Still Knitting France Socks 2014

Yes, I'm still knitting them. I left off when it was time to weave the toe (Kitchener Stitch) on the first sock. I found the darning needles, but by that time I wanted to bake a cake and some cookies. Now I'm back to knitting.

I finished the first sock and am at the heel of the second. Yes, it's an anklet. The pattern I'm using is the first sock pattern I ever used. It's from Learn to Knit Socks by Edie Eckman, copyright 1999, IMHO the BEST book for learning to knit socks. However, it teaches how to knit them on four double pointed needles. Okay, it was prior to knitting socks in the round on two circulars (Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles) and certainly prior to using just one circular (The Magic Loop). I progressed from one to the other as soon as the new techniques were published. I have the books. My favorite method is knitting socks on one circular needle. It's what I use all the time now. Well . . .  except for the antique sock knitting machines. But that's a story for another day.

Anyway, I'm on a tear to get the France Socks 2014 done before it's time to start Beach Socks 2015. I won't bother to mention I'm still working on Beach Socks 2013 and I didn't even start a pair for 2014! I think those 2013 socks are throwing me because I don't really like the yarn. And then I decided to do them them toe up and two at a time. Why?!!! I know I don't like to knit socks toe up! I don't like doing two at a time on one needle! I don't even want to talk about it. I frogged the toe up attempt and started over, top down, after getting past the toe and wasting mucho time procrastinating because I wasn't enjoying working on them.

ready to start heel flap on second anklet

Although my favorite way to hand knit socks is using a long circular needle (32" not 40"), I am very glad I learned first to knit using double pointed needles. It gave me lots of knowledge and practice on the construction of a sock. From there it was easy to move on to other methods. From four dpns to five dpns, which was my favorite method for a long time. And then on to the newest ways to hand knit a sock: on two circulars (24") and finally on one circular (32"). Needless to say I have quite an inventory of needles. No pun intended. At each stage I amassed many sets of needles in US size 1 to 3. I only like doing two socks at once on separate sets of needles so I have at least doubles in every size. I have multiples of a few odd sizes as well--US 0000, 0, 4, 5 and 10 for the odd sock or slipper pattern. I also went from wooden, to metal, to plastic and back. And then to lace US 1, 32" circulars. Whew! So many needles for knitting socks! I stick to US 1,  32" circulars most of the time. Recently I've been having trouble with my US 1 wooden points breaking at the metal housing. What's up with that, Knit Picks? I prefer using wood in the winter. I have no medical proof, but I believe metal needles are not good for my arthritic fingers in the winter.

Hey! I found a picture of the first socks I ever knitted! Edie Eckman's anklet from Learn to Knit Socks.

My First Hand Knit Socks

Last week I mentioned I went from Kitchener (the stitch used to weave together the toe of the sock) to kitchen (the place where I go to cook and bake). That gave me an idea for a name for a blog, a blog devoted to my cooking so I can take the food out of my knitting blog. It was a fleeting thought . . . and then it came back when I received my shipment from Blue Apron. I now have another blog, Kitchener to Kitchen. I just started it. It's not fully constructed, but has one two posts. Check it out when you have a minute.

Off to add some rows to the heel of the second sock of France Socks 2014.

Marilyn
Bona Fide Knitter