Sunday, January 18, 2015

Okay, So Maybe I Like It

I should have realized I’d have to eat my words about not liking Magic Loop knitting.  After the way I did an about-face on the DPN issue, it was likely to happen again. 

Maybe I actually like Magic Loop.  A lot.

I finished my first ever pair of toe-up socks - Scott Base Toe-Up by Sarah Ronchetti:



I didn’t even realize it had happened until I pulled my DPNs back out on the first sock in order to do the cuff ribbing with a smaller sized needle, as I don’t have many 40” circular sizes.  Suddenly, my beloved DPNs weren’t as friendly as I remembered.  Once I had finished arguing with myself about the fact that ML was indeed easier than DPNs, I immediately ordered a couple of 40” needles in smaller sizes.  As for the socks, Sarah’s well-written pattern did not disappoint (thanks Sarah!). 

It looks like this whole toe-up/Magic Loop thing may be working out.  In order to make sure I’m not just in some sort of crafty honeymoon phase, I cast on another pair of toe-up/ML socks.  Here’s an early picture:




No particular pattern this time, just plain ol’ socks.  I stopped at our local Hobby Lobby and picked up some inexpensive sock yarn so I could practice toe-up.  I have to say, this is the first time I’ve used a self-patterning sock yarn and I am SO hooked.  I’m over half way done with the first sock and, like the complete knitting dork that I am, I keep looking at the lovely little stripy pattern and smiling to myself.  I mean, holy cow, what the heck was I waiting for??  Colorwork without the work!  What’s not to love?  The yarn is Red Heart (I know, right? Yarn snobbery can be fleeting) Heart & Sole with Aloe in color way Faded Jeans.  The yarn is a light fingering, which I normally don’t use for socks and I am not very hopeful that they’ll hold up with use, but it really doesn’t matter because I’m having so much fun.

Back to my developing Magic Loop fetish…

I like it so much I decided to cast on a wee hat for my soon-to-come grand using ML.  Haven’t made much progress yet as I tend to procrastinate on things that I’m unsure of and this little hat (pattern to be shared at some future date) entails color work.  No matter how loose I think I’m leaving my strands, I tend to knit too tightly so my friend Deanne recommended knitting the little thing inside out to help keep the tension looser.  A brilliant idea but I don’t purl in the round particularly well, hence the procrastination.  I’ll get there though.


How about you?  Ever go from dislike to love with a technique or method before?


Lisa

6 comments:

  1. I went from avoiding patterns that required markers to finally seeing the point of them. I use pretty red paper clips instead of proper knitting needle markers and they do make things easier.

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  2. Yay! I'm so glad you liked the pattern, your socks look awesome! and yay for Magic loop as well, I put it off for a while too, it just sounded too hard, but I love it!

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  3. I use magic loop for EVERYTHING circular, even adult sized hats. I have so much fun with it, I can't resist :)

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  4. I admire your ability to try new things, especially when they are things you don't think you are going to like. But no matter how many posts you have on this subject, I am firmly stating I will never do intarsia. No matter what. :-)

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  5. I'm going to have to learn the "magic loop" because I want to knit socks with you! All of your WIP are just beautiful, xx

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  6. I'm going to have to learn the "magic loop" because I want to knit socks with you! All of your WIP are just beautiful, xx

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