Sock Pattern My Way from Easy Peasy

ODD BALL SOCKS – Condensed - I took the liberty to re-write our sock pattern so its easier to follow as I guide you.  Please print this out for your knitting bag.

Light worsted weight yarn and size 5 Double Pointed Needles.

Size is for women’s medium size sock.  (if you use different size needles or yarn you might get very tiny socks or ginormous socks!)

CUFF:

Cast on 40 stitches over 4 needles – 10 stitches on each needle.  Do not twist your stitches and attach together knitting K1, P1 around your sock for approx 2 inches – with a nice light worsted weight this is about 25-30 rows.

HEEL FLAP:

Transfer 10 of your stitches onto your working needle.  You will now have 20 stitches on one needle.  This will be your Heel Flap. 

Knit across and purl back.  Knitting on the outside or (RS)  right side of the sock, and purl back on the inside or (WS)wrong side of the sock.

Knit back and forth till you have knitted a total of 20 rows.

TURNING THE HEEL:

This creates the nice little round area for your heel.  Just follow the directions:

(to work the SSK ~ slip slip knit) , you slip one stitch from left needle to the right needle, then you slip another from left needle to right needle, put both back on the left needle and knit them together as one.  Here is a little video.

http://www.knittinghelp.com/video/play/slip-slip-knit-english

Row 1:  (RS): K12, SSK, K1

Row 2 : (WS): sl 1, P5, P2tog, P1

Row 3:   sl 1, k6, ssk, k1

Row 4:  sl1, P7, P2tog, p1

Row 5:  sl1, k8, ssk, k1

Row 6:  sl1, p9, p2tog, p1

Row 7:  sl1, k10, ssk

Row 8:  sl1, p10, p2tog

Row 9: Knit across the 12 stitches remaining.

THE GUSSET

      1.   Pick up 20 stitches on this needle from the side of your heel flap.

            *** after the 19^th stitch place a marker.

2. Knit across your next 2 needles .   (each of those have 10 stitches)

You have now ended the k1, p1 cuff so just knit across the next 2 needles.

3. Pick up 20 stitches on the side of the heel flap using another double pointed needle.  ***place a marker after 1^st stitch.

4. When you finish picking up those 20 stitches you are at the place where you  

Started your heel flap.  Place a locking marker here as this will be the place you count your rows from.

 ***Needle 1 has 32 stitches, Needle 2 has 10 stitches, Needle 3 has 10 stitches and Needle 4 has 20 stitches.   They are not evenly dispersed, you can arrange them if you would like.

DECREASE OF THE GUSSET:

1.     Knit to 2 stitches before your first marker, K2tog, slip marker, Knit to next marker, slip that marker and ssk (refer to the little directions above for Slip,Slip,Knit) and knit to end of round.

REPEAT this decrease round until only 40 stitches remain. Keep your markers in place you will come back to them later.

THE FOOT

Continue knitting in stockinette stitch (just knitting, NO purling) all the way around until the sock comes to the bottom of your big toe.  It’s a good idea to keep track of your rounds so you know how many you knit.  This is reference for the next sock and others to be knitted in the future.     If you try to slip the sock over your foot to measure, be careful you do not break your needles or slip them out of the stitches.  When the sock is stretched out the length will decrease.  Be sure to knit enough rows.

 

THE TOE
Remember that first stitch marker!   Knit over to your first stitch marker.  SLIP THIS MARKER AND KNIT THE NEXT STITCH.  Place your end of round marker here!

Setup round:  K1, pm (place marker), k18, pm, k2, sm (slip marker), k1.  Now all your markers are in place and you are at the end of the round.  Decreases will be worked now.

Round 1:  k1, *sm, k2tog, k to 2 sts before next marker, ssk.  Knit to next marker.  Prpeat from *.  Knit to end of round.

Round 2:  Knit every stitch on all needles to end of round.

Continue working rounds 1 & 2 until 12 stitches remain.

Remove markers, cast off with Kitcheners Stitch and weave in your ends.

The End of fist sock – now do it again!

Sewing Your Blocks Together

This is some great detail for all of you who are working on the Heirloom Afghan BOM.  At some point you are going to want to sew your blocks together.  Your leader found this great informative information just for you!  I especially like that it shows you the RS which is right side and the WS  in the photos.  This will help you as you work on techniques that prompt you to start on  RS or WS. 

This is how to finish sewing your blocks together, which is mostly made up of seaming the squares together. You can use good old mattress stitch, which is my favorite seaming technique for most things, but I'm partial to slip-stitch crochet seaming for seaming afghan squares.

Here's how you do it:

Slip-Stitch Crochet

	Working the slip-stitch crochet seam

With right sides together and working one stitch at a time, insert a crochet hook through both thicknesses into the stitch just below the bound off edge, or one stitch in front of the selvedge edge.

Catch the yarn and draw a loop through both thicknesses, then catch the yarn again and draw this loop through the first. This secures the end stitches together.

*Insert the hook into the next stitch, through both thicknesses, then catch and draw a loop back through both thicknesses and through the loop on the crochet hook; repeat from *, keeping the crochet stitches even. 

To end, cut the yarn leaving a tail 6–8" (15–20 cm) long. Pull the tail end through the last stitch on the hook. Thread the tail on a tapestry needle and weave it back through the seam allowance for 2" (5 cm).
TIP: Slip-stitch crocheted seams are easy to remove if you've made a mistake—just pull on the working yarn to ravel. Because it's so easily removed, it's ideal for adjusting the placement of matching seams or easing in fullness.

Down to Business - March BOM

OK knitters, here is your image of the March Heirloom block and the pattern will be at the bottom of this little chat.

I have a link that you might enjoy so check it out and keep growing those brain cells as you add more techniques to your yarn basket.
Knitting Tips - this link was not working earlier please try here. http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-tips

Remember to also check out Ravelry and join.  Tons of free patterns, people log on and share the same projects, its a nice opportunity to see one pattern in so many different color ways.  Raverly

Sampler Afghan Block of the Month

March  2013

Six Stitch Cable

Cast on 78 stitches

________  Row 1:  P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 2:               (Right side) K1, (P2, K6, P2, K1) across

________  Row 3:   P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 4:   K1, (P2, K6, P2, K1) across

________  Row 5:   P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 6    K1 * P2, slip 3 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work,

                            K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K1; repeat from * across.

________  Row 7:   (P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 8:   K1, (P2, K6, P2, K1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 9:   P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 10   K1, (P2, K6, P2, K1) across

________  Row 11:  P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 12   K1 * P2, slip 3 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work,

                            K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K1; repeat from * across.

Repeat rows 1-12 until square measures approximately 12 inches from cast on edge, ending with a wrong side row.  Bind off all stitches leaving last loop on needle. 

Edging:  Drop loop from needle, insert crochet hook in loop. Do not turn; work 3 single crochet in each corner and 48 single crochet evenly spaced across each side.  Join with slip stitch to first single crochet.  Finish off.

Feburary 19th

The group had a great gathering Tues evening at the quilt shop.  We filled up the long tables, laughed till it hurt and enjoyed so many projects.   I saw new faces and old faces, fresh projects and old projects.  And of course there was no knitting without fudge and chocolate!

It looks like Sally is knitting dogs again - OK, I am taking a break from socks!

 Our long table was filled up from end to end.  I think we were 20 strong last night!

 Part of the Heirloom block of the month - Sara has started her February block.

Everyone is doing their blocks in different colors and yarns - its most interesting!

 Rebecca has finished her February block which she has done in the luxurious Brushed Baby Alpaca - talk about a warm afghan to cuddle up under.

 Is this not the most lovely mascot - Always watching for those dropped stitches and mistakes.   The shop has two mascots, the other is a calico girl.  

 This is a Fair Isle sock which is about half way done.  It was really fun to talk to its knitter on challenges of this pattern.   Several of us have these wonderful pattern holders with the magnetic back that holds your pattern in place and folds over like a book when not in use - the shop has these in two sizes!   Its a MUST!!!  Why did I wait so long to get myself one - Oh, I remember I wanted yarn!

 This is a cute pair - yarn and chocolate!  When spring comes and we are all toxic from to much chocolate I wonder if we will see vegie trays at knit night instead!   Nah, couldn't happen, nothing says knitting fun like chocolate.

 This is a little sample of Vicki's March block.  I will post the directions on the blog in the next few days for you to print out.   This is the lovely cable stitch, its so much fun and once you do one you will fall in love with how easy it is and how difficult it appears to those who don't know how to do it!   Vicki is knitting her Heirloom Afghan in creams like Aran style afghan.   Love how the cream shows off the pattern so well.

 NO its not done yet!   I can tell they are addicted, they are still smiling!

Now this is really fun to watch!   The very first sock has started to get underway.   By the evenings end she was almost ready to start the heel flap!   She may become the new sock teacher!


It was a really fun night at Hearts & Twined Quilt Shop - Rebecca has some new pattern books in that had us drooling, new yarns are appearing and little wonderful knitting accessories.   Hope you can come join us each Tues night 5:30 - 7 PM over on Main Street - Where Everybody Knows Your Skein.

They Say Its Your Birthday! Feb's BOM

 Our fun loving leader celebrated her milestone birthday at Hearts N Twined Quilt shop with the OddBalls on Tues evening even with a big storm and rain raging outside!  Happy birthday Vickie with your tiara, you hauled in the big loot, cake, flowers and bags of  little gifties...Now you do know you do not get to do "60" again!  There is no do over!

 Rebecca had a pretty bouquet with some really great cake we all devoured, more food arrived all evening.  Pretty soon we will be known as the eating odd balls instead of the knitting odd balls.

 Are these not the most fun accessories for knitters - tiara and Elton John Glasses - He would love this, Little Dancer!

 OK back to business - January's blocks are coming along so pretty, and the blocks are all so different in colors and yet they are all knitting up perfect!  Its really fun to see them as they are finished. 

This is a picture of Feb's block of the month.   Its a Daisy Stitch.  There might be a little boo boo in the directions, please check with Vicki on this but as I recal from last night one of the rows has a little correction:  Here is your pattern!  

Sampler Afghan Block of the Month

February 2013

Daisy Stitch

Cast on 55 stitches

________  Row 1:  Knit (k) all stitches (sts)

________  Row 2:   Purl (p) all (sts)

________  Row 3:   k all sts

________  Row 4:   p all sts

________  Row 5:   k all sts

________  Row 6    p all sts

Work Daisy St as follows:   Insert right needle in st 3 rows below second st on left needle and pull up loop.  Knit 2 pull up a loop in same st as first loop twice

________  Row 7:              (Right side):  (K6, work Daisy St) 5 times, K5 

________  Row 8:              *P5, P2 tog, (P1, P2 tog) twice;  repeat from * 4 more times, P5

________  Row 9:   k all sts

________  Row 10   p all sts

________  Row 11:  k all sts

________  Row 12   p all sts

________  Row 13   k all sts

________  Row 14   p all sts

________  Row 15:  K11, work Daisy St, (k6, work Daisy St) 3 times, K10

________  Row 16   P 10, P2 tog ( P1, P2 tog) twice,*P5, P2 tog, (P1, P2 tog) twice:

                            repeat from *2 more times, P 10.

Repeat rows 1-16 until square measures approximately 12 inches from cast on edge, ending with a wrong side row.  Bind off all stitches leaving last loop on needle. 

Edging:  Drop loop from needle, insert crochet hook in loop. Do not turn; work 3 single crochet in each corner and 48 single crochet evenly spaced across each side.  Join with slip stitch to first single crochet.  Finish off.

Hooray Its Knitting Day

 Holy cow, the rain sure didn't keep any of the Odd Balls away!  It was like we never missed a beat and I am guessing two weeks away from the shop over holidays really got the juices flowing.  I was going to take a count of how many started socks and I think there were 10 at least!   I am so excited so many took the plunge into insanity.  The biggest challenge was met, casting onto 4 needles and then connecting that first stitch to create your first round.

Well played!  By the time my hour was up and it was time for Vicki to start her block of the month Heritage Afghan, everyone had gotten at least 2-3 rounds knitted on their first sock.  Next week, we start the heel flap!

After sock hour the long needles came out and I am sorry my images did not come out good enough to post, but there was quite an array of colors for those blocks.   In comparison to the sock challenge the afghan block should seem like a cake walk!

Out came the long needles, fresh balls of yarn, and another project started.   When Vicki showed off her finished sample block she reminded everyone that later in the course of time she will also teach us how to block our work so those blocks are nice and square and beautiful!  

See ya next Tuesday, where everyone knows your skein, and we are all glad you came!

A Word On Socks

See ya Tues evening!   Vicki has a pretty straight forward Heirloom block to start on the afghan Block Of The Month, but the socks need some discussion.

I know I have eyed some of the cool bulky yarns thinking how lovey they would be in socks.   Let me just say NO do not try this.  First off the bulky appears it will have enough yarn in a skein but one ball will just give you one sock..you would need two skeins for a pair!   Here is an example I did and I did not make the second.  This one was MORE work than you can imagine.  Its gianormous and I could not keep the stitches on my needles it became so big when adding the gussett!   You need to use the recommended worsted weight - the shop has lots to choose from where ONE skein will make a pair.   Remember these are your first socks, and you want to like and wear them even if they are not perfect!

I did manage to finish a pair over the holidays -

Till Tues!