i'm delurking to say: that looks fantastic! i've been getting my butt kicked by the figure 8 cast-on! the one pair of socks i have knit so far were toe up (for some reason i thought that would be easier....) and have nailed the crochet chain provisional cast on fairly well. the figure 8 one looks even more handy to me but it keeps eluding me and it is always really baggy - as though i've missed knitting a row or something. and i'm not sure how to fix it...yet...but i will!
thanks for the great blog - wee one is cuteness personified.

Oh, I love that little hat! The pattern's been in my to-do pile forever, but I haven't tried it yet. I've never done the "toe up" technique either (I'm still a super new sock knitter). The hat looks great so far. Can't wait to see how you embellish it.

Jen, see if you can check out that Knitty Gritty episode. It really helped me think that I could do it. You definitely have to go back to that cast on row though and tighten up the stitches, so you might not be doing anything wrong at all. Just work from the end of your cast on row towards the tail and tighten up each stitch by giving it a little tug.

so cute. Will it be getting ears and a face, or will this one be the plain version?

Oh, definitely eyes and face! ;0)

Awww the wittoo pink hat! I knit all my socks toe up but have never tried the figure 8, being quite content with provisional cast-on followed by short-row toe.

I won't know what socks to make until I see what my pal likes, but I'm definitely looking forward to getting my pal info and starting that thought process.

I love that hat, it's so much fun to make and is a great trial run of the figure 8 cast on. If you're really into trying toe-up cast-ons, I've switched to the turkish cast-on. It does require circular needles to execute (I do magic loop, the instructions I found are for 2 circs) but you can switch to dpn's after you've done a couple of rows. Instructions I use are here.

Here's something it took me a long time to figure out: you know, how with figure-8, you have to knit one of the directions through the back loop on the first round? If you wrap with a figure-0, just around both needles, then you don't need to do that. Much easier.

I love toe-up socks because I can put them on as I go. Have you seen CookieA's 15 minutes of fame on Knitty Gritty? She did such a good job on explaining a figure 8 cast on, I'm going to try it the next time I make a toe-up sock. :)

Sockapalooza help - I signed up and then I tried to edit my profile. My main email is not relaying messages. and I can't find which address to email you at to change it. Thanks

Another great way to work your toe-up cast-on is Judy's Magic Cast-On:
http://www.persistentillusion.com/blogblog/index.php?page_id=500
I love using this one even more than the figure eight.

Sorry. Have just seen the email address at the top of the page. - Sorry everyone!

The hat should be cute.

I've used this technique and love it! I really don't like grafting the toes, so toe-up is the way to go!

I love that hat pattern! Adrian's the coolest.

I also like the Turkish Cast-On- is that the same thing or different? Figure 8 you make an 8 and Turkish you just wrap it around the two needles? hmm

i made this hat for a friend's niece over new years using some hot pink ryc cashcotton and it turned out SO CUTE! i left off the face but made the ears. i still haven't gotten a picture of her wearing it, otherwise i'd share!

I think that was the best Knitty Gritty episode I've ever seen (and I'm not just saying that because I sometimes go to the same knitting group as Cookie.) Hopefully they'll do more advanced-project episodes in the future!

I prefer top downs but there are many reasons to do toe up. I used a short row toe recently which went well. I've also used the "cast on 8 stitches, knit on both sides, increase in the corners, make a rectangle and increase as usual from that". I haven't tried any other cast ons yet, but I don't have a problem with the toe. It's the heel I get flummoxed with. I don't like how the short row heels fit my foot, and the afterthought heel is worse (IMHO). I've decided that next time I think I'll run out of yarn I'll do a provisional cast on at the ankle, knit the foot, then take out the pro cast on and knit up from the ankle to finish the socks. Now that I have a new pro cast on that should work perfectly. I use the long tail cast on with waste yarn on the thumb and it works just great. It doesn't unzip but I don't care.

Is there anyway to sneak in a day late on the signups? I have been wanting to do sockapalooza FOREVER but got swamped at work and behind on my blog reading. *weeps*

Aww!! I think it's precious that you made the bitty one a hat out of a toe-up sock! And it's such a pretty color!

Very cute!

The hat is cute! I tried my first toe-up socks in March and used the figure 8 cast on. I really liked the way they turned out and I know that I will turn the heel better next time, now that I understand how it is supposed to work.

Count me among the inspired. I also always do top down, but think my next pair will be a toe up. Heh, you never know until you try.

Looks good! I love the colour and how perfect your stitches are.

That is sooo nifty!!!
I've been planning on using the toe-up for another project myself--
a golf club cover! I did one from the cuff to the top and i did waaaaay too many decreases. i think this time, i'll do only a few increases and try it top down instead! :o)

I've never done figure 8 cast on before either. I did learn the toe up sock a few months ago, but have only done 1 sock so far.

Looking forward to getting my match for Sockapalooza! It's the first time I've been in this, so I'm excited.

I see someone already mentioned it, but another really great toe-up method is the magic toe cast-on at Knitty.com. I tried it a couple months ago and have been mentioning it to all the sock knitters I know! It's similar to the figure 8 cast-on, but there's no need to tighten the stitches -- they're ready to go! I'm a toe-up convert, so this is the only way I start my socks anymore...

Alison, try the turkish cast on next time - it's a lot less fussy than the figure 8 and no need to "tighten up" loose stitches.

I hope you got my email telling you that altho I haven't signed up for Sockapalooza this time, I will glady be an angel if you need one!

"I third" Knitty's (Judy's) magic cast on. That is, I have started my first sock and had no trouble with the figure 8, but I thought it was a chore/took too long to tighten the stitches. I am going to do the magic cast on for the second sock.

I made that Anime Hat, and really enjoyed making it. It's oh so cute. If only I hadn't made it in alpaca (too floppy). Yours looks headed for greatness!

Hey, I'm finishing up that same hat! It's a great little knit, great base. I am so looking forward to the sock matches, this is my first one and I'm reeeeeeaaaaaallllllly excited. ;)

I've never done a figure 8 co either. the hast is cute reminds me of the very all Israeli hat called the Kovah Tembel [english: fools hat] they were quite the style in Israel when I was growing this style started in the kibbutz ...as you know Israel is a reletivly warm country so if you work in the fields all day or with cows you would need a hat.
see here: http://sms.fav.co.il/index.php?type=9&cat=658

Oh, that's a great hat! very cute. There are so many cute hats going on with sites I'm visiting today. I think I'm getting a sign!

That hat is going to be too cute.

Is that more Knitpicks Shine?

Such a cute hat--I want to make one too!