I was encouraged by Ginny's post last week to pick up this classic book at our little library last week. It is a great read so far. A book about a working poor family in Brooklyn... so interesting to compare and contrast with today's concepts of "poor" and also the idea of hope.
I have read another of Betty Smith's novels which I really enjoyed as well - Joy in the Morning.
At Melanie's recommendation (thanks Melanie!) I am following the free pattern for simple socks knit on four double pointed needles from lionbrand.com. It is exciting to think about not have to sew up seams. I am stuck though.... I am at the turning the heel point and have the correct number of stitches for the heel on one needle and understand about going back and forth but there is a stitch I have not been able to understand - is is Wrap and Turn. Can anyone explain this?
I look forward to visiting the other knitting and reading posts today hosted at Small Things.
(no baby yet....)
Warm wishes,
Tonya
That book sounds very interesting...I will have to see if my library has it.
ReplyDeleteI'm eagerly awaiting news of your little one's arrival, Tonya...every day when I get on the computer I wonder if there will be a post from you, or if you are otherwise engaged! :)
"Wrap and turn" is a short-row technique. It's kind of hard to describe in writing- I think there is a video describing it at knittinghelp.com. Not that you want to rip back your lovely sock, but I find heel flaps to be an easier technique. Might be something for you to try for your next pair of socks! :)
ReplyDeleteTonya,
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you..making a sock on dpn's. Please share the pattern you are using....I agree I don't like sewing up seams either.
Praying for you and your baby....
~~Renee
A Knitters Notebook
Lovely colours in your sock - so those toes will be cozy and smartly attired. Sorry can't help with the instruction, hope you get assistance soon.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the book.
Try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=essddfW7Ud8
ReplyDeleteI've been doing it this way for 10+ years and my heels hold up great!
HI Tonya,
ReplyDeleteW&T is easy and better learned by observation:-) Here's a youtbube video on it--goood luck!
Blessings,
Suzanne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4GxFvi4KD0
For Wrap and Turn: The turn part just means to flip your work over (or turn it over) so that you can continue the next row in the opposite direction. The wrap is just to put your yarn on the side of the needle it will need to be on to continue the next row.
ReplyDeleteThere are great videos on youtube showing the wrap and turn. It's easier than it sounds once you can see it done. I never really bother with picking up the wrapped stitches at the end.
ReplyDeleteSeamless socks are fantastic! Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI prefer doing the heel flap method. I've only done the W&T method once (and it was backwards) and I never understood the science of what I was doing or trying to achieve. To this day that still frustrates me. I think I'll have to go back and do it again to see if I can better understand W&T. I don't want to go to the grave with a knitting term not understood to me. ;) heehe!! :)
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Mary
http://lundkids.blogspot.com
Those socks look lovely and toasty. You are braver than I. ;)
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen the two movies? I LOVE "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and I saw "Joy in the Morning" back in the late '60's - and fell in love with Richard Chamberlain who played the lead - he sang! I had the album for so long and then it got "lost" - my life stood still until I was able to move forward without it (LOL)...
ReplyDeleteshort rows are easy to do!
ReplyDeletewhen you get to the point in the instructions where it asks you to wrap and turn you want to bring your yarn forward (purl position)slip the next stitch purlwise to the right hand needle, bring yarn to back of work. return the slipped st on the right-hand needle to the left- hand needle purlwise, turn ready to work the next row leaving the remaining sts unworked.
when you come back to the wrapped st you'll want to work it tog as follows: insert the right hand needle into the wrap, from below, then into the wrapped st, k2tog.
i hope this helps, you'll recognise the wrap when you come to it as it will have a bar across the knit st. best of luck, your socks look lovely!
Dear Tonya
ReplyDeleteI know you are waiting eagerly for your little one. I hope you are resting and putting up your feet. I suppose you are laughing and saying 'What!' rest....no way! Aaron came 14 days over his due date and I thought he never wanted to meet me!
I love to see your children around your farm. Picking and cooking apples. I really want to get the Amish novel you have..Happy knitting~
A happy day to you Tonya
Lots of love
Suzanne
XXX
i forgot to say i love that book, when my daughter moved to nyc (brooklyn) a year ago i immediatly read a tree grows in brooklyn, it gives such a sense of place. a beautiful story.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite method of turning the heel is to do a yarn over then turn and knit back. There is a free pattern on Knitting Daily called 'better than bootees' that illustrates the method :) But it is essentially the same as wrap and turn- which literally means wrapping your yarn around the next stitch then turning- the videos show it better ;)
ReplyDeletesounds like you got a lot of help with the wrap and turn...once you try it, you'll get the hang of it. Love the yarn you're using for your socks...they will keep your toes toasty this winter.
ReplyDeleteI've done plenty of sock knitting, but I'm not very good at explaining that technique. It took me several patterns to really feel comfortable at socks. I love that yarn though. :)
ReplyDeleteYou many not have a baby yet...but your sock is mighty impressive...I will keep checking in hopes of good news soon! Love the colors and pattern of your yarn!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Hey there! I began knitting socks with the w&t method and was always frustrated at the giant holes the short rows created. The heel flap is so much easier imo. Tonya, if you still need help I'll be glad to walk you through it, just let me know which pattern you're using:)
ReplyDeleteI've wanted to read that book for some time. thanks for reminding me!
ReplyDeleteOk Tonya, I know you don't have high speed internet so I will explain W&T. Once you've done this I think it is so much easier than heal flaps...
ReplyDeleteSo when you get to the place where it says W&T (assuming a knit side) bring yarn to the front, slip the next stitch from L needle to right needle as if to purl, then put your yarn BACK in the back and slip the slipped stitch BACK to the L needle now turn.
On the purl side it's just the opposite. Bring the yarn to the back, slip the stitch from L to R as if to purl, Yarn back to the front and slip the stitch back, turn.
I hope that helps, like I said it's super simple once you get the hang of it.
How are you feeling? It must be getting close!
I love Betty Smith...My mother in law and her sisters gave me that book for Christmas the first year I was dating my husband (welcome to the sisterhood gift...it was very sweet.) Socks are so much fun yet tricky...I had a wonderful boot sock pattern that knits quickly and has annotations so that you know each step...http://www.freshstitches.com/wordpress/?p=2121 I love my pair! and it only took me 2 days to make (slow knitter)
ReplyDeleteBest wishes on your seamless socks.
ReplyDeleteI loved that book!
ReplyDelete(Sock is looking great and it looks like you have the info you need to master the heel.)
You can youtube videos that will show you how to wrap and turn. It is a little more involved than I thought and watching the videos helps.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are enjoying A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, it is one of my all time favorites.xx
Don't you just love self patterning yarn? So much fun to see what is happening, keeps the project exciting.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Shara, it looks like you have all the info you need. In fact I think I just may have to check a couple of the links... You can always glean something new.
It seems you are going to accomplish much waiting for this baby...! :)
Blessings, Debbie
Nice memories from your reading selection this month. I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn when I was a girl.
ReplyDeleteI swear by the knitwitch tutorials on youtube. Stephanie Purl McPhee's basic sock pattern is also very easy to follow, easy to vary by adding patterns in between the heal and top ribbing.
did you get my post about W&T???
ReplyDelete