Baby Socks -- Free pattern

I'm not so much a sock knitter but occasionally I need a quick gift or instant gratification of baby things.  Although I don't have any small babies, I can still whip out a pair of socks for Oonagh in a jiffy.  Here is a free pattern that I designed for Stitch DC that is for newborn to 6 month old babies.  I used Aurora 8, a super soft washable merino, and size 6 needles so I had a pair knit in less than 2.5 hours!

Baby socks
Designed by Marie Connolly


Suggested Materials
50 yards of worsted weight yarn. (sample was knit with Aurora 8; one skein would produce two pairs)
US 6 double pointed needles (or circular needles if you prefer magic loop or two circulars)


Notes:
1. These socks are knit from the toe up in the round.
2. The pattern is written for double pointed needles but as long
as you indicate each needle divide, you can modify it to magic loop or two circulars.




Cast on using turkish cast a total of 16 stitches. Knit these stitches
Knit one more round. At this point you can divide the stitches as follows 

• needle 1: 8 stitches
• needle 2: 4 stitches 
• needle 3: 4 stitches

Start two increases as follows:
Round 1: needle 1: k1, m1, knit to last stitch, m1, k1; needle 2: k1, m1, knit to end of needle; needle 3: knit to last stitch, m1, k1
Round 2: knit all stitches
Repeat these two round once more. (24 total stitches as follows needle 1: 12 stitches; needle 2: 6 stitches; needle 3: 6 stitches)
Knit in the round for an additional inch.


The Heel
Build the gusset as follows:
Round 1: needle 1: k1, m1, knit to last stitch, m1, k1; needle 2: knit; needle 3: knit 
Round 2: knit all stitches
Repeat last two rounds until Needle 1 has 22 stitches.
Please note during this section, we are only increasing on needle 1.

Turn the heel:
Please note for the next section, we are only working needle 1:
Next round: knit 11 stitches, place marker, knit 2, k2tog, k1 TURN work
Next row: still working on needle 1: purl to marker, p2, p2tog, p1 TURN


Right side rows: *Turn. Slip 1, knit back to the gap, knit the stitch before and after the gap together. Knit 1. 


Wrong side rows: Turn. Slip 1, purl back to the gap, purl the stitch before and after the gap together. Purl 1.*


Repeat these two rows until you have worked all stitches on the gusset needle.
Note that you will have two more stitches on the heel/gusset needle than you started with.
Resume knitting around both needles and decrease away the excess stitches to bring the total back to 24 stitches.

Reset the needles so they are arranged as follows:

needle 1: 12 stitches
needle 2:  6 stitches
needle 3: 6 stitches
Knit one round 


Next round: needle 1: [k2tog] twice, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, k1, yo, [k2tog] twice; 
needle 2: [k2tog] twice, k1, yo, k1, yo; 
needle 3:k1, yo, k1, yo, [k2tog] twice


Purl one round 
Knit two round

Repeat last 4 rounds once more.   
Bind off loosely. Weave in the ends.


Repeat for second sock or knit two at a time 



Pattern Designed by Marie Connolly Published August. 2011
Pattern cannot be reproduced with permission and is designed for personal use only.
Photo credit: Mickie Gelling 

New class updates

Check out the schedule. I've added classes in June and July.  Working on August, just got to remember I need a family vacation in August too. 

Also in June is this new one-day sock class....
Learn to Knit Two Socks at One Time. We'll explore magic loop knitting, turning the heel, knitting from the toe up and how to size this baby sock into a sock for just about anyone!


You must know how to knit and purl. Sock knitting experience is not necessary.
See you in class.
Class fee is $60 plus materials.

Register online for 2 socks at once.

a good day for painting yarns

it's beautiful outside so i'm going to paint some more yarns in the courtyard today.  here is a sample of what I did yesterday with Maureen. 

The yarn is superwash merino 4, !sock yarn!, 378 yards.  One skein makes a pair of socks.  Look forward to having a full shelve of our house painted yarns to show off this weekend. 

Thinking about color names?  What do you think?  the theme has been Beatles songs so far so I'm thinking Baby's In Black.  Comments/Suggestions? 

Kid Slippers -- Free Pattern

So I was so anxious to knit with the new Dia Duit Yarns.   I chose "Across The Universe".  Really bright colors and lots of them!  Here is the finished slipper.  I hope to get a picture with Oonagh wearing them (still working on this one.  she moves quick!)

Materials:

Dia Duit Yarns  DK Hand Painted Superwash Merino (available exclusively at Stitch DC)

US 3 24" circular needle

darning needle

markers (suggested but not required)

Size: 5 inches long from toe to heel

7 inches around center foot.

These fit Oonagh who is wearing a size 6-7 shoe and is 18 months old.

Gauge:

7 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Notes:

1.  I used the magic loop method for knitting these slippers. 

2.  To make larger, simply make more toe increase to fit, then work until 2 inches shorter than foot.  You may have to adjust how many short rows you do for heel but make a small set first and you'll quickly feel the rhythm of turning the heel.

3.  I use Yarn Overs (YOs) instead of wraps.

4. You may also choose to put some puffy glue on the bottom of these slippers so baby can walk safely around in them.

5. You will have tons left over from the smallest size. so make a pair and give away a second pair!



Abbreviations:
YO: yarn over
K2tog: knit next two stitches together
 

INSTRUCTIONS:  (make 2 for a pair)

Cast on 20 stitches using the turkish cast on method.

Knit 2 rounds.

Start toe increases as follows:

Round 1: * k1, m1, k8, m1, k1 repeat from * across round.

Round 2:  knit all stitches

Repeat last two rows increasing the number of stitches to knit in the middle by 2 each repeat. (i.e. ROW 4: *k1, m1, k10, m1, k1 repeat from * and Row 6: *k1, m1, k12, m1, k1) until total 48 stitches.

Continue knitting in the round even (no more increases) until foot measures 3 1/2" long.

Turn the Heel as follows

Row 1: Knit 23, turn

Row 2: Yo, purl to last stitch on first needle, turn

Row 3: Yo, knit to last stitch before the previous yarn over, turn

Row 4: Yo, purl to last stitch before the previous yarn over, turn

repeat last two rows until you have 10 stitches remaining in the center.  You will have 9 yo/stitch couples on either side.

Next row:  knit to the first yo, knit the yarn over and the next stitch together, turn

Next row: Yo, purl to the first yo, purl the yarn over and the next stitch together, turn

Next row, Yo, knit to the next yo, knit the 2 YOs and the next stitch together, turn
Next row: YO, purl to next yo, purl the 2 YOs and the next stitch together, turn
repeat the last two rows until all the stitches are worked.
Return to knitting in the round.  Knit one row and bind off.

Weave in ends. 

Learn to knit socks

Learn to Knit socks from the toe up and short row heels. You can chooe from double points, two circulars or magic loop.


We'll be going slowly and talking about each step, so feel free to register even if you've never worked in the round before. If you can knit and purl, this class is for you!
Three 1 hour sessions: 
6/29, 7/6 and 7/13 / $55 plus materials  REGISTER ONLINE
7/11, 7./18 and 7/25 / $55 plus materials Register online