...new fallen snow...

...it snowed last night...

...we went for a walk...

...it was lovely...

...tonight we'll be staying up ('til lights out at 3 AM) with the youth at Church...that should be fun...

...there's a new post up over at The Vegan Version...some yummy wax beans...

~Wishing you a lovely start to your week!

Tall Boy Scout Socks...FREE Pattern

Materials:

Berroco Weekend

You'll need 2 skeins - one for each sock - any colour - and a different colour for the toes and cuffs.

For the Boy Scout socks I used 2 skeins of Willow (one for each sock) and one of Cherry (for both toes and cuffs).

1 set of 4 dpns - size 4

Gauge

6 sts = 1 inch

15 rounds = 2 inches

Instructions

These socks are knit top down but with a ‘toe-up’ toe.

Cuff:

With Cherry cast on 72 stitches and divide evenly over 3 needles being careful not to twist. Join and place a marker on either side of the first stitch. Work in k1 p1 ribbing for 16 rounds.

Leg:

Continue to knit in pattern (k1 p1 ribbing) decreasing one stitch before the first marker and one stitch after the second marker. The idea here is to keep that one stitch perfectly even up the center back of the sock.

Decrease 2 stitches every 5 rows 6 times

Then decrease 2 stitches every 7 rows 4 times

And finally decrease every 10 rows 2 times

You should be at round 78 with Willow and have 48 stitches on the needles. Remove the second marker. Continue even in pattern for 14 more rows.

Then change to knit stitch and knit each round for 5 rounds. Slip marker and knit 12 stitches. Turn and purl 24 stitches, keeping these stitches on one needle. Arrange the remaining 24 stitches on the other two needles. Then work the heel as follows.

Heel:

Row 1: Slip 1 Knit 1 across.
Row 2: Slip 1 then Purl across.
Repeat last two rows for 14 rows.

Turn Heel:

Changing to reverse stockinette for ‘princess sole’. This will put the ‘bumpy’ side of the fabric to the outside and the smooth side to the inside against the foot…

Sl 1, K 13 K 2 tog, K1, turn;
sl 1. P 6, sl 1, P1, psso, P1, turn;
sl 1 K 7 K2 tog, K 1, turn,
sl 1 P 8 sl 1, P1, psso, P1, turn;
sl 1 K 9, K 2 tog, K 1, turn.

Continue adding one more stitch before the decrease on each row, until 14 stitches remain.

Gussets:

Pick up and purl 8 stitches along the side of heel and place on 1 needle.

Slip the 24 stiches from the other 2 needles onto one needle and knit across these stitches – these will be the top of the foot – place marker.

Pick up and purl 8 stitches on the other side of the heel and purl to the center marker and place these stitches on the 3rd needle. You should now have 15 stitches on needles 1 and 3 and 24 stitches on needle 2.

Round 1: Purl to end of first needle. Then knit across the second needle (top of the sock). Then purl to end of third needle - this will put you back at the center of the sole.

Round 2: Purl to within 3 stitches from the end of needle 1, p2 tog, p1; knit across needle 2; p 1, sl 1, p 1, psso, p to end of needle 3.

Repeat these two rows for 8 rounds.

Foot:

Work even (knitting the knit stitches on the top of the foot and purling the purl stitches on the sole on each round) for 34 rounds . This will make an average size sock (women's size 7-9).

Change to Cherry (or your colour B) and work one round.

Toe:
I wanted to do a "toe up" sock...but I wanted the heel and instep of a "top down" sock...so I just combined the two...directions for the traditional toe are below:
Most toe up sock patterns start with a waste yarn cast on, which we won't need as we already have our stitches live. Leave the bottom 24 stitches on the bottom two needles and we'll begin with the knit stitches across the top (needle 2)
Row 1: Knit the first 23 stitches, then move the yarn to the front like you're going to do a purl stitch (but don't), then slip the last stitch and turn the sock to the purl side.
Row 2: Slip the first stitch as if to purl. Then purl the next stitch and as you do so, the yarn will come around the slipped stitch thus 'wrapping' it. Purl across next 21 stitches. Move your yarn to the back as if you're going to knit the next stitch (again don't). Slip the last stitch, and turn back to the knit side.
Row 3: Slip the first stitch and knit to the last 2 stitches. Do the same wrap and turn from row 1 - you'll have two wrapped stitches on the needle.
Row 4: Slip the first stitch and purl to the last 2 stitches. Do the same wrap and turn from row 2.

Continue to knit and purl wrapping one more stitch on each row until there are 8 wrapped stitches on each needle and 8 live stitches in the middle.
Then because of the 'princess sole', we need to switch to purl here, even though we just purled...so...
Row 1: Purl across the live stitches to the first wrapped stitch pick up the wrap and knit it with the stitch. Wrap the next stitch the same way we did in Row 2.
Row 2: Slip the double wrapped stitch and knit across to the first wrapped stitch. Pick up the wrap and knit it with the stich. Then wrap the next stitch the same way we did in Row 1.
Row 3: Slip the double wrapped stitch and purl across to the first double wrapped stitch. Pick up both wraps and purl them together with the stitch. Wrap the next stitch and turn.
Row 4: Slip the double wrapped stitch and knit across to the first double wrapped stitch. Pick up both wraps and knit them together with the stitch. Wrap the next stitch and turn.
Continue to purl and knit, purling or knitting one more double wrapped stitch each row until all 24 stitches are live again.

...this is the top of the finished toe...

OK...we're done...now we need to kitchener stitch the sole stitches to the toe stitches and this will be much easier from the knit side of the sock...

...so turn the sock inside out and follow the traditional kitchener stitch instructions... and slip all of the sole stitches onto one needle...

...you can find instructions here...

Alternate Traditional Top Down Toe:

Divide the stitches again as follows:
Needle 1: 12 stitches
Needle 2: 24 stitches
Needle 3: 12 stitches

Decrease for toe as follow:

Needle 1: K to within 3 sts of end of first needle, k 2 tog, k 1;
Needle 2: K 1, sl 1, k1, psso, k to within 3 sts of end of second needle k 2 tog, k1;
Needle 3: K 1, sl 1, k 1, psso, k to end.
Next round knit.

Repeat last 2 rounds 5 more times; then repeat the decrease round every round until 12 stitches remain. Knit the 3 stitches from the first needle onto the third needle and weave the sole and instep stitches together using the Kitchner stitch.

Work another sock to match.

...Commissioned Knitting...

...I know I've waxed all sentimental about how wonderful the internet is and how many 'friends' I've made here...

...here's just another example...

...well...about the middle of November...a nice woman was searching the internet for "Tall Boy Scout Socks"...you see they don't make knee socks for Boy Scout uniforms anymore...

...and she very sweetly asked if she could commission me to make a pair for her son...

...obviously I agreed...and we had several emails back and forth deciding on yarn and elasticity and time...and as I've had very little experience with commissioned knitting I wanted everything to go smoothly and of course, I wanted them to be thrilled with the socks...

...and I wanted them to be ready in time for Christmas...

...that's a lot of wants...isn't it...

...so I started knitting right away...and spent every spare moment knitting...I kept the socks with me everywhere...and if I had even enough time to knit 10 stitches - that's what I did...

...still...it was the Friday before Christmas when they went in the mail...and I was so relieved and happy...

...and so very hopeful that they would arrive safely and on time...and that they would be just what they wanted...

...so you can imagine how thrilled I was to receive an email...with a picture!

...the socks arrived in time for Christmas and they fit perfectly...it made my day!

...I'm going to write up a pattern...maybe I'll get it done tonight and post it tomorrow...that would be good...

...wishing you a lovely start to your weekend!

...How to make lace up 'Shepherd Sandals' from $1 flip flops....

...alternate post title..."What I did on Christmas Eve"...

...when I got the Man's Shepherd costume out of the closet...I (wrongly) assumed that everything was there...
linen robe ✔
cloak ✔
head scarf ✔
head wrap ✔
beard ✔
SANDALS...er...uhhmmm...NO ✔

...and IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE...and the service is in a few hours...and the Man dresses as a shepherd to tell the Christmas story to the children...ARGHHH!

...we had a pair of sandals in North Dakota...but if they survived the move...I certainly cannot find them now...

...so of course...I cast about the house for a substitute...and I came upon Scout's shower sandals that he took to camp...

...well...I can't imagine our shepherd running into the Sanctuary in flip flops...so my creative mind got busy...and found some brown yarn and a crochet hook...

...I started with a chain...in hindsight a bit long...but I chained about 100 stitches...this will lace up the leg to the mid-calf level...if you want yours to stop at the calf you'll want to make this chain and the ending one a little bit shorter...

...then I double crocheted back down the chain...

...and attached it to the sandal thong...

...if you just double crochet around the thong strap you'll only be attaching the top of your double crochet strap...

...so you'll want to do an upside down double crochet at the bottom of the thong to attach the bottom of the long strap...

...just make sure it's secure...you don't want a weak point there...

...then just double crochet around the thong...

...I slid my stitches back down so that the thong was well covered with yarn...just by pushing on them...

...make some extra double crochet stitches at the center V of the thong and space them out to get good coverage there...

...then just continue double crocheting around the thong strap...

...up the other side...

...when you reach the end make a chain to match the other side...so mine was 100 stitches and double crochet back down...

...make sure you do the upside down double crochet at the end to attach both sides of your strap...

...and in about an hour you'll have a pair of lace up thong sandals for your Shepherd Costume...

...and here's our costumed Shepherd...I can't believe he let me take a photo of him...

...a close up of the sandals...I realize you can't see much of them here...I'll try and get him to put them back on for a better photo...

...and finally a photo of him telling the children the Christmas Story from the Shepherd's point of view...

...it was a wonderful service...

...have you ever had to do any last minute crafting for a costume?...

~Have a lovely day!

...Very Merry...Part II..

...we had such a nice quiet Christmas...our first in our new home...and our first in West Virginia...it's hard to believe that this time last year we had almost packed up the entire house in North Dakota...

...but we started the morning off with a leisurely breakfast...(I don't know why that picture looks so wonky)...

...I've posted about my Vegan Biscuits and Sausage Gravy before...it's one of my very favorite breakfasts...

...we added some applesauce too...

...then we lit the fire...

...and got down to the business of opening presents...Scout opened his stocking first...actually Jack opened his first and had his little Christmas treat...I videotaped this...but apparently didn't take a picture...it's always funny...he's so earnest about getting his little pressies out of his stocking...

...then the Man opened his stocking...

...and then moi...

...presents were passed...and opened...I loved my fuzzy new pullover...

...and my gorgeous sapphire necklace...

...Scout opened his gold wrapped Santa gifts...

...a new coat...new shoes...a couple of books...a Boy Scout tee shirt from camp...when we were there for summer camp...the derecho had just gone through and there was no power so the Canteen was closed and he couldn't buy a shirt...but the Scout store here sells them after the fact...

...and finally there was a TOY in a big gold box...a remote controlled indoor helicopter...it looks like it's going to be lots of fun...I'll let you know how it goes...Santa brought extra blades and fins (Amazon recommended them) in case the little heli crashes...

...I already posted about Christmas Dinner over at The Vegan Version...

...I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a lovely day today!...

...Very Merry...

...we did get a little bit of snow...

...just a couple of inches...but it was so nice to have frosty cold and snowy weather for Christmas...there won't be any snow left by tomorrow...but still it was nice...(and the snow in the new banner is the one from Halloween)...

...in other news I did get the commissioned socks in the mail and I'll show them to you soon...

...we've got two services at Church tonight...and then all of the festivities tomorrow...we're planning a big Roast Dinner à la Julia Child and that will (hopefully) be posted over at The Vegan Version...

...I'll probably be quiet tomorrow...but I wanted to wish you all the Merriest of Christmases with your families...

~Have a lovely day!

...from my back deck...

...we've had unseasonably warm weather...but snow is in the forecast...

...so Scout mowed over the lawn to pick up all the leaves...the grass really didn't need mowing...

...now everything is nice and neat...Thanks Scout!...

~Have a lovely day!

...tiny gifts...

...one of my sweet friends gave me this adorable little knitting ornament...

...things are really busy around here as I try to finish up a commissioned knitting project...I'll post about it tomorrow after I get it in the mail this afternoon...

...how are your Christmas preparations going?...

~Have a lovely day!

...Christmas Concert...

...the Christmas Concert was wonderful...

...I'm having problems uploading video...but I'll try again later and come back and post a video or two if I'm able...

...I finally got it...enjoy...

...a picture of a band is just not quite the same as a picture with sound...

~Have a lovely day!

...How to alter a dress shoulder and sleeve...W.I.P. Wednesday...

...the performance dresses for the young ladies in the Band finally came in...later than planned...and ALL TOO BIG...even though we had used the sizing chart provided by the company...so we moved the smaller sizes up and returned the larger ones in exchange for some 00 sized ones...that's right zero-zero...and they were STILL TOO BIG!!!...so they needed to be altered...within a week...before the concert...

...so I took on a couple of them...

...we measured and pinned...and I spent hours taking them apart...

...the scariest part was cutting the shoulders...

...then I got to work on the sleeves...if you're going to take 2 inches out of the shoulder...you've got to accomodate that in the sleeve somehow...first I trimmed the curve...

...the sleeves are doubled...

...so I cut it open at the seam...

...opened them up...

...matched seams...

...and stitched them back together right side together...

...then I got to work on the shoulders...I stitched across the facing and the shoulder seam...

...then because of the amount I'd taken off the top...there was extra fabric on the sleeve side of the shoulder that had to be trimmed...

...so I trimmed that off...

...until it was even at the top shoulder seam...

...set in the trimmed and stitched sleeves...making sure the center top and the bottom underarm seams matched...

...and stitched the sleeves in place...

...and finally stitched the little hanging straps back on place...

...and the bodice alterations were done...

...then I got to do it all again...

...the dresses were actually a little bit different...even though they were the same size and ordered from the same company...

...but I did the same steps for both dresses...

...then it was on to the hem...we had measured for the hem (of course)...and pinned that in place...

...but because the original dress had a double turned hem...I had to go around and let the pinned hem down 1/2 inch all the way around...

...then with the pins still in place...I just stiched all the way around once ...

...and then carefully trimmed away the excess fabric...

...you have to be really careful not to knick the front fabric...just trim close to the seam you just made...

...turned that under and stitched around again...

...and they were done...

...of course I'll have pictures of the concert tomorrow...

~Have a lovely day!