I started on the Fair Isle pattern with Socks That Rock yarn.
The colors are not quite what I expected; seems like there’s a little more brown in the cobalt bloom and a little more peach in the citrine compared to the sock in picture on the pattern.
This yarn has a wonderful slick feel that’s not like any wool sock yarn I’ve used in the past; more lustrous than Opal or Lorna’s Laces and more dense then Koigu.
Fortunately, just before starting these socks this week, I stumbled across this article by Judy Becker (via a post on Knitter’s Review) on a “better” cast on for toe-up socks. I gave it a go and think it will now be my preferred method. I did, however make one slight modification by eliminating the slip knot. To create the first stitch, I hung a loop of yarn over the top needle and twisted the yarn end around the other strand.
Small projects like this sock always keep me thinking about the other things on my knitting “to do” list. Here what’s on the top of my list, but in no particular order.
- Mitten and hat from the Japanese book using the Twined Knitting Technique
- Convertible fingerless gloves with a two color design around the palm
- A sweater from Virtual Yarns
- Finish the frosted flowers sweater from Vogue Knitting
- Reduce my stockpile of wool rovings and tops
There’s just never enough hours in the day.
Purlwise 
I read the article about this cast on and can’t figure out why it is better than the figure-8. Why do you prefer it?
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Beautiful colours!
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which vy sweater? and not to sound like an idiot, but what is the difference between this cast-on and the figure 8?
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Wow, those colors look amazing together. I’d love the socks even in those plain stripes:-)
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Love the colors you’re using on that fair isle sock — can’t wait to see how it progresses.
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Thanks everyone for the comments.
Hi Rob,
I thought it was better but I realize that it’s a subjective call. I like it because it seems easier to handle and makes tighter stitches from the start.
I also like how the stitches are wrapped so that they are twisted in the back. When you turn to the back you can see that you’ve created a ridge of purl bumps. The figure 8, creates a quasi-stitch which Judy talks about this in the article.
One more thing, this one seems easier for me to remember how to start.
Hi Vanessa,
It’s different because the the two strands are twisted around each other on the back side. Once you have them wrapped on the needle and turn to the back you’ll see purl bumps. Seems like this makes the beginning stitches tighter and easier to manipulate.
I was also thinking it could be used to start the sock from the heel. I work the heel as I do a toe and when it’s long enough add more stitches using this cast on to create the instep stitches. I would then put the leg stitches on hold while I worked from the ankle to the toe. When the foot is done I would knit the leg.
Right now I’m having a heck of a time getting my stripes to line up on the short row heel so I was thinking this could be a better way to accomplish that.
I won’t try it on this sock but perhaps on a future one.
For the VY sweater, I’m leaning towards Firebirds.
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I have knit only one sock (my first) and it was cuff down. I enjoyed it but I think that toe up may give me the perception that I know how far up to knit the cuff versus how much yarn I have left. Thanks for the comparison of the various toe up start methods. I have read Wendy’s article on Knitty too and along with your explanations, it has been enormously helpful!
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