Thursday, October 13, 2011

Knitting No Sew Slippers number 5


For my last slipper, number 5, I decided to wing it and make up my own pattern.  I had three things I wanted to do.  Easy, no sewing and using basic sock techniques. This is what I came up with.  Writing the instructions took longer than the knitting!



Momo Charlene's Not Sew Unseamly Slippers

starring:  Encore Chunky Yarn
music by:  The Size 7 DP's Needles

cameo appearance:  One Big Weaving Needle

Socks fits women's size 6 to 8.  I wear a size 6 and checked my length as I went along.  They are comfortable, but could stretch---about an additional 1-1 1/2.  I started the opening at the widest part of my foot.


Cast on using favorite toe-up.  I used Figure 8.
After first row of knitting divide stitches onto 3 needles: 4-4-8.  Knit in the round.
Begin st.st.  Increase every other row until 36 stitches total.  No more increases.
Continue in st.st. until length of toe is 3"  (or a little more to reach the widest part of your foot.)

 This is where we stop knitting in the round.

Knit across Needle 1.  Turn.  Knit 3 (this begins the garter border.) Purl 6.
Needle 2:  p 38.
Needle 3: p 6, knit 3.  Turn. Knit all across ending with Needle 1.

Continue doing this for about 1". 

Strap:

ending with purl row.  now at beginning of Needle 1 on knit side: Knit 6. Purl 3.  Cast on 8 stitches using backward loop cast on. (Needle 1 now has 17 stitches.)

Continue onto Needle 2 doing garter stitch border, knitting across needle 2 and 3.  On needle one K6-then garter stitch border.  Purl across 8 stitches. Needle 2 Garter Border Knit 6.  Needle 3 K18.

Needle 1:  Knit 6.  GB 3. KNIT across 8 (this will be the last row of the strap)
Needle 2:  GB 3.  Knit 6.
Needle 3: Knit 18.  Needle 1: Knit 6. GB3. Turn.  (No longer working in the round.)

GB3. Purl 30.  GB3. (now on needle 2) Turn.  Continue going back and forth until just at the beginning of the heel about 2". Need to start short row heel on knit side with Needle 2.  Needle 3 is the heel stitches.

Needle 2:  GB 3.  Knit 6.

Needle 3.  Knit 17. With yarn in front slip next stitch.  Turn.  Slip stitch back to right needle.  Purl across, wrap/turn last stitch with yarn in back. Slip purlwise. Turn. Knit 16. W/T. Purl 16. W/T.  Continue to do this until W/T 5 times both ends.  So there's 8 stitches in center. 

On knit side begin to pick up wraps.  Slip first stitch.  Knit 7.  Slip one.  Pick up wrap (now 2 stitches) and knit together with slipped stitch.  Turn. Slip first stitch. Purl 7. Slip one. Pick up wrap (behind) and purl together (three loops).  Turn.  Continue this way until all wraps picked up and together ending with purl side.  (last W/T on knit side will not be done) Continue purling across Needle 2 with GB 3.  Turn. 

Now to pick up border around top of slipper.  Keeping stitches on needles (holding) and Active stitches on Needle 2.

On Needle 2 (right side facing) GB 3.  SSSK. Turn.  Should have 4 stitches.
*Purl 1.  GB3, Turn.
GB 3. Slip one knitwise. (should be a gap) Slip one knitwise.  Now  knit two slipped stitches together. Turn.*   Keep doing this all around until reaching needle 1.  Do 3 needle bind off.


Slipper knitting number 3

Angie's Short Row Slippers by Lara Neel


Slippers number 3. 
This is a free pattern I found on Ravelry. 
I am using two strands held together of Paton Wool Classic in Plum Heather.
Using a 10.5 needles.  (pattern calls for 13's)
These are small.  Which is okay.  I wear a size 6 (Eur 37) shoe.    
I will only shrink them a little.
Now I have to remember how to do a three needle bind off!






Monday, October 10, 2011

slipping away in slippers


Winter Slippers
by Veronik Avery
in

These were a joy to make.  I used Cascade 200 Heathers--Baby Rose.  Not even the full skein.  Single strand with size 8 needles.  They are wide and comfy.  They are moppy.  In other words, I feel I could mop the floor with these!  Still, I like them very much and love knitting the design details.  Now I have to start slipper 3!  Stay tuned.................

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Knitting Slippers

one seam---easy
even looks good before shrinking


ta-dah!  Duffers by Mindie Tallack


Still working on that stash or two.  I have some Paton's Classic Wool and decided to try my hand on felting.  I picked out some slippers from various sources and plan on doing 5 different patterns.  Duffers by Mindie Tallack is a fast, inventive and so fun to knit.  I held two strands together of the Classic Wool and sped along happily.  I took photos right away so I could post them and give credit to the designer.  I went to her blog to thank her when I find she said that someone commercially produced these slippers using her pattern--she so graciously allowed true knitters to freely make for personal use only.  She has taken the pattern off the  site and apparently talking to a lawyer.  So I am sorry that I can't link you to her wonderful blog and this pattern.  It's a shame.  Please go to Ravelry to see more about this slipper.

I have finished slippers from the book Knitting 24/7:  30 Projects to Knit, Wear, Enjoy on the Go & Around the Clock by----by Veronik Avery.  That will have to wait until tomorrow. 



Sunday, July 10, 2011

knit, knit, knit

Started using a Malabrigo sock yarn with a lace pattern.  Got a full lace pattern going on a top down sock when I thought--oh, this is far too lovely to hide in my shoes.  With not a second thought the unraveling began and I started a hat instead.  A very simple hat so that the colorway will show in all its glory.  It reminds me of the late autumn fog on Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve next to the Pacific Ocean.  


Now this should keep me busy, but no.  I had to see the Helix sock on Knitty.  I had to start on that right away.  I mean, afterall it does involves stripes.


More later..........

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Clay threads

I have had a busy June working in clay.  The closest I got to yarn was spindle spinning some wool for this piece titled Spinning Tales


At first I intended a porcelain skirt on this piece with a string coming out of the mouth.  The loose, slubby wool look more ethereal and natural.  I also wanted the tight twists with little loops.  I  soaked the wool yarn and let it dry all curly and lumpy.  It was perfect for this piece.

 

Now that the pieces for the exhibit is done, I will do some knitting.  I still have lots of yarn to get through and lot more tales to spin.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

duckling feet with a secret splash of knitted color

Pink Surprise Sock




   Just finished Plan As You Go Socks with leftover Koigu KPPM/Regia Sock Yarn (Brown)


Lately I have been working in the clay studio all day long.  By the time I clean up and cook dinner, I'm too tired to think about complicated lace patterns.  I do love to knit in the evening while watching old reruns on the tv.  No chart, no instructions, no reading.  So that leaves plain old socks.  I have duckling feet.  Short, but wide.  The advantage of this is it doesn't take long to knit a pair of socks and not as much yardage.  I love knitting with Koigu and Shibui yarns.  I still need two skeins of these yarns to make a pair, but I end up with enough to knit up toes and heels and mixed with just one new skein I have another pair of socks.  The possibilities are endless.  With a basic toe up sock pattern and a stripey pattern, I can knit away.  I actually find the stockinette stitch very soothing.  I love the idea of having only a neutral color showing, but when I take off my shoes there's a shocking shade of pink. Or this subtle shade of turquoise, stippled as if a painting.  I paddle about on my duckling feet comforted by this little secret splash of color about my toes.
  




Turquoise Sky Socks
Toe up ending  with simple double eyelet rib

 


For my simple Turquoise Sky Socks I started with a basic toe up pattern.  I had a full skein of the flax in Patons Kroy Socks and a bit of Patons Kroy Socks FX in Camo.  I used only the blue to gray part for the toes.  Once I had done all the increases I needed (for me, 60 stitches total) I started with the flax and went on up ending with 24 rows of double eyelet rib.  This yarn washes up to a soft bloom.  I love these socks.  It reminds me of our summer days of gray fog in the morning and just a peek of turquoise sky in the afternoon.




Friday, April 1, 2011

Spring Rains Hat





All done! And it's beautiful outside. We had some rain and rain and rain.  I finished this hat just as the last raindrop fell.  The colors remind me of our rolling hills in the spring with velvet green grass, bright poppies and pale blue skies.  Here's to spring.....welcome!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Slipping away the yarn




Here's my reasoning concerning the baskets of yarn I own (hoard).  Most of it is a combination of leftovers from other projects or testing skeins.  Hmmm.  Okay.  I can work with that for a while.  In any case, I am still trying to use up all the bits and "had to have a least one skein." Sometimes I have something in mind, but don't have a pattern.  So I get an extra skein.  You know what I am saying.  You know you do.

The above hat (or it may turn into a bowl) uses up leftover:

Color A:  Debbie Bliss Cashmerino 503 green.
Color B:  Nashua Julia (Honey Gold)
Color C:  Berroco Ultra Alpaca Steel Blue


This is a small hat with a 20" circumference.  A hat about 21" is in parentheses.

Gauge:  4.5 stitches per inch
Needles:  Size 6 - 16" circulars

CO 96 stitches. Connect placing marker to mark start of row.

Rib K2.P2 for 5 rows in color A (green).

Row 1 Color B Knit.
Row 2 Color B Knit.
Row 3 Color C Knit 1.  *slip  1 purlwise, yb, k1.* repeat until last stitch. K1.
Row 4 Color C Purl 1.  *yf, slip 1 purlwise, purl 1.* repeat until last stitch. P1
Row 5 Color A Knit.
Row 6 Color A Knit.

Row 7 Color B Purl 2.  *slip  1 purlwise, yb, k1.* repeat until last stitch. K1.
Row 8 Color B Purl 2.  *yf, slip 1 purlwise,  p 1.* repeat until last stitch. P1.

Repeat  beginning with Color C.  Do this for about 6" ending at row 8.

Decrease to get star pattern decrease.  Since I had  96 stitches= 12x8.  Knit 12, pm. Repeat to end. PM.

Knit 11, ktog, pm.  Do this all around.  Do not forget last marker.

Knit around slipping markers.

Follow pattern until last two stitches before marker.  Knit together.  Continue.

Continue in this fashion following pattern repeat once.

Begin decreasing every row until 8 stitches left. Fasten off in usual fashion. 

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Knitting like crazy

Knitting like crazy and loving it except I made an error on the link for PupTent Hat yesterday.  I corrected it.  It's from the blog-Caterpillar Green.  The knitter's name I got right.  I am also doing a hat by Woolly Wormhead call Meret. My brain has become a big ball of yarn and got a little tangled. My Meret was a little small so I will frog it.  I will try again and this time


check
  my gauge 
!

 

Wednesday, March 23, 2011




Still yarn stash busting.  This charming slouchy hat is done in Berocco Vintage Chunky in a moss green.  It is firm enough to hold up the stitches yet soft against the skin.  I had little less than a full skein.  The model is Porcelain Hands by me.  It had come back from a gallery exhibit and the gallery had tossed its box. It came home in the back of a pickup truck with blankets and crossed fingers.  My crossed fingers.  It graces my living area until I can make a new box for it.  In the meanwhile it is perfect for modeling hats. 

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Old layette sweater


Spring cleaning linen closet
found crumbled in back
husband's old layette sweater
--momo


Look what I found.  For some reason my mother-in-law gave me Herr Reinhart's baby sweater years ago.  His grandmother made these sweaters for all the babies.  I am going to copy it.  It is crocheted in one piece with a seam up the each side and sleeve.  I know how to crochet, but I would love to knit something like this, too. 

It's funny to think that Herr Reinhart was once that little and wore that sweet sweater.  As he was the second son, I think there was some hope for a girl. It was worn and washed many times from the look of it.  When I figure it all out I will post directions and photos.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Leftover Beanie Hat


 Leftovers Beanie
Size 8 needles, 16" circular, DPNs
Gauge 5 stitches per one inch
Cast on 84 stitches.  
K2P2 ribbing for 2 1/2 inches.  
Stockinette for another 3 inches. 
Decreasing for crown--divide 6 into 84. Every group of 14 stitches place a marker.  Knit 12 stitches, knit 2 tog (or ssk.) all around.  Knit even one round.  Knit until 2 stitches (11sts) before marker and knit 2 tog.  Knit 1 round even.  Continue this way until 24 stitches remain and then start decreasing every row until 6 stitches left.  Break off yarn leaving long time.  Thread through loops couple of times and pull tight.




Thursday, February 24, 2011

trimming overgrown yarn bushes

Burgundy Stripe Hat  my own pattern
Urban Beanie 
 Closely Knits:  Handmade Gifts for the Ones You Love
by Hannah Fettig

Jester Hat by Elizabeth Morrison
found in Ravelry

Most of January was spent knitting hats.  I was trying to use up my stash.  It worked somewhat.  It's like trimming overgrown bushes. Trimmed nearly to the root but by spring there's more branches.  More flowers. Now Herr Reinhart doesn't follow this analogy.  It simply does not compute (he is after all an engineer.)  He just wonders how stash-busting creates more skeins of new yarn.









This hat is knitted with leftovers.  It seems to be a favorite with all.  There is something about stripes.

Patons Classic  Wool
















Love the tips over the ears.

Felted Tweed by Rowan


















Love the pompom.  Stuffed with leftover bits of yarn. 

Using two strands of Encore Dk in a lavender and lime.