Welt and Rib Raglan

Despite the hot weather I was having knitting withdrawals, and not just any knitting withdrawals, because I had knitted the occasional pair of socks. But sweater knitting withdrawals, it has been so long since I have knitted a sweater or cardigan for myself, at least 6 months.
The catalist was the Winter Interweave 2008 magazine. It's actually a bit tricky to get for me, it doesn't always appear in the local newsagency and then they only get a couple of copies. So I saw the magazing sitting seductively in the rack, told myself - "I am saving money, I have lots of knitting patterns in the queue at home, Maybe just a flip through the pages......"
It was actually the Victoria Yoke Pullover which caught my eye originally but with futher study of the pages (after purchase at home) I realised my Grey Alpaca would be perfect for the Welt and Rib Raglan.


I have been actually looking through my pattern stash in the last week looking for a sweater with all these atributes:
1. It needs to be fitted to fit under a motorcycle jacket
2. Definately in not to bulky yarn as per No 1.
3. Must have a high neck as I get a cold neck, especially riding.
4. Must look dressy enough for work.
So it ended up a no brainer to start this sweater!


There is only 2 changes I plan on making to the published pattern.
1. Not knit the sleeves in the round, purely because I didn't have the double pointed needles and I wanted to start now. I actually tried doing the magic loop method with my Denise Interchangables, but the cable was definately too sticky for the Alpaca, so after a couple of rows I frogged and restarted.
2. Not leaving the chain in at bust line. I need all the stretch I can get in that area, and don't think the chain will look as neat on a busty shape.
Here are the start of the sleeves:

DK Cotton Socks - Free Pattern

I knitted these socks for summer motorcycling, nice to have thick socks for under the Doc Martins, but being cotton they are a lot cooler than all my woollen hand knitted socks, even the really fine ones.

These are instructions for using a single circular needle, but you should be able to adjust it to DPN if you prefer.

Yarn - 2 balls of DK cotton yarn (approx 255m needed in total)
Needles - 1 x 3.75mm Circular Needle min 80cm long
Guage - 12sts per 5cm



CUFF
Cast on loosely 64sts.
1st Row *P1, K2, P1, rep from *, to end, turn work
2nd Row *K1, P2, K1, rep from *, to end, turn work
Continue ribbed band for 11 rows in all.
Pull through a loop of needle cable between the 32 and 33rd stitches (half of knitting on either end of needles now) and sew up the ends of the band together. You now have the round to continue knitting up socks.

I use this method because it saves so much time then the getting started on any knitting in the round.

1st Round *K3, P2, K3, rep from * to end
Continue rounds until sock measures 10cm from beginning.

Next Round *K3, P2tog, K3, rep from* to end (56sts)
Next Round *K3, P1, K3, rep from* to end
Rep this last round until sock measures 18cm from beginning.

Next Round *K3, K2tog, K2, rep from * to end (48sts)
Next Round Knit all stitches
Continue rounds of stocking stitch until sock measures 23cm from beginning

Next Round K3, K2tog, K6, K2tog, K22, K2tog, K6, K2tog, K3 (44sts)

HEEL FLAP
1st Row K12, Turn work
2nd Row P24, Turn work (these 24 stitches form heel, continue, turning at the end of each row)
3rd Row *Sl 1, K1, rep to end *
4th Row S1 1, P23
Rep Rows 3 & 4 another 8 times (total 20 rows for heel)

TURN HEEL
1st Row Sl 1, K13, K2tog tbl, K1, turn
2nd Row Sl 1, P5, P2tog, P1, turn
3rd Row Sl 1, K6, K2tog tbl, K1, turn
4th Row Sl 1, P7, P2tog, P1, turn
5th Row Sl 1, K8, K2tog tbl, K1, turn
6th Row Sl 1, P9, P2tog, P1, turn
7th Row Sl 1, K10, K2tog tbl, K1, turn
8th Row Sl 1, P11, P2tog, P1, turn
9th Row Sl 1, K14
10th Row Sl 1, P15

Next Row K8, pull through needle to cable (this is now the end of the round)

INSTEP
1st Round K8, Knit up 11sts along Heel Flap, K10 (pull cable twist to this section of round) K10, Knit up 11sts along side Heel Flap, K8 (58sts)
2nd Round Knit all stitches
3rd Round K16, K2tog, K22, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, Knit to end (56sts)
4th Round Knit all stitches
5th Round K15, K2tog, K22, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, Knit to end (54sts)
6th Round Knit all stitches
7th Round K14, K2tog, K22, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, Knit to end (52sts)
Continue decreasing every alt row as in rows 2 to 7 until there are 44sts.
Continue in stocking stitch until instep measures 14.5cm from edge of heel flap.

SHAPE TOE
1st Round K8, K2 tog, K2, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, K16, K2 tog, K2, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, K8 (40sts)
2nd Round Knit all stitches
3rd Round K7, K2 tog, K2, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, K14, K2 tog, K2, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, K7 (36sts)
4th Round Knit all stitches
5th Round K6, K2 tog, K2, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, K12, K2 tog, K2, K1,Sl 1, K1, psso, K6 (32sts)
6th Round Knit all stitches
Continue decreasing in alt rows until 24sts remain. Then decrease in every row until 12 sts remain.
Graft final stitches together for toe.

Abbreviations
K - Knit
P - Purl
tog - together
Sl - Slip
tbl - through back loop
psso - pass slipped stitch over
rep - repeat

I have tried to check that this pattern is mistake free, but due to not being perfect and often being interrupted when typing, I apologise if I have missed any errors.

Summer Motorcycle Socks

Well as the weather is heating up (and I was bored at work and needed to plan a project) I figured it would be a good idea to knit up some cotton socks that will still be comfortable but definately cooler under my Dr Martin boots.
As I ride my Motorcycle everyday, this is definately a neccessity. The first sock only took from Thursday to make, so I hope to have the other finished by the Girl's Ride Out ride on Sunday.
I'm not 100% pleased with the pattern, so when I tweak it slightly for the next pair of socks, I'll type up the pattern here for anyone that also finds the need for cotton summer motorcycle socks (... actually for the northern hemisphere the pattern would also work well for dk wool, but would I imagine be slightly bulky under boots...).