FO: 2 socks on 2 circs

3 week class.
1 pair of socks.
purty good, i say.

i followed my 3 part instructions to a "t".
yarn used: Schoeller+Stahl Sockina Cotton.
also on my ravelry page.

if you knit some socks, let me know!

2 socks on 2 circulars: part III

and the finish....


Part III: Toe and Bind Off

Toe:
Rnd 1, and all other odd rounds: *K 1, k2tog, k until 3 sts remain, ssk, K 1 (Repeat on other needle)
Rnd 2, and all other even rounds: K
Work as set until 12, sts remain.
Toe Grafting:
With a tapestry needle threaded with your yarn, work the following:
Front needle: Insert tapestry needle as if to knit and drop off knitting needle, insert t. needle
into next stitch as if to purl and leave it on the needle.
Back Needle: Insert t. needle as if to purl and drop off k. needle, insert t. needle into next stitch as if to knit and leave on the needle.
Repeat back and forth until all sts are grafted.
Weave in ends.
Wear those socks!

2 socks on 2 circs: part 2

Continuing with the socks...

Part II: Heel flap, Turning the Heel, Gusset

I think it’s best to do the heels one at a time, to avoid getting twisted up! You can knit the heel flaps at the same time…just watch which row you end on (it’s gotta be a purlside row!).

Heel Flap
Knit across needle “A” (instep of sock), and when you get to “B”, knit across one sock.
TURN.
*Sl1, P1 * across on WS rows.
On RS rows, Sl 1 st, knit across.
Work in this manner until the heel flap measures 2.5” ending with a RS row.

Turning the Heel
Turn 1: Slip 1, purl 14, (18, 20), p2tog, p1, turn. (10 sts rem)
Turn 2: Slip 1, Knit 3 (7, 9) SKP (sl 1, k1, pass sl st over k st), k1, turn. (10 sts rem.)
Turn 3: Slip 1, purl 4 (8,10), p2tog, p1, turn. (8 sts rem)
Continue in this fashion (increasing number of knits/purls each row) until no sts rem.
Ending on a knit row, you will now have a total of 16 (20, 22) heel sts.

The Gusset
Pick up and knit 19-25 sts along edge of heel flap. This number can vary – just make it dense enough to not have holes or gaps. I twist my stitches on purpose here, to get them really snug. (To twist, K into the back of the stitch.)

REPEAT FLAP, TURN, GUSSET FOR SOCK 2!

Knit across needle “A”. (If you want to keep your rib pattern [or any other pattern] going, make sure to do so here!)
Needle “B”: Pick up and knit 19-25 sts along edge of heel flap. Be sure to use needle “B”! These are all heel stitches – keep B with B, A with A…
Knit across all heel sts and remaining 19-25 sts that were previously picked up.
Repeat for other sock.
Knit across needle “A”.
From here on out, you’ll be knitting across A (both socks), then B (both socks).

DECREASE GUSSET
Needle “B”: K1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts, SSK, K1.
K across needle “A”.
Needle “B”: K across all heel sts.
Repeat this (decreasing every other round on heel sts) until you have the original number of sts left on needle “B” {28 (32, 34)}
You are ready to continue your foot.
Knit until 2” short of end of your foot.

Toes are next!

i'm actually knitting...

...a pair of socks.

well, really, i'm teaching a knitting class at the local yarn shop. it's the fun 2-at-a-time method on 2 circular needles. since i'm trying to write it out for myself (since i never follow one straight method), i thought i'd document it here. feel free to knit along (it'd be helpful to know if it works for more folks than me!)

so, in my class, i'm giving one step instructions per class. first class was how to cast on 2 socks onto 2 circs. i find this the hardest part. next class is the heel flap, turning the heel, and the gusset. final class, the toe. so here is step one:

Knitting 2 Socks on 2 Circular Needles

Yarn: Fingering weight (Sock Yarn)
Needles: US 1-3 (or size to get gauge)
Gauge: 7.5” –8” = 1” stockinette
Sizes: 7.5” (8.5”, 9”) ankle circumference


Part I: Casting On and the Cuff

This might be the trickiest part. In order to cast on for 2 socks, you need to do some fidgeting. First, name your needles. For the sake of consistency, I will call them “A” and “B.” (This could also be Instep and Sole.) You’ll see….this will get helpful soon.
Take “A” needle and cast on 56 (64, 68) sts. With “B” needle, slip half of those sts onto "B". Flip “B” around to make a sideways “V”, with working yarn hanging from “B” to the right. Again, take “A” needle and cast on 56 (64, 68) sts. With “B” needle, slip half of those sts. You will now have 2 sideways “V’s.” Now is a good time to check that your stitches are facing the same direction, the closed part of the “V” is not twisted, and your working yarn is in the same place on both “V’s.”

Marking the end of the round. I don’t always do this, but do find it helpful. To mark the end of the round, you will want to slip your last CO st (but don’t lose it!), place a marker on your needle and replace the last CO st. This will be the marker for End of Round. Alternatively, I just use my “tail” from casting on as my guide. You can choose which method is best for you.

Ready to join into a round? Good. Secure your stitch: take last CO st and slip to "A". Slip first CO st over and back onto "B". They've switched spots, right? good. You are good to go.
Now, let’s remember the 2 Circular Needle Rule:
Knit “A” stitches to “A” needle, and “B” to “B”.
Ok. With that said, let’s knit. With needle “A” on top, let “B” dangle below. We are going to Knit FIRST with needle “A”. Put working sts on end of A. (You can say A1 and A2.) Pick up other end of A (A2) and Knit. Now what about a pattern?

Here is where you can get creative. Do you have a favorite sock pattern? Use it! (Note: you may have to adjust your cast on stitch numbers, but why not!?!) Just want a rib? 2x2, 1x1, 3x1…they all work. For the sake of this basic class, we will do a 2x2 rib for 2”. Let’s do it.

Cuff: K2, P2 around for 2”.
Leg: You can continue in Rib Pattern or switch to Stockinette (K all around). Knit until leg measures 6” from Cast On.

Freeze there until next week.
Let me know of any problems!
Thanks!!!!

Some helpful links:
Cat Bordhi on You Tube
Cat Bordhi - part 2
knittinghelp.com advanced techniques: scroll down to "On Two Circular Needles"
a great tutorial

enjoying the moment.

today chris took the kids with him to new jersey to hang out with grammy and boppa. this means i get the entire afternoon and evening alone. he did this last week, too, and i gotta tell ya...i didn't know what to do with myself last week. so today, as they drove off, i went to the kitchen, made some coffee, came upstairs to spin some yarn but just ended up sitting and thinking about our morning.

i took the kids to a park nearby, pool forge. it's a great park - big pavillion, great playground for all ages, and a nice, cool creek. lots of mud, flowers, rocks and twigs to play with. we were there celebrating the end of the school year with one of the homeschool co-ops we attend, community homeschooler's learning group. it was so nice to play in the mud with eli, as he collected little pebbles to chuck into the creek and watch the ker-plunk. he was so into the creek - didn't want to leave it, except to play with some of the bigger boys. stella had her friends to run with, play kickball with, hold hands with and slip in the creek with. she is normally nervous near the creek, but today, with her friends, she was brave and walked across to the otherside. i haven't taken any pictures lately, but this one will be burnt on my brain for awhile: stella, standing on the other side of the creek, beaming, hands held high. i felt my eyes burn a little...and clapped for my girl. we ate some ice cream and headed home, wet and muddy. it was a really good morning.

may the fourth be with you

seems appropriate, the day after eli's birthday would be star wars day...
uncle mark sent this for eli...a little movie featuring eli, stella, daddy, and their cousin dominic. you can try it too...first, have fun and watch this!