Knitting pattern: Weeding Sleeve

A couple of weeks ago, my Mum was visiting her oldest friend. They met at 10, and are now 84.

Aunt Alice had made arm protectors for gardening, out of her husband's old work socks, by cutting off the foot. 

My Mum said she didn't have socks she wanted to do that to, but had a sock knitter at her house.

Challenge laid down!

So, my pattern for Weeding Sleeves, if you want it is:

10ply yarn, 4.5mm needles. Knitted in the round.

Cast on 60 stitches in the round.

K2tog, p1 around to end with 40 stitches (this is your 1st round).

K1, p1 rib for another 4 rounds.

Change to K2, p2 rib.

In pattern for 17 stitches, loosely cast off 6 stitches, continue in pattern to end of round (17 stitches).

Next round: in pattern for 17 stitches, cast on 6 stitches using backward loop cast on, pattern to end of round (40 stitches).

Continue in k2, p2 rib for another 58 rounds (60 k2, p2 in total).

Change to k1, p1 rib for 5 rounds.

Cast off loosely.

That's 70 rounds in total. 

So far both recipients have been very happy, and the sleeves have fitted both of them. I'm now working on my third set, for another 84 year old. 

My Mum has been wearing hers a lot, as she's just had surgery on her arm, and the warmth is helping her heal. 

I'll try and get better photos later.

World Kid Lit Month 2020: Day 24

 

Day 24: time for some yarns!

Granny McFlitter, the champion knitter (2018) and Granny McFlitter: a country yarn by Heather Haylock & Lael Chisholm.

Sharing with Wolf by Melinda Szymanik & Nikki Slade Robinson (2020). 

 I'm a knitter and I love these!

 

Knitting projects update

Man, I suck at updating this. Too busy actually knitting I think!. A while ago I posted my knitting hitlist. Time for an update and some pretty pictures.

Jod's present all done. And here's a photo - modelled by someone some of you know. The pattern is from Brave new knits, again.

From the book

As modelled at work.

Then there's my shrug, from Circular Knitting Redefined - doesn't look much like the original! But, I really struggled with this one. Positive there was a problem with the pattern. That could be why I didn't place in the WI comps... :(

From the book

And, I finished Kath's birthday present...

My teddy bear - which will be a Christmas present - is at Auntie Pam's having its face added. Mum did the sewing up. A joint effort!

However - I did get 2nd for my fingerless mittens and 1st for my mobile... (ok, I was the ONLY entry for the mobile - but that doesn't stop the WI judges not handing out 1st places).

Knitting hit list

Getting serious now... my list of current and upcoming / planned knitting projects:

• Jod's birthday present: due around 1 October. Pretty much nearly done... only about 15 rounds to go. So, not so bad, except each round contains 406 stitches. Well, it's done with love, and not much cursing, I promise!
• Kath's birthday present: due around 10 October. Haven't even started. Oops! Well, it's only part of her present.
• For the WI October comps: due around 20 October: shrug - hunting for a pattern; teddy bear - have a pattern, haven't started, need to find yarn; fingerless mittens - done a few, but might do another pair.
• For Mum to wear at WI October: 2/3 to 3/4 done. Shouldn't take long - it's only 15 stitches a row!
• Christmas presents: 7 toys; and a couple of surprises.

Should keep me busy!

Knitting projects #2

Oops - herewith, the image from the pattern of the top I posted about earlier.

Knitting projects

Gosh I suck at updating this! Anyway - here's some of the projects I've completed lately - images from the pattern, followed by what I did with it.

These are all from: Welcoming home baby by Tricia Drake.

Didn't feel like a pom-pom, but felt
it needed something... I-cord it is then.

The Queen Bead has promised to send me a photo of
Baby Bead inside its pod.

This is now Mum's driving blanket. Keeps her knees warm,
but doesn't get tangled in the peddles.

Knitting update

I've been a bit busy lately... what with knitting and all...

I've had a break from socks - apart from an itty-bitty pair for Baby Bead. I've done beanies, fingerless mittens, started on a scarf for my mummy.... but what has occupied my knitting time (and dishes, and cooking, and tidying, and...) has been this!

The pattern is from Brave new knits. Best thing - no seams! (Well, only one itty-one - the lace panel on the neckline - and no one can tell. My sewing is getting better.)
PS the brooch I'm wearing as a choker was a 21st present from my grandmother. She'd bought it in the 70s in London.

Knitting thoughts

We live in a moment of history where change is so speeded up that we begin to see the present only when it is already disappearing. ~ R. D. Laing.

We live in a world of machines. Our world moves faster, bigger, and better with every moment. Machines replace humans and often do our jobs better.
 When you are knitting socks and sweaters and scarves, you aren't just knitting. You are assigning a value to human effort. You are holding back time. You are preserving the simple unchanging act of handwork.
 
I will remember that knitting is more meaningful than it seems.
 
 
The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work. ~ Emile Zola.
 
Really, there are only two kinds of people who are going to understand about hand-knit socks: those who wear them and know the singular joy of perfect socks, and the knitters who have the pleasure of giving that exquisite experience. Everybody else thinks you must be a special kind of crazy to spend so much time making something that you could buy for $1.99 at the store.
 
The only way to educate the masses is to knit for them.
 
From: At knit's end: meditations for women who knit too much by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.
 
Thank you Yarn Harlot for expressing this so well.

Favourite things Friday: Masco

I've talked about Masco before -m the value of specialist shops, and why we should support them.

Last week, the lesson was brought home to me.

Before Christmas I'd dropped in to show all the socks off and Masco Lady mentioned how nice it was to see a complete pattern for some of the yarn. The swatches they get don't always show that. So, I dropped off coloured photos, with yarn type specified, of the socks I'd knitted, so they could use them as a reference.

Last week, I dropped in to Masco during my lunch break - it was the in-between pay week, so no money to spend - but I'd just finished a pair of socks made with yarn they'd just brought in recently. And Masco Lady told me that if I saw her, or Masco Man, I would get a discount of my sock wool, to say thank you. Because I'm a good customer. I buy my wool from them (it's a rare month when I'm not down there :)), I show them what the yarn looks like when it's made, and I gave them the photos once I realised it would help.

Yep. Small, specialist shops - the kind you can built a relationship with - rock.

And, it's one of the things I really miss working in a big central library - that lack of community and regulars. The ones you put things aside for, when they come in, or put requests in for. Or ask about their families. You know the ones. (They're also the ones who make you goodies at Christmas.) I miss that.

Sock-isfaction

Done! All the Christmas socks I planned - and more - are completed. And, the baby shower socks - 4 different sizes, so future baby's parents are prepared. And, the socks I entered into a WI competition in October (which will do double duty as eldest sis' birthday present in July)... So - onto next-sister-up's presents...

I've made changes to my pattern - all updated on the patterns page of this blog. You can email me if you want the new version. It has two extra baby sizes. Friends and family were texted to measure their babies' feet...

So - a couple of photos - the pile of socks - and the big-and-the-small of it! In the pile, the competition socks are missing.

That means - only two Christmas presents to buy! Yay... However, I refuse to 'wrap' the presents until December. With the socks, I'm planning on tying them together with pretty ribbon. I try not to wrap presents.

Sock it to them!

Done! A complete set of socks, made from my adapted pattern!


What I wanted was ONE pattern for all sizes. And, this is it... If you want the pattern in a word document - you can email me - if you know my email.




One sock stop pattern

Adapted from various books, but mainly Knitted socks: over 25 designs for fab feet and cozy toes for the whole family by Anna Tillman.

Sizes:
BS: Baby small [approx up to 6 months]
BM: Baby medium [approx 6 to 18 months]
BL: Baby large [approx 18 to 24 months]
CS: Child small [approx child shoe sizes 3 to 5]
CM: Child medium [approx child shoe sizes 6 to 8]
CL: Child large [approx child shoe sizes 9 to 11]
CXL: Child extra-large [approx child shoe sizes 12 to 2]
AS: Adult small [approx adult shoe sizes 4 to 6]
AM: Adult medium [approx adult shoe sizes 7 to 9]
AL: Adult large [approx adult shoe sizes 10 to 12]
AXL: Adult extra-large [approx adult shoe sizes 13 to 14]


Trying to figure out the sizing was a bit of a pain! Shoe sizes are NZ-sizing.


Special abbreviations:
TBL: through back of loop/s. This twists the stitch, so it leans the other way.

Materials:
A set of 4 2.75mm double point needles
4 ply sock yarn 50gm ball –
BS-CM: 1 ball
CL-AXL: 2 balls


Cast on:
BS: 48 sts [16 per needle]
BM: 54 sts [18 per needle]
BL: 60 sts [20 per needle]
CS: 66 sts [22 per needle]
CM: 72 sts [24 per needle]
CL: 78 sts [26 per needle]
CXL: 84 sts [28 per needle]
AS: 90 sts [30 per needle]
AM: 96 sts [32 per needle]
AL: 102 sts [24 per needle]
AXL: 108 sts [36 per needle]


Join and place round marker.


[NB: I use a piece of different coloured yarn so it stands out, and is easily moved]


Foundation row: *K2 tog, p1; rep from * to end. This gives a more elastic cast on edge.
Number of stitches at end of decreases:
BS: 32 sts
BM: 36 sts
BL: 40 sts
CS: 44 sts
CM: 48 sts
CL: 52 sts
CXL: 56 sts
AS: 60 sts
AM: 64 sts
AL: 68 sts
AXL: 72 sts

Rib:
Baby sizes: work 5 rounds of K1, P1 rib.
Child & adult sizes: work 11 rounds of K1, P1 rib.
NB: you might like to try moss stitch instead of rib, for a different look.


Cuff:
Work until sock measures as below from beginning
BS: 7 cm
BM: 8 cm
BL: 9 cm
CS: 11 cm
CM: 14 cm
CL: 15 cm
CXL: 16 cm
AS: 17 cm
AM: 18 cm
AL: 19 cm
AXL: 20 cm
Or the length you want.


You can work whatever pattern you like, as long as it works with the number of stitches – so a 2-stitch or 4-stitch pattern will generally work.


If you use a self-striping, or variegated sock yarn, simple stocking stitch (every row knit, because you’re in the round) will work really well and look effective.

You could try cables; K2, P2 rib; moss stitch [ie knit the purl, and purl the knit stitches in the next round – also called Seed Stitch]; K3, P1 – the possibilities are endless.


Or blackberry stitch: round one: *(K1,P1,K1) into one stitch, P3 tog, rep to end; round two: *P3 tog, (K1,P1,K1) into one stitch, rep to end




Heel flap:
BS: K8 sts, turn
BM: K9 sts, turn
BL: K10 sts, turn
CS: K11 sts, turn
CM: K12 sts, turn
CL: K13 sts, turn
CXL: K14 sts, turn
AS: K15 sts, turn
AM: K16 sts, turn
AL: K17 sts, turn
AXL: K18 sts, turn


Round One:
BS: Sl 1, P15 sts, turn
BM: Sl 1, P17 sts, turn
BL: Sl 1, P19 sts, turn
CS: Sl 1, P21 sts, turn
CM: Sl 1, P23 sts, turn
CL: Sl 1, P25 sts, turn
CXL: Sl 1, P27 sts, turn
AS: Sl 1, P29 sts, turn
AM: Sl 1, P31 sts, turn
AL: Sl 1, P33 sts, turn
AXL: Sl 1, P35 sts, turn


Slide other stitches onto spare needles:
BS: 16 sts
BM: 18 sts
BL: 20 sts
CS: 22 sts
CM: 24 sts
CL: 26 sts
CXL: 28 sts
AS: 30 sts
AM: 32 sts
AL: 34 sts
AXL: 36 sts


Round Two:
BS: Sl 1, K15 sts, turn
BM: Sl 1, K17 sts, turn
BL: Sl 1, K19 sts, turn
CS: Sl 1, K21 sts, turn
CM: Sl 1, K23 sts, turn
CL: Sl 1, K25 sts, turn
CXL: Sl 1, K27 sts, turn
AS: Sl 1, K29 sts, turn
AM: Sl 1, K31 sts, turn
AL: Sl 1, K33 sts, turn
AXL: Sl 1, K35 sts, turn


Repeat these two rows and work back and forth on these stitches, for a total of:
BS: 16 rounds
BM: 18 rounds
BL: 20 rounds
CS: 22 rounds
CM: 24 rounds
CL: 26 rounds
CXL: 28 rounds
AS: 30 rounds
AM: 32 rounds
AL: 34 rounds
AXL: 36 rounds
NB: this total includes Rounds One and Two above.

Heel shaping:
Round One:
BS: Sl 1, P9, P2 tog, P1, turn
BM: Sl 1, P10, P2 tog, P1, turn
BL: Sl 1, P11, P2 tog, P1, turn
CS: Sl 1, P12, P2 tog, P1, turn
CM: Sl 1, P13, P2 tog, P1, turn
CL: Sl 1, P14, P2 tog, P1, turn
CXL: Sl 1, P15, P2 tog, P1, turn
AS: Sl 1, P16, P2 tog, P1, turn
AM: Sl 1, P17, P2 tog, P1, turn
AL: Sl 1, P18, P2 tog, P1, turn
AXL: Sl 1, P19, P2 tog, P1, turn

For all sizes:
Row two: Sl 1, K5, K2 tog tbl, K1, turn
Row three: Sl 1, P6, P2 tog, P1, turn
Row four: Sl 1, K7, k2 tog tbl, K1, turn


Continue as set – adding an extra stitch each round – until you get these number of stitches at end:


NB end with right side (knit) row and DO NOT TURN.
NB for some sizes, the final two rows do not have the P1 / K1 at the end.


BS: 10 sts
BM: 12 sts
BL: 12 sts
CS: 14 sts
CM: 14 sts
CL: 16 sts
CXL: 16 sts
AS: 18 sts
AM: 18 sts
AL: 20 sts
AXL: 20 sts

Pick up for instep:
Pick up, knitwise, the following number of stitches down the side of heel flap
BS: 8 sts
BM: 9 sts
BL: 10 sts
CS: 11 sts
CM: 12 sts
CL: 13 sts
CXL: 14 sts
AS: 15 sts
AM: 16 sts
AL: 17 sts
AXL: 18 sts

Place marker. [I usually use a stitch marker, a little circle one, preferably of a colour that stands out]


Knit across stitches from cuff (those on spare needles):
BS: 16 sts
BM: 18 sts
BL: 20 sts
CS: 22 sts
CM: 24 sts
CL:  26 sts
CXL: 28 sts
AS: 30 sts
AM: 32 sts
AL: 34 sts
AXL: 36 sts
Place marker.

Pick up, knitwise, the following number of stitches down the side of heel flap
BS: 8 sts 
BM: 9 sts
BL: 10 sts
CS: 11 sts
CM: 12 sts
CL: 13 sts
CXL: 14 sts
AS: 15 sts
AM: 16 sts
AL: 17 sts
AXL: 18 sts

Knit:
BS: 5 sts
BM: 6 sts
BL: 6 sts
CS: 7 sts
CM: 7 sts
CL: 8 sts
CXL: 8 sts
AS: 9 sts
AM: 9 sts
AL: 10 stsAXL: 10 sts

This means the beginning of the round is back in the middle of the sock.


Total number of stitches:
BS: 42 sts
BM: 48 sts
BL: 52 sts
CS: 58 sts
CM: 62 sts
CL: 68 sts
CXL: 72 sts
AS: 78 sts
AM: 82 sts
AL: 88 sts
AXL: 92 sts

Shape instep:
Round One: Knit to 3 sts before first marker, K2 tog, K1, (marker), knit to next marker, (marker), K1, K2tog tbl, knit to end. [ie 2 sts decrease]



Round Two: Knit. NB for a neater finish, when you get to the decreased stitch made by K2 tog tbl, knit through the back of this stitch, so the stitches angle the right way.

Repeat these two rounds until following number stitches remain:
BS: 32 sts [10 rounds]
BM: 36 sts [12 rounds]
BL: 40 sts [12 rounds]
CS: 44 sts [14 rounds]
CM: 48 sts [14 rounds]
CL: 52 sts [16 rounds]
CXL: 56 sts [16 rounds]
AS: 60 sts [18 rounds]
AM: 64 sts [18 rounds]
AL: 68 sts [20 rounds]
AXL: 72 sts [20 rounds]

Foot:
Work until foot measures the following from the back of the heel:

BS: 9 cm
BM: 10 cm
BL: 11 cm
CS: 12 cm
CM: 14 cm
CL: 16 cm
CXL: 17 cm
AS: 18 cm
AM: 19 cm
AL: 20 cm
AXL: 21 cm


Toes:
Round One: Knit to 3 stitches before first marker, K2 tog, K1, (marker), K1, K2 tog tbl, knit to 3 stitches before next marker, K2 tog, K1, (marker), K2 tog tbl, K1, Knit to end. [ie 4 st decrease]

Round Two: Knit.
NB for a neater finish, when you get to the decreased stitch made by K2 tog tbl, knit through the back of this stitch, so the stitches angle the right way.

Repeat these two rounds until following number of stitches remain:
BS: 12 sts [10 rounds]
BM: 16 sts [10 rounds]
BL: 16 sts [12 rounds]
CS: 20 sts [12 rounds]
CM: 20 sts [14 rounds ]
CL: 24 sts [14 rounds]
CXL: 24 sts [16 rounds]
AS: 24 sts [18 rounds]
AM: 24 sts [20 rounds]
AL: 24 sts [22 rounds]
AXL: 24 sts [24 rounds]

If everything has gone to plan, the stitches before your first marker – and after your last marker – should be the number listed below to rearrange.


To make rearranging the stitches easier – when you have finished the last knit round, just continue past the round marker, and then use the same needle to knit to first marker.


Knit to first marker.


Rearrange stitches so that first
BS: 3 sts
BM: 4 sts
BL: 4 sts
CS: 5 sts
CM: 5 sts
CL: 6 sts
CXL: 6 sts
AS: 6 sts
AM: 6 sts
AL: 6 sts
AXL: 6 sts

and last
BS: 3 sts are on one needle, with the remaining (middle) stitches (as below) on another needle.

BM: 4 sts
BL: 4 sts
CS: 5 sts
CM: 5 sts
CL: 6 sts
CXL: 6 sts
AS: 6 sts
AM: 6 sts
AL: 6 sts
AXL: 6 sts



BS: 6 sts
BM: 8 sts
BL: 8 sts
CS: 10 sts
CM: 10 sts
CL: 12 sts
CXL: 12 sts
AS: 12 sts
AM: 12 sts
AL: 12 sts
AXL: 12 sts


At each end of each needle, slip the first stitch over the next stitch on the needle.
Graft the remaining stitches together using Kitchener stitch.
A good tutorial on Kitchener stitch is on this page - just scroll down a bit.

Sock update on a Sunday

Ok - I've been knitting, and recalculating what I need to knit, in the way of socks.

Needed to be knitted for Christmas: 18 pairs (from future baby up to 15-year-old)...
What I have knitted: 13 pairs.

Extra to be knitted to make complete set for testing my pattern (ie new baby to big foot): 1 extra pair.

So - hopefully this week I will be able to post a photo with them all arrayed - well, the complete set - and the pattern!

Yay!

Tom Jones Tuesday

For no apparent reason - I've decided it's Tom Jones Tuesday...



PS on the sock front: the babies will now be receiving 2 pairs of socks (believe me, the size discrepancy is quite noticeable) so I will now be knitting 18 pairs of socks for Christmas. I have knitted 8 pairs. I've adapted patterns from a couple of places in order to create MY perfect sock pattern for newborns up to bigfoot. Once I've tested it - by knitting a pair of each size (11 sizes in all - which means 2 pairs NOT for Christmas) - I will post a photo of all the sizes, and the pattern.

Scarf pattern

I've been wearing scarves recently...

As requested - the pattern:

4mm needles (or maybe 5mm - or 6mm - whatever you have and are comfortable with)...

Random balls of yarn - or remnants.

Cast on as many stitches as you like - say 20 or 25... with some yarn or other

Garter stitch (ie, every row knit) with colour A until you get bored. Join on another yarn,and chop off colour A and garter stitch that until you're bored. Repeat until it's long enough.

To stop the yarn possibly coming apart, tie a knot in the ends of the 2 yarns, and leave dangling.

If you want to get fancy, you can do other stitches - but the size of the scarf and the different colours makes it a bit moot.

There you go! Easy! Perfect project for the beginner knitter.

Updates & rambling

Went into Masco yesterday and the lovely lady said 'ah, you're addicted' as I headed off to the sock yarn area.

Realised it is a 3-pay month, so was planning what sensible (or otherwise) thing I could do. Now I know - I have to buy a free-standing clothes hanger-thingy. I had one for my jewellery, but I really needed it for clothes. If I leave my clothes in the wardrobe, I forget they're there. So, last night, put my clothes onto the hanger I had, went to move it - and the bar sheared off and the whole thing collapsed. Luckily, I only got a small scratch out of the whole business.

But I like the idea so much will be off to buy a replacement - stronger! - hanger tomorrow.

Christmas sock update: 3½ out of 30 done.

Two-fer Tuesday

Thanks to my friends... two mash-ups of two (hence four) of my favourite things...

Doctor Who (David Tennant, even!) AND Top Gear (Jeremy!!!)





And... knitting with beads... just to add to the joy - earrings!

Sock-session

I've finally decided what to do for the kids' Christmas presents [there's a few of them - so planning has to start early].

I'm going to knit each and every one of the little sweethearts a sock. Ok, to be nice - I'll even knit them TWO socks. See - I'm so generous!

So... that's:

• 4 pairs for cousin's kids
• 1 pair for Monkey
• 9 for the greats
• 1 for the future great baby

Making a total of 15 pairs for Christmas. [and this is WHY planning starts early].

I've made a start! Have knitted one sock.

Knitting & new family

Here you go... a photo of the outfit I knitted for then future-baby, now new-baby, from the Vintage Knits book.

And - photos of the recipient...

Knitting in the wild

Thanks for the comments - here and on facebook - about the knitting.

Yes, more baby clothes to come! And, I'm currently working on another sock - a pair is planned.

What I didn't say in my sock posting was the other challenge I succeeded in... which was seeing if I could knit my sock while shopping. And I did! I figured if my dad could steer a car with his elbows, while rolling a cigarette, I could steer a supermarket trolley while knitting. And it worked. Wool in my pocket... Socks are actually quite portable for knitting in the wild - and while reading.
I got a few looks at the supermarket. And a comment from the guy in front of us in the queue. He even knew it was a sock. Which was impressive, I thought.

I can also knit a couple of rounds while waiting for my computer to load up.

Review it: Vintage knits

One for the knitters out there.
Any book about something you can make - and are interested in - be it recipes, or crafts - if you're like me, you pick it up. Skim through it and think - I could make that.

Sometimes, if you're lucky - you think that a lot.
I picked up this book - Vintage knits for modern babies by Hadley Fierlinger - and thought that a lot. But, not just I could make that but I want to make that. A lot. So much so, that I went down to my fav shop, Masco, straight away to buy the necessary materials to knit an outfit for new baby - but I can't show you proof yet, until I've put buttons on the top for new baby. New baby used to be 'future baby' but she's now arrived... - . Oh, and that hat for Monkey comes from there, too. There are a few more patterns I really, really want to try out, too! Will let you know.
I actually want to BUY this book! That's how much I like this book.

At the same time, I got out another book (Vintage baby knits by Kristen Rengren) - and it just didn't inspire me at all. Some of the patterns are so dated it's not funny. There is no way in hell that a modern parent would dress their child in that!