Getting the hang of it

I haven’t blogged the last few days, been trying to find a place to live and had some complications with that. It’ll work out somehow though.

This week I’ve been concentrating on getting gauge while knitting between calls at work and am FINALLY getting there. The first roll top pearly is nearly done, it’s been my concentration/experimentation knitting. When I’ve got it down, I’ll be able to work on the Socks 4 Soldiers there. I’m so glad! The legs of first regulation pair are nearly finished (knitting consecutively on dpn’s) and I am soooo glad. I can’t wait to get these sent off and get started on the next pair.

And…. have been re-working the divorce papers. I plan on submitting them on Monday, was going to do it a while ago but some things changed and had to add a few clauses. Wow that feels good!

Roll Top Pearlies Free Sock Pattern

This started out as something I can pick up and put down at a moments’ notice. Have to admit, I’m really loving them! So far, I’ve only got one nearly finished but here’s the pattern straight out of my scary brain:

roll top pearly sock heel view

The ‘lumpy’ things are pearls – they look cute and add texture when stretched out – pic of finished object coming shortly.

roll top pearly sock 2

Materials:
Knit Picks Essential Lilac (2 skeins)
dpns: size 3 and size 2.75mm

Using size 3’s cast on 60 stitches fairly loosely, join in the round
Knit 6 rows
Knit 2 Pearl 2 ribbing 5 rows
Switch to smaller needles
Knit 2 Pearl 2 ribbing 2 rows

Knit 18 rows throwing in 2 pearl stitches wherever you feel like – try for somewhat random look

Divide for heel putting 15 stitches each on dpn 1 and 2; 30 on dpn 3

Slip 1 Knit 1 across
Slip 1 Pearl 1 across
repeat until you’ve worked as deep as you need your heel, about 30 rows

Turn heel beginning on WS row:
Pearl 17 Pearl 2 tog, P1 more turn
Knit 5 Knit 2 tog K1 more turn
Repeat this until you have 18 stitches left (knit or pearl according to side to one stitch prior to the ‘gap’ P2 tog on wrong side, K2 tog on right side then do one more stitch)

End on knit row then pick up 15 stitches evenly across heel edge, knit along the top (I usually move the sock top stitches onto one needle at this point). Using another dpn pick up 15 stitches along other edge and knit to middle of heel. Arrange stitches if needed so you have the 15 picked up stitches and half the heel stitches on one dpn and half the heel stitches and the other 15 picked up stitches on the other.

Knit around.

Gusset decreases:
Beginning at middle of heel knit to last 3 stitches, K2 tog, K1
Knit across top
K1 S1 K1 PSSO (pass slipped stitch over just knit stitch)
Knit across next round
Continue this pattern until you have 15 stitches remaining on each of the heel needles. (Note: I only decrease until 18 stitches remain since I have wide feet then do extra toe decreases later. Feel free to adjust as needed.)

Knit around 40 – 44 rows according to foot length stopping 1.5 inches shorter than total length of sock foot.

Toe: Starting at the center back of the heel, work across to last three stitches and K2tog, K1. On instep needle K1, Sl1, K1 psso, knit across to last three stitches, K2 tog, K2. On second heel needle K1, Sl1, K2, psso, Knit across.
Knit across next round.
Continue this pattern for 9 rows until you have 24 stitches left, 6 on each of the heel needles and 12 on the instep needle. Knit across next heel needle, slip remaining heel needles’ stitches onto that needle and continue knitting across. The yarn should be at the side of the sock. Cut yarn leaving about 15 inches and weave remaining stitches together. (See Kirchner link on side bar.)

Basic Sock Chart Socks

After ripping out WRT socks yet again, I decided to switch over to the Basic Sock Chart by Linda Peck offered for free.  It’s straightforward for sizes baby through men’s 9.  WRT socks are size 10.5 so had to do some knitting math but think it’s working out far better than the toe up I was trying.  Mind you, the toe up pattern I was using is a perfectly good pattern, it just wasn’t working with this combination of yarn and gauge I was getting.

Why do I like the Sock Chart so much?  1) I prefer using 4 dpns not 5 whenever possible but typically do gusset pick ups and subsequent next row with 5 then drop back down to 4 needles;

2) the top of the sock and over the foot can be done however you want – lace, cables, ribbing, plain – you just have to divide whatever stitch pattern you want to use into the number of stitches for your size/gauge;

3) it’s easy to adjust for wider/narrower feet and ankles;

4) you can do whatever heel type you like.

The heel is turned, gusset stitches are picked up and am working on the gusset shaping now.  That’s what happens when you are awakened at 2am for the third night in a row and can’t get back to sleep.  Not happy about the annoying wake ups and ridiculous conversation but thrilled at the unexpected extra two hours knitting time.

ohhhhh… and guess what I noticed yesterday!!!!  My son has a nekkid iPod…. hmmm….. wonder how he feels about cables done in blue.