The colors of January

Pacific Ocean--Mendocino Headlands

what are the colors of January?

for me it's the deep blues

of winter's night skies

and

charcoal gray storm clouds

laden

with icy blue resolutions 

and

teal good intentions

salt marshes

its the color of whales

singing their nursery songs

as they coast along our Pacific coast

 or the

gray feathers of mourning doves

looking for love

and a building nests

in all the wrong places

Pudding Creek and Haul Road bridge and Pacific Ocean

but right now it's

 Malabrigo Sock Yarn

in the colorway 852 Persia

knitted up into fingerless

mitts

to go over

and glam up

 my  cheap machine made store bought gloves

and

here it is

the colors of January

Happy New Year!

M o m o C h a r l e n e ' s
N e w Y e a r ' s
M i d n i g h t B l u e
G l o v e S l e e v e s
o r
F i n g e r l e s s M i t t s

Yarn: Malabrigo Sock
Needles: 1 set dbl pts size 1 and 2.
Gauge: 7-8 sts. Per inch.
Size Small to Medium

Notes: As these were made to slip over store bought gloves with the

touch fingertips for smart phones, etc. the body of the glove needs a

bit more width. I solved this by switching to size 2 needles for the

body. I like the finger and wrist area tighter anyway so I use a size

smaller needles for those areas. These sleeves are also flippable. I

like the sportswear look of the ribbing at my fingertips, but there are

times I need to see some lace!

Cast on 60 stitches with size 1s. Place marker at beginning. Join for round stitching.

Knit 3, Purl 2 ribbing for 2 inches. Switch to size 2 needles.

Knit stockinette for 1 inch.

Purl 3, knit around to last 3 sts. Purl 3. Repeat for 3 rows.

for thumb opening:

Row 1 (Right side): *(P1, S1)twice, P1. * Stockinette around to last 5 stitches before marker. Do same pattern *-*.

TURN work ( will work back and forth.)

Row 2 (wrong side): Purl across. TURN.

Repeat these two rows for about 3 inches. Enough for your thumb to slip through. End on right side.

Rejoining and starting lace pattern:

Place marker and rejoin(for in the rd knitting) by just stitching across to left side p1,sl 1, p1, sl 1 p1. Knit across

to last 5 stitches, p1, sl, p1, sl1. Slip marker. Knit across. Do these two rows for 3 times (total 6 rows.)

Knit 1 inch of stockinette. Switch to size 1 needles.

Begin lace pattern:

Row 1:

K2tog, yo, k1, yo sl 1, k1, psso, p2, k1, p2.

Row 2 & 3:

Knit

Row 4:

repeat row 1.

Repeat four row pattern 5 times. End at row 3. Bind off.

© all rights reserved by Charlene Reinhart. For personal use only. Please give credit and link back to:

http://knit1clay2.blogspot.com.

While doing the stripey sock (the toes were done with leftovers from this sock pattern. I finished up the instructions for the cable and lace socks.  This was done quickly and I hope it isn't too confusing. The socks are so lovely and Malabrigo Sock Yarn so soft.  Plus the pattern looks very slimming with its long verticals.  The knitting went quickly, too.  I knitted without a cable needle so it was easy not fussing with a little cable needle.  I love this pattern and will sure to use it again---maybe in fingerless gloves.

MoMo's Simple Cable and Lace Socks

Something simple and straightforward

easy to do wherever and not have to worry about what's around the corner.

Pattern is simple and elegant. It is good for knitting while watching television of your favorite reruns. (I like to watch PBS Masterpiece Theater)

Please forgive me if there are errors. I tried my best!

It really is a basic top down sock. Just add the pattern around theleg. Split for heel flap using 36 stitches. Keep 34 stitches for pattern on instep.

Momo's Simple Cable and Lace Socks

Finished size is small-size 6 shoe/37Eur

This pattern easily adaptable to smaller or larger sizes.

Use larger needles or lengthen foot. Pattern repeats in 8 rows making alterations easy.

Yarn: Malabrigo Sock (420 yds) 1 skein (only used approx. 3/4)

Needles: Size 1

Gauge: 8 stitches to 1”

Leg:

Cast on 70 stitches.

Arrange stitches on three needles:

17, 35, 18

Careful not to twist stitches, join for round knitting in the. Mark beginning of row.

Knit 1 row.

Purl 1 row.

Knit 1 row.

Purl 1 row.

Using chart begin pattern. Pattern repeat is 10 stitches. Last for in light gray are for the last 4 stitches of the round. Repeat pattern for desired length. I did 8 cable oval sets.

Heel Flap:

At marker, turn to wrong side.

Slip 1 purlwise.

Purl 35.

Turn.

Slip one knit wise

K1, Sl 1 across ending with K1

Repeat these two rows 15 times (30 rows).

Turning:

K20. K2tog. K1. Turn

Sl 1 Purlwise, P7, P2tog

K across to stitch before gap. Take this stitch and next stitch in a ssk to close this gap. Turn.

S1, purl to 1 st before gap. P2tog to close gap.

Continue in this fashion until all stitches are worked.

There should be 22 stitches.

Now for the fun part.

Gusset:

With a new needle (Needle 1)

Pick up 15 stitches in each of the chain on side of flap. (Gusset stitches)

Needle 2: Continue cable and lace pattern at across instep (starting and ending with purl)

*34 stitches

Pick up 15 stitches again on flap with another needle (Needle 3)

Knit across 11 stitches on the heel flap. Slip marker.

You now have 4 needles with stitches.

Needle 1 has from right to left: 11 stitches, a marker, 11 stitches

Needle 2: 15 gusset stitches

Needle 3 (top of foot): pattern of 34 stitches

Needle 4: 15 gusset stitches

K10.

P15.

Continue pattern (instep)

P15.

Knit 11. Sl marker.

K10

P12. P2tog. P1.

Pattern

P1. P2tog. P12.

Knit across to marker. Sl marker.

Repeat these two rows twice more. At this point change to knit stitch instead of purl and continue decrease until there is 7 gusset stitches remaining on both sides. (Redistribute stitches if more comfortable onto 4 needles)

Continue stockinette and pattern until 1 3/4” less than desired length. Begin decrease for toe.

TOE:

Knit one row and also redistribute sts so that pattern stitches (instep) are on one needle and sole stitches are two.

(Needle 1 has 17 stitches, Needle 2 has 35 stitches, Needle 3 has 18 stitches)

Row 1:

Starting with needle 1 knit until last 3 sts. K2 tog. K1.

On needle 2 (instep) K1. Ssk. Knit till last 3 stitches. K2 tog. K1.

Needle 3: K1. Ssk. Knit to end of needle.

Row 2:

Knit.

Continue these two rows until 8 stitches remain. Leave 10-12” tail. Use Kirchner stitch.

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Row 8

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O

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Row_ 7

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Row 6

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Row 5

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Row 4

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O

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Row 3

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Row 2

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Row 1

10

5

Pattern repeat is 10 stitches. Last four stitches on chart for last 4 stitches in the round on the leg. For instep it is repeated 3 times with last four stitches.

Legend:

	knit
─	purl
O	YO (yarnover)
/	K2tog
\	ssk
►	Cable 2*

*The four triangles set is a cable 2: slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle. Or you can slip 2 sts purlwise to right needle. Knit next two stitches. Pull those two stitches off needle by pinching back of loops (hold firm) and slip the two slip sts back to left in front of the held stitches. Now put two held stitches onto right needle. It is faster than using a cable needle. For visual ck: http:// www.knittinghelp.com

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.

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. 

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.