I have started the Empress Mum's birthday socks four times at this point. This is my first time trying to knit socks toe up, and my first time using circular needles instead of double pointed needles. I think I have too many "firsts" going on to have been successful the first time around.
On my first try, I got about 5 rounds in, had to put down my work to go do something, and had no idea where I had left off when I picked it back up since it did not resemble anything recognizable. It seemed like there were cords everywhere!
On my second try, I dropped a stitch before the work was recognizable and decided it would be faster to rip it out and start over than to try to pick up the stitch, wherever it had gone, and then figure out where I had left off, as per attempt one above.
Before trying the third time, I may have had one too many glasses of wine, and while my work did remarkably resemble a toe this morning, the increase rounds and knit rounds did not necessarily alternate per the pattern instructions. Also, while there were both left leaning and right leaning increases in the toe, they showed no evidence of having been applied with any sort of pattern in mind. As a result of these failings, this work was ripped out.
I had much more success on my fourth attempt. Increase rounds alternated with knit rounds. Left leaning and right leaning increases were applied with consistency. And once I got to this point:
the work quit trying to turn itself inside out and the connector cords also started behaving nicely and in a rather predictable manner.
I have since finished the toes and am now working on knitting the instep.
These socks are a basic toe-up pattern knit with KnitPicks Bare Hare on 2.5 mm needles.
Despite the trauma I experienced getting these socks started, I was nearly overcome with the need to cast on all my sock yarn and get the toes knit before proceeding with the Empress Mum's socks. I was able to resist, at least for now...
Until next time,
Jessica, Empress of the Universe
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