Thursday, August 20, 2009

I couldn't help myself.


I was powerless against the draw of casting on for socks in my new STR yarn in Sapphire After flipping through lots of patterns, both online and in books and throughout the house, I decided on an unusual pattern from Knitty: Target Practice from the Spring Issue '09. This is the first photo from the Knitty.com pattern page, designed and photographed by Kellie Pederson.

What is nice about this pattern is that I will have the opportunity to practice several new skills: Toe up, Judy Becker's Magic Cast On, circular inserts into a pattern, and a stretchy cast off at the top of the cuff. All in this great variegated yarn from Blue Moon Fibers Arts. What could be more fun? What I find strange is that when I did a Ravelry pattern search to see if there were any pitfalls to this pattern, there were only 37 projects to date and all the comments were favorable. I cannot understand why more folks have not done this pattern because most of the comments said the pattern was fast and easy, and the only negative was weaving in some loose ends.

With the instructions for casting on on my lap and me in front of the computer watching Cat Bordhi demonstrating this technique on You Tube, I cast on for these toe up socks for the first time!

The third time was the charm and now I am happily knitting away on the toe of the first sock. I thought momentarily about trying 2 at a time, but decided against it since there would be too much to keep track of on each sock with the short row heel.

See how nice the toe looks!

To be continued.


6 comments:

Unknown said...

I remember seeing the pattern when that issue of knitty came out. And I remember thinking they were cool, just never knit them. I can't wait to see yours (especially in that yarn!).

Tally Knits said...

You know, I just added that to my Ravelry queue last week! I can't wait to see how yours come out.

Your Ishbel is gorgeous! Isn't it so satisfying to have a major project completed in your very own handspun?

bunnits said...

What a cool pattern! I'm anxious to see how yours turns out.

Lupie said...

This is a great pattern and the yarn you are using is beautiful. Can't wait to see them.

Megan said...

That yarn seems like it will be perfect for that pattern.

When I first saw that pattern I joked that it reminded me of a certain scene in the movie "Pet Sematary" and I would hate to put a target on my achilles tendon! ;)

M.E. Greene said...

Circular insert!? I've never seen this technique, and gee I thought I'd seen it all (the older I get the more I realize how little I actually know!). It just blew my mind a little bit to see that. Wow, how awesome!