Just recently, I've found the love for fingering weight yarn. I purchased some Malabrigo Sock yarn last summer, hoping to make my oldest a poncho. I cast on, even threw in some beading, but an inch or two into the raglan increases I realized that I would be knitting this poncho forever.
I didn't even bother to frog what little progress I'd made on the poncho. I just broke the yarn and started on a pair of socks. I found this gorgeous pattern -- Absinthe by Sara Morris -- and cast on. These socks are worked from the toe up.
I learned Judy's Magic Cast On, which was a little intimidating at first, but it was super easy and fascinating to see how your first two rows magically fit together. No grafting!
This pair of socks was actually enjoyable to knit. I bought 40" long size 1 circular needles. This was a life saver and I can't imagine going back to 4 or 5 dpn's. I also have learned to read charts in the last year or two. While I initially fought learning to read charts, I find it much easier to keep track of where I am in a pattern with a chart.
I wish I had captured some better pictures of these socks before I gifted them to my mom for her birthday, but I'm not as flexible as I used to be. The combination of cables and lace make for a beautiful pair of socks.
