Margaret Stove's Lace Weight Knitting Yarn

Fine Tuning

Being a monthly collection of original knitting tips or patterns using Artisan Yarn

'Margaret's KISS 'n Hug Heel'

Kiss (Keep it Simple --------!)  Hug shaped to give a smooth "no bulk" fit (Tends to prevent "creeping").

August Tip

KISS 'N HUG SOCKS  

This month I am giving the instructions for the two versions of these socks I knitted for my grand daughters aged eight and ten. They can act as a model for those of you who want to try this heel with your favourite sock patterns.  

Version one (July Tip) is the smaller size and uses the heel exactly as given in the chart. Version two (stitch numbers shown in brackets) is larger and uses the chart from round 13 where the centre heel section is straight. Extra stitches have been added for the bigger size. This will give a guide as to where to add extra stitches when adapting the heel for other patterns.

I used two strands of Artisan Lace Weight Merino together and a set of four size 3mm needles.  

Version 2

Cast on 54 (60) sts and work 18 (20) rounds in k1, p1rib.                             Work 28 (48) rounds in stst.

Version 1 - Work heel as shown in chart.

Version 2 - Work shaping as from row 13 of chart but adding an extra stitch each side of heel centre and between M1 and decrease on each side. E.g. Round 1 K4, m1, k4, ssk, knit to last 11sts. K2tog, k4, m1, k5. Knit next and alternate rounds. Continue until there are 10sts between M1 and decreases.

Begin short rows with K4, turn. Purl 9, turn. Continue from chart until the row purl 31 turn.

On all sts work 48 (70) rounds stst.

Divide for toe. Needle one 13 (15)sts, needle two 27 (30)sts, needle three 14 (15)sts.

On alternate rounds decrease at end of needle one, each end of needle two and beginning of needle three  until 14 (16)sts remain. Work 3 needle bind off .  

 

July Tip

Version 1

The chart below is the one used for the illustrated sock heel which has a round of 54 stitches.  The chart as given makes a feature of the heel and could be combined with a back seam pattern. However the first 12 rounds can be omitted to give the usual heel appearance. This pattern could easily be adapted to other stitch numbers. 

June Tip

Controlling the Tension of Decreased Edges

There are many occasions when decreases are used along an edge creating a diagonal that may also be used to create a mirror image shape to match edges created with increases.  One example of this is the shawl centres which begin with 3 stitches and an increase, usually a "yo," is made at the beginning of every row until the desired size is reached and then, to bring it down to three stitches again, there is an appropriate decrease at the beginning of every row.   

Where a "yo" has been used this will mean a either "yo" at row beginning and a decrease at each end or a double decrease after the "yo" at the beginning.  There is a tendency for this decrease to have less elasticity than the edge that has the increases.   I have found that, if you knit the stitches to be decreased first, replace them on the left hand needle and then knit them together the extra elasticity created matches the increased edges.

May Tip

Hint for matching scarf ends

By using a provisional cast on the "live" scarf stitches can be picked up later and then cast off to match the cast off method used to end the scarf.

This also ensures that the scarf width at each end matches and has the same amount of elasticity.

 Use this idea for the lower edges of stoles, shawls and any other items which may be knitted "on the straight" where consistent edge elasticity is desirable.

April Tip

When I was teaching in Canada and the U.S.A in April/May last year I had several requests for the "secret" of having colours in the scarves so they were not random. Since I have been home they have multiplied so here it is!

                    (This doesn't work with multiple wrap patterns)
                     
1) Take your skein and line it up with the colours where you want them.  The

photo shows three options with the top one knitted.

2) With a crochet thread/contrasting yarn make a chain with more stitches than

you will need.

3) Use your knitting needle to pick up the loops on the reverse of the chain.

4) Before winding the ball mark the beginning and end of the first colour sequence

you have chosen. Knit as many loops as fit in that sequence.  (Ignore any extra 

crochet stitches).  This is the number of stitches for your scarf.

5) Adjust edge stitches/pattern repeats to fit your stitch number.  You now have

your pattern  set for your unique gauge.

6) Complete scarf leaving sufficient yarn after casting off so that you can unravel

the chain placing scarf stitches on the needle and cast off with scarf yarn

N.B. As these are hand dyed yarns every so often there will be places where the

colour moves off track but that adds to the charm.