Category: Blog

2 Socks on 1 Circ

Taught by Chauntel

Materials needed:

Yarn: any sport weight yarn, approx. 300 yards wound into 2 separate balls

Needles: 32” or longer circular needle size 4 US

set of dpn’s size 4 US to be used as holders

Darning needle: for kitchener stitch

Gauge: 6 sts per inch

Sock sizes: womens 8”, (9”, 10”) leg circumference

if in doubt work one size smaller so it is snug & not falling down your leg

Instructions:

• Using first ball of yarn and long tail cast on with enough tail to cast on the full amount of sts (44,48, 52), CO half of the total sts; 22 (24, 26) sts onto circular needle.

• Using second ball of yarn, CO 44(48, 52) sts onto same end of needle.

  This is how it will look when moved down the needle:

• Now separate the full set of cast on sts in half by pulling the cord between sts, forming a loop.

• Move the front needle tip (bottom needle in the photo above) down towards the remaining cast on tail of the first sock.

• Using the front needle tip, grab your working yarn and cast on tail in your hand ready to cast on the second half of your sock sts. 

  Once you have the sts cast on, 

  you will be ready to join and start working in the round as follows:

• Being careful not to twist, pull the front needle tip down into the sts, making a loop on the left side of the sock sts. Pull back needle out far enough to have a decent sized loop on either end. You will now knit with the back needle (right needle). Join yarn on sock 1 (the sock on the right where both needle tips are) making sure the working yarn is coming between the two needles not wrapping around either needle, start knitting in 2×2 rib (k2, p2 across).

• Repeat across sock #2 (the sock on the left).

• Now turn your work so you can repeat across the second half of the sock sts; pull the front needle into the sts and pull the back needle out forming a loop.

  One round is now complete.

• Continue to turn after working both socks.

  Note: At the start of each ½ round your working yarn should always be on the back needle, right hand side or top-right.

• Work 2×2 ribbing for 2”.

• Switch to stockinette st (knitting all sts around). Work leg for an additional 4” (6” total from cast on edge).

  Heel flap:

  You will now work back and forth on half of the sock sts to make a flap.

  Turn your work but do not move your needle tips, keeping your sts just knit on the needle tip.

• Slip 1st, *k1, sl1pw*,rep *to* around, end k1

• Turn, sl1st, purl across

• Repeat those 2 rows until heel flap measures 2 2/3”- 3”. End with a purl row.

Turning the heel:

Now, working one sock heel at a time, we are going to turn the heel and pick up gusset stitches.

• Hold work with right side facing

• Starting with sock 1, sl1, knit half of your total heel flap sts 11 (12, 13), ssk, k1, turn

• sl1, p4, p2tog, p1, turn

• *sl1, k to 1 st before gap, ssk to close gap, k1, turn

• *sl1, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog to close gap, p1, turn

  Repeat last 2* rows until all heel sts have been worked, ending with a knit row.

• Using same needle tip, pick up sts (using the sl st along edge of heel flap).

• Now move to the second sock, turn heel & pick up sts along one side, the same as with the first sock.

• Knit across the instep sts of sock 2.

• Using a dpn, pu sts along other heel flap edge. Leave these sts on the dpn for now.

• Work across the instep sts on sock 1 with magic loop needles. Again, pu sts along edge as on sock 2.

• Turn your work as if to knit across the heel sts, pulling your needles through to make your loop on the left side. Move sts from spare needle over. Knit to center of heel sts, place marker (this now denotes the start of every round).

• Knit across the heel sts to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

• Sock 2, move sts from spare needle to right hand needle. Knit to center, place marker, *k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

  Note: now all of your heel sts are back onto one side of your needle and all instep sts are on the other side.

  Gusset decreases:

• Knit instep sts on both socks.

• Turn and pull needles through to make loops.

• K1, ssk, k across heel sts to marker, slm.

  That is the end of a decrease round on sock 1.

• Knit the second half of the heel sts on sock 1.

• Move to sock 2, k1, ssk, k across heel sts to marker, slm.

  That is the end of a decrease round on sock 2.

• Knit the second half of the heel sts on sock 2.

• Knit the instep sts, k back up to the marker.

  Note: I know this sounds confusing as to where the decrease round and knit rounds start and finish. Another way to visualize this is to make a diagram of each round. Using this picture as a guideline:

• You will continue with these 2 rounds, a decrease round and a knit round until you have decreased away all of your gusset sts and have returned to your original stitch count, 44 (48, 52).

• Now you can work the feet of the socks in stockinette st until it measures 2” from desired length. Or you can follow the general sizing I give below.

  6.75”- womens size 7

  7”- womens size 8

  7.25”- womens size 9

  7.5”- womens size 10

• Start wedge toe shaping: remembering the start of every round is in the center of your heel sts.

• *knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

• instep sts: k1, ssk, knit to 3 from end, k2tog, k1

• heel sts: k1, ssk, knit to marker

• *knit all sts around

• Repeat these last 2* rounds until you have decreased down to 20 sts total on each sock.

• Kitchener stitch closed.

VOILA!

YOU HAVE FINISHED 2 SOCKS AT ONCE!

PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK & HAVE A TREAT!

Copyright Chauntel Andreasen

Feel free to visit my blog at

http://www.firebrunetteknitting.com

I do have stuff to post about but for tonight you just get a simple update.

Mom got her vest & wore it the day it came in the mail. I have heard from one of my sisters’ that she really does like it & it’s perfect (sometimes you can’t trust that the recipient isn’t just saying it’s perfect to make you feel good, I really want it to be perfect).

I started a Brioche Scarf project that I will be teaching a workshop in October at Knit & Pearl. It’s a fun, easy pattern so I am hoping to get it done in the next few days to get it to the shop for display.

I pulled out 2 blankets, the Ruched silk blanket that has been on needles for over 3 years. And the Crack Feather & Fan blanket that I cast on last December ’06. Crack being Malabrigo that I scored on Ebay (13 hanks for $31, don’t hate me), Feather & Fan being the shawl pattern from A Gathering of Lace. I made the shawl & decided it would make a fantastic blanket. It will make a fantastic blanket. It will just take a while to knit, that’s all. Plus the colors don’t match anything in my house but I don’t care, it’s Crack.

I did get about 40 rows done on the body of the Trapeze Jacket after finishing the vest then pulling out the blankets stopped me short. That sweater ain’t happenin’ fast but it is goin’ to happen!

So tomorrow after my 6-in-1 card reader gets here I will post pics of all the aforementioned projects.

Until then, Ciao!

I posted a new photo to FinishedprojectsPhotos.

I have my freedom back everyone! The White Mimosa is done!! YIPPEEE!!!

Again, I apologize for the picture quality.

I am actually really happy with the end result. I hated knitting it but it came out beautifully. Now I just hope it fits Mom & she’s pleased with it. I will package it up and get it sent on it’s way today!

I put it down last night after finishing & immediately picked up my Trapeze Jacket. Aaaah, how nice to return to ribbing. A lovely rhythm of knits and purls. Other than a few other small projects I will be doing that’s going to be my main focus.

Speaking of smaller projects, I did cheat a tad bit & get a hat done for Tyler and a Panta for Cori.

No progress pics on the White Mimosa for Mom. It’s just white. And until the lace is done there’s not much to look at.

But there has been some stash enhancement around these parts. First, I got my first shipment from the Woolgirl Sock Club!!! It was such a fun package!

(Sorry the pictures are crap, my dslr is not functioning so point & shoot it is)

Included in the first package was some beautiful yarn from Missbabs, sportweight in a special colorway for club members only called ‘Waterfall’ with a pattern also called ‘Waterfall’ also by Babs. There was an adorable stitch marker, a fantastic notebook with pen for all sock club pattern/yarn notes and a little tin of chocolate mint lip balm. So yummy! All of it is just wonderful!

I also received a package from The Loopy Ewe. They had a sneakup last week and I went a little haywire ;o) I had money in my paypal account & it was calling my name.

I got 3 hanks of Fiesta’s Baby Boom sock weight merino yarn. It’s luscious and just to die for!

I also purchased 2 hanks of Shibuiknits sock; one in teal and one in brown. I plan on making their Transition Gloves with this yarn.

And of course, I can never pass up Louet Gems Sport for kids socks. Tyler’s brown bear socks were a failure out of the cotton fleece (although Trevor wears them all the time) so he gets some Bark socks.

Friday when I stopped in at Cardigan’s, our new local knit shop, I also purchased a couple items. First Colinette Jitterbug in Bright Charcoal

And 2 balls of Regia’s Kaffe Fassett Landscape yarn

(Man these pictures are terrible)

Saturday was Knit & Pearl Boutique’s First Year Anniversary party and I couldn’t leave without buying something. Of course, the cotton fleece once again screamed for me to take it home. The Wild Orange will make a perfect fall Rusted Root I think (long sleeved of course).

It’s not quite so bright in person, I don’t want to be a pumpkin after all.

Let’s see, what else has come my way that I haven’t divulged…plenty but I don’t want to list any more ;o)

I am going to work on a brioche scarf next up, once the white vest is done. Then right back to the Trapeze Jacket. I would also like to get the Joy Cardigan sewn up. If I let myself I would choose that over finishing the white monstrosity right now. I will show self control, be a good girl like I promised my mom and then spoil myself rotten knitting whatever I want, whenever I want.

I am just going to say it outloud, I hate white stockinette. I am finding myself not knitting at all just so I don’t have to knit white stockinette anymore. I even took the last piece of the white mimosa for my mom with me to my women’s bible study yesterday morning & worked on it there. I am only about 5″ from being done with the last piece. It’s only 30sts so I can finish quickly, I just don’t want to do it. Then it’s seaming and picking up to do the lace edging. Now that I want to do! Get into something pretty & lacy. Something that won’t make me snow-blind.

I worked for an hour at Knit & Pearl yesterday, voted for myself in the contest that’s going on ;o) Although I am sure I won’t win. In all honesty, there are some really fantastic knit items in the contest and I just don’t see mine winning when others are so much more fantastic.

I will be going to the Anniversary party on Saturday & I hope to see a bunch of you there! I am also hoping there will be some people, coughlaurathuycough, that I haven’t seen in a long time. I drop by most Thursdays & lately I have seen Leslie almost weekly ;o) That’s been fun.

So, no pictures in this post but tomorrow I will have white, lacy edging to show off!

Now, I am off to the new knit shop in town, Cartigan’s/Cardigan’s I don’t know the spelling yet, to see what she has in stock & introduce myself.

Mom has requested a white, white vest. I chose the Pink Mimosa vest from IK summer ’06. The yarn was a difficult choice. She wanted/needed it washable and superwhite. I chose to use a full acrylic yarn after much debating and perusing through the internet and a few local shops. Bernat  Softee Baby had the perfect gauge, softness, not too much scary acrylic shine and  it is white.

I am through the back to the underarm shaping. I want to finish it by Thursday to get it sent to her on Friday. It’s so much stockinette! Boring to knit but it does go quickly. I wish it went faster though ;o) 

I have a few requested knits that are trumping my work on the Trapeze Jacket. Tyler’s brown bear socks are too small. I swear for years his feet stayed the same size & now they are skipping sizes they are growing so fast! I have some Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Bark that I will use to make him a new pair. And, he’s outgrown all his handknit sweaters. There is one he keeps forcing onto his body. He is in desperate need of a sweater. With the kids growing up it’s not so easy to just whip out sweaters for them. Wait until they are grown teenage guys! That’s a scary thought….erasing from memory….

Friday night I got so bored with all the stockinette on the white Mimosa that I pulled out a random ball of Tahki Cotton Color and made myself another Panta. It’s a great knit and one I actually wear/use.

I have given away all 6 that I made previously. I will be making many more to use walking the kids to & from school. With the wind we get here my ears ache like crazy! It’s nice to be able to cover them without wearing a full hat.

I hope everyone’s weekend went well & your week is wonderful!