April Showers Socks

I just finished knitting these socks about 10 minutes ago and couldn't wait to share them. The pattern was written for the latest KAL (Knit-a-long) by Wendy Gaal, owner of the Knitters Brewing Company Ravelry group. I used a Knitters Brewing Company yarn called Sweet Butter from their Sweet line.

The KAL started on January 11 with a deadline of March 1 for the finish of only one sock. I was determined this time to complete both socks for the KAL by the deadline. I am actually early which is a first for me!

Without further ado, here are my socks...

Mystery Sock Knit-Along—Family Jewels

Now I know why the knit-along is called Family Jewels—it’s because of the nifty heart bead provided in the kit.  Also, notice the repeated knitted hearts where the bead is inserted and also along the cuff.  I just love this pattern.

So, in the end, the socks  don’t fit me.  They are huge!  The knit-along didn’t come with a small size to knit so I had to do the medium because of the number of stitches in the pattern.  I know they will fit my best friend so I’m not worried about it.  I had a great time learning new stitches and techniques.  I can now knit socks from the toe up, two at a time, on one circular needle using the Magic Loop method.  No more second sock syndrome for me.  They will both be finished at the same time.
I started another pair of just plain socks using the methods I learned during this knit-along.  Once I develop the perfect fitting sock for me I doubt if I will ever go back to knitting socks on 5 double point needles again.  Magic Loop is the way to go!

Clue #2 Finished in Knit-Along

I have to admit that Clue #2 was a lot more challenging than the first clue.  If nothing else, I am learning a whole lot in knitting these socks.  It's the first time I am knitting using the Magic Loop method using one long circular needle, the first time I am doing toe-up socks instead of cuff down, and the first time doing a pattern on socks.  I usually just knit plain vanilla socks, cuff down, on 5 double point needles. 
Here's the finished Clue #3 socks:

Because of this KAL, I am also knitting another pair of toe-ups but this time I am doing two at a time--again using the Magic Loop.  That means there are two socks on one long circular needle.   So far, so good but then I've only finished the toe portion of this second pair of socks.

TWO TOES DONE!

Finished my second toe for the Mystery Sock III:  Family Jewels knit-a-long at the Knitters Brewing Co group on Ravelry.com.
Two finished toes
The second one was soooo much easier to knit than the first one.  I have to use the excuse that the circular needles were curling up on me, and then learning how to do the new stitches.  Since I ripped out the first toe four times I really learned how to do those new stitches!!!
The forum for the Mystery Sock III KAL over at Ravelry.com is a lively one and very friendly.  There is a mix of capability going from the beginner to the most experienced.  I actually breathed a sigh of relief when I realized I am not alone in learning how to do the Magic Loop method of knitting socks.
Now, I'm  looking forward to what Clue #2 has in store for us.

I'VE JOINED A KNIT-ALONG

I've joined the Knitters Brewing Company's Mystery Sock Knit-Along (KAL) starting January 14, 2011.  Since I ordered a kit from them, I got Clue #1 early so I decided to start right away.  My color is called Margarita Salt--a lovely yellow-green.

This is an entirely new way of knitting socks for me.  I am used to knitting socks on 5 double point needles (dpns) but these will be knitted on #1 circular needles, and will be toe up instead of cuff down.  I'll really be stretching myself with these socks!

I started knitting the first toe on Friday, New Year's Eve.  I say started because I had to uncurl the darn circular needles first.  In order to fit them into the packaging, the Susan Bates Company curled them into a tight circle.  The darn curling just won't come out--even after soaking them in boiling water.  I cast on the stitches just fine and started knitting the first couple of rows--then the needles started attacking me.  In spite of that I bravely continued knitting.  It was all going really well until my stitch count was off.  I have no idea how it happened but while doing the pattern rows, stitches disappeared and reappeared in different places.  
Here are a couple of photos of the finished toe and the curling needle cables.
CURLING CABLES
CLOSE-UP OF FINISHED TOE
In all, I started the first toe FOUR times.  By then I figured out what I was doing wrong (it helps to read the directions carefully) and completed the 19 rows successfully.   Now on to the second toe, and then the long wait until January 21 when Clue #2 arrives.