socks - achievement unlocked! (sort of...)

[ariandar]

Hey all, you might remember that several weeks ago, I was frustrated with trying to use DPNs with my funky hand issues.Well, I took all your suggestions and worked on it and worked on it... and then I was busy driving to and from Houston to see various specialists at MD Anderson for a while... but I had gotten a little further on using DPNs before just putting it all in a shoe box and telling myself I could look at it again later when I wasn't so distracted.  ANYWAY, I decided to try the 2 circular needles method, and went ahead and purchased the needles and then studied some Youtube videos and OMG it's all come together!! I've successfully done the cuff of this Lion Brand Yarn pattern!

Now... I'm onto the leg portion and it says to "work in St st until piece measures 6in from beg." Which is fine, I get that. Except, it just says "work" and doesn't specify if I'm to knit or purl. And so I started to knit stitch, but now it looks like the right side of the sock is *inside* the needles, like it's being built inside-out.  Is that right? Or was I supposed to start purling the whole leg part? I've only done 2 rounds, so it's not a big deal to rip it back, but since I've never watched this sock in progress, it feels like it's wrong.

Any insights? I am having surgery on my spine again on the 20th and it looks like they might have to sever an important nerve to really get the cancer out, but I wanted to have this going so I can keep working my hands. Doc says "use it or lose it."

Thanks bunches!

Comments

[yamx]

You know, it's really a matter of taste. The side you're looking it is the sidethat will later be the outside of the sock. I usually knit my socks, but if you prefer the look of purled, there's no reason not to purl it. Heck, you could even knit it, then turn the whole thing inside out and use the inside as your outside. (Well, that actually depends on what kind of heel you're using--not all of them are reversible.

Anyway: knit sock, purled sock, ribbed sock, garter stitch sock--all possible, and all completely valid choices. Go with whatever *you* like best. :)

[scheherezhad]

It sounds like you're working off the needles from the back of the piece, which will cause the right side to fall to inside of the work. Like yamx said, you can continue like this and just turn the sock right side out when it's finished or when you try it on.

To get it going right side out, you can do a couple of things. One would be to swap the stitches so that you're purling where it tells you to knit and knitting where it tells you to purl. You'd have to rip back those couple of rows this way, of course.

The other way would be to just push what you've got right side out and make sure you work off the side that is closest to your body. You won't have to rip back, this way. Here's a picture that shows what I mean (surprisingly difficult to find, btw--no one seems to have pics taken while they're holding circular knitting as to work it):

[ariandar]

OH!!! Oh my goddess you've saved me, and you are right, I've been working on the needle that's furthest from my body. I don't even know why I was doing it that way! Thank you thank you thank you!

[scheherezhad]

No problem. As soon as I read the post, I was pretty certain I knew what was happening because I did the same thing when I first tried knitting in the round. :)

[pebblerocker]

Hah! I taught myself the same way. When the sock started coming out inside out I just thought, well, you sew things inside out so maybe knitting's the same. Now I'll try to re-learn how to hold the needles...

[sciarra]

I'm not much knitting help, but I've read some of your journal entries, and I think you are handling your illness with so much grace. I will be thinking strong, good thoughts for you on the 20th.

[ariandar]

:) Thank you, that means a lot.

[zinelady]

I'm glad the 2 circular needles are working for you. I love knitting socks with them.

You may need to go back the the DPN when you do the toes and they get smaller and smaller.