Thursday, May 27, 2010

WONDERFULLY EASY BOOT SOCKS

Designed BY Linda Graimm, emmalemmon47@msn.com
**If you make the sock, please let me know if there were any errors.    Thank you.

Knit OR Crochet!! (Knitting directions with crocheted heel and toe are at the end of the pattern.)

This soft sock pattern is very adaptable. I made an adult pair and felted them, a change of hook size and/or yarn size could make a pair for a toddler. They work up SO quickly. I am the only one who has tested this pattern so, if you make them, please let me know if there are any problems or you have any questions.

MATERIALS: Worsted Weight yarn (I mostly used scraps so the socks don’t take a whole lot of yarn)
Size ‘I’ Hook = Women’s Size up to 8
Sized ‘G’ hook for toddler’s socks

GAUGE: Size ‘I’ hook = 14 hdc and 4 rows is 4”; ‘G’ Hook = 15 hdc/8 rows is 4”

NOTES:
1. The felted socks pictured were made with Patons Classic Wool and a Size ‘K’ hook (orange and gray).
2. The smaller knitted socks were made with doubled sock yarn.
3. Be sure to do original chain LOOSELY.
4. There is NO SEAM on bottom of foot so no discomfort from that.
5. Chain 2 does NOT count as stitch.
6. ALL BODY STITCHES ARE DONE IN BACK LOOP ONLY.
7. I wrote the pattern in Sections, as opposed to rows. It is easier to read (according to me tic).

Section 1: Chain 40 (loosely!), work hdc in 3rd chain from hook, and hdc across chain. Turn, chain 2 each row. (38 hdc)

Row 2-5: Working in back loops only, hdc across, chain 2, turn.  (38 stitches)

Section 2: Row 6: Work first 23 hdc, turn, chain 2. Leave remaining 15 stitches for now. Chain 2, turn. (23 hdc)

Row 7-11: Working in back loops only, hdc across, chain 2, turn. (23 hdc) Mark last stitch with scrap yarn or stitch marker. Fasten off.

Section 3: Attach yarn in same stitch as last stitch of 23 sts on Row 4 (where 23 worked sts ended), --Chain 2, work 1 hdc in back loop of next stitch and back loops of 14 more hdc. --Then Chain 2, turn (15 hdc), work 15 hdc in back loops for 5 more rows. (thus matching the first 6 rows of 23 sts). (15 sts) Fasten off.

Section 4: Turn Work. (See Photo B.) Attach yarn in marked stitch on 23-sts section, chain 2. Hdc (in back loop only) in this stitch and each stitch across 23 sts and 15 sts. (38 sts)

Note: I am calling the stitch that is between the 15-st section and the 23-st section a “Hinge” to make explanations easier.

Work four more rows in pattern (Ch 2, turn, hdc in back loops only across row). (you will have 8 “ridges” on the Right Side and 8 indentations on Wrong Side.) (38 sts)

Section 5: Chain 1, turn work and with 8 ridges on inside, slip stitch last row to original chain LOOSELY. This is wrong side of work. Fasten off. Turn sock Right Side out.

You now have what resembles a tube with a slash in it.

Section 6: TOE Attach choice of yarn color for the Toe anywhere on short end of sock nearest heel ‘slash’ (the 15-hdc side), I attached yarn lined up with the middle of what will be the heel.

--Ch 1, work 26 sc evenly spaced around toe opening. Join in 1st sc. Do NOT turn work, you will be working in rounds.
Row 2: Chain 1, sc in each st around, join. (26 sc)

Row 3-8: Flatten work with heel ‘slashes’ on side, Chain 1, decrease one stitch each side, join. (24, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14 sc)



Fasten off, leave long end for sewing. ON WRONG SIDE OF WORK, Flatten toe section so that heel slash is centered, sew seam. Check out Photo C.

Part 7: HEEL From Right Side, attach your choice of yarn color in end of first row just after “hinge” of heel slash. Work 26 sc evenly spaced around, join. (26sc)

Row 2: Chain 1, work 1 row of sc even, join. (26 sc)

Row 3: Slip stitch in first st, ch 1, sc around, placing a 3-sc decrease on each side (to 3-sc dec: pick up a loop in each of next 3 sts, pull through 4 loops) and join. (22 sc)

Row 4: Slip stitch in first st, ch 1, *sc in each of 4 sc, dec over net 2 sc* around to last 4 sc, sc in last 4, join. (19 sts)

Row 5: Ch 1, repeat Row 4 with only one last sc, crochet in last sc, join. (16 sts)

Row 6: Ch 1, *sc in 3 sts, decrease over next 2 sts* around, join (12 sts)

Row 7: Ch 1, *sc 2 sts together, sc in 1 st* around, sc in last st, join. (9 sts)

Row 8: Repeat Row 7. (5 sts)

Fasten off, leave a long end of yarn for sewing heel closed.
Flatten stitches and sew heel closed from Wrong Side. Weave in ends. 

KNITTING DIRECTIONS:
Size 10 knitting needles with worsted wt. yarn (The darker blue-variegated sockon the Left in the picture is knitted.)

--Follow directions above, substitute K2,P2 rib for Parts 1-5.

Ex: Cast on 40 sts, work in K2/P2 ribbing for needed amount of rows. Slip stitches not being worked to a stitch holder. Follow directions for crocheted heel and toe.

Swing Sweater addition ++



I had earlier made my doctor two sweaters and this is the third one.  She wears them so well! 
This is sans buttons as the doc didn't pick them yet.

Here is a picture of a car coat I made for my granddaughter (no head to keep the innocent protected!) from a designer pattern.












This next sweater is the famous "Sue's Hexagon Sweater" pattern which I got from http://www.ravelry.com/.











I have been working on a teddybear of odd colors and eccentricities plus a toddler's sweater with great bead buttons:



And I have finally finished designing and testing some crocheted socks.  I have had this silly pattern forever and worked on it from time to time and am happy to say it is now ready to be put up and I will do that in my next posting.  
Blessings on your day!!

Monday, May 17, 2010

I have been MIA for awhile...where has the time gone!!

I had designed an easy and soft pair of boot socks that could be crocheted or knit with a crochet heel and toe.  I came across it about 6 weeks ago and have been immersed in wonderful boot socks.   But they aren't done yet.  I have been testing it myself and due to brain fog (fibrofog?) [I very seldom use that excuse but it is the only one I could come up with at this time...:-) ].  Frustration.   So anyway, if anyone in the universe sees this and wouldn't mind testing this sock made with worsted weight yarn and size I hook, please let me know.  Thanks.
So I shall be back soon with or without the finished design but with pictures! 
Yesterday my son Brendan, his wife and their three children came to visit me.  I roasted chicken and potatoes with a greenbean vegetable.  And greatly enough, my dil, Julie, and other granddaughter showed up and we had a nice time!  We ate, hugged a lot, looked at little gifts.  Youngest granddaughter was all excited because she finally got her pez toy.  grin.
I am playing Farmville and Treasure Isle on Facebook.  Harmless and kind of fun.  Keeps my mind occupied when I am worried about things (like money).  SS cut my check by $110 and it was not even anything before that but now it is even less.  I am looking on this as a challenge to my organizational skills.  The GREAT NEWS is that I have lots of yarn from past endeavors to keep me busy as I am getting ready for a craft show in November.  Last year's fair was a dud because 7 other groups held their craft stuff on the very same day as ours.  Better research this year, what do you think???
Blessings to you all.  May Father and Mother God show themselves to you in small miracles.