For the magic loop method. I will demonstrate how to start both socks at the same time, from the toes up.

First if you are not already familiar with how to knit a small circumference on one long circular needle otherwise known as the magic loop method, here is a great tutorial  with everything you will need to learn this great technique. Now I have not invented this cast on method, and there is already a great tutorial from fluffyknitterdeb. I am just demonstrating how well this method works with the magic loop. If you don't desire to knit both socks at once just use one ball of yarn instead of two. Ok on to the tutorial...

First you will need two separate balls of yarn, one for each sock. I find it easier to have separate balls instead of working from the inside and outside of a single skein. While knitting two socks at once you will have 2 separate pieces of working yarn. Each attached to their own sock.  Watch carefully that you are grabing the right yarn for each sock.

Pick your needles of choice, circular of course. I like mine about 32 inches in length. For the sake of pictures I am using a #2 Addi. Holding both needles in your left hand with the points to the right.

Put a slip knot on the bottom needle from the first skein of yarn. You are going to wrap this yarn around both needle from behind the back to over the top to the front.

You are going to do HALF the amount of wraps as you want stitches. I am wrapping the yarn around the needles 10 times because I want to have 20 stitches total.

With the second skein of yarn do the same thing: put a slip knot on the bottom needle and wrap the yarn from the back.

This is 10 wraps from each skein of yarn, see the tails of the yarn hanging down.

Now while holding the needles as you have been above, grab the bottom of the two needles and pull it out till the loops are sitting on the cable and the top needles. ( in my picture above the cable looks twisted, but it is the cable from the bottom needle.

Continue holding  the top needle in you left hand and with your right hand grab the dangling needle that you just pulled out of the bottom. Knit the "loops" off the top needle. Don't over think this, just knit the loop like you would any other stitches.

Here is what it should look like after you have knit the loops off the left needle on to the right, with the other loops still on the bottom cable.

Now grasp the second second piece of working yarn and knit the second set of loops off the top needle.

This is what it should look like after both sets of loops have been knit.

Now flip your work so the cable is on top and the needle is on the bottom (no picture). Now push the top stitches off the cable on the the needle that is dangling. And pull out the bottom needle. You again will have stitches on the top needle and the bottom cable.

Holding the top needle in your left hand again grab the bottom dangling needle with you right hand.  The first loop on the top needle is your slipknot from when you first casted on. I put this slip knot on the right needle just so you can see it. You are going to drop this slipknot off the top needle and give it a tug. This will get rid of the knot all together. You don't knit this knot it is not one of your working stitches.

Now that you have dropped the slip knot knit across these stitches.

Do the same thing with the second set of stitches. Pull off the slipknot and knit across these stitches with the second piece of working yarn. This is what is should look like, in my case I have 10 stitches on the top needle and 10 stitches on the bottom cable.

Your going to continue to do the same thing: flip you work, push the top needle in, and pull the bottom needle out. Grab the bottom needle that you just pulled out and knit across the stitches. Making sure to use the right piece of working yarn for each sock toe. Repeat these above steps, pulling the first stitch tight, until you have created a small pouch like:

It is a little piece of double stockinette, a tube with a closed knit bottom. This is the start of you sock toes.

This shows how each sock toe is still connected to it's own ball of yarn.

Your sock pattern should tell you how to increase these stitches to create the toe of your sock. I usually increase one stitch from each end and knit a round in between till I have enough stitches to start the foot of my sock. Each needle holds half of the stitches. I divide mine by the stitches that become the sole of the foot and the top of the foot.  Looking for a pattern that starts with the Turkish Cast On, so you can give toe up socks a try? How about this pattern available for purchase from Anna.

I hope this was helpful. I love knitting both socks at once, at first it is a bit tricky but soon it became second nature. And don't worry if you first couple tries of the Turkish Cast On look messy and uneven. Mine did the first few times I tried this technique, but with practice I bet this cast on will become well loved!

I was asked by a friend to knit some samples for the yarn store she works for, in return for some yarn. Well how could I turn down yarn.

Yarn: Interlacements Toasty Toes- Green Colorway

Needles: #3 Dpns

Pattern: Free basic sock pattern, than comes with a skein of Toasty Toes

Gauge: None given on the pattern:(. Mine was about 8 stitches per Inch.

Time: January 20- 26th 2006

Modifications: None, gasp, can you believe that.

Well first up I gotta confess, this pattern sucked. Come on now how can you knit a sock with a a gauge requirement? Sure I hate swatching but it is necessary. Other than that major oversight, it was just your basic sock pattern. My very first heel flap, which personal I didn't like much. I am much happier knitting a short row heel, the heel flap really seemed to break up the smooth sock knitting i am use to.

I knit these sock exactly like the pattern was written, so the don't fit me. I did feel a bit more stress knitting these than other projects I have completed lately, mostly because the will be see by other knitter, but over all I think it was a good experience for me. This yarn is pretty yummy, The color knitted up much better than I expected, no pooling at all. And lucky me I have another skein waiting in the wings, all for me.

Stay tuned, The Turkish Cast On tutorial pictures have been taken, and I have major plans to complete 1 more pair of socks, to come to a total of 5 for the month of January! 

Lets see, things are pretty quiet around these crafty parts, but in all good. I thought I'd give a little update on my goings on since I have no knitting to post.

•  I am currently knitting a pair of sample sock out of Interlacement Toasty Toes, dk weight so they are moving along rather fast.
• I am getting super excited about attending Stitches West, with my dear friend Allison.
• Tonight I think I am going to start the Embossed Leaves Socks from Interweaves Winter 2005. I ready to learn the tubular cast on and use my new Socks that Rock yarn.
• I am going to order these amazing sock patterns from Anna, I loved the Elfine socks so much. I can't wait to get started on her new patterns.
• This morning I have spent a silly amount of time on google trying to figure out when the 3rd season of Entourage is going to air on HBO. To no avail. I need my Turtle fix.
• Today I am sporting my new chromeglass lipstuff from MAC in Chromaliving,  which make me a happy clam.

What is going on with you?

I don't think I have mentioned that Daniel has been out of town since Sunday. He is returning from his business trip later tonight. His absents should explain this:

Yep I finished my falling leaves socks, and my are they pretty. These socks look just like it feels outside today, all grey and foggy. My car actually had ice on it this morning, they type of ice that needs to be scraped off... So I decided I needed to be outside this morning taken pictures of my sock, I am still cold from that decision. Don't look, I forgot to weave in my ends before the photoshoot this morning! Ok on to the details.

Pattern: Falling Leaves Socks from Knitty

Yarn: 2 Skeins KPPPM in a pretty blue grey. The color number has escaped me.

Needles: #0 Addi Circular 40 Inches

Time: Stared 1/15/06 Finished 1/19/2006

Modifications: Went down a needled size from 1's to a zero, now after wearing these socks that might not have been the best idea. They fit but are a little tight, I am not concerned I know they will stretch after a few minutes of wear. The only time I wore these was to take the pictures. Instead of a short row toe I decided to try the Turkish cast on, which I love! Instead of ending the cuff of these socks with k1p1 ribbing I decided to add just a rolled cuff. I thought it was simpler and I was able to extend the lace pattern a bit further consider I was running short on yarn. And as usually with all my socks I added a few more short rows in the heel and knit both socks at the same time.

I am really happy with these socks. I keep learning new things with every pair of socks I knit. One of the biggest things I walked away with on this pair is figuring out when to start the heel. With the last to pair of sock I knit I could have started the heel a bit sooner. On this pattern they instruct you to  start the heel 2 inches short of your foot measurement. They did this to help stretch open the lace pattern. but I found them to be almost too small. From now on I think I will start the heel about 1 and 3/4 inches short of my foot measurement.  That is not to say I am unhappy with they way these socks fit, because although they are the tightest pair I have knit they are still comfortable.

Over the weekend I do have plans to do a little tutorial for the Turkish cast on, for both socks at the same time. I just have not been able to photograph my own hands while a Daniel has been away. So look for that next week. And of course I am already on to my next pair of socks.

So of course I started a new pair of socks. The falling leaves socks from knitty. I decided since these socks are toe up, I could learn the Turkish Cast On. I followed this tutorial from fluffyknitterdeb and I gotta say: I love you Turkish cast on! So much easier than finding some waste yarn and doing the crochet cast on for a short row toe. My toes did end up being kinda shallow due to the way I increased, but I am happy with them.

I was thinking that is any one was interested I could do a tutorial for knitting two socks at once starting with the Turkish cast on, on one long circular. The tutorial above uses two different needle, but it translates very easily to the magic loop. If that is something you might find useful in your sock knitting endeavors let me know, and I will take some pictures!

I am enjoying this lace pattern. The ssk's are a bit fussy, but I am moving right along. I am actually turning the heal on  the second sock, as the picture above was taken yesterday.  I love the way that the leaves are forming, and the zigzag pattern of the yarn overs. I could say it a million times over, but I love knitting both socks at once, there really is no other way. I started these socks last week, only to rip them out and go down a needle size. Usually with sock patterns I have to go up a needle size to fit my larger feet, but with these I had to go down to a size 0 in order to get a good fit. And I can't wait to wear them.