Christmas Stockings from Suzi

A wonderful knitter, Suzi B. from Denison, Iowa, sent photos of two Christmas stockings she knit:

On the left is a Christmas stocking I'd designed a couple of years ago. It's knit with Lamb's Pride bulky. On the right is the Purlie Fat Sock yarn, Sari colorway, knit in the Raindrop pattern (free with purchase of the yarn).

Well, this does my soul good. I'd gotten an email yesterday from knitty.com that two sock patterns I'd sent in were rejected. Nice to see that someone gets enjoyment from my patterns!

Confessions

I didn't frog the Manos hat. I finished knitting it last night. It and the scarf are in a bag with a nice note for my regular doctor who has taken good care of me and my DH for a few years now.

Also, I started work on a blue scarf for a Harry Potter friend. It's all acrylic yarn since she's allergic to wool and other animal fibers. I shouldn't have started something new, but it hoped to get it done before winter finishes flying through the midwest.

I have about 12 more rows before I start the toe decreases on the HoofleFoofle socks.

Zig Zag Lace hell

Here's a pattern for something my friend M and I are calling "Zig Zag Lace" —









It's a multiple of 6 +1 that the talented M has been using this pattern for socks. I think it should be done only with the section in the Pattern Repeat box. Or, perhaps it needs to be offset by one stitch? Or . . . ???

I'll work with it and then see what I come up with. Anyway, it should make a lacy zig-zag.

This year . . .

I will finished one project before starting another.

But first I have to finish the projects I already have on needles:

• Socks for Marky (need to start #2)
• Socks for Deb (#1 near heel turn)
• Socks from Austermann Step yarn (#1 near the toe)
• Hoofle-Foofle Socks (#1 done; #2 started)
• Cardigan (finish sleeves and button band)
• 8-3-5 Pullover for Marky (back done; front started)
• Scarf from bulky weight Silk Road *Done • 5 Jan 08*
• Scarf from 2 strands of Manos del Uraguay *Done • 10 Jan 08*
• Socks for Alice *Done • 5 Jan 08*
• Shrug for Mary (started back panel)
• Baby Blanket for Jorge y Liliana

These are the projects already waiting for me to start on:

• Socks for Joan
• Swag Socks sample for String of Purls
• Marjaana/Hermione pullover for myself
• Scarf (non-wool) for I-Pie

Hmmm....lots of socks again this year!

Rainbow Socks

This was an experiment in dyeing two skeins at the same time in order to achieve the same (or very similar) effects on both. These are 2 oz. skeins (each will make a sock) and I chose the safe route of rainbow colors, starting with plum on the left, then cerulean blue, marigold (which mixes with the cerulean blue to make a nice grass green), red wine, and Havanna brown. In retrospect, I need more shade contrast (more darker and lighter tints) to give it more depth, but it's not bad.

Alice's Blackberry Socks

Alice from choir asked me to knit a pair of socks for her. As she has been essential to my being able to participate in choir (she has a strong voice and helps me to hear my part -- it's been a looooooong time since I've sung Alto!), I agreed immediately. I'm doing the same pattern as the Prodigal Socks (K2, P2 for 3 rounds, then K all for 3 rounds). I'm nearly done with the first sock. It's Fleece Artist merino in the colorway called Blackberry. I'm working them on US 1.0 needles.

The Prodigal Socks

These are the socks I knit for the pastor of my church. They are done in the "Dishrag" pattern (a waffle stitch) using Cherry Tree Hill merino sock yarn in the Java colorway. I worked them on US 2.0 needles. I call them the Prodigal Socks because they once were lost (when I'd had one sock completed and the other one about halfway down from the top), but then were found so that I could finish them.

F.O.s!

I finished a scarf from my stash! I'll post a photo as soon as I have a camera ready.

I finished one of the three commissioned Christmas stockings. I'm about halfway into the second one.

I've got one Fire-On-The-Mountain sock finished. One of the Cherry Tree Hill Java coloraway socks is finished and the second one is started.

Waffle Socks Pattern

Here's the basics of the pattern I'm using for my waffle socks:

Materials:
1 skein Socks That Rock medium weight (from Blue Moon Fiber Arts)
1 set US 1.0 dpns or 2 circulars
markers as desired

NOTE: Directions are given for dpns (even though I worked mine on 2 circulars). If you want to see directions for working on 2 circulars, see the pattern for Dishcloth Socks.

Gauge/Tension: 8 sts = 1"

Pattern Stitch:
Rnds 1 - 3: K all sts
Rnds 4 - 6: *P2, K2*

NOTE: I prefer to work Rnds 4-6 as K1, *P2,K2* to the last 3 stitches, then end P2, K1. This makes sure that the first and last stitch on the needles is a knit stitch and therefore ensures the pattern will be balanced over the instep.


Cuff
CO 64 sts
Work 2 x 2 ribbing (K2, P2) for 12 rnds. (Make sure you work the ribbing the same way as you'll work rnds 4 - 6 of the pattern stitch.)

Leg
Rnd 13: Begin pattern stitch; work for 10 iterations (1 pattern with 9 repeats), then K all sts for 3 more rnds.

Heel Flap
With Right Side facing, work heel flap across first 32 sts as follows:

Row 1: Sl 1, *P2, Sl 2 (purlwise, with yarn in back)* to last 3 stitches, end with P2, K1. Turn work.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1, P to the end. Turn work.

Work these 2 rows 16 times (32 rows total) so that there are 16 slipped stitches on each side of the heel flap.

Heel Turn
With Right Side facing, K 18, SSK, K1, turn work.
Next row: sl 1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn work.

Continue as follows:
Right side: sl 1, K to 1 st before the gap, SSK (one from each side of the gap), K1, turn work.
Wrong side: sl 1, P to 1 st before gap, P2tog (one from each side of the gap), P1, turn work.

NOTE: On the last two rows, you will end with SSK and P2tog (respectively). That's how it should be.

18 sts total remain of the heel flap/turn sts.

Gussett

RS facing and using Needle 1, K across the heel flap sts. Pick up 16 sts on the right side of the heel flap (one in each of the slipped stitches along the side).

Change to Needle 2 and work pattern across the 32 instep sts (K1, *P2, K2* across, end K1).

Change to Needle 3 and pick up 16 sts on the left side of the heel flap. K the first 9 of the heel flap sts.

Work Gusset as follows:

Rnd 1 (decrease round)
Needle 1 — K to 3 sts before the end, K2tog, K1
Needle 2 — work pattern as established
Needle 3 — K1, SSK, the K to end

Rnd 2 (regular round)
Needle 1 — K all sts
Needle 2 — work pattern as established
Needle 3 — K all sts

Continue working rounds 1 and 2 until there are 64 sts on all needles.

Foot
Work all as Rnd 2 (above) until sock measures 1.5" from end of your foot. If you're working rounds 4-6, end after rnd 6.

Toe Decreases:
Decrease Round (4 sts decr):
Needle 1 — K to last 3 sts, K2 tog, K1
Needle 2 — K1, SSK, K to last 3 sts, K2 tog, K1
Needle 3 — K1, SSK, K to end

Non-Decrease Round:
K all sts

Work alternating Decrease and Non-Decrease rounds until 32 sts rem, work one more Non-Decrease round, then work only Decrease rounds until 8 - 12 sts remain. Graft toe closed. Work in ends.

Dishcloth Socks

Knitty didn't take this pattern, so I'm posting the photo and the pattern here for your enjoyment. These were knit from Jaeger Aqua, which was in my stash. I've also got a pair going in a different yarn (I'll have to look it up) that is thinner.

Anyway, these guys have been done for a while. It's my first pair of KFYS Sock Club socks!



SIZE
To Fit foot circumference: 7.5 – 8.5 inches

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Foot Circumference: 7.5 inches

MATERIALS
Jaeger Aqua [100% mercerized cotton; 115 yd /106 m per 50g ball]; color: Comfrey #328 (note: the color is discontinued, but there are plenty of others available); 2 skeins

1 set(s) US #3/3.25mm double-point needles
OR
2 16-inch US #3/3.25mm circular needles

GAUGE
25 sts/40 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
This pattern is worked on 2 circular needles. If you prefer to use double-point needles, be sure to divide the stitches between needles in multiples of 4. Or refer to the directions for Waffle Socks.

If you plan to increase or decrease the circumference of these socks by casting on more or fewer stitches, be sure the number of stitches you use is a multiple of 4. At the gauge listed, one 4-stitch pattern repeat is approximately 0.625 inches wide.

About 13 yd/12.5 m remain on each ball, so if you choose to substitute another yarn you’ll need about 205 yd / 200 m to make the pair as written. While there is enough of the Jaeger ball to make either the foot or the cuff a bit longer; it’s better to get a third ball of this particular yarn if you need to make a larger size.

All slipped stitches are slipped purlwise with yarn in back. This is especially important on row 3 of the heel flap.


Cuff
CO 48 sts. Place 24 sts on each needle and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. The first and second needles of the round will be designated Needle 1 and Needle 2, respectively.

Rounds 1 and 2 (both needles): *K1, P2, K1* to the end.
Rounds 3 and 4: K all sts.

Repeat these 4 rounds for a total of 30 rows (or desired length to top of foot), ending with Round 2.

Leave the 24 sts on Needle 2 (which will be the top of the foot) to remain idle as you work the Heel Flap on the 24 sts of Needle 1.

Heel Flap
Row 1 (RS): sl 1, *P2, sl 2* repeat to last 3 sts, P2, K1. Turn work.
Row 2 (WS): sl1, P to end. Turn work.

Repeat these 2 rows for a total of 24 rows (12 slipped stitches on each side of heel flap).

Turn Heel
Rnd 1: With RS facing you, K 14, ssk, K1. Turn work.
Rnd 2: sl 1, P5, P2tog, P1. Turn work.
Rnd 3(RS): sl 1, K to last st before the gap, SSK (one from each side of the gap), K1. Turn work.
Rnd 4: sl 1, P to last st before the gap, P2tog (one from each side of the gap), P1. Turn work.

Repeat rnds 3 and 4 until all sts have been worked; 14 sts on Needle 1.

Gusset
With RS facing, k all sts on Needle 1, pick up and k 13 sts along edge of heel flap. 27 sts on Needle 1.
Using Needle 2, k all sts.
Using Needle 1, pick up and k 13 sts along remaining edge of heel flap, then k remaining sts on Needle 1.
There are 64 sts: 40 sts on Needle 1 and 24 sts on Needle 2.

Round 1: K all sts on Needle 2 (top of the foot); k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts on Needle 1, k2tog, k1.
Round 2: [K1, p2, K1] on Needle 2; k all sts on Needle 1.
Round 3: [K1, p2, k1] on Needle 2; k1, ssk, k to last 3 sts on Needle 1, k2tog, k1.
Round 4: K all sts.

Work these four rounds a total of four times.

There are 48 sts: 24 sts on each Needle.

Working sts on Needle 2 in pattern as set and sts on Needle 2 in stockinette stitch, work until foot measures 2 inches less than desired length to end of toe.

Toe
Decrease Round:
Rnd 1 (both ndls) - K1, ssk, K to last 3 sts, K2 tog, K1 (4 sts decr)
Rnd 2 (both ndls) - K all sts

Repeat rnds 1 and 2 until there are 24 total sts remaining, then repeat only rnd 1 until there are 12 sts remaining.

FINISHING
Graft opening and work in ends.