The Power of the Knitalong

A while back I read about magic loop method of knitting socks.  I was determined to find out about this mysterious trick, thinking I would have to wait a few years, and learn to be a better knitter first.  After knitting my first pair of socks on double points, I knew I wanted to learn magic loop and soon.  This is the exact moment when having a knitalong group is necessary, and valuable.
I went to knit night where a few ladies were knitting socks, among other things. I noticed Dawn was knitting socks with magic loop! I didn't want to intrude on her knit time, but was obviously staring at the knitting.   I mentioned that I really wanted to learn that, and she offered to show me.  She was concerned about showing me because she didn't feel she mastered the method, but to me she knew a whole lot more than I did, and I was eager to hear it. Between the cast on, and her demonstration of how to pull the needles, it took about 10 minutes to demonstrate.  I think I may have said, "That's it?"  Everything I knit in the round is using magic loop now.  A simple sharing of a knitting technique has totally changed how I knit and I am so thankful for the quick lesson.  You don't have to be a master to share knitting skills.  You only have to know a little something more than the next person, who wants to learn.  I was, and still am, so thankful for that little lesson.  I love the knitalongs!

My sock frenzy: Left, top down on magic loop. Center; toe up on magic loop. Right; started on dpns but learned magic loop and immediately switched while in the middle of the sock!