Missed the floods

Thanks to those who have expressed concern about the floods here. Fortunately, the flooding is all around me, every town around here seems to be under water, but luckily we had no water in our basement or damage to any property. Good thing, because all my knitting machines and most of the stash is in the basement!

If you would like to see photos of some of the flooding, here is a link to our local paper. Be sure to click "next" to see all the photos in the gallery. Our main post office for the area was closed.

Out here article

I went to TSC (Tractor Supply Company) tonight in search of canning jars (WHICH THEY DO NOT HAVE, BTW) and picked up a copy of their magazine "Out Here" and found an article about machine knitter Sharon Nani.

The article in the hard copy of the magazine is different than the one online. It tells more about how Sharon got started in machine knitting and what her business is like today, whereas the online article is Sharon's advice for others starting a cottage industry.

The magazine is free, stop by their store and pick one up!

Shame on me!

I have been neglecting my knitting, and my knitting blog. I guess I am waiting for Bonnie Triola's Inspiration 2007 to get inspired. See you there?

I'll also be at the Grand Rapids seminar in October.

Socks, part 2

OK, we left off halfway through the heel.

Turn heel.
Row 1: Sl 1, K15, ssk, k1, turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, knit to within one st of the gap, ssk, k1, turn
Row 4: Sl 1, purl to within one st of the gap, p2tog, p1, turn.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all heel sts are worked, ending last repeat of row 3 with the SSK, and last repeat of Row 4 with the P2tog. There are 16 heel stitches.

Heel gussets.
Knit 16 heel sts, pick up and knit 14 chain sts along right side of heel flap. Work 28 instep sts, following established pattern. With an empty needle, pick up and knit 14 sts along left side of heel flap, k 8 sts from heel needle. There should be 22 sts on needles #1 and #4, 14 sts on needles #2 and #3.

Round 1: Work to 3 sts from end of needle #1, k2tog, k1. Work instep sts in established pattern. K1, ssk at beginning of needle #4, work to end.
Round 2: With CC2, work even.

Repeat last two rounds until there are 14 sts on needles #1 and #3, 56 total sts.

Continue in established pattern until foot measures 3 inches less than desired finished length.

Shape toe.

Work 3 rounds in stockinette stitch.
Begin decrease:
Round 1: Work to 3 sts from end of needle #1, k2tog, k1. K1, ssk at beginning of needle #2, work to end of needle. Work to 3 sts from end of needle #3, K2tog, K1. K1, ssk at beginning of needle #4, work to end.

Round 2: Work even.

Repeat the last 2 rounds until there are 7 sts on each needle. Work Round 1 (the decrease round) only until there are 8 sts remaining, 2 on each needle. Break yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Choice 1: Place the sts from needles 1 and #4 on one needle, and the otehr 4 sts onto another needle. Kitchener stitch these sts together. or Choice 2: Just put the tail onto a darning needle and run through all stitches twice, then darn in end (backstitch) through a stitch or two, securing tail. Cut off close to stitching.

Finishing more socks

My own sock pattern - inspired by the travelling socks book. I used Lion Brand sock yarn and size 1 needles.
One skein was enough for both socks, but to keep pattern consistent, I rewound from the center of the ball into a new ball until I had at least 13 repeats of the color sequence. (Actually I did 12, and had to make a patch for the last.... ah, such is life!)

Cast on 56 stitches evenly (14 stitches per needle) over 4 needles, using a stretchy cast-on such as the Continental Long-tail cast on. Join into round, being careful not to twist stitches. The join is the center back of the sock.

K 1 round, then work in K1, P1 rib for 13 rows. P 1 round. Begin pattern rows as follows:

Needle 1: Knit
Needle 2: 1st ten stitches form cable. Last four are knitted.
Needle 3: 1st four stitches knitted, last ten stitches form cable.
Needle 4: Knit.

Cable:

Row 1: P1, K2, K2 tog and leave on needle, K first st again, slip both sts off needle (stitch travels to right); k second st tbl, k first st, slip both sts off needle (stitch travels to left) , K2, P1

Row 2: P1, K1, K2 tog and leave on needle, K first st again, slip both sts off needle;K2;k second st tbl, k first st, slip both sts off needle,K1, P1

Row 3: P1, K2 tog and leave on needle, K first st again, slip both sts off needle; P1, K2, P1 ;k second st tbl, k first st, slip both sts off needle, P1.

Row 4: Repeat Row 3

Row 5: P1, k second st tbl, k first st, slip both sts off needle (stitch travels to left); K4; K2 tog and leave on needle, K first st again, slip both sts off needle (stitch travels to right); P1

Row 6: P1, K1; k second st tbl, k first st, slip both sts off needle; K2; K2 tog and leave on needle, K first st again, slip both sts off needle; K1; P1

Row 7: P1, K2; k second st tbl, k first st, slip both sts off needle; K2 tog and leave on needle, K first st again, slip both sts off needle;K2; P1

Repeat rows 5 - 7 until sock measures 6 inches. (I had 12 repeats), ending last round ready to begin needle #4.

Turn heel:
Begin with first stitch on needle #4. Knit 14 stitches on needle #4 and 14 stitches on needle #1 onto one needle, turn. P28, turn. These stitches form the heel flap. The remaining 28 stitches on needles 2 and 3 will be held for the instep.

Row 1: *Sl 1, k1; repeat from *
Row 2: Sl 1, P27.

Repeat these 2 rows 13 more timesfor a total of 14 chain stitches at each edge of heel flap.

Take a break, I'll post the 2nd half of the instructions tomorrow!



It's important to try the sock on as you reach the end. You don't want to do all your decreases and finish the toe, cut your yarn, and then find out it is 1/2 inch too short.


I made this baby romper for my sister who just had a baby. Little Elijah weighed 10 lbs. 14 oz. when he was born, so he MAY be able to wear it once before he grows out of it. Must remember to heed DH's advice next time - MAKE IT BIG!!!

Socks

I FINISHED THE TRAVELLING SOCKS! So, what's next? I started another pair.

Using the same size needles, and a different pattern (of my own invention!) and Lion Brand yarn. Instead of 80 stitches cast on, with the Lion Brand yarn I am using 14 stitches on each needle (total of 56) so the sock is knitting up much faster.

I picked up a book at the library with a pattern for a hand-knit shopping bag using mesh stitch. After knitting 4 rows of 50 stitches in mesh stitch, I don't find it relaxing at all, so switched to the machine to GET IT DONE. I knit a bag on the bulky machine, with the same yarn, using every other needle, except for a few rows of stockinette at the bottom and at the top. I think perhaps it would be better with 100 stitches, dropping EON.

Will post pictures ASAP.

Reading about knitting.

I found a book Knitting Lessons, Tales from the Knitting Path, by Lela Nargi, in the overstocks bin at a local store. I was thrilled, and snapped it up. I've been reading about knitting today instead of knitting!