Author: Chauntel Ensey

A while back Trevor requested a sleeping hat. I am still not sure where the idea came from but he feels he needs one to keep him warm at night. Being a super-mom, I obliged.

We had ourselves a fake sleeping session this afternoon to test it out.

He loves it & I just hope it keeps him warm enough to keep him out of my bed!
It’s too bad that the lighting wasn’t darker and my camera is still not repaired to let me change anything other than the focus. Ah well, he’s cute even if he is a little fuzzy!

There are a few things I have been meaning to talk about & I just keep forgetting.

So, here goes.

First, I love, love, love the new Knitpicks Harmony needles.

They are smooooooth. They are fast, faster than any other wood needle and my Denise sets. They have that warmth and lightweight you associate with wood but knit more like a smooth metal, ie Inox or Aero. The finish is ridiculously even. So much so that it shines with no flaws to be seen. The tips are perfectly tapered and come to the perfect point appropriate for the size of the needle. The needles in the picture are the options tips in size 10. They aren’t dull at the point like most wood  or metal needles are. I have no trouble doing double decreases with the Malabrigo in the blanket (which has a tendency to split terribly with dull needle tips).

Now let me tell you about the dpn’s. Oh. My. Gosh.

They are now my #1, hands down, favorite needles for socks.

Unfortunately, they are backordered for who knows how long. I will still order the sock needle set & have a wonderful surprise when it just shows up at my house!

I also finished another Calorimetry yesterday, this one out of SWS on size 7 needles. I cast on 96 instead of the amount in the pattern. It makes it a much better fit.

There was one more thing I wanted to mention that I had been forgetting but now, surprisesurprise, it escapes me!

When I think of it I will be sure to pass it on!

Have a wonderful Monday!

I have been on a bit of a small item bender lately. No big sweaters being whipped out here! Oh, no! It’s all small things like Pantas, Calorimetry’s, brioche scarves, Zigzag scarves, socks (not fancy ones either, just plain Stockinette kids socks) and the like. I would love to be in a sweater mode but it just doesn’t seem to be happening. I have a feeling that until all the baby items and Christmas gifts are done I won’t be starting, or finishing, any sweaters.

Here are a few little things I finished yesterday.

That is another Panta/Drops pattern using Tatamy Tweed dk on size 6 needles.

Here is a Calorimetry from Knitty using Red Heart Soft Yarn multi

I found this cute button while looking for a specific button in my box and thought it was perfect!

You just can’t beat this yarn for the price. It’s washable, doesn’t lose shape, doesn’t pill terribly, doesn’t felt and is so soft & delicious. The color variation is perfect so you don’t get pooling, spiraling or strange stripey things. It’s truly a multi-color yarn! And how perfect for fall!

It’s a little big for Sadie so this one will be mine but I will have to make her another with less cast on stitches.

I have babies arriving from all areas of my life; life-long friends, church friends, family members. So I better get movin’ on the baby item front.
Here is a beanie started for a friend. Her kids all wear beanies all the time so she will recieve an assortment of colors and sizes for this little guy. I am thinking 6 or so, some knit some crochet, since I am not making a blankie or any other large items. Maybe I will throw in a few bibs or something.

Overall that is where my knitting time is going. No magical, ridiculously fast knits here. Just pluggin’ along.

I finished up the Ty Dy ZigZag scarf today. It was a fast & rather fun little knit. I am tired of scarves but I do love how this yarn & pattern matched up!

That’s washed & now laid out to dry on the back of the couch. It measures 5″ wide by about 58″ long using only 1 ball of the K1C2 Ty-Dy yarn. Fantastic!

Deadline knitting is done. I have finished the Brioche Scarf for my class and also modular knitted coasters for another class. I will continue to make some more coasters out of different yarns as examples for in the store but the main coasters are done. They are a great little scrap yarn project. You could give a set of tonal colored coasters as a gift instead of all out of the same yarn. Great way to get rid of random leftovers.

Both still have to be blocked. The scarf I am not too concerned about blocking really. It would take forever to dry if I washed it so I am thinking I will just take it down to the store today for display along with some of the coasters. I used Araucania Patagonia cotton for the coasters on size 8 needles and Lamb’s Pride Worsted for the scarf. I plan on using some SWTC Bamboo, Cotton Fleece and some other fun, variagated wool blend once I can dig one out, to make some more coasters for display.

Other than that I can now return to the knitting I want to do. Like the Trapeze Jacket. Some more socks with new sock yarns I have acquired as of late. It’ll be fun!

EDIT:
Change in plans; after visiting Julie at Knit & Pearl we decided that the coasters weren’t what she wanted to do. So we decided on doing a modular scarf instead. Fine by me! But it means I now have one more thing that has to be knit on a ‘deadline’. I cast on as soon as I got home and should be able to finish it in the next couple of days, maybe sooner if I really buckle down and get it done. We are using the Artyarns Zigzag modular scarf pattern by Iris Schreier and Ty-Dy yarn in Magenta Moss. I am hoping that with 1 ball of yarn we’ll be able to get a 60″ scarf instead of the 72″ scarf that would take 2 balls. We’ll see how far I can get this yarn to go! So far it’s knitting up beautifully. So soft for a 100% cotton yarn. Pictures coming soon!

The cardreader came so here are the pics I promised you last night.

First, the Crack Feather & Fan blanket.

I love, love, love this yarn. Malabrigo in Aqua. Fantastic!

Here is the brioche scarf that is for the next class I teach. I am using Lamb’s Pride Worsted in Auburgine and Victorian Pink on size 8 needles.

So, there you have what I am knitting on at the moment. It’s a fun pattern to knit and the colors are a good match.

2 Socks on 1 Circ

Taught by Chauntel

Materials needed:

Yarn: any sport weight yarn, approx. 300 yards wound into 2 separate balls

Needles: 32” or longer circular needle size 4 US

set of dpn’s size 4 US to be used as holders

Darning needle: for kitchener stitch

Gauge: 6 sts per inch

Sock sizes: womens 8”, (9”, 10”) leg circumference

if in doubt work one size smaller so it is snug & not falling down your leg

Instructions:

• Using first ball of yarn and long tail cast on with enough tail to cast on the full amount of sts (44,48, 52), CO half of the total sts; 22 (24, 26) sts onto circular needle.

• Using second ball of yarn, CO 44(48, 52) sts onto same end of needle.

  This is how it will look when moved down the needle:

• Now separate the full set of cast on sts in half by pulling the cord between sts, forming a loop.

• Move the front needle tip (bottom needle in the photo above) down towards the remaining cast on tail of the first sock.

• Using the front needle tip, grab your working yarn and cast on tail in your hand ready to cast on the second half of your sock sts. 

  Once you have the sts cast on, 

  you will be ready to join and start working in the round as follows:

• Being careful not to twist, pull the front needle tip down into the sts, making a loop on the left side of the sock sts. Pull back needle out far enough to have a decent sized loop on either end. You will now knit with the back needle (right needle). Join yarn on sock 1 (the sock on the right where both needle tips are) making sure the working yarn is coming between the two needles not wrapping around either needle, start knitting in 2×2 rib (k2, p2 across).

• Repeat across sock #2 (the sock on the left).

• Now turn your work so you can repeat across the second half of the sock sts; pull the front needle into the sts and pull the back needle out forming a loop.

  One round is now complete.

• Continue to turn after working both socks.

  Note: At the start of each ½ round your working yarn should always be on the back needle, right hand side or top-right.

• Work 2×2 ribbing for 2”.

• Switch to stockinette st (knitting all sts around). Work leg for an additional 4” (6” total from cast on edge).

  Heel flap:

  You will now work back and forth on half of the sock sts to make a flap.

  Turn your work but do not move your needle tips, keeping your sts just knit on the needle tip.

• Slip 1st, *k1, sl1pw*,rep *to* around, end k1

• Turn, sl1st, purl across

• Repeat those 2 rows until heel flap measures 2 2/3”- 3”. End with a purl row.

Turning the heel:

Now, working one sock heel at a time, we are going to turn the heel and pick up gusset stitches.

• Hold work with right side facing

• Starting with sock 1, sl1, knit half of your total heel flap sts 11 (12, 13), ssk, k1, turn

• sl1, p4, p2tog, p1, turn

• *sl1, k to 1 st before gap, ssk to close gap, k1, turn

• *sl1, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog to close gap, p1, turn

  Repeat last 2* rows until all heel sts have been worked, ending with a knit row.

• Using same needle tip, pick up sts (using the sl st along edge of heel flap).

• Now move to the second sock, turn heel & pick up sts along one side, the same as with the first sock.

• Knit across the instep sts of sock 2.

• Using a dpn, pu sts along other heel flap edge. Leave these sts on the dpn for now.

• Work across the instep sts on sock 1 with magic loop needles. Again, pu sts along edge as on sock 2.

• Turn your work as if to knit across the heel sts, pulling your needles through to make your loop on the left side. Move sts from spare needle over. Knit to center of heel sts, place marker (this now denotes the start of every round).

• Knit across the heel sts to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

• Sock 2, move sts from spare needle to right hand needle. Knit to center, place marker, *k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

  Note: now all of your heel sts are back onto one side of your needle and all instep sts are on the other side.

  Gusset decreases:

• Knit instep sts on both socks.

• Turn and pull needles through to make loops.

• K1, ssk, k across heel sts to marker, slm.

  That is the end of a decrease round on sock 1.

• Knit the second half of the heel sts on sock 1.

• Move to sock 2, k1, ssk, k across heel sts to marker, slm.

  That is the end of a decrease round on sock 2.

• Knit the second half of the heel sts on sock 2.

• Knit the instep sts, k back up to the marker.

  Note: I know this sounds confusing as to where the decrease round and knit rounds start and finish. Another way to visualize this is to make a diagram of each round. Using this picture as a guideline:

• You will continue with these 2 rounds, a decrease round and a knit round until you have decreased away all of your gusset sts and have returned to your original stitch count, 44 (48, 52).

• Now you can work the feet of the socks in stockinette st until it measures 2” from desired length. Or you can follow the general sizing I give below.

  6.75”- womens size 7

  7”- womens size 8

  7.25”- womens size 9

  7.5”- womens size 10

• Start wedge toe shaping: remembering the start of every round is in the center of your heel sts.

• *knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

• instep sts: k1, ssk, knit to 3 from end, k2tog, k1

• heel sts: k1, ssk, knit to marker

• *knit all sts around

• Repeat these last 2* rounds until you have decreased down to 20 sts total on each sock.

• Kitchener stitch closed.

VOILA!

YOU HAVE FINISHED 2 SOCKS AT ONCE!

PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK & HAVE A TREAT!

Copyright Chauntel Andreasen

Feel free to visit my blog at

http://www.firebrunetteknitting.com