Boyfriend Sock, One of Two

Done! Finally!

(Sorry--the recipient and foot model was not available for a photo shoot, and I was too excited to wait to post.) In order to avoid (or at least reduce) the effects of Second Sock Syndrome, it's important to cast on the second sock right away, right?

I decided I wanted to use the magic loop method, but I couldn't find a 2.25mm 32-40" circular anywhere, so, I tried this:

The two circ method does seem to go a bit faster than using DPNs, but I don't much care for it. Very "fiddly". And it may be the cheap needles (which Cat Bordhi warns against), but I really don't like all of the pulling the join of the needle through the knitting. Still, I'd have carried on, except that it seems my gauge using this technique on these needles is noticeably larger than it is on the DPNs. So, the second sock currently looks like this:

No new technique to keep me motivated, but I do have the one completed sock, staring at me and looking lonely. That'll have to do.

Another motivational tactic would be not to start anything else until I finish this. But that's just not me. Besides, I just got this in the mail:

It's the yarn (and the pattern--not pictured) for Susan Rainey's Lace Tam that I won in the Rainey Sisters' bloggiversary drawing. (The pattern also includes a matching lace scarf.) This yarn feels SO nice--I had to start the tam.

See that twist? The instructions specifically state, "join without twisting". Darned knitting karma. Yeah, yeah--I'm going back to the sock. For now.