For designing toe-up socks :: The “Sockulator”

Neato!

I apologize for the spotty posting. I’m working on the Winter Issue of the magazine - designing and sewing, crocheting, setting up photo shoots, writing and conducting interviews. I’m very excited about this issue - I think you are going to love it! For a hint as to what is inside, listen to this podcast episode.

It’s still not too late to reserve your subscription!

So, while I’m away, I thought I’d leave you a little knitting project to work on. Remember that little shawl I showed you in this post? The pattern couldn’t be simpler. You’ll need a skein of worsted and size 7 needles. I used an oatmeal-coloured wool and a circular needle for Sophie’s shawl. If you are making a shawl for a grown-up person, you will need 2-3 skeins.

Pattern:

CO 3 sts. *K2, yo, knit to the end.* Turn. Continue in pattern until your shawl is the desired length and width.

I told you it was easy! If you are a beginning knitter, you can do this without any trouble at all.

Here’s another photo of Sophie wearing her pretty shawl:

I completed this outfit for Sophie today while the children read aloud from their books, and did their copy work. I used a lavender rosebud calico with a pale yellow background and Vogue 7904 - my favorite for little girl dresses. The shawl is a miniature of one for grown ups. I got the pattern from Rosie (Jewels’ lovely daughter) at Eyes of Wonder.

Oh, I’m in ecstasies! I just visited Maud’s website and found these mittens. Aren’t they delish? I’ll need to go to confession, I’ve never coveted anything in my life so much as these mittens.

Maud lives in Finland and is a fellow member of the Take Peace list, which is dedicated to living lives of simplicity after the example of the venerable Tasha Tudor.

I need to do some early spring cleaning. Our home is overrun by my crafting, sewing, knitting, crocheting… stuff. So I’m converting the stash to cash. Throughout today (and perhaps the next couple of days) I’ll be adding pieces that I want to get rid of. There will be a PayPal button below each item. If you want anything you see, grab it quick. You can add multiple items to your cart if you happen to see more than one thing that takes your fancy. I’ll update items when they’re sold. Please read the descriptions carefully as there are one-off pieces as well as yardage listed.

RED PLAID SEERSUCKER FABRIC, 2yd, 45″wide. Fibre content is likely a cotton blend. Beautiful bright red, green, and yellow. This would make a cute lightweight jumper for a little girl. $5.00, plus shipping.

RED RIB KNIT FABRIC, 1 yd, 60″ wide. This is a really lovely bright red fabric. It is likely a cotton blend with irregularly spaced ribs. It would made a darling knit dress for a little girl, or pair it with the seersucker for a dress for Mama (using this as the bodice). $5.00, plus shipping.

GOLD JACQUARD HOME DEC FABRIC, 58″ wide, 7yd. This is such a pretty fabric! Suitable for drapery. I bought this to make drapes for my living room, but wound up going in a slightly different direction, colorwise… $5 per yd., plus shipping

BURGUNDY HOME DEC FABRIC, 8yd., 56″ wide. Gorgeous burgundy fabric, suitable for drapes. Probably a cotton blend. It has a lovely diamond texture. I also purchased this for drapes, but… well, it *is* a woman’s prerogative to change her mind! $5.00/yd, plus shipping.

I know, I know… I’m a bit late, but I thought you all would like to see what William (5) gave the entire family for Christmas. He and his big sister Catherine spent weeks knitting together up in her room. Aren’t they gorgeous?

That’s Monty the Penguin in the middle. He was a gift to Louis from Catherine. Here’s the bear that Will made for Louis:

If you’d like to make one, here’s the link to the pattern we used! And here’s a link to a similar pattern to the one Catherine used for her penguin, not the same, but close!

Do NOT lose this link! It’s a great site for calculating a woolly jumper pattern based on Elizabeth Zimmerman’s (choirs of angels singing) percentage method.

I need to go… Gotta buy more yarn…

With thanks to my friend Heather M, I present this link that will help you make a custom sized pair of bootie slippers. Not only can you choose the size, but the yarn weight and needle size. Plug all those into the handy dandy boxes and out comes your instructions! Neat huh?

Have fun!

These little pink socks for Sophie:

Are these little booties I knitted for Louis:

They were knit using Paton’s “Grace” in a pale plue. The mercerised cotton makes a scumptiously soft fabric. The pattern is from “Simple Knits for Cherished Babies”, page 34