Judy’s Magic Cast On
The pattern for the Helical Striped Toe-Up sock calls for using Judy’s Magic Cast On, which has some issues that can be easily remedied.
Judy’s Not-So-Magic Cast On
There are two issues inherent with the original cast-on method named after Judy Becker in Knitty in 2006. The first is, the little bump in what should be a smooth seam at the top of the toe.
This image which I ganked from someone else exaggerates the bump, but the original method does have a less-than-perfectly-smooth seam at the top of the toe. It occurred to me that you could easily eliminate this by not using a slip knot to start the cast-on. Then I realized many other knitters had figured that out already. I thought you all should know if you didn’t already. In fact there are two ways of not doing a slip knot. I just lay the yarn over the top needle with the ball-end of the yarn between the two needles and hold it with my index finger before going into sling-shot position.
The other way is by twisting the yarn below the needle.
The second issue is that when you knit your first round after Judy’s magicalness, all but the first stitch on the second needle need to be knit to the back of the loop, else they’ll be twisted. This can be corrected too by how you load the stitches onto the top needle.
This is the best video I’ve seen that shows both corrections:
Amy Snell uses the twisted yarn method to replace the slip knot. This should really be the go-to video tutorial to do this technique.
I just figured that if I didn’t know about all this, others might not have either.
Current Knitting
Yesterday, I remembered why I decided not to document the Helical Striped Toe-Up Sock. I’m a bit worried that I will get a LOT of questions about the various technique that the sock calls for. I also always misunderestimate the amount of work it is to put together a pattern.
Fortunately, the four guys testing the pattern have helped get it into good shape.
I also realized I needed to create a companion tutorial video for each of the techniques I call for in the pattern. So I just put the finishing touches on that video yesterday.
I’m telling you all this to justify why I haven’t made very much progress knitting my current sock project.
It is coming along and I’m about 2/5ths my way up the cuff. Hopefully I’ll get it finished this weekend.
Justifications accepted with thanks!
Thank you for this, it is really help you. Appreciate you!
Joe, the complete (compleat?) Helical Sock video tutorial is excellent! I’m dutifully knitting up the foot with about 20 more rounds to get to the heel and all those w&t stitches. That’s when the colorful language will flow. Even though I’ve done a ton of short-row projects, I don’t use them for socks, so thank you for the line-by-line instructions in the new pattern. Looking at your current socks, I realize how boring my single-color contrast choice is. I’m going to change that to a gradient, pronto.
PS: You’re right; Ms. Snell’s wonderfully brief video is perfection. I’m bookmarking it for safekeeping. Thank you again, Maestro.
These socks, and the previous pair, are such fun.
Looking forward to the pattern/tutorial. Love doing helix hats & cowls but have never done socks.
You NEVER have to justify to us. We’re lucky you pop into our lives when you do.