Jacobean

I finished the first socks for the Sock Knitters Pentathlon challenge.
This was my first time doing toe-up socks and here is what I learned:
Magic cast on on DPNs is hell.
Knitting double wraps for the short row heels ain't all that easy either. I didn't do the best job on the heels. The stitches are a little Frankenstein-like.
The bind off needs to be super stretchy. I had to rip, because I bound off so tight I couldn't pull the sock over my heel.

Cool things: No picking up stitches for the gusset, no grafting, you can just knit until you run out of yarn.


Pattern: Jacobean
Yarn: Deltex Hilda, exactly 70 g for both socks (in a color far too dark for this pattern)
Needles: 2.5 mm DPN
Time it took: CO March 1st, BO March 12th.

Sock Knitters Pentathlon

A while back I joined the Sock Knitters Pentathlon. To honor the 2008. Olympics, during the course of the year, competitors in the SKP will knit 5 pairs of socks in 5 different styles.
The pattern for the first sock was revealed yesterday. It is the Jacobean sock. Magic loop, toe up. Yikes!

I've never done either of those. In fact, I don't even have 2,5 mm circular needles. I do have 2,5 mm DPNs however. So yesterday I learned how to do the Magic cast on for a toe up sock on double pointed needles. I used Knitty's tutorial. It took me 3 tries to get it right, but I finally did it.
The first row was such a pain in the ass, that I think I'll go and buy circs and learn the damn magic loop.

Behold, the beginning of a toe up sock done on 5 DPNs:


Of course, I'm way behind - somebody already finished! Two socks in a day, that must be some mad knitting skills.