My first toe-ups
Last Friday after I finished up the sss swap sock I decided to try my hand at toe up socks. So armed with the Magical cast on and Wendy's Generic Toe-up sock pattern I set out to knit them. The only hard part (and really it wasn't that hard) was the magical cast on. For some reason I couldn't wrap my head around it. Then as I was reading it said the cast on is sort of like a backwards long tail cast on. The light bulb went off and I was able to get. After that it was smooth sailing. Then it was on to the heel which I found a bit odd. Like there's no heel flap! Call me stuck in my ways but I like the flap. After the shock was over I continued on to the short row heel. I found Wendy's instructions very clear and was able to do it no problem. I knit on these all weekend and then on Monday I started potty training my little one again and was taking them in while I sat and waited with him in the bathroom.
There was a lot of waiting over the last few days and I was able to finish them up. This is the fastest I've ever knit a pair of socks. I must confess that the yarn was a little thicker than I had anticipated. Like a heavy sport to light dk weight and I knit them on size 2's so the knitting went fast. The toe-ups were fun but I did miss the flap and oddly enough the picking up of stitches and I had a hard time with the bind off. It came out to tight I ripped it out went up a couple needle sizes and it fit but still a little to snug. So for all you toe -uppers out there, what kind of cast off do you use? I will definitely make more toe-ups but top down is still my favorite!
Swap package
Today I got my first handspun swap package from my sp. She spun me up 80 yards of merino top. The colorway is "tango". I love the greens, and blues, and there is some purple but for some reason isn't showing up. She also sent me some Hershey kisses which my sons ate but they did save one for me. Thanks sp! I hope you all have a great weekend and stay warm!
Your socks look fabulous! I love that colorway.
Posted by: margene | January 25, 2007 at 05:04 PM
I use this cast off from the girlfromauntie (scroll down to the end of the pattern):
http://tinyurl.com/e5xtj
It makes a nice, loose cast off with a slightly ruffled edge.
I have only made toe up socks with short row heels! It's a great way to use every bit of yarn! lol
Posted by: Katy | January 25, 2007 at 09:01 PM
I love your toe-up socks!!! I seem to rotate between toe-up and cuff-down, with no favorite between the two. But yes, my BO is always too tight. I'm working on a toe-up pair right now, and I'm going to try EZ sewn bind-off - there is a tutorial on Knitty, http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/FEATsum06TT.html
scroll down, it's the last one on the page. :)
Posted by: Karen | January 26, 2007 at 11:38 AM
Your socks look great! I am a top down knitter as well. I have never tried the toe up, but would really like to try the top down 2 at a time.
Maybe try a tubular cast off? Not quite sure what you should use. LOL
The swap spinning looks very pretty. I can see little bits of the purple here and there. I bet it is really pretty in person.
Posted by: Tonia | January 26, 2007 at 03:13 PM
Well, since I've only done one pair ;) I used the EZ sewn b/o and liked it! I love them!! Nice :) Yay for spinning SP's
Posted by: Zonda | January 26, 2007 at 05:45 PM
Toe-up is my personal fave - yours look great!!
Posted by: JessaLu | January 28, 2007 at 11:03 PM
It was very interesting reading your impressions of the magical cast on and the whole toe-up-sock-knitting-thing - I haven't tried either of it yet, it seems I'm so stuck in my old ways ;( But you sure made me very curious now to at least give it a try! And, your socks turned out so very pretty, great job as usual!
Posted by: Dipsy D. | January 30, 2007 at 03:35 AM