HACKEY SACKS

Ashley wanted to sell hackey sacks at his school fair and after many attempts at getting the size correct this is the pattern for them. I stuffed them with bear pellets, available from craft shops, you could use beans, rice or wheat. A bit of patience is required with the first few rows, knitting a bit looser than normal helps until all the stitches are increased.

Scraps of 8ply yarn
3mm needles

Using MC, cast on 9sts.
increase into every stitch - 18sts.
Knit 1 row,
inc. into every stitch - 36sts,
Knit 1 row,
*K2, inc. in next stitch, repeat from* to the end - 48sts.
Using C2 knit 8 rows garter stitch (knit every row),
Using MC knit 8 rows garter stitch,
Using C2 knit 8 rows garter stitch.
Using MC *K2, K2together, repeat from * to the end - 36sts.
Knit 1 row,
*K2 tog, repeat from * to the end - 18sts,
Knit 1 row,
*k2 tog, repeat from *to the end - 9sts,
cut a long tail and thread through the remaining 9 stitches and pull tightly, sew hole at the top closed and sew up side seam. Stuff with bear pellets and sew the end, you can vary your choice of colours to suit.



My knitting blog can be found here
My Etsy shop can be found here.

ARAN TWEED WRAP

Aran (10 ply, Worsted) wool in tweed colours,
MC - green x 100g
C1 - light blue x 100g
C2 - medium blue x 100g
1 pair 4.5mm needles (size 7 US),
cable needle,
tension: 19sts - 10cms on 4.5mm needles

CBR= Slip 4 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, knit 4, knit 4 from cable needle.

CBL= Slip 4 sts onto cable needle and hold at back of work, knit 4, knit 4 from cable needle.

CABLE PATTERN (CP)
Row 1: p2, k12, p2
Row 2: k2, p12, k2
Row 3: p2, CBR, k4, p2
Row 4: k2, p12, k2
Row 5: p2, k12, p2
Row 6: k2, p12, k2
Row 7: p2, k4, CBL, p2
Row 8: k2, p12, k2
Repeat rows 1 to 8 throughout.

Cast on 80 sts. using MC
Row 1: (k1, p1)16 times, Cable Pattern, (p1, k1)16 times
Row 2: (p1, k1)16 times, (CP), (k1, p1)16 times
Row 3: As row 2
Row 4: As row 1
Change to C1
Row 5: As row 1
Row 6: As row 2
Row 7: As row 2
Row 8: As row 1
Change to C2
Row 9: As row 1
Row 10: As row 2
Row 11: As row 2
Row 12: As row 1
Last 12 rows form pattern, continue throughout, working cable pattern as set until work measures 115 cms or length desired.

My knitting blog can be found here
My Etsy shop can be found here.

FACE WASHER

This is an old baby blanket pattern which I have shortened considerably and made into a face washer.
You will need 1 ball of Patons Velveteen and 1 pair of 4mm needles
tension: what tension, it doesn't matter

Cast on 4 stitches,
Knit 2, yfwd, knit to the end of the row.
Repeat this row until the required width of your washer.
Knit 1, knit 2 together, yfwd, k2 together and knit till the end of the row. Repeat this row until 4 stitches remain, cast off. Sew your cast on and cast off tails in and voila a facewasher.

I wrap one of these up with a nice soap or foam wash and you have a nice present for someone special.

Now if you would like to make a simple baby blanket or throw, just use this same pattern with whatever yarn you like and then look through any stitch pattern guide and find a nice lace pattern using about 6 - 10 sts and make it the length that when slightly stretched it will fit around the edge of the blanket and then sew it on. Or if you are one of those clever people who can crochet, you can make a nice trim around the edge. Bendigo Woollen mills 8ply machine washable yarn works well for baby blankets.

My knitting blog can be found here
My Etsy shop can be found here.

SHAZZAS SOCKS

1 100 gram ball Opal sock wool
1 set 2.75mm double pointed sock needles (I am a tight knitter so this size needle suits, if you are a loose knitter, use 2.25mm)

This is a ladies medium fitting sock.

Using No. 2.75 needles, cast on 64 sts. Divide sts on 3 needles (20 - 24 - 20). Place a marker between the first and second sts. to indicate the beginning of the round and join the work.
Work k1, p1 rib for 20 rounds.Next round - Knit.Continue in this way (knit every round) and work until leg measures 21cms from the cast on edge.

NOW THE FUN PART, BEGINNING OF THE HEEL
Knit 16 sts, slip the last 16 sts of round on to other end of same needle (these 32 sts are for the heel) . Divide remaining sts. on two needles to be worked later for the instep.
With wrong side facing sl 1, purl 30, k1

Work 5.5cms (or desired length) as follows ending on a right side row.
Row 1: (RS) Slip the first stitch as if to purl (k1, slip 1) across, ending k1.
Row 2: Slip 1 as if to purl, purl 30, k1

NOW TURN THE HEEL
Row 1 (wrong side) Slip 1, p16, p2 tog. p1, turn
Row 2 Slip 1, k3, ssk, k1, turn
Row 3 Slip 1, p4, p2 tog. p1, turn
Row 4 Slip 1, k5, ssk, k1, turn, Continue in this manner, until all sts. are worked onto one needle. (18sts)

NOW WORK THE INSTEP
Pick up 14 sts. along the edge of the heel flap, work across the sts on the two needles for the instep, knitting them onto one needle as you go. With spare needle pick up 14 sts along the second edge of the heel flap, knitting 9 sts from the heel needle onto this needle (23 - 32 - 23)

DECREASE INSTEP
Round 1: 1st needle - knit to last 3 sts, k2tog,k1; 2nd needle - knit; 3rd needle - k1, ssk, knit to end of the round.Round 2: KnitRepeat these two rounds until 64 sts remain in the round.

WORK THE FOOT
Continue without shaping until foot measures 17 - 18cms (or approximately 6.5cms less than the length of the persons foot that the sock is for.

SHAPE THE TOE
Round 1: 1st needle - work to 3sts from the end, k2 tog, k1; 2nd needle - k1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts k2tog, k1; 3rd needle - K1, ssk, knit to the end of the round.
Round 2: knitRepeat 1st and 2nd rounds until24 sts. remain in the round. Knit sts of 1st needle on to the end of the 3rd needle.
Graft these sts together.

This is the pattern that I use for knitting my socks it has the best bits that I have tweaked from many sock patterns over time in a quest for perfecting a sock pattern that is both easy to knit and wears well.

This pattern is for personal use only, the pattern or items made from it are not to be sold.
My knitting blog can be found here.
My Etsy shop can be found here where I have these socks available for sale if you would rather purchase a ready made pair.