I am so excited to announce that the 2018 Knit-Along is almost here! If you haven’t joined us for a knit-along before I hope you will join us this year! This year we will be making a basic pair of slipper socks using DPN’s. I hope you haven’t run away after hearing that the dreaded DPN’s will be used. Don’t worry I will help you along the way! Hope have you join us in making your first socks.
*This post contains affiliate links. By clicking on one of these links and making a purchase a portion will go to the blog. The price you pay will not change and the small commission I receive helps me to keep brining you free content and giveaways on the blog. Thank you for your continued support.*
The My First Socks Knit-Along with Marly Bird is sponsored by Red Heart Yarns.
What is a Knit-Along:
A knit-along is a community event where we all get together and work on the same project at the same time. This allows us to work together as a group and ask questions and share out inspiration from the pattern.
If you are a slower knitter or can’t start on the start date don’t worry, the pattern will always be available on the Marly Bird website for you to come back to.
Use the hashtag #MarlyBirdKALto share your projects throughout our six week knit-along.
My First Socks KAL-The Project:
Over the years I have heard people have a love hate relationship with sock knitting. Many people learn how to knit because they want to be able to make socks. I also hear people say that they have sockitis and only ever finish on sock of the pair.
There are a few different ways that you can make socks. Top up, cuff down, two at a time, magic loop or with DPN’s. Although none of these ways are wrong we will be working cuff down with DPN’s. Feel free to alter the pattern to another method if you like, but please know that there will only be support for the original pattern.
The Dreaded DPN’s:
DPN’s is one of the curse words of the knitting world! Through my teaching journey I have heard many people say that they can’t work with DPN’s. I don’t believe there is anyone that can’t work with DPN’s, those people just haven’t been taught in a way that they understand.
Each week of the KAL I will have a new video for you to show you how to work that section. I will be walking you through how to work with DPN’s and tips for your success. Basically I will be teaching my Four Play class that I teach at all of the Stitches Events in a basic version for the KAL.
The Community:
There is a dedicated Facebook group for this KAL that is monitored by me and several of the WONDERFUL sampler knitters who tested this pattern for me. We are all there to help you with this project. Please join us!
Materials:
For this KAL we will be using my brand new yarn, Chic Sheep by Marly Bird. Chic Sheep is 100% Merino Wool that comes in 24 amazing colors, 186 yards per ball and is machine washable. Red Heart is offering you all a great coupon code to purchase your yarn for the KAL.
Use the code KALMARLY20 to get 20% off your purchase of Chic Sheep. Offer is good through March 27th, 2018.
- 2 balls of Chic Sheep in any color
- 1 set of 5 DPN needles size US 5
- Yarn needle
- Scissors
- Removable Stitch Marker
Knit-Along Schedule (👇🏻GET THE PATTERN LINK HERE👇🏻):
Each week I’ll have a new video showing how to knit the section for that week. To get notified as soon as the video is posted, subscribe to the Marly Bird YouTube channel.
Week 1-March 28, 2018
Part 1 of 6 Cast on <—Click the Link
Week 2-April 4, 2018
Part 2 of 6 Leg <—Click the Link
Week 3-April 11, 2018
Part 3 of 6 Heel Flap <—Click the Link
Week 4-April 18, 2018
Part 4 of 6 Turning Heel and Gusset <—Click the Link
Week 5-April 25, 2018
Part 5 of 6 Foot <—Click the Link
Week 6-May 2, 2018
Part 6 of 6 Toe and Finishing <–Click the link
Enter to Win:
Post your progress pictures each week in the Marly Bird KAL Facebook group to be entered for a chance to win a Red Heart prize pack! We’ll choose one winner each week for the prize pack. One week after the final video is posted we’ll ask you to share a photo of your finished socks, and we’ll choose 3 winners to each win a $50 prize pack from everyone who finished.
To enter: Post your picture of your in-progress shawl in the Facebook group before Tuesday at 11:59pm Mountain Time (Marly’s time zone) to be entered. Winners will be announced on Thursdays.
Week 1: Post your progress picture by Tuesday, April 3; 1 winner of a $25 prize pack announced Thursday, April 5
Week 2: Post your progress picture by Tuesday, April 10; 1 winner of a $25 prize pack announced Thursday, April 12
Week 3: Post your progress picture by Tuesday, April 17; 1 winner of a $25 prize pack announced Thursday, April 19
Week 4: Post your progress picture by Tuesday, April 24; 1 winner of a $25 prize pack announced Thursday, April 26
Week 5: Post your progress picture by Tuesday, May 1; 1 winner of a $25 prize pack announced Thursday, May 3
Week 6: Post your progress picture by Tuesday, May 8; 1 winner of a $25 prize pack announced Thursday, May 10
Week 7: Post a photo of your completed socks by Tuesday, May 15; 3 winners of $50 prize packs announced Thursday, May 17
Past Knit-Alongs:
Also on the Blog:
Follow Marly:
Although I came to the sock kal late, I was able to knit a sock in just over a day with the help of your videos. I was already a sock knitter but your tips for casting on and avoiding gusset holes as well as the glorious ‘eye of partridge’ heel flap have given me much more confidence. It goes to show that you are never to old to learn, if you’re willing. So a big Thank you for your kal Marly! I would love to try the Red Heart Chic Sheep yarn but it doesn’t seem to be available in the UK. Perhaps you might know if Red Heart intend to get it to UK suppliers in future? If so, I’d love to know. It certainly gives your socks great definition. Thanks again for the great ‘recipe’.
Marly, do you have a pattern for sock knit with circular needle?
You know, I do but it is a pattern in a book called “Knitter’s book of Socks” by Clara Parkes. I thought for sure I had other patterns available for toe up on two circulars but apparently I never got around to publishing them. I will have to get right on that!
I want to get free patterns for socks
can I use any type or brand of wool