Loopy for Magic Loop

Julie and I were the only knitters knitting at Au Bon Pain yesterday. We usually have 4 or 5 in our group. Its always an enjoyable time and a great break at mid-day!

I've been working on a sock made from Lana Grossa Meilenweit Tweed in a sort of oatmeal colorway (pictures later) and I'm doing it using the Magic Loop method. This utilizes a 40" circular needle instead of 4 or 5 dpns and its soooooo easy and portable. Another advanatge to this method is that you can try the sock on while its still on the needles...you just slide it over to the cable and put the dang thing on to see how its shaping up! I started on the heel flap on Friday night and turned the heel and did the gussets over the weekend. WAY easier than dpns. I'm using the instructions in the Sensational Knitted Socks (by Charlene Schurch) and following the "2 circulars" sections. I just think of one side as "needle 1" and the other as "needle 2" - it works quite well.

I also did a gauge swatch "in pattern" for a lacy shell I'm going to be knitting for Chris' sister for her birthday in April. The pattern calls for U.S. size 2 and 3 circulars. I tried those...but could not get the right number of stitches with them so I ripped it and tried sizes 3 and 4. These worked out perfectly! So the lesson is - no matter how much we don't want to do it - Take the Time and Knit the Gauge Swatch, it will save you heartache in the end.