The beauty of hand knitting is that if a particular part of a pattern does not work for you, it can be modified. There are many different ways to knit sock heels. There are many different feet. This works out well. If you want to read more about the genesis of this Sock Heel book series, please continue reading ».
Dutch Heel eBook
$2.50
This “generic” heel generally fits any foot.
German Heel eBook
$2.50
The extra garter stitch edge to the heel flap helps eliminate saggy gussets and provides a snug fit.
French Heel eBook
$2.50
This rounded heel is perfect for those who are sensitive to tags, snags and lumps.
Welsh Heel eBook
$2.50
This is a very hard-wearing heel that leads the knitter on quite the adventure along the way.
I have a long and proud track record of failure at the various knitting O[ymp1c5 and this year may be no different. I’m made a remarkable amount of progress (for me) while being at the beach and other places that aren’t particularly conducive to knitterly pursuits.
At the same time, I know others who have taken on less insane tasks than I and are already winnahs, but gosh darn it, I really wanted to make this shrug.
And the shawl.
The “Mrs. Hudson Shawl” for Defarge Does Sherlock.
Yes, indeedy.
Knit in the softest, single-ply, mystery yarn I could find in the stash, it’s a joy to knit up and an easy pattern to memorize (even in my addled state).
Plus, being here at the beach on the Atlantic Coast has given me lots of ideas for socks. Lots and lots.
So many socks.
So little time.
Paige Sato manages the Christmas at Sea program out of Port Newark. I’ll be talking to her on CraftLit soon, but in the meantime, take a look at her website and just tell me—JUST TELL ME—you don’t want to knit one of your own.
The tag says:
“Welcome to SCI’s 1200 TEAny Hats project! With the cooperation of local New Jersey Starbucks, this November we will dress 1200 iced tea bottles with mini seafarer watch caps and raise awareness of the important work of seafarers. You can help.”
Check out their link and learn more.
And knit.
(apologies for the brevity of this post…I plan to extend it but I’m in the middle of LackOfPowerGeddon in Northern Virginia and this is about to auto-post. Eek!)
Holly Golightly is one of those characters who stick with you.
These socks are kind of like that too.
Quick to knit but oh-so-comfy, these puppies will keep your dogs warm before, during, and after a pedicure. Great for those of us who have perpetually cold toes as well as those of us who need a little “air conditioning” when the heat is on too high in the winter. These little beauties are worthy of their resourceful namesake.
The yarn sang to me at MDSWF this year and Dragonfly Fibers has nev let me down. You can’t go wrong with Super Djinni or Traveler!
My new beastie is Wensleydale. He’s a Liliputian friend for Cheddar, the CraftLit Critter.
I made mine with about 30yds of leftover sock yarn and finished him in one night of TV with the husband.
Wensleydale
Cheddar
We’re also working on clothes for Cheddar (he might get chilled in the air conditioning, after all) so I’ve constructed a ruff for him. That pattern is free and you can download now.
He is knit in one piece (because I HATE SEAMING!) and uses Judy’s Magic Cast-on for the nose, grows like a sock toe, then short rows build the top of his head and neck. I weighted the base on mine and my boys agree—Cheddar is a Weeble. He will wobble but won’t fall down.
I’ve knit him with both leftover Koigu KPPPPPPPPPPPPM and with March Hare Sock Yarn (somewhere around 90yds of yarn) on US 0/2mm needles (one set of dpns and two circs—was easier switching b/t the two). I recommend (a) a color that won’t show fiberfill too terribly and (b) knitting at the tightest gauge you can. I give instructions for everything in the pattern, but if there’s something that confounds you, please let me know and I’ll get an instructional video linked in there asap.
Cheddar--Intrepid Stash Diver
* * *
SFF Audio—I’ve hit the big time!
Listen to The New Mother here and SFF with me here. And then go take a look at Tara Swiger’s book Market Yourself. Love! Her!
* * *
Defarge 2—What (else) Would Madame Defarge Knit?—this time in color!—is in pre-orders! 25+ patterns of yarny goodness (sweaters, mittens, a devilishly cute layette, and more all await you!). The good people at Cooperative Press have found a local printer who can bring you our new book still printed in the USA! Mwah!
Have I told you how much I love indie publishers?
And speaking of Cooperative Press! Two new goodies for you! First, the CP Sock & Mitt Club. Second, the CP Mag! Both of which yours truly will be working on! Yay! What is CP saying about the Magazine?
Let me share what CP says:
Our intentions are as follows:
as with all things CP, we compensate our contributors fairly, work with indie designers and dyers, and generally keep great content coming at you;
we will be publishing 3x per year (though we’re doing a special “issue zero†in time for TNNA, the big pro fiber arts tradeshow in June) via our own app. This app will eventually also offer other Cooperative Press content, too. Ebooks, special issues, etc.;
by popular demand and in response to some early feedback, we’ll do a PDF version of the magazine, which will be available via our website and Ravelry. It won’t have the video/audio/interactive functionality of the main version, but for readers who aren’t interested in reading via app, it’ll offer access to most of the content;
each year, we’ll collect the magazine content into a book book — think the way Food&Wine or Martha Stewart republishes their “best-of” each year.
Hopefully having multiple access points for the content will make everyone happy. And by having several digital options, it makes it possible to buy it from anywhere (even Australia and the UK!), because as we’ve learned selling books, not everyone feels like paying the (frankly absurd) postage rates these days. It makes me ill to have to charge half again the cost of a print book just to ship it to Europe, and from a purely capitalistic perspective, I’d rather you put that $12 towards another one of our ebooks! 🙂
And, more happiness—the husband gets more good press for his book, too! Yay books! Yay literate people!
* * *
And my new pattern (that I’m so proud of!): Hunger Games-inspired Life and Death socks—designed for those of us who tend to give their socks a beating (more details on knitting blog).
* * *
Ehren, I think you’ll agree, rocks the Gulliver text.
grab the code
And, of course, I’m racking up moments of the usual start-of-book zeitgeist. (Have you seen the advertisement yet? Thank you, Jill!)
I have a new pattern for you—one that induced my husband to start calling me a Yarngineer.
Life or Death socks
for Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games series.
In honor of the opening of the film, I wanted to design a pair of socks I thought would be worthy of Katniss—and able to stand up to the solid beating I imagine that young (hunted) hunter would give to her socks as she ran for her life.
* * *
Below please find specs I thought you might find useful along with a few tantalizing details. If you would like to purchase the pattern you can do it here through Mama O Knits too Much, or via my Ravelry shop where the pdf will be stored in your Library.
This sock is for the adventurous intermediate or expert knitter(or for a new knitter who hasn’t been told that socks, cables, and double knitting are hard, the therefore is able to do anything)
Skills—
knit and purl stitches, YO, right and left leaning increases, decreases, cables
knitting in the round on two circular needles
reading lace and charts; use of stitch markers to delineate repeats
knitting both Continental and British (as commonly done in Fair Isle) is helpful if you wish to include the optional hidden pocket
knowledge of double-knitting is useful but not required. Tutorial included.
Size—
(S,M)L— for accurate fit, measure around ball of Foot (7in, 8in) 9in,
Gauge—
28 sts x 38 rows = 4 in/10cm on sole-stitch stockinette; same on stockinette arrowhead lace
— Two US 1 (2.25 mm) circs; cable needle or appropriate substitute tool; one set US 1 dpns for optional pocket
Notions—
— stitch markers or paperclips (many)
Sole knit first—Instep knit-on after
Pattern Notes
The construction of these socks is unique. The entire sole is knit first and, thus, is completely replaceable. It is knit with fingering-weight yarn held double to create a toe-up, form-fitting arch which will give you a very firm, cushiony, comforting bed upon which to rest your weary feet.
Top-of-Foot—arrowheads and three-strand cables
The instep is decorated with lace, not out of vanity—the one thing Katniss doesn’t wrestle with—but for breathability. The instep and leg are knit after the sole, starting at the toe and working up the leg. The first and last stitch of each instep row are used to “seam” the instep to the sole stitches.
The leg pattern ends with an optional, secret, double knit-pocket. This pocket is effectively double knit flat while knitting in the round — detailed instructions are provided.
Adjustments to Sizing:
The lace pattern on the instep has a limited number of options when calculating other sizes. The sole, however, is more flexible. You will be best served to measure around the ball of your foot (where you flex when standing tip-toe) and compare your foot to the measurements given in the pattern. Sole numbers are provided for three sizes (S,M,L). The lace instep includes instructions for tailoring to your size.
Back-of-Leg—cable forest
The use of two circular needles while knitting this sock will facilitate trying on the sole as you go, particularly during the seaming process, which will give you the ability to achieve a more precise and comfortable fit.
Links
As per the What Would Madame Defarge Knit? books, links in the PDF pattern are live, allowing you to find linked-to tutorials and to move easily within the electronic version of the pattern, jumping to charts from text instructions and back again, as needed, while knitting.
The charts are constructed to work easily in Knit Companion for the iPad (only one chart will need to be rotated).
* * *
I hope this little teaser has tempted you.
Buy now for $6 via Ravelry | Craftsy | Crafting A Life Inc. Shoppe
I’ll own that I’m no Cinna, but if you are a girl on fire, these socks will at least give you a comfy place to land.
I have had the pleasure and honor of working with Ms Hunter Hammersen a few times and I am here to tell you that you will never be disappointed with her patterns.
Why am I bothering to broadcast this to you now? Because her new book it out!
I learned how to make this shawl so long ago, I don’t recall the when or the where. I made a lot of them. They were easy—and because of this pattern I never had a fear of short-rows. I was doing them without knowing they had a name. Students who had just learned to knit in the wake of the 9/11 attacks helped me knit one for our principal (see below). You can see how lovely the shawl can be with completely random (though related) colors used all throughout the short-row process.
However, I was never able to do a wrap-and-turn as perfectly as I wanted. So, what to do, what to do…?
The answer?
Wait until I learned how to do a Sherman Heel, then apply that technique.
All of short-row information is included in this pattern along with instructions for two different edgings. The shawl can be knit in garter or stockinette, however, be warned—in stockinette it is much harder to hide an imperfect short-row-gap-turn.
While I’m not a fan of garter stitch in general, I am a fan for it as part of this shawl. Big, warm, and snugly, this quick-to-knit shawl will become a favorite of yours as it has become of favorite of me and my friends.
The link below will take you to Ravelry (you don’t need to be a member). More patterns from me are available from my Shoppe or through the Craftsy link below.
Skills—
knit stitch
short-rows or ability to follow a pattern on blind faith
optional: chain and single crochet for alternate edging
Size—
Fits all shoulders
Gauge—
not terribly important; blue sample knit at 10 stitches = 4in
Bonus pattern—a dryerball with a pincushion option!
Skills
knitting in the round
increasing
decreasing
Size
in this case, it is true: size doesn’t matter
Gauge
any tight gauge (to keep the stuffing in)
Yarn
sample knit in handspun; WPI 7; Roughly CYA #5, bulky
Needle
flat, dpns, or 1/2 circular needles; samples knit with US 5 (3.75 mm)
Notions
three stitch markers
Dryer balls made of wool (with or without an added essential oil) give you an economical “dryer sheet†substitute. These easy-to-knit balls can be made of scraps, filled with scrap yarn, thrums or roving, and can easily be knit start-to-finish in an evening. Portable pincushions are always useful when blocking knitted objects, so use these little gems as away to use up all the *early* handspun you made.
Pattern is written for knitting-in-the-round, though seaming instructions are included if you are knitting flat. Flat knitting will need to purl all odd rows.
Ah, the mythic Hair Clip Cap! The post that time forgot.
Sorry, I’d had this scheduled as a draft and didn’t get to it in time.
So!
I wrote a pattern for a hair clip hat.
Why?
Because I wear my hair up in a banana clip and I can’t fit a hat over the clip!
What you need to know to knit it—
Skills​
decreasing
seed stitch pattern
mid-row cast-on
crochet
picking up stitches (with or without crochet hook)
cutting your knitting (may require addition of alcohol) for steeks-photo instructions are provided
Having knit a sock heel will help, but isn’t required
Size​
Fits Women M-L and is easily adjustable up or down
Gauge​
Stockinette or Seed Stitch, 12 stitches = 4in
Yarn ​
Charisma, Loops & Threads, Bulky (CYA #5)
Light worsted in a complementary color for button band
Needle
​US 10.5 (6.5 mm) straight or circ
US 9 (5.5mm) circ (at least 20″)
Notions​
Stitch holder, stitch marker.
Right now I have the pattern on Ravelry (where the link below will take you) but I’ll be adding a link to the Shoppe soon, too.
I hope you like it as much as I have. On the windy days I think it could use an iCord tie, but 99% of the time, the bonnet structure holds nicely and it’s easy to get on and off.
Free things for you!
I’ve been working on adding patterns and goodies to my Ravelry store and CafePress shops for CraftLit and WWMDfK?. There’s always more to do, but so far I have a lot of free things for you (and a couple that aren’t free but I thought I’d throw them in as they are related).
Free
This free eBook gives you everything you need to know about knitting socks in one easy-to-follow place. The eBook has been created to be read on a tablet or computer screen which means it is “sideways” or landscape view.
download now
How to Knit Toe-Up Socks
Free
This free eBook gives you everything you need to know about knitting socks in one easy-to-follow place. Like the above, this eBook has also been built in landscape view. download now
Hufflepuff Socks
Free
This ribbed sock is knitted toe-up and includes charted color-work and was designed for the 2007 Hogwarts Sock Swap. download now for free from Ravelry
Free
This bag is an easy first double-knitting pattern which gives you, at the end, a lovely little bag in which to put soap odds-and-ends. Waste not, want not. It can be knit in one night of relatively boring TV (you need to pay attention a little bit) and gives instructions for double knitting. A video tutorial for double knitting is also available below. download now for free via Ravelry.
Toothfairy Bag
Free
This bag is knitted for the little one in your life who is eagerly anticipating a visit from the Tooth Fairy. This pattern is worked flat, is seamed, and utilizes the intarsia technique. download now for free via Ravelry.
These heels started at Sea Socks ’08, matured at Sock Summit ’09 and are now part of my classroom repertoire. However, I can’t teach everywhere so it seemed right to pass on as much information as I could in the little eBooks. If I scoot through your area and teach the class, I promise there will be more than just what you find here; I can’t include everything from a six hour class in an eBook.
But this is a darn good start!
Once you are familiar with the basics of knitting a sock (see above if you need more generalized sockiness) you can branch out and begin to customize exactly for your needs. The beauty of hand knitting is that if a particular part of a pattern does not work for you, it can be modified. There are many different ways to knit sock heels. There are many different feet. This works out well. If you want to read more about the genesis of this Sock Heel book series, please continue reading » ».
Dutch Heel eBook $2.50
This generic heel generally fits any foot.
German Heel eBook $2.50
The extra garter stitch edge to the heel flap helps eliminate saggy gussets and provides a snug fit.
French Heel eBook $2.50
This rounded heel is perfect for those who are sensitive to tags, snags and lumps.
Welsh Heel eBook $2.50
This is a very hard-wearing heel that leads the knitter on quite the adventure along the way but arrives at a beautifully sproingy heel.
Double knitting is knitting both sides of a fabric at once. This is what you see in the video. The other nifty thing double knitting does is create a tube.
For the double knitting used in the little bag here—knitting a tube without any color patterning—you will knit the knit stitches which are facing you and slip the next stitch which has the purl side facing you. The pattern in your head is like any sock heel, “knit, slip, knit, slip…” the only difference begin that you slip with yarn in front of the purl stitches (this way you’ll be keeping the yarn on the inside the bag as you’re creating it). End your row on a slip. Knit and slip back to where you started.
The video shows a two colored scarf being made—one side red, the other side white. For this video, the red stitches will all be knit stitches, followed by it’s partnered white stitch which you will see purled instead of slipped (this is because the color patterns have to match and it’s easier to do the patterning all at once). It helps to remember that all stitches are knit side facing out and purl side facing in to the tube you’re creating (genius, no?).
And it makes a LOT more sense actually watching it.
MamaO is Heather Ordover, author, designer, mother and knitter... not necessarily in that order. You can get posts from this blog sent directly to your inbox by signing up below, Follow her on Twitter and Like her on Facebook if you're feeling friendly-like. Follow @MamaO
How to Knit Socks eBook—
Dutch Heel eBook
German Heel eBook
French Heel eBook
Welsh Heel eBook
Free
Free
MamaO is Heather Ordover, author, designer, mother and knitter... not necessarily in that order. You can get posts from this blog sent directly to your inbox by signing up below, Follow her on Twitter and Like her on Facebook if you're feeling friendly-like.
Visit HOrdover's Craftsy Pattern Store »
