Monica Knits

Acute AngleMarkers, a larger foundation needle, swapping first and last stitches, parking idle stitches at cable center, knitting transition stitches at an acute angle, and maintaining a consistent stitch direction all serve to ensure consistent high, quality in hand-knitted socks.

Step 1: Cast on With Larger Size Needle
Use a needle one size larger than the working needles for casting on. For 2.5mm needles, I use a 2-3/4 mm diameter needle for casting-on. This produces looser foundation stitches, yet with regular, even tension that makes the first row of stitches easier to pick up and knit.

Step 2: Use Stitch Markers for Counting & Quality Control
I like to place stitch markers at regular intervals while casting on. The larger the number of stitches in a project, the greater the benefit. It also minimizes errors associated with casting on too few or too many stitches. Markers serve multiple purposes during the cast-on process.

1. For 64 stitches (32 sts per circular needle), place markers to divide the stitches as follows 20, 10, 10, 20, and 4. The commas are where the markers are placed. The number of stitches per needle is divisible by 4 to provide a check-sum in the 2x2 rib pattern; each needle starts with a K2 and ends with a P2. If you don't end with a P2, there is a mistake on this needle.
2. Markers keep track of stitches. When interrupted I know where I ended without having to recount completely. They also let me keep track of Needle #1 and Needle #2 during the first round.
3. Quality control and counting. It is just easier to count by tens and twenties than by ones. Although this example may seem trivial, it is a time saver.

Step 3: Swap First and Last Stitches.
Swapping first and last stitches in the foundation row with a variation of passing the slipped stitch over creates a professional join to the round.

Step 4: Park Stitches at Cable Center.
Park the idle stitches of the idle needle in the middle of the cable, while the other needle is being worked. This offers 2 main benefits:

1. The stitches can be ignored completely because they won't slip off.
2. The first stitch of a needle can be worked at a small (acute) angle by overlapping the cable as shown in the photo above. This prevents looser stitches at the two transitions between needles.

Step 5: Orientation Matters.
Knit in a consistent direction. It is very easy to knit either clockwise or counter-clockwise with 2 circular needles. Maintain consistency in a garment, and preferably in all your knitting, so that you don't accidentally change directions after an interruption. Certain features like cables may have right- and left- handedness, so their appearance may be affected by stitch direction.

Click here to read the instructions for Circular Needle Cast-on.