But anyway, in the course of determining a particular item for someone on my list (with deliberate vagueness to guarantee surprise), I choose a pattern, found some stash yarn and the appropriate needles, and began casting on. It directed me to use Judy's Magic Cast On, and though I was a little trepedatious, I did as I was told. I was mostly able to follow the directions from Knitty, but I found this YouTube video super-helpful when I got stuck turning to knit the second half of the first round:
Funnily enough, despite the mention of socks in the Knitty instructions, and the word 'Magic' in its name, it didn't fully strike me that I was magic looping until I was actually doing it. And then suddenly, as I was finishing up that first round, it was like I was struck with that magic wand. Bippity-boppity-boo! Ah-ha, so this is what people are always talking about, getting freakishly long circular needles to do, taking classes for, and arguing the pros and cons of! And here I am doing it! Whoa.
I suppose it's needless to say that I'm not making socks, and never have. I don't particularly plan to make any either, but I do love learning a technique all by myself without bursting into tears. And if I ever get around to starting hexipuffs for the Beekeeper's Quilt this technique will certainly come in handy. For now, it's just something else a little bit fiddly to deal with while I'm also cabling.
Stay tuned for actual details about this project. The day after Christmas is the time for post-holiday sales and post-gifting show-offs.
I didn't think I would knit socks either , until I did. I like toe up (Judy's Magic cast on) and magic loop, sometimes doing 2 at a time. Magic loop is great for fingerless mitts or the top of hats. Once you start you will never turn back.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely intriguing, and it gets easier to manage as the project grows (like most cast-ons I think). I might have to try it for some mitts, but I'm not sure how I would do the top of a hat unless I was going top-down, because my mind boggles at the idea of transferring these stitches onto other needles and maintaining the magic.
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