I'm Knitting Socks: Top-Down

After seeking counsel from you sock experts out there, I decided to knit my Quick and Easy Lounge Socks using the top-down method. It appears that a beginner is best knitting using the top-down way. Mitts are knit "top-down". I've knit mitts. So, at least the beginning was familiar!

I just turned the heel witht the help of Silver's Sock Class. Without this great photo tutotrial with very clear instructions, my heel would not be ready for the next step...the gusset!

Thanks for your advice. Next pair, toe-up!

Happy sock knitting!

Ribbed Hat is Over and Done With!

Here it is hubby's ribbed hat using That Chocolate's Gone Straight to Your Ribs Hat  pattern by Leonie Connellan found here on Ravelry.

I didn't knit it as long as the pattern called for because it would have been too long for a beanie. I started my decreases when the hat measured about 7 inches. As you can see, it fits hubby's 23 inch head perfectly.

This is such an easy pattern. Great for any beginning knitters out there.

Happy Knitting!

Fiber Jewelry: How To Make Crochet Rings

Designing and wearing your fiber jewelry is a creative way to express your individuality. You choose the technique, texture, colors and embellishments for each piece.

I like using crochet to create my fiber jewelry. Crochet is a fiber art that both beginners and experts can easily use to create beautiful wearable fiber art.

This fiber ring is crocheted from organic white cotton yarn. You can use any fiber as long as it is not too bulky for your finger.

I used a 4.5 mm / U.S 7 crochet hook to work with this medium yarn.

Your best friend for creating crochet rings is the trusty single crochet. This basic stitch is easy to use to give your work structure and a closed stitch.

Start your crochet ring by creating a foundation chain that is long enough to fit around your finger. I made 10 chains with my cotton yarn using a 4.5mm/ 7 U.S. hook. My ring fits an average adult female finger. Remember, your ring will have some stretch room since it is crocheted.

When you have your chain completed, you must join the end of the chain to the beginning to form a ring with a slip stitch. Be careful not to twist your ring, as you are now going to crochet in the round. There will be no seam to sew! See my previous blog post for a photo showing this.

Do not turn as you will be crocheting around the ring.

1st row: Chain (ch) 1 and single crochet (sc) in each ch of the foundation chain. Slip stitch (sl st) to join the end of the round to the beginning of the round.

2nd row: Ch 1. Sc in each sc around. Sl st to join the end of the round with the beginning. Fasten off and weave in your ends. It should look like a ring!

Now, here is the fun part. Embellish your ring. For the fiber ring pictured above, I used a vintage button that has sparkle. You could sew on beads, sequins or use embroidery floss to stitch a design. Happy Crocheting.

Simple Crocheted Flower: How To Tutorial

This crocheted flower is a simple design great for beginners. I learned this pattern years ago. Many flowers later, I now know it off by heart.

Crocheted flowers can be made by the dozens and sewn or slip stitched together during crocheting at the tips of the petals to make scarves, shawls or throws. Your imagination is your only limitation on what you can create.

My pretty blue flower was crocheted in a soft merino wool using a size 4.5 mm or 7 crochet hook.

You can use whatever fiber you like. This flower is also nice crocheted in soft cotton yarn or a fuzzy mohair. Use whatever you have in your yarn stash to practice. For this single flower, gauge is not important. Yeh!

To start: Chain (ch) 4 and join with a slip stitch (st st) to form a ring.

Round One: Ch 4. Then make *1 half double crochet (hdc) into the ring and ch 3*. Repeat from * to * 5 times. Join to the beginning (beg) of the round with a sl st into the 2nd ch of the ch 4 that you started the round with. You should have 6 loops. Your work should now look like this:

Round 2: You are now going to add petals to your blooming flower. In each of your 6 loops, make 1 single crochet (sc), 1 hdc, 1 double crochet (dc), 1 hdc, 1sc. Join to the beg of the round with a sl st in the 2nd ch of the ch 4 you started the round with. I hope your flower now looks like this:

Round 3: In this round, you will be making chains behind each petal. As in the photo below, ch 4.

Then, taking the chain behind the petal, insert your hook into the front of and between the 2 sc of that petal and the next petal.

Now, make a sl st between the 2 petals.

Repeat this around the flower creating a ch 4 behind each petal. When you reach the end of the round, join with a sl st in first sc at the beg of the round. The back of your flower should look like this:

Round 4: The last one! You now have 6 loops created by your series of ch 4s. Into each of these loops make the following group of stitches: 1 sc, 1 hdc, 3 dc, 1 hdc, 1 sc. Once again, at the end of the round, join to the beg with a sl st into the first sc at the beg of the round.

Ta dah! Now cut that yarn, lock that chain and neatly sew in your ends.

If you are looking for a good online instructions for how to crochet, you might want to visit Crochet Guild of America. Happy crocheting.