year of the sock

I've been wanting for the last 2 years to fill a drawer up with hand knit socks. Every year I make plans to knit a year of socks. But in the past, I've always had other knits on my list or shop inventory to make, that sock knitting always fell to the bottom of the pile.

This year, I really wanted to learn how to start socks from the toe rather than the cuff. After-all, isn't learning something new what keeps us all creative? So last night, after watching a series of YouTube videos and reading up on various toe-up cast on methods; I started my first toe-up sock!

OK, so for those of you who are not knitters and you're reading this blog, it will get rather technical from here, as I wanted to detail my learning experience.

After starting and ripping back a number of different methods (I think I tried them all), I can say that my preferred method is Judy's magic cast on for toe-up socks. That said, since do not knit with magic loop yet, I chose to cast on with double points instead.

I know some of you who've had experience knitting magic loop or already knit toe-up socks will say that is crazy. I know because I searched for all of the ways you could knit toe-up socks and using double points was the least popular. Even this woman, who's video I watched said with good humour "Good luck to you if you try with double points." But it was actually easier than I was expecting, and now I think I might be converted. I absolutely love the finished effect of the toe and no seaming is genius.

So now that I've started this, hopefully it will mean I will accomplish my goal to have a drawer full of hand knit socks before the year is over!

Because there are so many different ways to make a pair of socks, I'm rather curious to know how everyone else does it. Do you knit socks? If so, what's your go-to cast on method?

Happy knitting, friends.

xo