Knitting superpowers restored

When I sat down to knit this evening, I didn't have anything particular in mind. More than likely I'd end up knitting another dishcloth, but I thought I might as well cast on for a companion to the baby sock I knitted. Look what happened.

Super Quick Baby Sock

Yarn: Dark Horse Yarns-Fantasy (50% nylon, 50% acrylic; worsted weight)
Color: 31 (baby pink)
Needles: US 7 dpns
Stitches: 24

My knitting superpowers were dormant while I worked on the first one, but tonight they returned in full force as I whipped through a second sock in about three and a half hours while listening to/watching the Reds game on TV. (The team has been worth avoiding at all costs this season, but I was curious to check out their new phenom pitcher. It's pretty bad when that's the highlight for a baseball team in early June.) I didn't intend to knit the whole thing, but there you have it.

Everything I had problems with the first time made a lot more sense this time. The wrong side/right side dilemma was clearer, maybe because the WIP was below the needles. (I'm certain it was between me and the needles previously. This is why I wondered if I needed to turn it inside out.) The heel flap knitted easily, as did the turn.

The chain selvage wasn't as loose, and I realized that I needed to pick up stitches as close to the instep as possible to avoid holes. There are a couple dodgy looking areas, and where I ssk I leave "ears", as a book calls them. Overall, though, I'm thrilled with how this sock turned out. I could feel comfortable giving it as a gift to my friends who had their baby girl on Wednesday. I suppose that means I have to do another one.

Here are photos for the sake of comparison.


Miraculously, the socks are the same size. I counted the number of rounds for the foot this time, so I know how many to knit rather than going by a measurement.

Although it doesn't pertain to this project, I found--or, rather, I didn't find--an answer for my question if there was an equivalent bind off for the long-tail cast on. I haven't located any. I meant to include that bit with yesterday's post for the dishcloth I started with the long tail.

So sock knitters, I'm less likely to abandon your precious footwear now that I feel a lot more confident in my ability to make them. It's time for socks for me, but I need the right yarn first.