Knitting Season 3
Exploring
The Quimper Hittys always like my hand-knitted socks. They make good sleeping bags, but only one Hitty can fit inside each sock.
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One Sock
On the other hand (foot?) two Hittys and a number of kitties can use a sock for a cushion-and-lap blanket!
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Two needles
Sunset sock number two is begun. When two circular needles are used, half of the total number of stitches is worked on each needle. In this case there are 60 stitches in the sock, 30 on each needle…you knit from one end of the circular needle onto the other end of the same needle! Then the yarn is in position to continue knitting around on the second needle! It’s one of those things that sounds complicated when you describe it, but makes sense when you do it!
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Heel
The heel flap is worked by knitting forward and purling back on the same needle. In this picture I have got to the end of heel flap, and I am just about to do the heel turn.
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Cosy sock
After the heel is turned, I picked up 12 stitches along the side of the heel flap, using the same needle (42 stitches). The using the second needle, knit across the instep (30 stitches). Then using the heel needle, I picked up 12 more stitches with the heel needle along the other side of the heel flap…ending up with 54 stitches on that needle. There are still only 30 stitches on the instep needle.
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Inspect instep
But by decreasing at the beginning and end of the heel needle on every second row, you reduce the number of stitches. When you get back to the same number as on your instep needle, you are ready to knit rounds again, and have also made the instep gusset.
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Pair
When the sock is long enough you do the toe decreases, and finally both socks are done!
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Dinner Plate
Meanwhile the Shetland wool Fair Isle tam has been blocked over a dinner plate…
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Drawstring
To block it I soaked it in cool water for 20 minutes or so, then slipped the plate inside, running a temporary drawstring round the inside rdge to hold it in shape while it dries.
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Cosy
We love knitting season!
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Quimper Hittys 
Good Morning Dear Hitty Lady, How beautiful new project, I loved it. Knitting is one of my favorite, you know I started to knit a sock with circle stitch but it seems that you knit with two stitches, is it easier than one? By the way, my stitches are not for socks and I didn’t knit well, I will order online the exact numbers and length for socks. Thank you, Have a nice day and new week, Love, nia
Dear Nia, I do find that I understand knitting with two “circular needles” more easily than the magic loop method using one. I love knitting too, and there are some really beautiful yarns from your country!
Dear Hitty Lady, in all my life I don’t remember such an expensive prices in my country. From food to yarns, everything really got crazy!!! Before I was buying a yarn (100gr) 8 or 10 TRY but now minumum 50 TRY… This is unbelievable… As if everything is like gold… About circular needles, still I have problems. I can’t find the exact numbers and length of them. I have in my hobby room but they are all big numbers not for socks. This morning I made several phone calls to the suppliers, as they said, production stopped and they did not bring it because it was much more expensive for them. But they said, maybe I could find them somewhere where remained in their stocks. My Love joking with me, “buy a sock even handmade, it would be easy and cheap more than yours!”… But I am still looking for. Maybe this Friday one of my supplier will find for me. Can you see, what kind of details make me busy… In here, nothing is fine. Thank you dear Hitty Lady, to hear you, to talk you, to watch your works and art, and to read your stories always my best moments. Love, nia
Your knitting projects are beautiful and so well done. Since my knitting skills and knowledge are next to nothing, I have every admiration for your work and what comes from you and your needles. Thanks for passing on your love of knitting in this narrative.
I do love knitting! I find it so satisfying to make a beautiful object out of ‘string’, and my friends seem to appreciate my gifts of socks!
Beautiful knitting!! The tam is gorgeous! I stand in awe of anyone who can knit. I can crochet a bit but always struggle with keeping count! My mind wanders way to much!:) Such lucky little girls to get to snuggle with you while you knit.♥♥♥
Thank you so much! My granddaughter fell in love with the tam, so I have put it away for Christmas!
Luck Girl!!
Gorgeous tam, Kjerstin 😍😍😍
All the Hittys look very cozy ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you very much, Martha. It is the Tettegouche pattern from Kate Davies’s book “Milarrochy Heids”. I may be making it again for myself!
Your socks and tam are all gorgeous! I could never ‘get’ the knitting of socks on circular needles, but the way you show it is wonderfully clarifying! Thank you 🙂 Sock knitting is such a lovely thing- I find it so soothing! I used to knit fairisle tams, but foolishly gave away my Alice Starmore book with all the lovely patterns… oops! Perhaps it’s time to find another copy!
I love knitting socks – they are my mindless, soothing go-to project, and don’t need much light or concentration for me – perfect for fall and winter! The Alice Starmore books look absolutely wonderful! perhaps you could borrow it back?!
your knitting is always lovely but the tam is exceptional, colours and pattern are beautiful.
Thanks so much, Onesmallstitch, I really enjoyed knitting it – it was so much fun to watch the pattern and colours come together so nicely! It is from a KDD pattern book, so I knew it would be nice!
I love to LOOK at your knitting, but you may as well have been speaking Greek…. The colours and patterns are very beautiful and I can well understand Hitty/kitty fascination. That sunset yarn is spectacular!
It is very true that knitting has it’s own language, like many crafts do! In quiltspeak for instance I can think of jelly rolls, EPP, fat Quarters, Charms, WOFs, stitch-in-the-ditch…all mysterious to the uninitiated! I was extra detailed in my description this post to help a friend who is interested in two-circular-needle knitting! I love that sunset yarn too – I may have to get another ball of it for myself, or try knitting some fingerless mitts for myself with the scrap yarn!
oh so talented! And your choice of colors is outstanding. The girls and cats all look quite comfy. I am sure the humans will also enjoy your artistry! Reading your directions really impressed me….and dazzled me!!
A very kind relative had the coloured Shetland yarns on hand and allowed me to use them for the Tam – I did buy the sunset sock yarn and the white tam yarn new…I do love to knit!
Way too complicated for me! Lol
Really love the hat just lovely
Thanks! The hat is like lots of things in life… just dealing with one row at a time helps get to the end!