Ep. 4: a new cast on (my first garment project), my sock knitting journey, a fingerless mitt attempt 

I have tried magic loop on a pair of mittens. I think I prefer DPNs instead. I am not a beginner, but not an expert either. Every step of the way I learn ways to prevent or improve things like laddering. I am currently on a roll with sock knitting. I have crocheted for years, but only been knitting for about 5. So I have no problem frogging something that isn't working and starting over. It's how we learn. I think you are really showing a lot of promise with your knitting. I didn't work up to mittens or socks for a while when I first began. I haven't tried Regia but I really like the looks of the yarn you are using for the socks. So far my favorite sock yarns are Red Heart heart & sole with Aloe, Premier Serenity Sock yarn , and Lion Brand Sock Ease. They currently are not in production, but I buy them from sellers on Ebay. I try to keep cost to about $12.00 or less for socks. Patons Kroy is good too, but it's a little on the thicker side compared to Regia or some other yarns. Right now my fave is the Red Heart sock yarn. Odd because I normally avoid most Red Heart yarn. It is 75% wool like the Regia yarn but it feels nice. I suppose it's the Aloe. I reallly hope they bring it back and with the aloe. While I have used Premier sock yarn, I haven't tried the current one being sold. But I may try that next.

Hi Renee! I've really enjoyed your enthusiasm and the joy you radiate when you learn new things! I hope that stays with you always. I like Staci from Very Pink Knits for great tutorials..i just Google a technique and add very pink knits to the search . Roxanne Richardson and Susan B Anderson are also all very good. I'll add a link to Kelly from Alpaca Direct doing a 3 minute magic loop tutorial. I can't remember where i saw it but what mostly fixed the ladders for me was the concept of squeezing the two sides of the sock tight to each other then touching the needle to the cable on the stitch behind and snug them up. I was also thinking that when i started in the round knitting i used 2 circulars. I think whatever you can do that you feel comfortable with and get the results you want is the best. You can learn as you go which you are really doing! I recommemd Knit Picks sock yarns. Really nice yarn and good value. DK weight socks are easier to do for learning. Kate Atherly has an easy DK sock pattern My first thumb gusset in a mitten and first socks I followed the pattern with no idea what I was doing. The more you knit the more it starts to make sense. Oh and I still go back later and sew up spots that are not to my liking. Remember it's your knitting you can do what you want with it. Don't be intimidated! Read Elizabeth Zimmerman 's Knitting Without Tears. Keep knitting and enjoying your journey! MaryEllen in NJ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oOxFSQNUDdE.htmlsi=KEOsPCHcBE-HCwha

Hello again! I’m watching your past videos and have left a few comments that were pertinent to the subjects you talked about. I’m glad you’ve tried the magic loop, and laddering is a common problem. I try to tighten up the first stitch on each needle and don’t have too much problem with it. I also just discovered Prym plastic needles that have a thinner, more flexible wire that isn’t as stiff when you do the needle switch. I had to order them, I think, from Amazon since the size 2, 32-inch ones are kind of hard to find. Also, concerning sock yarn, I’ve made many many socks and find that after washing and drying them, that scratchy feeling goes away and they end up very soft.

Just a helpful tip for you, you may want to get a crochet hook in the size of the knitting needles you are using to help pick up dropped stitches when you spot it. There are videos on how to do this, but me being a crocheter first, figured it out when I first started knitting. I still occasionally have a dropped stitch. Check your work every few rows so you don't have go back to far to pick up a dropped stitch. A crochet hook makes it so much easier to fix in my opinion.

Just do this podcast your way! There are no podcast police that are going to come after you for not following everyone else's format! Be yourself. I have used magic loop, DPN's, 9"circulars and a three needle style that mimics magic loop. I prefer magic loop. Wish I had advice on the laddering. Also KnitPicks has Stroll, which is an affordable sock yarn, even if you have to buy 1 skein per sock. Practice, practice practice. That's how you conquer knitting problems.

Hi Renee- not sure if anyone has suggested this for your fingerless mitts……if you don’t care about the thumb gusset, you could just cast on the number of stitches in the pattern, knit flat and then sew up the side, leaving an opening for your thumb. Also for sock yarn- Knit picks has lots of sock yarn at a reasonable price.

Wow, I'm always super impressed when people are willing to go for the garment knitting this early in their knitting careers. :D Laddering is super annoying but super natural especially in the beginning when you start knitting in the round. I don't know what kind of tactics you have tried but my method is keeping the end of round super close to the beginning of the new round when starting it with my middle, ring, and picky fingers for 4 to 5 stitches. One other less known technique is this ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rDR8RB1Skag.html . Also maybe washing your garments could help with the laddering? And as someone who uses Magic loop almost all of the time, it's so much easier when you use longer cables! I don't know if there are fingerless mitts knitted flat but you could try to find normal mittens knitted in flat and just stop knitting earlier than what the instructions say?