Falling Down MKAL - Week 1 - Casting On, Cuff and Start of Leg

Ok - lemme just start out by saying I'm SO FREAKIN' EXCITED to be knitting with you all again! I feel like it's been AGES since we did the Turn It Up To 11 MKAL and I've missed the interactions. I hope you are all as excited as I am to get to these socks which will, with any luck, be your new favorite fall socks.

First and foremost - didja get your pattern? If not, go get it here:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/falling-down-sock

OK, now that THAT's outta the way, let's talk about one sock vs. two. Well, I mean by the time you're done you're gonna have two socks. Its not like I tell you to make one and than vamoose, right? Right! It's more a question of whether your'e going to knit 1aat (one at a time) or 2aat (two at a time). 

If you joined us for the Turn It Up to 11 MKAL where we learned all about how to knit 2aat, toe-up socks then you're probably like me and kind of addicted to 2aat so you don't end up with second sock syndrome. In this MKAL, we're gonna have info for both: 1aat and 2aat socks. 

Small, eensy weensy caveat for 2aat addicts: 2aat top-down socks ROCK! But fair warning, the heel is a bit fussy. Nothing that can't be managed, especially by all you sock-knitting gurus, but there will be some fiddly bits. The rest is easy as pie! So don't let that discourage you - I just believe in transparency of what we're embarking on. 

With that caveat out of the way, I'll be knitting my socks two at a time cuz Mama likes a challenge!

So let's get down to it. First step, obvi, is winding up your skein of yarn into a cake (or a ball for those of you with the patience to do it by hand rather than a winder). Here's a shameless sharing of a corner of my craft room since I like pictures in blog posts and so far we're picture-less:

I need some color on these walls, eh?!

**NOTE** 

If you have NOT yet done your gauge swatch, don't split the yarn yet. Knit from one ball before splitting the skein.

ALSO!
If you are choosing to knit your socks 1aat, please don't split your skein. 

You'll be SO mad at me (and yourself) if you do!

Now to split this sucker once it's wound. Using a scale, set to 'grams' if possible, find out how much your wound skein weighs. If you've done your gauge swatch like good little sock knitters, you'll likely have between 95 and 97 grams left. I have the distinct advantage of having had used this yarn a bajillion times before so I know my gauge so I don't have to do a gauge swatch so I still have a whole skein left (and then some apparently). 

Pretty easy math follows - 103g divided by two balls is 51.5g per ball. Obviously I'm not going to get half a gram so I'm going to have one ball that is 52 grams and one ball that is 51 grams.  THE HORROR!

Next you'll wanna keep your original ball on the scale and start winding directly from the scale onto the winder (or a new ball if you're doing it by hand). 

Once the ball on the scale gets down to half of the original weight of the wound skein, cut the yarn. I always re-wind the second ball since the original gets all wonky and loosey goosey on me but that's my OCD talking.

You now have two balls of yarn (or 1 if you're going that way). Grab your needle and let's cast these babies on!

IF you are working 1aat, you're going to cast-on your multiple of 8 sts according to your gauge. If you're not sure how to get gauge, or how to measure for your own gauge, see pages 4-7 of this weeks' clue. I've got detailed How-To instructions from a previous MKAL. 

IF you are working 2aat, you get to have some casting-on FUN! I've included a link to a video tutorial by the esteemed Knit Purl Hunter if the following photos don't make sense. Basically you'll cast on the first half of the first sock with Ball 1. Then you'll cast on ALL the sts for the second sock with Ball 2. And then you'll cast on the second half of the sts for your first sock with Ball 1. 

Clear as mud, right? OK, photo tutorial time. 

Using Ball 1 and using the long-tail cast-on method (or your preferred stretchy cast on), cast on the first half of your sts for sock 1. In my case, because I'm knitting over 56 sts, I'll be casting on 28 sts. 

In life, a little yarn barf must happen *grumble grumble*

Next, using Ball 2, I'm going to cast on the entire number of sts for my second sock. So, in my case I'll be casting on 56 sts adjacent to the first 28 sts I already cast on, but using the OTHER ball. 

LOL - OMG - do you just LOVE my giant, dodgy-looking pixelated parentheses? I'm not even close to a graphic person... sorry 'bout that. 

Here's where we divide this second set of sts, the 56 sts, in half and fold our needle in half, adjusting the sts around so that we can knit in the round. You'll see in this photo below that there are 28 sts from the First sts cast on at the end of the needle, next to that are 28 sts of the Middle sts cast on, then we've folded the needle and we have the remaining 28 Middle sts cast on, on the "other" needle (same needle in the long run, just the other end of the cable). 

Lastly, we cast on the remaining 28 sts for sock 1, using Ball 1. This can be a bit fidgety as the needle with the first sts on it tends to want to get in the way, but as long as the first st cast on is nice and snug you shouldn't have any gaping. 

Et voila! You now have all the sts needed to begin your sock. No increasing, no decreasing. Just start working your cuff and leg per the pattern you downloaded this morning and you're off to the races! Well, sorta... sock knitting isn't a fast thing, is it?

Maybe not, but dude, it's SO worth it!

Thanks for checking in for week 1. I am SO pumped to start knitting my cuff and leg. I can't wait to see how yours all knit up so please, please PRETTY please, share photos with me. 

How, you ask?

Join our group on Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/the-unapologetic-knitter

Tag me on Instagram: http://instagram.com/socalmeaghan and use #fallingdownmkal, #unapologeticknitter and/or #tuksockmkal

And by all means, if you have questions, email me at meaghan@unapologeticknitter.com or message me on Rav (http://www.ravelry.com/people/SoCalMeaghan), leave a comment here, or leave questions in the Discussion board for the MKAL on Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/the-unapologetic-knitter/3013583/1-25#23). 

**NOTE**

There have been issues with me seeing questions on Ravelry in the past because, despite me being the owner of the discussion board, I don't get notified when people comment; I'm only notified if I'm tagged. So,  if it's urgent, please be sure to ear burn me. 

To do this enter my username in square brackets and follow it by tying the word "person" in parenthesis: 

[socalmeaghan](person)

Lastly, a friendly reminder about our prizes. To be entered to win one of our fabulous prizes, please submit your photos to me via email, Instagram (being sure to tag @socalmeaghan) or in our Ravelry MKAL discussion NO LATER than 11:59pm PST on Thursday, October 30th.

Happy Knitting!!!

Falling Down MKAL - Get Yer Kits!

You can get your kits for our MKAL right here:

http://unapologeticknitter.storenvy.com/

The kits will ship on Thursday, September 18th and we will cast on together on Thursday, September 25th. 

Final MKAL Details:

• The pattern will be available for download on Thursday, September 25th. Each kit will include a download code. Otherwise the pattern will be available for $5 in my Ravelry Store. 
• You do NOT need a kit to participate, but they are fabulous colorways so it'd be fun to have one (plus they come with a little treat to make you smile). 
• The MKAL will have detailed instructions on how to knit socks from the cuff down, two at a time (or one at a time, depending on your preference).
• Each new clue will be released on Thursdays: the first week, of course, being September 25th, then October 2nd, and 9th. 
• The KAL final submission date to win prizes will be Thursday, October 30th so you'll have new socks to wear on Halloween!
• Whether or not you're not going to use a kit, here's what' you'll need:
• 1 skein of sock-weight yarn, approximately 400 yds, 
• US size 2 (2.75mm) needle(s), or your preferred size 
• If you're doing the Magic Loop method, I recommend a 32" circular for 1 sock at a time, and a 40" circular for two at a time socks.
• Gauge: 30 sts & 42 rows 4" in stockinette (or your gauge to fit your foot in a multiple of 8 sts)
• At least 4 stitch markers (8 if you're not going to use the Magic Loop method which is perfectly acceptable),
• A sense of adventure and...
• A sense of humor. 

I think that's enough to go on. Go get your kits! I can't wait to knit along with you again!

Happy knitting!

Falling Down - MKAL - Kit Sneak Peak

Hello my knitting lovelies and Happy Friday! These short weeks after a long-weekend always surprise me when the next weekend shows up so quickly. This week has flown by but that means we're just that much closer to the start of the MKAL and I am so excited!

And guess what?

Black Market Wool (we'll call her Rijel) sent me over pictures of the yarn samples, since I don't have them in my hands yet, and they're delicious! Fall colors just waiting to be put on your feeties! So without further ado, allow me to introduce our fall line up:

Acer Aces

A warm reddish-brown that reminds me of the Maple trees back home (up in Canada).

Golden Ash

A throwback to my time as a Landscape Architectural Technologist - this makes me think of all those boulevard trees that I counted, categorizes and dreamed about!

Mighty Poplar

One of the first trees to leaf-out in the spring, and one of the first to turn a golden yellow to indicate that summer was over and winter was on its way!

Monstera deliciosa

Now that I live in Southern California I have greenery all year and this colorway is perfect match to a tropical plant in my backyard. 

These beauties are up for sale through Storenvy on Tuesday, September 16th at 9am PST (a link will be hosted here on the website for direct access) and will come all wrapped up with a bow (or at least tissue paper) ready for you to knit your way to happiness (and warmer toes). 

Happy Knitting! 

Falling Down - Mystery Sock KAL - Coming Soon!!!

**NOTE: I've updated the sale information for the kits. Please see below in RED**

Oh man - what a SUMMER it has been?! I hope you've all had lots of time to knit outdoors and enjoy the sun. Goodness knows my fingers have been busy making all sorts of things, some of them secret, some of them not.

As promised after our last MKAL this spring, it's time to do a new MKAL to get us rolling into the fall and (gulp... dare I say it) winter season. I had so much fun knitting with you all this spring and was amazed to see not only how many of you lovelies finished, but how many first time sock knitters we had on board. I was honored to have you knit along with me and can't wait to start again. This time I expect less hiccups with a) the charting size and readability (thank you to all who were able to give me feedback) and b) with errors in the chart itself. I've had a lot more time to prepare for this knit along and hope it will be a smooth and fun process for everyone. Yay - you're no longer "guinea pigs".

*QUICK SIDE NOTE* The sweater KAL did get more votes in the grand scheme of things. Your opinion matters to me and I want to honor that choice so we WILL do a sweater Knit Along. I had hoped to do it this fall but life got CRAZY busy so we're now going to do the sweater KAL in January so keep your eyes peeled. 

If you participated last time, you'll be familiar with how the pattern is disbursed and how kits are sold, but if not, here's the deets:

WHEN: 

• Kits go on sale on Tuesday, September 16th at 9am PST. I will be hosting the sales of the kit on my new storefront on Storenvy. A link will be posted on this blog to the store on the morning of the 16th. We will host the sales through this website (unapologeticknitter.com) and I'll announce on Ravelry in the Unapologetic Knitter group and on Instagram when the sale goes live.
• *Note: you do NOT need a kit to participate in the KAL, just the stuffs listed below and the pattern which will be available on Ravelry. 
• There are 15 kits and they are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. More details on this below in the "How" section.
• The Kits will ship on Thursday, September 18th to all those who get one so that you have them in time for our start date.
• The pattern will go live at 9am PST on Thursday, September 25th at which point we can cast on and start the first clue.
• The second weeks' clue will be sent to you on Thursday, October 2nd and the third and final weeks' clue will be sent out on Thursday, October 9th. 

WHAT: 

• We're going to knit top-down socks! And they will rock! 
• You're going to need: 
• 1 skein of sock-weight yarn, approximately 400 yds, 
• US size 2 (2.75mm) needle(s), or your preferred size,
• At least 2 stitch markers (4 if you're not going to use the Magic Loop method which is perfectly acceptable),
• A sense of adventure and...
• A sense of humor. 
• If you get a kit, it will include 1 skein of a custom colorway by Black Market Wool and a download code for the pattern on Ravelry. The kit will entitle the buyer to 20% off the pattern (which is included in the cost of the kit). 
• The kits will sell for $25 plus $4 shipping (shipping outside of the U.S. *may* be subject to a higher rate for shipping but I try to ship as cost effectively as possible so I'll try to keep it as low as I can). A tracking number will be emailed to everyone who has a kit.  
• I'm NOT going to include stitch markers in the kit like last time because, honestly, I didn't think they were totally awesome enough for YOU. They were good, and some folks liked them, others didn't, so I'm going to keep the kit simple.  
• There will be another small surprise in the kit but I'm not gonna tell you what it is 'cuz, well, it's a surprise... but it'll make you smile. 

HOW:

• To purchase a kit, be here at 9am PST on Tuesday, August 16th. There will be a brand new blog post with a link to the kit page on our new Storenvy Storefront. so you can order your kits. Like last time, be aware that they sell out quickly (last time it was 18 minutes) so be sure to prioritize what color you want before you get to the site (the colorways will be revealed later this week).
• Once you submit your kit request I will email you back (or text if you deem that acceptable) to confirm your choice. **PLEASE be checking your email and/or texts within the first hour of submitting your kit request so I can confirm all orders for all buyers ASAP.
•  If your first choice isn't available, I'll confirm whether you even WANT the second, third or fourth choice. If you do, I will then send a PayPal request and your order will be complete once it's paid. 
• Orders not paid within 24 hours will be forfeit and the kits will be opened up to the next buyer (not trying to be a jerk, it's just what's fair to everyone who wants a kit).
• On Thursday, September 25th, a blog post will go live with details about the first weeks' clue and you'll be able to download the first pattern clue from Ravelry. 
• Following weeks' clues will be pushed out to you through Ravelry at 9am PST.
• Each week there will be a blog post that includes tips, tricks and "how to's" for the weeks clue release. My goal is to have everyone make socks that fit and are fun to make (and show off once done). 

PRIZES:

• Of COURSE there will be prizes! It's almost my favorite part - I love giving stuff away. But I'm not going to tell you what they are yet. There'll be patterns and one Grand Prize of a pattern plus yarn from one of my local peeps, Heather of Ewe Ewe Yarns. 

Ok, I think that's all the information to get us started on this Mystery Knit Along. Save your pennies and set your alarms for Tuesday, September 16th to get your kits. I can't wait to knit with you all again!!!!

Happy  knitting!!!