Jan Stephens has generously given us this timely pattern to enjoy knitting.

It’s a great way to use up your left over sock yarn!  There is no heel to turn or toe to graft!

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Finished Dimensions: Approximately 4″ long x 3″ wide at the top

Yarn: Approximately 1/4 oz (7g) sock yarn

Materials: Size 3 (3.25 mm) needles

Size F (3.75 mm) crochet hook

Marker, Tapestry needle

Gauge: 28 sts and 40 rows=4″ (10 cm) in st st (knit a row, purl a row)

To save time, please check your gauge

Directions: Cast on 26 sts.  Work 1/2″ in k1, p1 ribbing.  Work 2″ in st st.

Toe Section: Cast on 6 sts at beginning of next 2 rows.  Increase 1 st each end for next 2 rows.  Work even on 42 sts for 1″, placing marker after 21 sts of last row, carrying it along through bind off row.

Heel and Toe Decreases:  Work 2tog at beginning and end and on each side of marker for next 2 rows.  Bind off rest of sts, working same decreases on bind off row and removing marker.

Finishing: Fold sock in half lengthwise.  Sew down open side, around the toe and across the bottom.

Hanger: With 2 strands of yarn and crochet hook, chain 26.  Tie ends together to form a loop and attach to top of sock.  Block and hang on tree!]]> http://atlantaknittingguild.org/holiday-patterns/feed/ 0 http://atlantaknittingguild.org/holiday-inspirations/ http://atlantaknittingguild.org/holiday-inspirations/#comments Wed, 21 Nov 2012 15:53:38 +0000 admin http://www.atlantaknittingguild.org/?p=185 Continued]]> Last Minute Inspiration for Holiday Gift Knitting

The November AKG meeting program kick started ideas for projects.  Basic and deluxe gift knitting ideas were shown.  Examples included a “beer hat”, socks in striped and hand-dyed yarn, trendy armwarmers, and the Saroyan shawl in varied basic and luxurious yarns.

Inspiration for holiday knitting can come from noticing your intended recipients need for winter warmth, with quick knits such as a new hat, fingerless mitts, scarf or cowl as possibilities. Enticing project ideas might come from your local yarn store, knitting magazines, web sites, or friends’ knitting projects.  Using bulky yarn and large needles will make a project go faster, and knitting the same project several times will help build knitting speed.

Check out the AKG Library to find books on holiday knitting for inspiration; Handknit Holidays: Knitting Year-Round for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Winter Solstice, Holiday Knits: 25 Great Gifts from Stockings to Sweaters, Christmas Stockings: Holiday Treasures to Knit, Knit Noel, and Knit the Christmas Story.  The Knitters Almanac has a few Christmas designs.  Search the library here and contact Lois Mitchell, AKG Librarian at library@atlantaknittingguild.org

Timeless or Trendy?

This list will give you options for either in your quest for a suitable gift to knit.

Yarn store web sites/blogs:

Cast-On Cottage Holiday Gift Knitting Ideas (2 parts)

Purl Soho Purlbee’s ribbed cowl and other projects

Webs Online Store quick gifts to make:

Knit Picks Holiday Knitting Central

Knitting Magazine Holiday Issues:

Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts Issue has a cute kids gator hat,  a manly cowl and scarf patterns

Vogue Knitting Holiday Issue includes patterns for legwarmers, and for using ruffled yarn for purses

Creative Knitting has a pattern for 2-hour mittens knit with bulky yarn

KnitNStyle The December issue has a free pattern for a quick to knit headband.

KnitSimple Holiday 2012 Issue has a pattern for 3 different size knitted notions bags requiring only 1 skein of yarn and multiple patterns for mitts

The Winter 2012 issue of Interweave Knits has patterns for a hat and mittens by a local knitting luminary, Charles Gandy

Trendy

You can stroll the mall and notice bulky, chunky cabled scarves in store windows.  Just a few of the possibilities:

 Anthropologie’s knitted accessories are a barometer of what’s trendy now, along with Urban Outfitters collection of accessory scarves and hats.

Gifts for the home from stores like Pottery Barn can serve as inspiration, such as the cable knit pillow covers or lumbar pillow with 3 mini stockings

Restoration Hardware has knitted throws and pillows shown this season

Ravelry has a “hot right now” section under the patterns tab]]> http://atlantaknittingguild.org/holiday-inspirations/feed/ 0