[Nfb-krafters-korner] Socks on 4 needles

Fri Feb 8 12:53:49 UTC 2013

Annette,

I had just asked on another list how to do this technique yesterday, and
here is the answer!  A spinning friend of mine had seen a book describing
how to knit 2 socks simultaneously, at the Fiber Festival, but, we didn't
pick it up.

I have been curious as to how the technique worked.

So, if I am understanding correctly, you are going to have 2 pair of
circular needles and 2 balls of yarn?   One ball for each sock, and 1 needle
for one half of each sock, and a second needle one for the other half of the
socks? for example one for the right side of both socks and one for the left
side of both socks?   
One more question, when knitting the two circa method, I was forever getting
the dangling needles entangled in the working yarn.  Any hints for us there?

 Dixie
~  @-> ~ <-@  ~

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Annette Carr
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2013 11:00 PM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists'
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Socks on 4 needles

Linda,

I do not knit socks, but I have knitted slipper socks and bed socks.  So
while I'm not using thin sock yarn and tiny needles, the technique I use
would work for socks.

I've tried magic loop and it is ok, but I prefer using 3 double pointed
needles (DPN).  But when it comes to knitting 2 items that in the end need
to be relatively the same, I cannot deal with either of these methods.  So I
knit both "socks", mittens, fingerless gloves, etc.  at the same time on 2
circular needles.  Although it is a bit fussy to get started, once I get
going with it I find it is the way to go.  Let's see if I can explain it.

Imagine a circle that you flatten so that it looks like 2 straight lines
next to each other.  If this flattened circle has 50 stitches around it, you
would have 25 stitches on each straight segment.  When knitting in the round
with 2 circular needles, one needle will hold 25 stitches and the other
circular needle will hold the other 25 stitches.  When you knit, you will
work with one needle and then the other.  So you will knit the stitches off
the left point of needle 1 and on to the right point of that same needle.
When you are finished, you turn your work so that needle 2 is closest to you
and now you knit the other 25 stitches from the left poin of needle 2 to the
right point of that needle.  When you finish you turn your work again and go
back to having needle 1 closest to you.  

So when I am knitting 2 items that need to be the same in the end, I have
both of them on the same 2 needles.  So sticking with the same 50 stitch
flattened circle, Needle 1 contains the 25 stitches for one sock as well as
the 25 stitches for the second sock.  Needle 2 contains the remaining 25
stitches for each sock.  I knit the first set of 25 stitches and then the
second set of 25 stitches.  They each have their own ball of yarn.  When I
turn my work, I knit the remaining 25 stitches for each sock.  This sounds
confusing, but when you have it in your hands, it makes sense.  

I knit a toy octopus , and I knit all 8 legs at once.  It sometimes becomes
a rats nest of yarn, but that can be minimized with some effort.

HYTH,
Annette

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfb-krafters-korner [mailto:nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of River Woman
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2013 8:49 AM
To: List for blind crafters and artists
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Socks on 4 needles

Knitting Gurus - I could use any advice you may have to help me knit a pair
of socks using 4 needles.

Since I lost my sight five years ago, I cannot tell you how many times I
have tried to knit the socks - then after a few days of struggles and
ripping, I lay it aside and hope to come back to it later and hope it will
go better next time.

Well, I am trying once again. I started three days ago. The first day, I got
my stitches all on, without getting them twisted, and started the ribbing.
The ribbing was going ok and I had nearly 3 inches done - was so excited.

Then, I noticed I had a couple stitches that were not right - I could feel a
ridge on top of some of the knitted stitches (so I knew I had purled them
instead of knitting them.)

I tried tearing them down to the mistake - but that ended in a mess. 

OK, I started again.
Spent the second day...had a couple more problems but I fixed them ok, with
the help of my CCTV.  

Then, yesterday, I found I had somehow got a strand of my live yarn
intermingled into some stitches and that created about a 3 inch strand
strung over top of my ribbing - it was about 2 rows below where I was
knitting.  Sigh!

Once again, very patiently, I have taken apart one stitch at a time - with
the CCTV - and today, I have to do it again, as I have found this same
problem. 

So, in three days time, lots of frogging, and exasperation - I have about 1
1/2 inches done on my ribbing! I have to rip down again today to try and fix
that strand that is somehow there again.

My question is this:  Is there anything I can do that will help me get going
on this project that you can share with me. I am, of course, trying to knit
my sock the only way I know how - the way I did it when I could see. Is
there a better way for me to work, now that I have to do it nonvisually?

Would it help if I tried doing it via the Magic Loop method? If so, I will
have to learn how to do that. Any advice you can share with me would be very
much appreciated.

I just can envision myself in the Netherworld, spending all eternity, trying
to knit a sock. This must be my nemesis.

Lynda

Lynda Lambert
104 River Road
Ellwood City, PA 16117

724 758 4979

My Blog:  http://www.walkingbyinnervision.blogspot.com
My Website:  http://lyndalambert.com

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