darth_tigger

This was cast on as a new on-the-go project on a day when I knew I'd have to go and sit in a hospital waiting room for an indeterminate amount of time. I didn't want to take my current on-the-go project (also socks) with me as I was just about to turn the heel, and didn't want to have to concentrate that much. (I'm not yet at the stage where I can turn a heel without looking up the instructions).

Eye socks, because it was Eye Casualty I was waiting at - accompanying Chris who it turned out had a scratched cornea (all healed now). And also because it's my first attempt at an Eye of Partridge heel flap (suggested by Adela Terrell).

The rest of the 'pattern' is cobbled together from several others, and is merely being recorded here as I go along, so I can do the same on sock 2. I claim no credit for anything particularly original here.

These fit my feet - size 39 European (5 1/2 UK). Larger/smaller would need multiples of 4 stitches adding/taking away, and more/less rows along the foot.

5 x 2.5mm dpns
Trekking XXL Sock Yarn - 165 Bright Multi Stripe

Cast on 60 (long tail). Split equally over 4 needles.
k2 p2 rib 15 rounds.
49 3/4 rounds knit (i.e. 49 rounds plus k45 - ending up 15 stitches from start of round).

HEEL FLAP - Eye Of Partridge
30 stitches (i.e. half initial number that were cast on - adjust as necessary for other sizes), 30 rows as follows:
Row 1: *slip1, k1* repeat, end with k1
Row 2&4: slip1, p29
Row 3: slip2, *k1, slip1* repeat, end with k2

(End with row 2)

SHAPE HEEL
Row 1: slip1, k16, SSK, k1, turn
Row 2: slip1, p5, p2tog, p1, turn
Row 3: slip1, k6, SSK, k1, turn
Row 4: slip1, p7, p2tog, p1, turn

Continue similar until all heel flap included - 18 stitches left

GUSSET
K18 (i.e. 9 to end of round, 9 to start of flap)
Pick up 15 down flap, place marker
K30, place marker
Pick up 15 from flap
K9 (to end of round)

Round 1: K to within 3 of marker. K2 tog, K1. K to marker. K1, SSK, K to end of round
Round 2: K

Repeat until 60 stitches left. Put on 4 needles, 15 to a needle.

K 50 rounds (or more, or less).

TOE
Round 1
1st & 3rd needle: K to 3 from end; K2tog, K1
2nd & 4th needle: K1, SSK, K to end
Round 2: K

Repeat until 6 stitches per needle (24total)

GRAFTING TOE
K6 (i.e. first needle)

Put stitches from needles 2 & 3 on one needle; from 1 and 4 on another. Cut yarn leaving 20cm and thread a sewing-up needle. Have knitting needles parallel with thread coming from back stitch on right.

Setup:
Needle knitwise through first stitch on front needle; purlwise through first stitch on back needle. Pull through.

Grafting:
Knitwise through front, slip stitch off. Purlwise through front, pull through.
Purlwise through back, slip stitch off. Knitwise through back, pull through.

Repeat until all done.

My mum taught me how to do magic. When I was still at infant school she showed me how to take a long strand of wool and, with two magic wands, turn it into a flat piece of cloth. She didn't call it magic, of course, but that's what it was. Right up until you finish off the last stitch, a piece of knitting is still topologically the same as the original strand of wool, and if you pull on the free end you end up with the long strand again. Even once the knitting is finished off, it's still only the same as a thumb-knot. But because of the magic of the wands, it's also a rectangle, or a square, or a strange wavy-edged shape. You can then use different magic to sew pieces together and hey presto, a jumper, a teddy bear, a bag.

She was a lot better at the magic than I was or will ever be. She could magic the shapes into being with barely a movement, just a twitch of one finger. My technique is much more laborious, with my whole arm moving around, but part of the magic is that you can't tell from the finished project. I have created scarves, socks and kittens, using nothing more than two (or sometimes five) magic wands.

Magic obviously runs in our family. My mum was taught by her mother, my granny, who would regularly magic up a jumper for each of her ten grandchildren. Grandad could do the magic too, though he generally left that one to Granny and instead concentrated on the magic that involved pigments mixed with oil, a canvas and a magic wand with bristles on the end. I'm doing my best to pass on the magic, and this summer showed my niece how to wield the magic wands. I gave her magic wands of her own, plus a book with instructions* so she can carry on doing the magic when I'm not there.

There's many resources out there for anyone who wants to learn the magic, far more than when I was first learning. Ravelry is wonderful for magicians of all abilities, with thousands of magic spells written down and a whole community of witches and wizards who love to share. Books, web sites, magic shops - you can even join a coven and do the magic with other like-minded people. There's other related sorts of magic too; once I'd mastered the two pointy magic wands Mum taught me how to crochet, a branch of magic that just uses one wand with a hook on the end. You can stick to other magicians' spells or make up your own, or adapt spells to fit your own requirements. All you need is the wands and a little training, and you can magic anything into being.

It doesn't stop being magic just because you find out how it's done. With some things, it becomes even more magical.

Thanks Mum, for showing me the magic.

*It's a really good book, very clear instructions, and I recommend it to anyone wanting to have a go with the pointy sticks. I'd also recommend The Stitch 'n' Bitch Handbook, but I didn't think I'd get away with giving a book of that title to an eleven-year-old, my sister-in-law would have killed me!

Reusable advent calendar - twenty-four little stockings, just add gifts!

I used DK yarn (acrylic, mostly from Wilkos I think!) and 4mm needles.

Cast on 22 stitches

Row 1: K 22
Row 2: K 22
Rows 3-12: stocking stitch (i.e. knit the odd rows, purl the even ones, finish on a purl row)
Row 13: Cast on 4, K26
Row 14: Cast on 4, P30
Rows 15-22: stocking stitch (i.e. knit the odd rows, purl the even ones, finish on a purl row)
Cast off

Sew up inside-out, rounding off the corners. When you turn it right-side round, poke the corners around to make a nice stocking shape.

Make 24 in various colours, and embroider numbers to the front.

Fill with sweets or other little gifts. Hang from a string, or pin to the mantlepiece!

(More photos to follow as soon as it's finished)

Current Mood: accomplished

This is my first attempt at writing up a pattern, so any hints and tips would be much appreciated.

For those interested in what I made but not so fussed with how I did it, skip down to the photos!

( Pattern behind first cut )

( Lots of photos behind second cut )

I have finally thought of something sensible to do here. I couldn't really see the point of just copying any LiveJournal posts over here since they're all available over there, and unless everyone I follow on LJ migrates and stops using LJ I can't see the point of moving either. Instead I'm going to use it (very intermittently no doubt) to blog craft type stuff. So as and when I invent any knitting or crochet patterns, or anything like that, I shall be documenting them here for future reference.

Should anyone wish to stop subscribing now I've said that, I won't be a bit offended.

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