Socks, Socks, and more Socks for 2007!

I finished the Christmas shrugs! -- all but one. Renee's is 2/3 done, but I can't get into the spare room to get the last skein of yarn until Joe returns to college from Winter Break. He has the room stuffed with computers and other temporary items. He had to bring home a lot of the things from his dorm room because the staff was going to polish floors over the holiday. The spare room isn't very big to start with. We have the last of the unpacked boxes in there, my sewing materials, Joe and his dorm overflow. Trust me -- it's a case of "Go outside to change your mnd." Ah, well. Guess I'll just have to start a new project. Johanna has challenged the KansasKnitters to join her in knitting a pair of socks a month during 2007. I've never made socks before, so my goal will be 6 pairs in 2007. I started my first pair using Lion Brand Magic Stripe yarn in blue. Here's the pattern. I hope they will look like the picture on the yarn band. Here's the website for this pattern: http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/kmstripe-socks.html?noImages=0 Magic Stripe Basic SocksLion Brand® Magic Stripes GAUGE: 28 sts + 40 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in St st (k every stitch in the round; k on RS, p on WS when knitting flat). BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. STITCH EXPLANATION: ssk (slip, slip, knit) 1. Slip the next 2 sts as if to knit, one at a time, to right needle. 2. Insert left needle into fronts of these 2 sts and k them tog. Grafting Holding the 2 needles parallel with wrong sides of fabric together, thread a blunt tapestry needle with one of the yarn ends and work as follows: Insert needle as if to purl into the first stitch on front piece. Insert needle as if to knit into the first stitch on the back piece. Then follow steps 1-4 as outlined below. 1) insert it as if to knit through the first st on the front needle and let the st drop from the needle. 2) Insert the needle into the second st on the front needle as if to purl and pull the yarn through, leaving the st on the needle. 3) Insert the needle into the first st on the back needle as if to purl and let it drop from the needle, then 4) insert it as if to knit through the second st on the back needle and pull the yarn through, leaving the st on the needle. Repeat 1-4 until all sts are gone. When finished, adjust tension as necessary. Weave in ends.

SOCKS Cuff Loosely cast on 56 sts. Divide sts evenly onto 4 double pointed needles. Place marker and join, being careful not to twist sts. Work in K1, P1 Rib for 1 inches. Work in St st until piece measures 6" from cast on edge. Place last 28 sts on a holder (instep sts). Heel flap (worked back and forth on 28 heel sts only) Row 1 *Slip 1, k 1; rep from *. Row 2 *Slip 1, p 1; rep from *. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until heel flap measures 2¼" (28 rows), ending with Row 2. Turn Heel Row 1 K 17, ssk, k 1, turn. Row 2 Slip 1, p 7, p2tog, p 1, turn. Row 3 Slip 1, k 8, ssk, k 1, turn. Row 4 Slip 1, p 9, p2tog, p 1, turn. Row 5 Slip 1, k 10, ssk, k 1, turn. Row 6 Slip 1, p 11, p2tog, p 1, turn. Continue in this way, working 1 more st between dec until all 28 sts have been worked, ending with a wrong side row – 18 sts. Pick up sts for heel gussets as follows: Knit 9 sts; place marker (this is now the end of rnd marker); with another needle, knit 9 sts, pick up 19 sts along edge of heel flap, place marker, (with another needle, knit 14 sts of instep) twice; place marker, with another needle, pick up 19 sts along edge of heel flap, knit rem 9 sts – 84 sts. Gusset Rnd 1 Knit. Rnd 2 Knit to 3 sts before first marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, knit to second marker, slip marker, k1, ssk, knit to end of rnd. Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until 56 sts remain. Note Keep markers in place for toe shaping. Foot Work even in St st until foot measures 7½" (or 2" less than desired total length). Toe shaping Rnd 1 Knit to 3 sts before first marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, k1, ssk, knit to 3 sts before second marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, k1, ssk, knit to end of rnd. Rnd 2 Knit. Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until 20 sts remain. Finishing Knit across first 5 sts of rnd. 10 sts will be for the top of foot and 10 sts will be for the bottom of the foot. Graft remaining stitches together.

ABBREVIATIONS / REFERENCES Click for explanation and illustration beg = begin(s)(ning) dec = decreas(e)(s)(ing) k = knit p = purl rem = remain(s)(ing) rep = repeat(s)(ing) rnd(s) = round(s) RS = right side St st = Stockinette stitch st(s) = stitch(es) tog = together WS = wrong side