Monday, April 21, 2008

Sucess and Failure

While making the rounds through my favorite blogs this weekend, I came across this post by Cpurl, the dillydallyknitter. She's signed up for a 3-day, 60-mile walk against Breast Cancer. Her kitty, while adorable, seems to be under the impression our Cpurl won't be able to accomplish this task, but we all know better, right? Head on over to her blog and leave her heaps of encouragement . . . and while you are there, why not make a donation to her walk too! You might even win one of her wonderful prizes - the first of which is *gasp* Wollmeise.

In contrast to the raging success I know Cpurl will have with her walk, it's time now to turn to my own failure. Of the 2-At-A -Time variety.


I treated myself to this book last month, when I was on my mini-vacation to New Hampshire for girl time with my best friend. Since my fingers are still a bit too sore for pointy Knit Picks DPNs, I decided to pull out an Addi 2.75mm 40" circ. It seemed to be the perfect solution - allowing me to cast on without guilt because I knew the Addi's wouldn't hurt my fingers.

Unfortunately, perfect solutions are hard to come by. I wound my yarn, put each ball in a Ziploc, opened the book to the instructions, and cast on. Joined sock A in the round, knit the first row . . . good. Joined sock B in the round, knit the first row . . . jumbled, tangled mess of yarn, with the stitches not where they should be. I ripped it before I even remembered to take a picture - but just imagine a pile of sloppy stitches and yarn everywhere and you'll get the idea.

Maybe it's a sign to go finish the sweater I've been working on!

15 comments:

Danielle said...

I've tried the 2 socks at a time methods that I've seen, but I always have the tangled yarn issues. I find that it takes me more time untangling yarn, than just to knit them one at a time. However, I did learn magic loop/2 circulars for 1 sock while trying it. That works pretty well! :)

msubulldog said...

Ah, yes, I like the IDEA of two socks at once, but in practice. . . not so much. For me it always ends up that I've made a mistake on a previous row of just one of the socks--which requires me to rip out rows of the "good" sock just to get at the mistake and fix it. *sigh*

Sonya said...

There are benefits to knitting two at a time, but tidy yarn definitely isn't one of them. ;o) I bought my KP sock size circulars before they had the 40" so I've gone back to doing one sock at a time. It works better for toe-up too which I don't always want to do. Finish that sweater!

Jessica said...

The two at a time thing is tough, but once you get it, pretty darn cool. I'd do it more myself put it just isn't train friendly. Try it again! I bet you'll get it the second time!

thegabbyknitter said...

It's one of those things that may take a few times but once you get it's great. Since I learned that's how I do most of my socks. I also think you might have an better time with knitpick's circs. because I find they are more flexiable then the addis.

KeanaLee said...

I too tackled this way of knitting socks & though it was farily simple once I got the hang of it *usually after the first inch* my problem was LADDERS - I had wider ldders than the NYC Fire DEPT!!!! We are talking like 1/2 inch ladders, it was horrible, for noe I went back to my DPN's.

Ragan Knits etc... said...

Go you for trying to do the 2 socks at once with sore fingers. Hmmm, even with circs (Addis at that)...you have to be able to blame some of that on the ouchies right? I see people making socks like that all over Ravelry. I think about how nice it must be...I try and try...and well...fail miserably. Ugh. So, don't feel bad...and blame it on the fingers. I however, have no excuse. :o)

Qutecowgirl said...

Yep tangled mess each time I tried to knit 2 at a time. I have given up. I spent more time untangling then knitting.

Ariel said...

Yay you for trying a new technique! I bet with practice it gets easier. Or so I like to think, being a miserable failure at magic looping one sock at a time, let alone two. And just think how awesome it would be to never worry about second sock syndrome!

cpurl17 said...

I can't do the two socks thing either. I just make em one at a time!

Thank you for the mention on your blog! :)

XOXO!

knitseashore said...

I've only ever knit one pair of socks successfully, and that was with the dpns, so I admire you for trying the two socks at once!

Sarah said...

I have the same book and the same outcome! My advice. Step away from the book and revisit.... evenutally.

Perhaps we should use each other as moral support?

Zonda said...

I agree the KP circs are the best, however, I usually start my cuff or toes separately, knit a few rows, then put them on 2 circs or 1 if Mlooping..or it would drive me crazy!!

Sourire11 said...

I just took a class on doing that whole 2 socks at a time thing... and I ended up with a giant mess, too. Keep working at it and you'll get the concept but even after I did i wasn't so into it... I like to keep my socks super simple!

Nancy said...

You can do it!! Once you master the technique, I'm sure you'll be all "Pish! Piece 'a cake!"

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