Sock time

I love knitting with little needles and Malabrigo Sock Yarn in Alcaucil .  They have such lustrous colorways.  Even the very dark, nearly black yarns have such a luminous quality.  Like the ocean after sundown.

This pattern is a simple mix of cable and eyelet rib.  When I finish it I will post the instruction.  As I go along I will probably change a few things.  It is a sock in progress.

In the meanwhile, back at the ranch...Clay and Persimmons.......I'm making little porcelain leaves.  While cutting out little ovals I noticed they look like little cable ovals.  I need to get out more......

Shawl time

Elizabeth Zimmerman's 100th Anniversary PI Shawl done in Isager Alpaca 1

This beautiful shawl was designed by Mwaa Knit Obsession as a tribute to Elizabeth Zimmerman.  It is based on EZ's camping trips which she describes in the Knitter's Almanac.  The first book I bought on knitting was Zimmerman's Knitting Without Tears in the 1970's.  I still have it and although I knit without tears, I can not help to laugh to tears whenever I read it.

My lovely daughter-in-law doesn't know I was knitting this for her.  I picked it because of the symbolic nature of the patterns included in this shawl.  The designer picked a paw print pattern to represent EZ's cat, Kline and all furry animals.  I thought it could also symbolize that my daughter-in-law was born in the year of the rabbit   The slanting twigs represents walking in the woods with the dappling sunlight. For me it symbolizes the trails my daughter-in-law hiked with our son (especially the Lost Coast trail) and the life they are building together. The willow leaves represents family growing strong.  The waves and droplets edge signifies the Pacific Ocean and that she is a water sign.  I knitted it with a very fine alpaca from Isager bought at my favorite yarn shop, Mendocino Yarn Shop.  This shawl is so light and soft.  Well-suited for our moderate climate.  I think it came out beautiful just like her.

Still working my way through all the maybe it's a full skein basket.  Just when I thought I had gotten a good handle on the  one skein  here and there I found a stray bag with 3 skeins of different yarns.  I started making hats again.  I have to admit hats are fast and fun to knit.

 Graham by Jennifer Adams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

drawing by me done in Jo Sharp DK and Red Sharpie

Travel Shawl by Veronik Avery

Now I did sneak in the shawl from Knitting 24/7 by Veronik Avery into my knitting basket.  At first I didn't know what gives with the beginning until I realized that the shawl is not triangular but a square.  This isn't too clear in the photos, but it was actually a nice surprise.  I love the thought that it is useful as a lap shawl or folded for extra warmth.  Once started it goes along with its own rhythm.  In between I will continue to use up my one skein stash.  I already started to think headbands and cowls. Maybe some mittens.  Fingerless gloves.......

Stripe Hat by Me using leftovers

While sorting through my yarn I found a UFO hiding out in the pinks basket.  There was another small ball of Suri Alpaca in ac variegated taupe/rose/ecru wrapping itself around a little bit of blue alpaca yarn.  It was love at first sight.  Plain and simple they knitted themselves together, knit row in blue, purl row in rose in the round.  That way there is no right nor wrong side.  Just put it on and away you go!

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!

slipping away in slippers

Winter Slippers

by Veronik Avery

in

Knitting 24/7

30 Projects to Knit, Wear, and Enjoy, On the Go and Around the Clock

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.................

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.