the heel...finally!

finishing these socks...well, i lost momentum, but here is the pattern!

make the heel.
we will be making a short-row heel. knit across instep stitches to be prepared to knit only on the sole/heel stitches.
on heel stitches:
row 1: k to last st, slip last st, wrap slipped stitch with working yarn from back to front, slip back to left hand needle, turn work, as if to knit flat. bring working yarn to front.
row 2: slip 1, p to last st, slip last st, wrap slipped stitch with working yarn from front to back, slip back to left hand needle, turn work.
continue in this manner (sl1, k to one st before last wrapped st, wrap st, turn. sl1, p to one st before last wrapped st, wrap st, turn.) until you have 8 wrapped sts on either side. (for a narrower heel, you can wrap up to 10-12 sts either side. just end on a wrong side wrap and turn.)
turning the heel:
sl 1, k to 1st wrapped st. pick up the wrap by inserting your right needle tip from the bottom to the top. slip it up onto the left hand needle with its wrapped stitch. knit them both together. wrap the next st (yes, it is already wrapped once – wrap it again.) turn.
sl 1, p to 1st wrapped st. pick up the wrap, slip it up onto needle, purl the 2 st together. wrap next st, turn.
**sl 1, k to 1st wrapped st. pick up BOTH wraps (remember, you re-wrapped it), k the 3 of them together, wrap next st, turn.
**sl 1, p to 1st wrapped st. pick up BOTH wraps, p3tog, wrap next st, turn.
continue in **this manner, picking up both wraps and knitting/purling 3 together until all wraps are picked up. picking up all the wraps make for a tighter, hole-free heel.

make the cuff.
knit across instep stitches. remember to use your pattern if you added one, or you may want to start a 2x2 rib. when you get to the heel sts, you should pick up an extra st and knit it together with the first heel st. this will close any gaps. do this again at the end of the heel sts to close up the other side.
knit the cuff as long as you like, leaving enough yarn to bind off. (2 feet is plenty!)

bind off.
i like to use elizabeth zimmermann’s sewn bind off. it allows for a very stretchy nice bind off!
thread your 2-foot tail onto a tapestry needle. *insert the needle into the first 2 stitches on the knitting needle as if to purl and draw the yarn through. reinsert the needle into the first stitch on the knitting needle as if to knit, draw the yarn through and slip the stitch off.* continue from * to *.

wear your socks.


:::::Pattern ideas:::::
1)
2x2 rib

2)
knit all even rows:
row 1: k2, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k4, k2tog,k3,yo, k1, yo, k3, sl1, k1, psso, k4, k2tog, yo, k1
row 3: k2, yo, k1, sl1, k1, psso, k2 ,k2tog, k4, yo, k1, yo, k4, sl1, k1, psso, k2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1
row 5: k2, yo, k2, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k5, yo, k1, yo, k5, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k2, yo, k1
row 7: k2, yo, k3, sl1, k1, psso, k4, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k4, k2tog, k3, yo, k1
row 9: k2, yo, k4, sl1, k1, psso, k2, k2tog, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, sl1, k1, psso, k2, k2tog, k4, yo, k1
row 11: k2, yo, k5, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, sl1, k1, psso, k2tog, k5, yo, k1
repeat these rows, ending with a knit row.

Let me know of any other simple patterns/ribs that you enjoy!

melissa's toe-up socks.

time for a new class!

materials
yarn:fingering weight (sock yarn)
needles: 2 – size US 1-3 circular needles, 16”-24” long (or size to get gauge)
gauge: 7.5st –8st = 1” stockinette
size: 7.5” (8.5”, 9”) ankle circumference

cast on.
using the figure-8 cast-on, CO 24 sts (12 on each needle).
{instructions for figure-8 cast on: holding needle A together with cable B, make a slip knot and place it onto the needle in back (A). do not count this slip knot in your CO count! we will drop it later. take your working yarn UNDER both needles, up over the front cable, down between the 2 needles, up and over (in back of) the back needle, down between the 2 needles, etc. a great tutorial by adrian of hello yarn is here.(she does not use a slip knot, though.)

make the toe.
take your working yarn and put it between the cable and needle so that it is in the back, ready to knit.
knit the first row. using working yarn that was just passed through cable & needle, knit across back needle to slip knot. do not knit it – just drop it!
with that row complete, slide stitches to cable (pull needle to the left). now, slide next set of stitches to front needle (pull front needle – B – to the right) and turn work clockwise. you will notice that these stitches are twisted, so you will need to knit these stitches THROUGH THE BACK LOOP. make sure you are using the front needle with the front needle. A with A, B with B! REMEMBER: DO NOT MIX NEEDLES!
you have completed your first round! go ahead and knit one more round before increasing. at the end of this round, you may want to place a marker or small safety pin in your work to mark the end of the round.
now, to increase.
round 1: M1 (kfb), k to 2nd to last st, M1 (kfb), k. turn. Repeat for 2nd needle.
round 2: k all sts
continue this pattern until you have desired number of sts.
for size small, CO 28 sts each needle, total of 56. medium, CO 32 sts each, 64 total. large, 34 sts each, 68 total. to customize – measure your ankle. (example, 8”). take your gauge (example 6 sts=1”). Multiply circumferencexgauge=CO total! (ex=48) divide in half for each needle (24 each).

make the foot.
Knit in the round, adding any desired pattern to instep until 2” short of heel.

come back next week for the short-row heel and some patterning ideas for your cuff!

spinning

so, with school done for the year, we took a week off. played on the slip-n-slide, in the sprinkler, played "sorry", cards...and i got some spinning done!

this is the first skein of hello yarn fiber club "loch". 2-ply, 220 yards, light worsted, i'm guessing. i have another 4oz. to spin. hope to make it similar!

close up...

hello yarn fiber club "pallid" fluff...this is a quarter of what i have...

here's about 2 oz spun into singles...i might keep it this way and do a shawl? not sure...

FO: 2 socks on 2 circs

3 week class.
1 pair of socks.
purty good, i say.

i followed my 3 part instructions to a "t".
yarn used: Schoeller+Stahl Sockina Cotton.
also on my ravelry page.

if you knit some socks, let me know!

2 socks on 2 circulars: part III

and the finish....


Part III: Toe and Bind Off

Toe:
Rnd 1, and all other odd rounds: *K 1, k2tog, k until 3 sts remain, ssk, K 1 (Repeat on other needle)
Rnd 2, and all other even rounds: K
Work as set until 12, sts remain.
Toe Grafting:
With a tapestry needle threaded with your yarn, work the following:
Front needle: Insert tapestry needle as if to knit and drop off knitting needle, insert t. needle
into next stitch as if to purl and leave it on the needle.
Back Needle: Insert t. needle as if to purl and drop off k. needle, insert t. needle into next stitch as if to knit and leave on the needle.
Repeat back and forth until all sts are grafted.
Weave in ends.
Wear those socks!

2 socks on 2 circs: part 2

Continuing with the socks...

Part II: Heel flap, Turning the Heel, Gusset

I think it’s best to do the heels one at a time, to avoid getting twisted up! You can knit the heel flaps at the same time…just watch which row you end on (it’s gotta be a purlside row!).

Heel Flap
Knit across needle “A” (instep of sock), and when you get to “B”, knit across one sock.
TURN.
*Sl1, P1 * across on WS rows.
On RS rows, Sl 1 st, knit across.
Work in this manner until the heel flap measures 2.5” ending with a RS row.

Turning the Heel
Turn 1: Slip 1, purl 14, (18, 20), p2tog, p1, turn. (10 sts rem)
Turn 2: Slip 1, Knit 3 (7, 9) SKP (sl 1, k1, pass sl st over k st), k1, turn. (10 sts rem.)
Turn 3: Slip 1, purl 4 (8,10), p2tog, p1, turn. (8 sts rem)
Continue in this fashion (increasing number of knits/purls each row) until no sts rem.
Ending on a knit row, you will now have a total of 16 (20, 22) heel sts.

The Gusset
Pick up and knit 19-25 sts along edge of heel flap. This number can vary – just make it dense enough to not have holes or gaps. I twist my stitches on purpose here, to get them really snug. (To twist, K into the back of the stitch.)

REPEAT FLAP, TURN, GUSSET FOR SOCK 2!

Knit across needle “A”. (If you want to keep your rib pattern [or any other pattern] going, make sure to do so here!)
Needle “B”: Pick up and knit 19-25 sts along edge of heel flap. Be sure to use needle “B”! These are all heel stitches – keep B with B, A with A…
Knit across all heel sts and remaining 19-25 sts that were previously picked up.
Repeat for other sock.
Knit across needle “A”.
From here on out, you’ll be knitting across A (both socks), then B (both socks).

DECREASE GUSSET
Needle “B”: K1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts, SSK, K1.
K across needle “A”.
Needle “B”: K across all heel sts.
Repeat this (decreasing every other round on heel sts) until you have the original number of sts left on needle “B” {28 (32, 34)}
You are ready to continue your foot.
Knit until 2” short of end of your foot.

Toes are next!

i'm actually knitting...

...a pair of socks.

well, really, i'm teaching a knitting class at the local yarn shop. it's the fun 2-at-a-time method on 2 circular needles. since i'm trying to write it out for myself (since i never follow one straight method), i thought i'd document it here. feel free to knit along (it'd be helpful to know if it works for more folks than me!)

so, in my class, i'm giving one step instructions per class. first class was how to cast on 2 socks onto 2 circs. i find this the hardest part. next class is the heel flap, turning the heel, and the gusset. final class, the toe. so here is step one:

Knitting 2 Socks on 2 Circular Needles

Yarn: Fingering weight (Sock Yarn)
Needles: US 1-3 (or size to get gauge)
Gauge: 7.5” –8” = 1” stockinette
Sizes: 7.5” (8.5”, 9”) ankle circumference


Part I: Casting On and the Cuff

This might be the trickiest part. In order to cast on for 2 socks, you need to do some fidgeting. First, name your needles. For the sake of consistency, I will call them “A” and “B.” (This could also be Instep and Sole.) You’ll see….this will get helpful soon.
Take “A” needle and cast on 56 (64, 68) sts. With “B” needle, slip half of those sts onto "B". Flip “B” around to make a sideways “V”, with working yarn hanging from “B” to the right. Again, take “A” needle and cast on 56 (64, 68) sts. With “B” needle, slip half of those sts. You will now have 2 sideways “V’s.” Now is a good time to check that your stitches are facing the same direction, the closed part of the “V” is not twisted, and your working yarn is in the same place on both “V’s.”

Marking the end of the round. I don’t always do this, but do find it helpful. To mark the end of the round, you will want to slip your last CO st (but don’t lose it!), place a marker on your needle and replace the last CO st. This will be the marker for End of Round. Alternatively, I just use my “tail” from casting on as my guide. You can choose which method is best for you.

Ready to join into a round? Good. Secure your stitch: take last CO st and slip to "A". Slip first CO st over and back onto "B". They've switched spots, right? good. You are good to go.
Now, let’s remember the 2 Circular Needle Rule:
Knit “A” stitches to “A” needle, and “B” to “B”.
Ok. With that said, let’s knit. With needle “A” on top, let “B” dangle below. We are going to Knit FIRST with needle “A”. Put working sts on end of A. (You can say A1 and A2.) Pick up other end of A (A2) and Knit. Now what about a pattern?

Here is where you can get creative. Do you have a favorite sock pattern? Use it! (Note: you may have to adjust your cast on stitch numbers, but why not!?!) Just want a rib? 2x2, 1x1, 3x1…they all work. For the sake of this basic class, we will do a 2x2 rib for 2”. Let’s do it.

Cuff: K2, P2 around for 2”.
Leg: You can continue in Rib Pattern or switch to Stockinette (K all around). Knit until leg measures 6” from Cast On.

Freeze there until next week.
Let me know of any problems!
Thanks!!!!

Some helpful links:
Cat Bordhi on You Tube
Cat Bordhi - part 2
knittinghelp.com advanced techniques: scroll down to "On Two Circular Needles"
a great tutorial