Top 10 Reasons Why Knitting is Great (and you should try it!)

10.  It's a great way to pass the time;  waiting at the airport, dental office or the DMV will no longer try your patience.

 9.  Charitable organizations that serve the homeless, poor and sick can always use donations of knitted scarves and caps.

8.  Guys who knit are so cool!

7.  Knitting forces you to sit down and relax for a little while (if you are one of those people who never stops going from dawn to dusk).

6.  It just might save your relationship as it is impossible to be a "back-seat driver" if you are knitting in the car!

5.  Knitting is good for the brain;  studies show that complex tasks, especially new ones, may reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.  So tackle a challenging knitting project; it's good for you!

4.  It's is a great conversation starter;  people are always curious about what you are knitting.  (see #8 above!)

3.  It allows you to focus during lectures and meetings.  By occupying your hands and eyes, knitting frees up your ears to listen.  I once watched a prominent oncologist knitting during hospital rounds; although she rarely looked up, she was fully engaged in the discussion.

2.  Knitting is a great way to connect with family, colleagues and friends.  Everyone from the very young to the very old can knit.  Get to know your great-grandmother!

1.  Of course, hand-knitted gifts are absolutely the best!

Fun and Easy Toe Socks

Fun and Easy Toe Socks 

Toe Socks

This tube-style toe sock knits up quickly because it has no fitted heel and therefore there is no right or left sock.  Shaping the toes can be a bit time-consuming but is really worth the effort when you see the delight in the person who receives these unique and gorgeous socks!

Yarn

Fine Sock Yarn – multi-colored is fun; suggest soft acrylic or washable alpaca or merino blend

Needles

4 Double pointed needles (DPN) – size US 2 (2.75 mm) – recommend bamboo -  7 inch length

Circular needles size US 2 -  a 16 inch length works well – recommend use of circular needles until you get to the toes because it goes more quickly than DPN and makes a smooth sock tube

Note:  Sock length depends on personal preference, but for toe socks, generally knee sock length is best.  16 inches works well for a shorter person (under  5 ft 4 in).  Add additional length for taller people. 

Instructions

Cuff:  CO 56 stitches loosely onto circular needles.  Be sure yarn is not twisted before tying ends into a circle.  Work in K2 P2 for 1 ½ inches.

Sock:  Change to K7 P7 pattern and continue with circular needles until desired sock length.  You could also use K4 P4 or continue in K2 P2 if you prefer for the entire length of the sock. 

Toes:  Toe length varies from one person to the next, so to be sure the socks will fit well, try them on as they are being knitted or trace the foot of the lucky recipient of these socks to use as your guide.  If you make adjustments to the knitted toe length, be sure to record your measurements so you can knit the other sock the same way!

Read through these directions carefully as this can be a bit tricky!  You will be switching from circular needles to DPNs for the toes.

Little toe:  K 22 onto two DPNs and then put remaining  34 stitches of this round and first 8 stitches of the next round on a holding needle (e.g. cable knit holder).  CO 4 stitches to a 3^rd DPN to form a dividing edge for the adjacent toe.  (I didn’t get this at first.. but you are are making the separation between toes.  Seems odd at first but once you finish one toe, you will get it – so keep going).  Total of 18 sts on 3 needles.  Work in st st for 1 in.  To Finish Toe:  K2tog until 4 or 5 sts remain.   Cut yarn leaving 3 or 4 inches to draw through remaining sts and then tie off.  Pull yarn through top of toe and weave through on inside.

Replace held sts from holding needle and reattach yarn near little toe edge. Pick up and knit 4 sts along CO edge.   Mark the beginning of this round and work in original pattern (K 7 P 7) for 4 rounds.  On round 2,  increase by 4 sts by knitting into the front and back of the same st, spacing this out evenly (about every 10 sts).  Total of 50 sts.  You’re ready for the next toe!

4^th Toe:  K13, place next 37 sts on holding needle.   CO 5 sts to form another toe separation edge.  Total of 18 sts.  Work in st st for 1.5 in.  Finish as with little toe.

Middle Toe:  Reattach yarn near toe separation edge.  Place first 5 sts from holder onto dpn and knit.  CO 5 sts to form new toe separation.  Place last 4 sts from holder onto another dpn and knit.  Pick up and K 4 sts from edge of 4^th toe.  Total 18 sts.  Work in st st for 1.5-2 in.  Finish as with other toes.

2^nd Toe:  Work in same way as middle toe.

Big Toe:  Place remaining 19 sts from holding needle onto DPNs, reattach yarn and K.  Pick up and K 5 sts from edge of 2^nd toe.  Total 24 sts.  Work in st st for 2 in.  Finish toe with K2tog until 6 sts remain.  Cut yarn, leaving 3-4 inches, draw through remaining sts and tie off. 

You did it!  Onto the next sock…..

Abbreviations:

      CO …. cast on

       K  ….  knit

K2tog ….. knit 2 together

       P……  purl

St st …..  stockinette stitch

Welcome Fellow Knitters!

Dear Friends,
I start this new blog with a disclosure:  I am not a life-long knitter.  Knitting, quite honestly, baffled me for the first 4 decades of my life. Being a left-hander I am challenged to learn skills that require dexterity from my right- handed  friends and family. About 7 years ago, I gave my young daughter a basic children's  knitting book (please contact me if you want info on the book) and though she had little interest in knitting, I taught myself to knit from this book.  I proudly showed my husband my first product: a potholder!!..  And a love for knitting was born.

Over the past several years I have knitted many things; adapting patterns, challenging and experimenting, gifting, donating, and discarding!  I have had some laughs and ripped out yards of yarn in frustration.  Most of my knitting projects have come from the inspirations of other bloggers... I have benefited from the knowledge and expertise of so many knitters around the world, young and old.  I am grateful for all they have taught me and so...

My new year's resolution this year was to start a blog and share my knitting ideas, patterns, pictures and experiences, along with a few thoughts and reflections with others. As I have found that knitting occupies the hands and allows the mind to go where it will... A nice thing in a busy world.

So, I will be back in touch soon with my first knitting post...  Toe socks!!

Thanks for following,

purl girl