Doing the Magic Loop, socks & sweater

Well, I have taken a break from the Katelyn sweater, as I found that my gauge is off at 17.5 st and 23 rows using the size 8 needles. Somehow, since the gauge swatch which I did do in the round, which was exactly 16 St's, 20 rows=4 ", my knitting has tightened up...and I thought that I was knitting looser. Thank goodness, it looks like it will fit my 8 yr old g/d just about perfectly. I am a bit nervous about doing the neckline, but am going to try to get up enough nerve to finish that soon. I am using the wonderful online knitting book at this site as my guide: http://www.studioknits.com/booktoc.htm -I highly recommend that every beginning knitter read this book as a good way to understand knitting basics and more.

While on my short break from the sweater, I have learned how to do the Magic Loop using the video at KnittingHelp.com http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/advanced-techniques

The videos at this site are very clear and helpful in learning how to do new techniques such as the Long Tail Cast on, which I used for Bev's Really Quick Socks,http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/quicksocks.html, which are very easy tube socks that can be seamed up the back. However, I thought that this was the perfect pattern to learn how to do the Magic Loop and it was. I used size 10 circulars to cast on using the Long Tail Cast on, and then switched to the size 8's. I have completed one sock which is 12" long in the same knitting worsted, that I used for the Katelyn sweater and the sock fits Gracie's size 2 foot perfectly. It stretches to fit my size 8 as an ankle sock, so should fit most children or women. I will be knitting more of these as they are easy and quick to knit up. The socks are fairly thick due to using the knitting worsted yarn, so are probably best worn as house socks or bed socks unless the shoes are loose. I may try using wool yarn next.

WIP: Katelyn Sweater

This is my first sweater, a pattern called Katelyn Basic, http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/katelyn/katelyn_basic.html, by Berocco. It was the simplest pattern that I could find that my g/d liked. I am knitting it in the round on my new Denise needles. So far, it is going well, as I am half-way done with the sleeves (not shown here), which I am doing both at the same time. I may try just finishing the top off for a summer top.

Nov 23, 2008

I have only recently learned how to knit... began learning how this July when my 12 yr. old grand-daughter said how easy it was. (She learned how in an afternoon school program). As we were both looking forward to doing something together, I found some knitting needles and yarn stashed away from a previous attempt many years ago. This time, I succeeded through the help of several books, but mostly from several very helpful sites and videos that I found on the internet. I started out knitting headbands, which I found stretched like crazy. Then moved onto Grandma's favorite dishcloth using Peaches 'n Cream yarn...not a very easy yarn for a new knitter like me, as I started out knitting very tight. However, I learned how to do decreases and increases with this pattern in easy garter (all knit) stitch. I did several of those until I felt confident that I could try something more complicated.