Hi, Thanks for answering - I used Lion Brand Magic Stripes and from different reviews I had seen thought they'd be soft. I'll try the fabric softener tho. Do you think it needs tighter knitting? I went from the size 3 needles on the pattern instructions to size 1. Strangely, the first sock on the size 1 was a bit big through the ankle particularly, but the second sock on the same size needle was pretty much just right. I say strangely as I would have thought that, if anything, my tension would have loosened rather then tightened as I knitted. Thanks again.

I knew I saved this article for a reason, my sister sent me it with this comment: This was posted on one of my lists about whether knitting is a right-handed or left-handed or two-handed activity. This led to someone remembering how she was taught the "right"way (and therefore only way) to hang a shirt on a hanger (you know how sometimes these lists get a little off topic). Myrna has written a book called about shawls and scarves (see her email address) and is in the process of writing another book. I met her in a class when the big knitting convention was held in Mpls and sat behind her and next to her sister who was also taking a class. I like how she looks at things. There isn't a right and a wrong way. I really like one of her great observations about errors in your knitting. If a man can't see the error galloping by on a horse at midnight, then it doesn't need to be fixed - unless it bothers you. Left and Right Handed Knitting: 1a. Putting clothes on hangers; why do we think in terms of "right-handedPosted by: "shawlsandscarves" shawlsandscarves@aol.com mstahmanDate: Sat Jan 2, 2010 7:54 am ((PST)) Greetings from Boise, I have never thought about whether there is a "right-handed" or "left-handed" way of putting clothes on a hanger. I have three upper sections to my closet, with shelves for shoes in the middle upper section. For shirts/blouses that go in the left section I put them on the hanger so that they face the middle section; for suits/blouses, etc. that go in the right section I put them on the hanger so that they face the middle section. I"m left handed. I generally don't think about whether something is done in a "right-handed" or "left-handed" manner. I just do what is comfortable for me. When I teach a new knitter I teach him/her to knit off the left needle onto the right needle, but I don't consider this "right-handed" knitting. It simply is the way that one should know how to knit because the majority of pattern instructions are written with the idea that one knits off the left needle and on to the right needle. When I teach those who are not new knitters, I urge them to learn to knit off the right needle and on to the left needle, as this is a technique that works so well when knitting a narrow border on to a shawl. I hold the yarn in my left hand and am a "pick knitter." My mother, who was a very talented knitter and who taught me to knit, always held the yarn in her right hand and was a "thrower." I learned to knit by holding the yarn in my right hand and throwing. A few years later I watched the mother of a friend knit; she held the yarn in her left hand. I tried it, and liked it. My mother tired pick knitting, but it just didn't work for her. Maybe because I am left handed it is more natural for me to hold the yarn in my left hand and pick knit. Does a left-handed person play the piano differently from the way a right-handed person plays the piano? I don't think so. Playing the piano is a two-handed activity; knitting is also a two handed activity. Both hands have jobs to do, and which one does the most work is not based upon the direction in which the stitches move from one needle to the other. Is there a difference between doing something the "right way" and doing it the "correct way?" There may be a "right-handed" way of doing things, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is the only "correct way" of doing it. In knitting, there are many correct ways of doing something. The correct way is the way that works for you to get the result you desire. The same is true when putting clothes on a hanger! When I teach knitting I use the term "right" only when it means the opposite of "left." I use the terms "right side" only when it is compared to the "left side." I use the phrases "public side" and "private side" rather than "right side" and "wrong side." Now, Ill get off my soap box and get to work. Wishing you all a great New Year, in knitting and in all aspects of life,Myrna, enjoying a warmer day in Boise where the snow is melting, and looking forward to a great football game on Monday when Boise State University plays TCU in the Fiesta Bowl - time to get lots of knitting done :) Vickey-MN

1. The already knitted stitches are on the right hand needle. The yarn is attached to the last stitch you knitted on the right hand needle. It is not on the left needle except at the beginning of the row when you have not taken a new stitch as yet. 2. Some patterns indicate which side is the right side. Sometimes the purl side is the right side. If you knit every row, then both sides will look the same and there won't really be a right or wrong side. If you alternate by knitting one row and purling the next, then the pattern will tell you which side is the right side. Often the right side is the side facing you when you do the knit row. It all depends on what the pattern says. 3. I like to use a stitch counter when I am counting rows. You can also just keep track on a scrap of paper with hatch marks bundled in groups of five to keep track. You can count the rows already knit by counting the loops that make up the row, picking one stitch on the needle and counting down to the bottom edge. Hope this helps.

I am having a hard time trying to figure out how this was knit. I think it was knit starting at the ribbing, ending at the toe, which means that is harder to take apart than if it were the other way. The toe is no problem. That can be just darned and will look okay. In my opinion, the top needs to come off and be re-knit. You will never match the color to what it currently is. The other thing is yarn weight. That needs to be taken into consideration. So the first issue is finding yarn. You might have more luck finding yarn at a JoAnn's or a Michael's. It looks like it could be a Red Heart yarn. If finding a local person does not work, you can try going to ravelry.com. It is a world-wide knitting community. You may find someone there ---- even someone in your area who would be willing to tackle the project. You can go to the forums. I think there is one called "loose-ends" or something similar. You might be able to find someone there. Good luck.