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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O

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Row_ 7

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Row 6

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O

/

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O

/

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Row 5

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Row 4

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O

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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

Dusk to Dawn Striped Socks

Stripe Socks--Dusk to Dawn with Malabrigo and Koigiu left overs

One of my favorite things to do is watch the skies after the sunset at the Pacific Coast.  People come out and stroll along the beach just before.  Some set up their beach chairs and wrapped themselves up in blankets (or each other.)  Once the sun sets people leave.  They turn their backs and head back to their cars and leave.  Yet if you give yourself 10 more minutes the skies deepen to summer hot fuchsias melting into lilacs and back again to shimmering golds.  The ocean breeze seems to stop as if drawing in its breath.  The day's turquoise water takes on a saturated tone of midnight blue with splashes of moonlight silver. I finished the cable and lace socks.  I am writing the pattern and will post it in a couple of days.

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!