?
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| blueadt |
I've found that it's easiest to split the socks & park one on a smaller set of needles, work the first & then the second & then rejoin after the gusset decreases. |
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| Glynis |
I'm in awe of you all! I'm still a dpns-one-sock-at-a-time-girl, but maybe I'll give it a try later in the year.
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| Sprite64 |
I've got SKS & More SKS - they are great books. You can get the 'more' SKS without getting the other one first - in fact I think I prefer it slightly to the first book (but I do love them both!). |
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| n |
I'm down to the toes, and taking them away with me to finish at SkipNorth.
And then I am going to kidnap Jane and make her show me short row heels..... and maybe toe up cast on too. In fact I may just bring her home with me and keep her here until Woolfest.
n |
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| dreamcatcher |
Thanks Sprite I ordered SKS t'other day from Book Depository as I see so many references to it from sock knitters in blogland
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| Rosie |
Right well i spent most of yesterday working on these & boy r they sloooooooow BUT i measured the length last night to see how far in have to go & they r DIFFERENT lengths !!!!!
Insert RUDE words here as i have NO idea how this can have happened but one is nearly 7" & the other is just over 6" ?????? I think im going to fail this challenge as im tempted to take them off & finish them faster seperately
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| Rosie |
Ok ive just finished one sock on circs but separately from the other one
I dont think this 2 at a time thing is for me - but at least i had a go
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| blueadt |
I can't understand how one is longer than the other
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| Rosie |
me neither Blueadt - i think i went wrong somewhere -
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