A Storm in a Handknitted Sock....

I am swearing my head off over this one:




I found this sock pattern on the inside of the label for my yarn, and thought I'd give it a shot. I've done the leg, but now it's time to divide for the heel and knit the heel flap and I can't figure it out....

I thought perhaps the knitting geniuses of the Internets may be able to help. If anyone can clarify these instructions for me, I'd be forever indebted. In fact, I may even send you a gift if your instructions are the ones that help me see the light....!

Here's a scan of the pattern - you can click through to Flickr if you need to see it larger:



I've already divided the stitches in preparation for the heel flap, and I knit along merrily for 10 rows (which I have subsequently ripped out) and then I got to the bit about the 'held' stitches, which didn't make any sense.......

Help? Please?

Apologies to all who find knitting tedious, and I promise I'll have some more exciting eye candy soon...!

Thanks in advance,

Leah xxx

*edited to add: A big thankyou goes out to Jacqueline who has been more than helpful - in fact, writing out a full set of new instructions for me to follow! Bless the Internets and all those who call it home - and thanks to everyone else who replied offering help - genuises, all of you...... xxxx *

Easter Favourites...

1. before, 2. lola in da hood, 3. Patching the Quilt, 4. what's for dinner mum?, 5. eggshells, 6. Untitled, 7. bench? squint. close enough., 8. robinseggs

Have a beautiful weekend....

xxx

Patchwork Knitting Roll...

Another finished project to share - I swear I'm knocking things off my list at a rate of knots over here, must be the Winter crafting kicking in....

This one is made from a scrap of quilt from the Big Box of Staggering Genius.....



I just laid out the patchwork scrap on a piece of wool felt, and quilted through the layers, then folded one end over to make a pocket:



A bit of bias tape around three edges, and a pocket is born.....

A wee bit of cotton tape and with a badge on the end forms the closure:



Then rolled up, stuffed in the handbag ( a gorgeous new one gifted to me for my birthday, no less), and the cross over to Knitter In Public is complete.



Quick and satisfying, I tells ya.

****

Today I'm sewing up a storm - a Winter skirt out of a yummy grey wool with pockets and a waist sash; a pair of slippers out of the arms of a cashmere jumper (!) tutorial soon(!) ; and a bit more knitting to ensure that I am the woman with the biggest handwarmer collection in the Southern Hemisphere..... heh!

It's also Easter Week, which means that our hardworking pub staff get our only true day off for the year - Good Friday means a closed bar, and all our tips money for the year spent on having gorgeous food cooked for us, plenty of booze and boardgames, and general faffing about with no beers to pour or whisky tasters to explain or drunken people to toss out onto the street. Lovely.

Happy Easter all - whether that means Church or Springtime or the onset of Winter or dancing naked around a bonfire in the backyard, I hope you all have a lovely week.

Leah xxx

Adventures in Fibre and Sticks.

It's that knitting time of year again. The onset of the cooler weather means I am craving wool and yarns and layers and layers of things - even though it's still not quite cold enough to justify - but the time will come - and this year I am determined to be prepared.

I've been riding my bike to work at least twice a week, and I don't plan to stop in the winter. So, a bicycle ensemble ensued:



The basket was a birthday present from The Man - it neatly clips to the front handlebars - and to go with it, a beanie knitted from some handspun from my local Spinners and Weavers Guild, and a pair of bright mustard hand warmers - from Colinette Jitterbug sock yarn - as you can probably tell, I am too impatient to block - I usually just do it when my knitted things need their first wash!

Next up is a moss stitch cowl:



I wanted to make something as crazy and bulky as Yokoo, but I wasn't quite brave enough, so I stopped short of knitting all the yarn I bought into it. But this way I might have enough to make some matching hand warmers, so being chicken shit pays off in it's own way!
The yarn here is some super bulky naff acrylic they sell at Lincraft - I hatehatehatehateHATE acrylic yarns, but this was soft enough, and I wanted a quick fix, so......

But the real progress in the knitting department has come in the shape, well, the vaguely identifiable shape of.....



a sock!

This has got to be the ugliest sock in the known universe. You can't see the toe in this photo for a very good reason. Nonetheless, it is a sock. The first I've ever made. And I have GRAND plans for a billion of them.

Some of you commented on this photo from my favourites the other day, and I hereby make it my life mission to own a sock drawer like that. One day.

In the meantime, I've gotten a wee bit ambitious, and have cast on for a pair of these, in those yarns down there:



I bet I cave halfway down the first leg. meh.


I hope you're having a gorgeous Saturday.....

xxxx