Fall Socks

I like to knit to the colors of the season or nearest holiday, it gets me in the spirit and makes me happy. This past year I focused more on designing and started my Christmas sock knitting fairly early so my fall socks weren't actually finished until January. But as I'm writing this post I get to wear them so at least their done!

The yarn is used is SweetGeorgia that was given to me by a knitting friend and finishing client. She didn't remember what she had purchased it for and gave two hanks to me. Out of these two hanks my mom and I were able to knit three pairs of socks! Two are regular height and my shorty pair.

When I knit shorties to make sure I don't run out of yarn I add some sort of contrast to them, usually the heel but this time I added a cute little gold toe! The gold is a different yarn but it didn't seem to make much of a difference. If I was striping them the gauge would have been an issue. This is my regular US 1.5 needle, 9", 64 stitches with Modified Eye of Partridge Heel Flap and this formula fits my feet perfectly!

Polka Spot

Happy New Year and Decade! The last decade was crazy, life changing, and tons of growth for me. My decade in recap, 2010 I graduated High School and went to college, 2012 moved into my own apartment, 2014 graduated from College (UCM) and went to Europe of the first time. 2015 I went to Ireland, 2016 Germany, Austria, Scotland, and England, 2017 Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands, 2018 I went to China. Through all of that I moved back home, became a nanny, worked at my local yarn shop, quite my first job as a server. My parents got separated and back together, I traveled to New York for Rhinebeck and Canada for KnitCity, I was diagnosed with anxiety and started medication that has forever made my life better. There was so. much. more that I don't even know how to write it all.

The start of this decade has me taking a step back at the yarn shop so have more time to design and releasing my first hat pattern!

Polka Spot was my first release of the year and the new decade. With yarn purchased on my first trip to Europe! Lana Gato Misina was purchased while I was in Italy and is the most luscious worsted weight wool. This wouldn't be the perfect wool for everyone, it definitely has some tooth to it but it shows the stitch pattern perfectly for Polka Spot.

Polka Spot is fun and quirky and very quick to knit. I was able to work both my samples up in one day each. There are five sizes to it's the perfect winter accessory for anyone in your life! I especially love it on kids:) Any worsted weight yarn with some body to it would be great for this hat. Wool, Wool/Acrylic, Acrylic would all be good choices. 

This fall when we visited Apple Hill (a series of apple orchards/farms) I brought along quite a bit of knitwear and was able to get my sisters to model. The child model is my co-workers daughter (she was paid in knitwear:)) 

Drop the Fringe

I have a new shawl pattern out! This was one of my favorite knits for 2019 and I'm so excited to share with everyone. Drop the Fringe is knit in two skeins of fingering weight and two ten gram mini skeins. The secret is that it's partially self fringing! WHAT!?! I know right! With the large double yarn overs this pattern works great for speckled, variegate, or tonal yarn; kind of a one pattern fits all yarn:)

I knit the whole shawl in 10 day because I really wanted to see if my idea for the fringe would work, and IT DID! Obviously I did add some of the contrast color into the fringe and I used a Chiaogoo yarn fringer for it, this awesome little tool makes the fringe so. much. easier.

The yarn I used is Madtosh Twist Light and two unicorn tails and what is even more exciting is Jimmy Beans Wool made kits! Obviously I was really flattered when they approached me to make kits. It's always exciting with another company loves your work so much they want to incorporate into their business!

The yarn varieties for this pattern can be really wide, mine was a merino/nylon blend but a 100% wool or an acrylic/wool blend would be great. You want enough body for the lace holes to stay open, if you used a full synthetic then you will have to steam block vs wet block. 

Thanks for reading! Happy New Year, Decade, and Knitting!

Sierra

Center Lane

Center Lane

All Knit Up Designs

Ravelry: sierrak2010

Instagram: allknitup

Blog: allknitup23.blogspot.com

400 yards fingering weight yarn (White Birch Fiber Arts 80/20 used in sample)

Needle: US 1.5 / 2.5mm (Needle Ambiguous, you can use your preferred sock knitting method i.e. DPNs, magic loop, 9 inch circulars, two circulars.)

Pattern uses Modified Eye of Partridge Heel Flap and Wedge Toe

Gauge: 34 stitches by 32 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette 

Size: Women’s Medium size foot: US 8.5 / EU 39

Notions needed: 

Two different stitches markers (One each for A and B)

Darning Needle for Kitchener and weaving in ends 

K: knit

P: Purl

P2Tog: Purl two together

K2Tog: Knit two together

SSK: Slip, slip, knit

Sl: Slip

SM: Slip marker

WYIF: With yarn in front

WYIB: With yarn in back

(Unless otherwise stated Sl means slip one knitwise) 

----

Cast On:60 Stitches. (Place a marker at the beginning of the round)

Ribbing:

Knit 3, Purl 2 for 18 rounds

Leg:

Round 1: * K1, Sl1, K1, P2; repeat from *  

Round 2: * K3, P2; repeat from *

Repeat these two rows for your preferred leg length. (I repeated the pattern rows twenty six times)

Heel Flap: (You will be working flat on half of your stitches) 

If you are adding a contrast heel, start here with new color.

Turn work with wrong side facing, you will be working back across the last 30 stitches

Row 1: Knit 3, Purl 27

Row 2: Purl 3 * Knit 1, slip 1 knitwise with yarn in back * repeat to last 3 stitches, knit 3

Row 3: Knit 3, purl across

Row 4: Purl 3, * Slip 1 knitwise with yarn in back, Knit 1 * repeat to last 3 stitches, knit 3

Repeat these 4 rows eight times total (You will have 16 Garter bumps along the edge)

Heel Turn: 

 

Row 1: Slip 1 purlwise wyif, P15, P2Tog, P1, turn

Row 2: Slip 1 knitwise wyib, K3, SSK, K1, turn

Row 3: Slip 1 pw wyif, P4, P2Tog, P1, turn

Row 4: Slip 1 kw wyib, K5, SSK, K1, turn  

Row 5: Slip 1 pw wyif, P6, P2Tog, P1, turn

Row 6: Slip 1 kw wyib, K7, SSK , K1, turn

Row 7: Slip 1 pw wyif, P8, P2TOG, P1, turn

Row 8: Slip 1 kw wyib, K9, SSK, K1, turn

Row 9: Slip 1 pw wyif, P10, P2TOG, P1, turn

Row 10: Slip 1 kw wyib, K11, SSK, K1, turn

Row 11: Slip 1 pw wyif, P12, P2TOG, P1, turn

Row 12: Slip 1 kw wyib, K13, SSK, K1, turn

Row 13: Slip 1 pw wyif, P14, P2TOG, turn

Row 14: Slip 1 kw wyib, K 14, SSK 

(You should have closed all ‘gaps’ and have 16 stitches from the heel flap and turn)

Gusset:

            

Now you will pick up and knit 16 stitches along the heel flap (one stitch for every garter bump) 

Once you’ve picked up the first side of the gusset, pick up one extra stitch in between the gusset and top of the foot (This helps close up any small hole between gusset and foot)

Place marker A after picking up and knitting the stitch between gusset and foot

Work pattern across top of foot, place marker B.

Now pick up and knit one extra stitch between the top of the foot and the next side of the gusset, pick up and knit 16 garter bumps from heel flap. (You now have 80 stitches on your needles, 30 from marker A to B, 50 from marker B to A)

Knit one round plain (no increasing/decreasing, follow pattern at top of the foot)

After knitting this round, stop three stitches before marker A

Round 1: K2TOG, K 1, sm, work in pattern to next marker, sm, K 1, SSK , knit to marker A

Round 2: SM A, work in pattern to next marker, sm B, knit to three stitches before marker A

Repeat these two rounds until you have 30 stitches left between marker B and A

Foot:

Continue working in pattern across top of foot and knitting along the bottom until foot length measures 1.5 inches less than desired length.

Toe:

Start toe decreases three stitches before marker A (When knitting in the round becomes uncomfortable, switch to Double Point Needles)

Round 1: K2TOG, K1, sm, K1, SSK, knit to three stitches before next marker, K2TOG, K1, sm, K1, SSK

Round 2: Knit entire round

Repeat these two rounds until sock measures length of foot. (Stitch count will be determined by the length of your toe box.)

Complete the sock with a kitchener stitch. (Here are links to two different tutorials)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmgE7YQkrFw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-S9v-pEiu-M

Great Stones

Great Stones

Self-Striping Socks Series 

All Knit Up Designs

Ravelry: sierrak2010

Instagram: allknitup

Blog: allknitup23.blogspot.com

437 yards / 400 meters fingering weight yarn (KnitPicks Felici used in sample)

Needle: US 1.5 / 2.5mm (Needle Ambiguous, you can use your preferred sock knitting method i.e. DPNs, Magic Loop, 9 inch circulars, two circulars.)

Pattern uses Modified Eye of Partridge Heel Flap and Wedge Toe

Gauge: 32 stitches by 32 rows = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette

Size: Women’s Medium size foot: US 8.5 / EU 39

Notions needed:

Two different stitches markers (One each for A and B)

Darning Needle for Kitchener and weaving in ends  

K: knit

P: Purl

P2Tog: Purl two together

K2Tog: Knit two together

PW: Purlwise

KW: Knitwise

SSK: Slip, slip, knit

SM: Slip marker

WYIF: With yarn in front

WYIB: With yarn in back

Slip: Unless otherwise specified slip one stitch as if to purl with the yarn in back.

----

Cuff: 

Cast on 64 Stitches and join in the round, being careful not to twist. (Place a marker at the beginning of the round, if preferred.)

Knit 2, Purl 2 for 18 rounds

Leg: 

Round 1: Knit

Round 2-4: P2, K2

Round 5: Knit

Round 6-8: K2, P2

Repeat these eight rows for your preferred leg length.

Starting heel flap. (You will be working flat on half of your stitches) 

If you want to use a contrast heel please start using contrast yarn.

Turn work with wrong side facing, you will be working back across the last 32 stitches.

Row 1: Knit 3, Purl 29

Row 2: Purl 3, * K1, slip 1 knitwise with yarn in back * repeat to last 3 stitches, knit 3

Row 3: Knit 3, purl across

Row 4: Purl 3, * Slip 1 knitwise with yarn in back, K1 * repeat to last 3 stitches, knit 3

Repeat these 4 rows eight times total (You will have 16 Garter bumps along the edge)

Starting the heel turn

Row 1: Slip 1 pw wyif, P16, P2TOG, P1, turn

Row 2: Slip 1 kw wyib, K3, SSK, k1, turn

Row 3: Slip 1 pw wyif, P4, P2TOG, P1, turn

Row 4: Slip 1 kw wyib, K5, SSK, k1, turn  

Row 5: Slip 1 pw wyif, P6, P2TOG, P1, turn

Row 6: Slip 1 kw wyib, K7, SSK, K1, turn

Row 7: Slip 1 pw wyif, P8, P2TOG, P1, turn

Row 8: Slip 1 kw wyib, K9, SSK, K1, turn

Row 9: Slip 1 pw wyif, P10, P2TOG, P1, turn

Row 10: Slip 1 kw wyib, K11, SSK, K1, turn

Row 11: Slip 1 pw wyif, P12, P2TOG, P1, turn

Row 12: Slip 1 kw wyib, K13, SSK, K1, turn

Row 13: Slip 1 pw wyif, P14, P2TOG, P1, turn

Row 14: Slip 1 kw wyib, K15, SSK, K1

(You should have closed all ‘gaps’ and have 18 stitches from the heel flap and turn)

Cut contrast yarn (if used) and pick up and knit with main color.

Gusset:

Now, pick up and knit 16 stitches along the heel flap (one stitch for every garter bump) 

Once you’ve picked up the first side of the gusset, pick up one extra stitch in between the gusset and top of the foot (This helps close up any small hole between gusset and foot)

Place marker A after picking up and knitting the stitch between gusset and foot.

Work pattern across top of foot, place marker B.

Now pick up and knit one extra stitch between the top of the foot and the next side of the gusset, pick up and knit 16 garter bumps from heel flap. (You now have 84 stitches on your needles, 32 from marker A to B, 52 from marker B to A.)

Knit one round plain (no increasing/decreasing, follow pattern at top of the foot)

After knitting this round, stop three stitches before marker A.

Round 1: K2TOG, K 1, sm, work in pattern to next marker, sm, K1, SSK, continue to round 2.

Round 2: Knit to marker, sm, work in pattern to next marker, sm, K1, knit to three stitches before marker A. Continue to round 1.

Repeat these two rounds until you have 32 stitches left between marker B and A

Foot:

Continue working in pattern across top of foot and knitting along the bottom until foot length measures 1.5 inches less than desired length.

Toe:

Start toe decreases three stitches before marker A (When knitting in the round becomes uncomfortable, switch to Double Point Needles)

Round 1: K2TOG, K1, sm, K1, SSK, knit to three stitches before next marker, K2TOG, K1, sm, K1, SSK knit to the end of the round.

Round 2: Knit entire round

Repeat these two rounds until sock measures length of foot. (Stitch count will be determined by the length of your toe box.)

Complete the sock with a kitchener stitch.

Here’s a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7i5JwEReW0&t=5s

When finished with the kitchener stitch, weave in all ends and wear with pride! Blocking makes your socks look amazing but is not necessary. 

The name of this pattern was inspired by my trip to China in 2018. I had the immense privilege to be able to visit the great wall with my family and pay respect to all the people who died while working on it. 

Its Been Awhile

I seem to do this quite frequently, take a long extended break from blogging without really meaning too.

This time I have a fairly legit excuse with the fact that the house I'm renting is going up for sale. Pair that with trying to find a rental in a very small California town with rent prices that make me cringe.

Fortunately my parents live in town and I'm able to move in with them. I'm using this time of transition to reevaluate my priorities and make sure that I take care of this blog the way that I want.

New project post soon!

--Happy Knitting, Sierra

I Don't Like to Water

My Christmas list for 2018 didn't contain any yarn...what... I know right! My Mom found that to be too weird so she ordered me a kit from Jimmy Beans.

So I got to knit cacti! This is great for me because honestly I don't have a green thumb. I've killed bamboo before.

This is was perfect because I don't have to water them and they're super cute! Of course this led me down the rabbit hole and I scoured the stash and was able to knit a few more to add to the collection.

The photos contain:

1. This diffuser from my favorite oil company!

2. This plant holder from Ikea

3. and these 1, 2, 3 other cacti from Ravelry

Plus a bunch of yarn bowls, colored glass, and a few live plants I've added to my house in the past few years. (The live plants are new and I'm not sure the small one is going to make it...)

I am very much in love with my little collection in the corner of the living room. My guess is I'll be adding new knit/crochet plants to it on and off! I'll keep you all updated!