Beyond Toes

By | November 5, 2011

I just realized I’ve been utterly remiss in not mentioning Beyond Toes, Judy Becker’s new book. (Sorry, Judy!)

As the subtitle says, it’s a series of Knitting Adventures with Judy’s Magic Cast-on. Tied in many knitters’ minds with toe-up socks, I’ve long known the JMCO was magic because it could be used in many other ways as well – for example, as a provisional cast-on, as a start to a tubular rib, or as a start for double knitting. I’ve even seen Cat Bordhi use it to start a hem. Beyond Toes has patterns that make use of the JMCO in all these ways, plus a few new eye-openers.

Deb Barnhill uses it to start a bit of twisted I-cord – here, for piggy tails:

too cute!

Jeny Staiman suggests using it to add more stitches to an existing piece, then knitting the stitches in both directions – say, to start socks at the heel then add stitches for the instep and the front of the leg:

these I gotta try – but in rib, I think

Lorilee Beltman found a wacked-out way of using it to start mittens:

still wrapping my head around this

Cool stuff, eh? If you’re lucky enough to live near Portland, OR, check out the Beyond Toes trunk show that Twisted is hosting this week. As a bonus, Judy will be there tomorrow, Sunday the 6th, for a book signing from 2 to 4pm. Joan Schrouder and I are going – how about you?

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