Intelligent Knitting

Dear Oogy,

As I listened recently to a colleague lecture about intelligence I found an idea that relates very well to this month's knitting project: fluid and crystallized intelligence.  Psychologists tend to view intelligence as having multiple forms.  Fluid intelligence depends on the ability to use new information and develop new skills, and to view information with a unique perspective.  Crystallized intelligence depends on the ability to store and retrieve information.  So there's how much you know and how well you use it!

I believe that learning to make socks two-at-a-time is helping us build our fluid intelligence.  Certainly we could say that the standard approach to making socks, one-at-a-time and from the cuff, is part of our crystallized intelligence, and with perhaps a bit more practice we can add these other techniques.    

I finished my toe-up, simultaneous socks.  Instead of making them thigh-highs, I decided to make a matching set of mitts.  I found Judy Becker's magic cast-on to work very well (thanks for the link!) for the socks, but I encountered the same problem you had casting on when I began the mitts.  Oh, what a tangled mess I made.  Plus, it made me very mad.  Knitting hasn't made me so mad in a long time.  So, I did what you did: began with dpns and after a few rows transfered it onto the circulars. 

Maybe I'll try to exercise my limited amount of fluid intelligence and cast-on some cuff-first socks for the next project...

Love,

Neuro

Simultaneous sock progress

Progress, as promised!

No sign of an "N" in the sock, but the pseudo-striped pattern is cool.

Later the same day: the heels are turned and the gusset has begun.

March On

Dear Oogy,
Your magic loop socks are fabulous!  I also am missing my DPNs, but our goal this year was to break away from the routine, so I'll keep the magic loop thing going for another pair.  I have to say that my Thing-a-Month effort for February was not stellar, so I am pleased to welcome March and hope to make up for it.  I am making significant progress on the Simultaneous Socks from one of the sock blanks I dyed.  You think that decorating yours with an O was bizarre--I've decorated mine with an N.  It appears backwards half the time, but this will not matter because it won't translate into an "N" on the sock (I'm fairly sure).

How the sock appears so far...

Sock blank before knitting

I have an excuse for my abysmal showing in February.  It seems that most of my family members were born in February and early March, and this year I got it in my head that I was making gifts for everyone.

Mitts for SIL Diane (leftover Silver Scrumptious!)

Mitts for stepmom (they got discarded after I washed them and they grew 2 sizes that day)

Even better mitts for stepmom.  You may recognize the yarn, which you spun and we dyed at your MIL's.

Mitts for niece K-T.  

Hat for nephew Steven.  Mr. Neuro suggested I make him herringbone something.

Hat for brother Rob (and another exactly like it for brother Ron)

And then there is a colleague who has just had his first baby, so booties were in order.

Faux cable booties for Logan

I promise to give regular updates on the March progress!

Love,

Neuro