Center of Attention – Part 1

coa13

A Summer Rerun of Knit Along #1

Welcome to a repeat of the very first Knit Purl Hunter knit along!  Your beautiful turquoise yarn is waiting for you to work some magic.  The yarn has already done good work since $10 of each skein was denoted by Skacel to the Marsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research.

Is this your first KAL with us?  Here is all the pertinent information:

  • A portion of the pattern is revealed here every Thursday in July.  The complete pattern, video resources and lots of helpful tips are included in each post.  An abbreviated, pattern-only version is included to download.
  • All techniques are supported with video instruction at knitpurlhunter.com
  • All questions and comments are monitored daily both here and in the Knit Purl Hunter group on Ravelry.  It’s like having your own private knitting tutor!
  • Completed projects are eligible for the monthly prize drawing – first prize is a set of addi Clicks!  See skacelknitting.com for all the info.

Center of Attention is a toe up sock that features some awesome cables.  Are you new to toe up socks?  Give them a try and find out why many sock knitters prefer this method.  Watch my video, Judy’s Magic Cast On (Starting Toe Up Socks), to see what all the fuss is about.  I know you are going to be hooked, so make it your summer project to kick your socks up a notch!

The original KAL had no references to knitting the socks two at a time (2aat).  If you would like to prevent the dreaded second sock syndrome,  I have videos to guide you every step of the way to knit both Center of Attention socks at once.  Watch my Two at a Time – Toe Up Socks Video to get started.  I prefer to knit 2aat on a 40″ circular needle using the Magic Loop method while some knitters enjoy the process using two 24″ needles.

scale

Before knitting 2aat, the 100g skein must be separated into two 50g balls.  I use a digital food scale to guide me.  Simply place the full skein on the scale and wind off yarn until the scale registers half of the weight.  Don’t fret if your skein weighs less than 100g prior to dividing.  Yarn weights vary with humidity and temperature and are only meant to be an approximation.  The yardage on every skein is an accurate measurement and is consistent with each skein.  If you don’t have access to a scale just estimate as best you can as there is plenty of yardage in the skein to make two socks.

Whether you are knitting one or two toes this week, you can look forward to sock addiction!

  • Trekking XXL – 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – 459 yards/100g (one skein).  Sample knit in Color “Susanne”.
  • Size 1 (2.5mm) needles or size necessary to achieve desired gauge.  Pattern may be knit with double points, two 24″ circular needles, one 32″ or 40″ needle for magic loop method.  See Magic Loop Video
  • Cable needle

8 stitches per inch in stockinette.

Women’s medium (directions for large in parentheses when necessary).

Medium leg circumference measures 7 ½” unstretched.

Large leg circumference measures 8” unstretched.

Size may also be adjusted by altering needle size.

KPHtemplate_instructions

Part One

Click here to download printable version

kfb – knit into front and back of stitch.  See Kfb Video

 

Cast On

See Judy’s Magic Cast On Video

Using two needles, cast on 24 stitches using Judy’s magic cast on with 12 stitches on each needle.

Securing tail, knit first 12 stitches.

Knit second 12 stitches through the back loop.

 

Toe Increases

If using Magic Loop or two circular needle knitting method, increases (kfb) are made at the beginning and end of each needle as follows:

Round 1.  On 1st needle, kfb, knit to last stitch on needle, kfb;  On 2nd needle, kfb, knit to last stitch on needle, kfb.

Round 2.  Knit all stitches.

If using double points, arrange stitches evenly with 6 stitches on 4 needles.  Increases (kfb) are made as follows:

Round 1.  Kfb, knit to last stitch on 2nd needle, kfb, kfb into 1st stitch on 3rd needle, knit to last stitch on 4th needle, kfb.

Round 2.  Knit all stitches.

All needle types:  Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until toe reaches 64(72) stitches.

STOP!

I promise an amazing cable to keep you busy next week.

Happy knitting!