2012 mini stocking recipe

I've made one or many mini stockings over the last several Christmases.  I seem to alter the pattern a bit from year to year, but do most of them the same in any one season.  This is a great way to use up scraps.

This year's are shaping up as follows:

Size 3 double pointed needles, set of 4
Fingering to light worsted yarn

Cast on 24 stitches. Divide on three needles (6, 6, 12)
Purl three rounds.
Knit all stitches for about 1.5 inches.

Heel flap is worked back and forth on 12 stitches, starting on the wrong side.
Row 1: K1, purl to last stitch, slip 1 with yarn in front
Row 2: *K1, slip 1 with yarn in back*, repeat between * to last stitch, slip 1 with yarn in front
Repeat rows 1 and 2 five times for a total of 12 rows

Heel turn:
Row 1 (WS): K1, p6, p2tog, p1, turn
Row 2 (RS): slip 1, K3, ssk, K1, turn
Row 3: slip 1, purl to last three stitches, p2tog, p1, turn
Row 4:  slip 1, knit to last three stitches, ssk, K1

Divide heel stitches evenly on two needles. Place instep stitches one needle.
Pick up and knit six stitches on right edge of heel flap. Knit across instep. Pick up and knit six stitches on left side of heel flap, then knit remaining heel stitches.

Gusset rounds begin at the bottom of the foot.
Round 1: knit to last three stitches on first needle, K2tog, K1. Knit across instep. On third needle, K1, ssk, knit to end.
Round 2: knit all stitches

Repeat gusset round until 24 stitches remain.
Knit all stitches for about .75 inches.

Toe rounds begin at side of foot.
Round 1: *K2, K2tog* repeat to end
Round 2: knit
Round 3: *K1, K2tog* repeat to end
Round 4: knit
Round 5: *K2tog* to end

Cut yarn, draw yarn through remaining stitches to close toe.
Weave in ends.  If desired, use tail from cast on to fashion hanging loop.

Feel like making some super Supersock socks. These two skeins were from my New Year's Eve haul off of DBNY.

Made today

Second sleeve. Potato leek mushroom bacon soup. Piles of clean laundry. Grocery trip.

Had my hour of gymnastics-watching knitting time this morning. Finished the yoke of the fresh picked cardi and picked up one sleeve for a short cuff. Don't have enough yarn for long sleeves as written so I'm improvising.

Tour of Champions

Brought the girls to the Fieldhouse to see the Tour of Champions, including some of the US Olympic gymnastics team members. Show starts in 20 minutes.

Phone banking

Not much knitting this week, either working or making calls related to next week's election. Vote!

Scarecrow Slacks

My first grader brought home a family project assignment: cut out and dress up the enclosed scarecrow pieces and return to school.  

While digging around in my craft drawers for buttons and string, I came across a pair of swatches in the round that I had done a while back when trying out an idea for a scrap blanket.  These just happened to be exactly the size of the scarecrow's legs.  

I pulled out a complementary ball from the scrap bag, picked up along the top of each swatch to join in a circle, asked myself if it was entirely absurd to be knitting pants for a cardboard scarecrow, decided it was, kept going anyway, then added an inch of ribbing on top and a bow made from one of the swatch tails.  

Note to self: try that scrap blanket idea again on fingering again.

Autumn Flora

Last night I cast on for a Fresh Picked Color cardigan for my younger daughter. It is her favorite color theory pink. I will be making it longer than the directions for less of a cropped look. I should have enough yarn but will be winging it a bit when I get to the sleeves. Wish me luck.

Aged Stash Project - Rainbow Twist

Short sleeve sweater for the kidlet is done. Mostly based on the October pattern from Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac.

Newest Knitter

My younger daughter, 6, asked me if I could teach her to knit today. Here are her very first rows, in her favorite color.

Aged Stash WIP

Starter this bottom up pullover last night with some Mountain Colors River Twist I've had since 2010. Sized to fit elder kid, I hope. Striping in leftovers from her hat on the body.

Aged Stash Project - Buttonhead

My daughter wanted a hat covered in buttons after going through the button bag to find a closure for her Helium shrug. She choose an assortment of buttons with a shank that I could thread on to the yarn before knitting. I worked from both ends of a center pull ball, with the buttons threaded on the center pull end. Brim and most of the body were knit from the outside end. Every few rows I would work from the center end and place a few buttons.

Pattern is based on Handy Book of Patterns basic hat. Yarn is from the deep stash, a skein of Plymouth super wash merino left over from a sweater project.

Gymknitstics

Today's gym watching knit is the second Hedgerow sick. Finally up to the toe.

Seesaw Seiche

Started another Seiche tonight. This time I am alternating between two skeins of silk garden sock, changing yarns at Row 13.

Pumpkin Tosh

Baby hat made from madeleinetosh leftovers.

Seiche Shawl Pattern

Seiche is a term for a standing wave that occurs in a fully or partially contained body of water.  The well mannered ruffle on one side of this triangular bottom-up shawl is constructed of stockinette short rows contained between garter stitch ridges.  The pattern is written for sport weight yarn but can be easily adapted for other weights.

Materials
650 yards sport weight yarn such as Noro Silk Garden Sock, 2 skeins
Size 6 (4 mm) circular needle, 24" or longer
Two stitch markers
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Gauge: 4 stitches per inch in garter stitch

Abbreviations:
K - knit
p - purl
pm - place marker
slm - slip marker
yo - yarn over
w&t - wrap and turn. (Bring yarn forward between needles. Slip one stitch from the left needle to the right needle. Bring yarn backward between needles. Return the slipped stitch to the left needle and turn the work.)

Pattern

Set up:
Cast on 12 stitches with long tail cast on.
Knit 3 rows.
Place markers as follows: K10, pm, yo, k1, yo, pm, K1.
Knit one row.

Body:
Row 1: K9, w&t
Row 2: p to end
Row 3: K6, w&t
Row 4: p to end
Row 5: K3, w&t
Row 6: p to end
Row 7: K6, w&t
Row 8: p to end
Row 9: K9, w&t
Row 10: p to end
Row 11: K10, slm, yo, K to second marker, yo, slm, K1
Row 12: K to end
Row 13: repeat row 11
Row 14: K to end

Repeat rows 1-14   45 times or until piece is desired size, ending with row 14.

Finishing:
Knit two rows to form upper edge.
Bind off all stitches loosely.
Weave in ends.
Block if desired.  The ruffles may turn under a bit at the edge but I like the way it helps to shape the ruffle.

Finished dimensions of sample: approx 29" tall by 62" wide

New WIP - Maxima Shrug

I started an Antropologie Inspired capelet / shrug for my elder daughter last night.  I'm using a skein of light teal Manos Maxima on size 10 needles.  I'm partway through the raglan increases so far.

Seiche in progress

Shot of second Seiche from Saturday.

Second Seiche

Started another Seiche tonight, with larger yarn and needles. Already through one skein of Silk Garden Lite.

Breather

No knitting the last two days. Resting my hands from the Games ( and the baby hat I made the next day).  Trying to decide which WIP to finish, or what to cast on new.