My new goal in life

So, lately, (if you couldn't tell already) I have been obsessed with sock knitting. And have been thinking I want to be an expert at knitting socks. I've also been thinking christmas is never far enough away, and I ALWAYS run out of time before finding somethinng for everyone. So why not combine my 2 goals (1. expert sock knitter 2. have christmas presents for everyone by Christmas) into one goal??? I have been researching different techniques, styles, and patterns and am going to try and use all of these in order to knit a different pair of socks for each person in my family. My son's will be the first pair, as I am more than halfway through, and have used the toe to cuff method. My goal is to have knitted 10 different pairs of socks, each one incorporating a different technique, style, or pattern, by Christmas.

knitting confessions

So, I have been knitting for about 5-6 years and have NEVER knitted a guage swatch. Well, now that I think about it, I think I did knit 1 a couple years back. Not sure if I even knitted the whole thing, but I do remember now that it came out all wrong--and left me even more confused. This may have something to do with my resistance to paying attention to gauge. I also never had the patience for that kind of thing. Spending my time and yarn on something I would never really use, and wasting that time on yarn on something other than creating something beautiful. So, this morning I decided to really look at the guage on the first sock I just finished for my son.....8 spi. Turns out that was the exact guage the pattern I was using called for. I will mention that I had actually used needles one size bigger, than the pattern called for--which was apparently the perfect size. At this point as I have been obsessed with the idea of becoming an expert knitter--so I may just start my journey checking my gauge.

sock knitting techniques

So, I have been looking around at some other sock knitting techniques in order improve my sock knitting skills. I have done a countless number of socks using double pointed needles working from cuff down. So when I started knitting the pink pair of socks for my son I decided to use a toe down patter. I really like this way--no grafting. The only set-back was getting re-aquainted with increases; and I just learned that I need to learn to bind off much looser.
I also had been thinking about knitting another pair using the magic loop method--Im thinking my stitches will look more even on this method. I then saw a book on knitting on socks 2 at a time on 1 circular needle. Wow, I was really excited to try this. But then I got to thinking....2 skeins of yarn going at the trouble would equal a big mess to untangle. Plus, it might ruin one of my favorite aspects of knitting socks: The portability. My socks go EVERYWHERE I go. This may not be as easy when I have 2 socks, and 2 skeins of yarn. There are also many other stich patterns that I have been seeing and want to experiment with., and am not sure if experimenting with a brand new technique AND pattern will be a good idea. So, after getting about 3 new books on different techniques, I am now thinking of sticking with my regular double pointed needle way----although I think I may primarily toe up designs.

D's sock yarn

this is the yarn I am using for my son's pink ankle socks. It is sooooooo soft.

pink socks

I just finished my son's first sock last night. This was the first time I used the toe-up technique, and could definitely use some practice in increases. Unfortunately I ended up getting the yarn in a knot when I first started and had to break a section off, so now there is a line where the color was missing from skipping a section of the yarn. My son's favorite color has been pink for the past 2 years--and he will not budge on this. Maybe he will be the one to make pink truely a masculine color...........or he will grow out of it and hate me for buying/making him anything pink.