A-ha! I borrowed the Mister's camera for a few minutes this evening . . . just long enough to take a few pictures of my toe up sock-in-progress. The yarn is Incognito, a wonderful sock yarn from my stash. 
I've been anxious about how it is coming along. It seems awfully pointy. Not that this should come as a big surprise. The pointiness of handknit socks generally makes me nervous. I've just finished the last of the increases to get to the appropriate number of stitches for my foot and it is just shy of 2.75" from the toe to the end of these increases. Is that too much? It seems long but it is hard to tell when I try it on....
As mentioned previously, we are using Ann Budd's toe-up tutorial in the Summer 2007 Interweave. I really like the tutorial. The instructions are clear, particularly the cast on instructions. I've had to do a bit of fiddling because the smallest gauge in the article is 8 stitches per inch and I'm getting 10 stitches per inch on my size 1 Susan Bates metal needles. I am very happy with the resulting fabric so I've adjusted the pattern rather than struggling for gauge.
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Like RC, I decided to ditch the M1 increases and I've gone with K1f&b increases. 
I am loving the results...both the look of the sock and the ease of using this technique. I tried the M1 increases. I really did. I had to start over at least 8 times because trying to manuever the M1s resulted in accidentally pulling the carefully balanced stitches off the needles. Do you remember that line from the movie Uncle Buck? "It angers a lot of people, just the sight of it." That's how I feel about the M1 increases. There was much foul language and questioning of Ann Budd's parentage (my most sincere apologies to Ann and her parents) and some throwing of knitting. Only the redeeming love of the K1f&b saved me.
I am loving the results...both the look of the sock and the ease of using this technique. I tried the M1 increases. I really did. I had to start over at least 8 times because trying to manuever the M1s resulted in accidentally pulling the carefully balanced stitches off the needles. Do you remember that line from the movie Uncle Buck? "It angers a lot of people, just the sight of it." That's how I feel about the M1 increases. There was much foul language and questioning of Ann Budd's parentage (my most sincere apologies to Ann and her parents) and some throwing of knitting. Only the redeeming love of the K1f&b saved me. As an aside, I am most seriously tempted by these KnitPicks sock needles as discussed in the Yarn Harlot's post from earlier today.
Sadly, the camera battery didn't make it to take pictures of the goodies from Joanie. It is charging now.
Today's Quote:
"We've all heard that we have to learn from our mistakes, but I think it's more important to learn from successes. If you learn only from your mistakes, you are inclined to learn only errors." - Norman Vincent Peale
8 comments:
Beautiful sock - the yarn is very handsome. I really should find my opal socks and do a few rows...
I see you've mastered the toe-up technique - now it's my turn! Lovely yarn, btw.
hhhmmm it does look a bit pointy, but since you just knit the foot part till the entire sock is 2" less that the length of your foot, then start the heel... I think it will work out fine...
plus the toe will stretch out once its on your foot...
Don't be afraid of the pointyness I'm sure it'll fit very nicely. Also, I don't blame you for abandoning the m1 increase. I swear they were invented by some self hating knitter that wanted us all to suffer.
Hi Kristy - I've read your blog since the Grandmother Purl blanket, but haven't ever commented (on any blog!). I knit toe up socks a lot, and FWIW I think the toe is too pointy. It looks like you started with about 8 sts or so; I think 12 would be much better. If you don't want to frog this toe yet, you could test a blunter toe with your second skein or the other end of this one, just to see if you like it better. Good luck either way!
Hi Diana! So glad you decided to comment!
I didn't have a way to respond so I thought I'd say here...the toe part is just over 1.25" wide. I cast on 16 stitches to start.
Since these socks are for me, I may well cast on more stitches for the second sock. I'm not too worried about precision. I am, after all, a process knitter.
That. Is. BEAUTIFUL!
Look at your gorgeous, perfect knitting over there! Toe-up, indeed!
Now it is you who is tempting me. Toe-up socks. Harumph!
The colour is really great! And the increases looks nice too. I've made toe-ups a couple of times, with a figure8-cast on, but have had 12 or 14 stitches on each needle-that is 22-28 in all. (That makes them not pointy at all!)
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