This is my first pair of socks. I am actually using a couple different tutorials to make these (I need all the help I can get!):

• The Very Pink Knits magic loop videos, because I definitely wanted to use circular needles for these. You can use these videos to knit any top-down sock pattern.

• I am also following the Follow the Basic Topdown Sock Pattern on dummies.com. This pattern gives me a nice formula to adjust the gauge as needed, as well as the sock size. I did a gauge swatch and went from there and it seems to be working out nicely.

• Finally, if I can manage it, I would love for these to be tabi socks. If I am not completely insane and over it by the time I am shaping the toes, I will attempt to use Camy Tang’s tabi sock pattern to do the toes.

04.06.14 I almost finished one sock — all the way through knitting the big toe tabi-style — then frogged it and now am starting over. I realized I wanted to alter the pattern a bit. I wanted a longer cuff and I wanted to do a slightly different gusset style. I also added some more cast-on stitches to the piece. I have wider feet and the sock was stretching a little more than I liked. So I am now working on the cuff again and making good progress!

04.18.14 Making good progress with the re-do of the first sock. I am working now on the foot of the sock, having done the cuff, heel, heel turn and gusset. I learned from Very Pink Knits how to knit more quickly through an economy of movement with each stitch and my knitting speed has increased dramatically!

04.27.14 I finished the first sock. I had a lot of problems with holes around the split between the big toe and the section for the other toes. Apparently this is common in mittens and gloves, too. I have never done this sort of project before, so it was all new to me.

I wound up using the crossed stitch technique to avoid these holes. I crossed a stitch on either side of the split when doing both sections for the toes and it seems to have solved the problem. The look of it is messy, but that is because of my own lack of experience. Some thought has to be put into which way the crossed stitches go to give a uniform appearance. I tried to think logically about it, but couldn’t visualize it well enough. I’ll figure it out eventually — I plan to knit several pairs of tabi socks for myself, since I love them so much.

I found I wanted the toe shaping to be a little more nuanced, so I referred to this adaptation of Camy’s pattern from Men Who Knit.

The same day I finished the first one, I cast on the second sock. I do not want to get Second Sock Syndrome!

05.04.14 I am about 98% done with the second sock, just need to do a few more decrease rows and then kitchener the rest closed. Obviously it was much easier to work the second sock — I only got tripped up a little bit with the gusset because I wasn’t paying close enough attention to my work.

My next pair I think I might try toe-up tabi socks — and I may even try doing two at a time. I like the idea of being able to use every last drop of yarn. I am also liking the idea of making fussy adjustments to both socks together, rather than taking meticulous notes for sock #2 when it’s knitted days or weeks later.