Hi everyone! Welcome to our first week of the Cobblestone Road Socks knit-along! I thought I’d take a moment to introduce myself, since we’ll be together for the next 5 weeks. I’m Chris from FuzzySheep Crafts. I’ve been a knitter for about 6 years now, having learned as a child and picking it back up to bide my time while living in a small town. I’m now using my talents knitting up product samples and testing patterns (in between the chaos my whirlwind 4- and 5-year-old kids create!). If you ask my husband what I do, he’ll say I collect yarn to look at, or I am trying to open a yarn store out of the basement. Enough about me! Let’s get started with this knit-along, shall we?
Week 1: What to Do this Week
By now you should have collected all the materials you’ll need to do these socks. The first thing we should do is do a quick read through of the pattern so we have an idea of what’s to come. The pattern is quite straight forward and easy to follow, right? There are a few “special stitches” in there, but we’ll get to those and work through them together, so don’t worry about them for now. Since we are knitting an item where measurements are important if you want to wear it – taking measurements is important. 🙂 In the video above, I have given some tips on measuring your foot for the best fit. Make sure to mark these numbers on your pattern, perhaps going through and highlighting the size you’ll be knitting up so you don’t get lost.
Be sure to work up a gauge swatch and adjust your tension/needle size as needed. I am a strong believer in the gauge swatch – so if you tell me “Hey Chris, my socks don’t fit! What gives!?” I am going to ask if you did your swatch first. If you didn’t, I might smack you with a wet noodle! Do your swatch, people! 🙂
So we’ve made our gauge swatch and we’ve made any changes needed there. We’ve measured our feet. Looks like we’re ready to get started on these socks!
This week we are focusing on the cuff/leg portion on the sock (rows 1-54). As you can see, it’s only knit and purl stitches, worked up in a simple K2, P2 repeat. Your choice of cast on is up to you. I suggest something stretchy, my favorite being the Long Tail Cast On (aka Continental Cast On, Double Cast On). This produces a clean, simple edge that’s stretchy and (I think) perfect for socks. The video about has a quick demonstration on this method, but there are tons of very thorough tutorials out there.
Well, it looks like we’re ready!
Ready… set… CAST ON!
Don’t Forget
In order to be eligible for the $50 prize Package from Galler Yarns ( this includes 4 skeins of Tweedy Pima yarn from Galler Yarns in the winner’s choice of color(s), and assorted knitting notions including a set of circular needles, a gauge ruler, and a set of stitch markers), make sure to share photos of your progress in the AllFreeKnitting Flickr group.
Knit-Along Schedule
So are you convinced you should join the knit-along yet? Here’s how it works: the knit-along starts today and runs for six weeks. Every Monday, we will post a new tutorial from Christina Hammond here on the blog so you can complete the next portion of the knit-along. Of course, you can always work at your own pace once the tutorials are posted. There’s no rush here; we are just having fun and learning together!
Week-by-Week Schedule:
Getting Ready, 6/4 – 6/10: Gathering Materials
Week One, 6/11- 6/17: Knitting the Cuff/Leg
Week Two, 6/18 – 6/24: Knitting the Heel/Foot
Week Three, 6/25 – 7/1: Knitting the Toes
Week Four, 7/2 – 7 /8: Finishing the Socks
Week Five, 7/9: Winner Announced!
How To Enter the Knit-Along Giveaway
- Post your project, finished or in progress, in the AllFreeKnitting Flickr group to be entered.
- Open to anyone 18+ in the U.S. or Canada.
- Photos must be posted by July 8, 2012, 11:59p EST.
Stay tuned for next week’s portion of the knit-along right here on the Stitch & Unwind blog.
How’s your sock coming along?
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