Marilynn'sGardenKnitDesign

Friday, July 11, 2014

Hat - Check It Out!

Check It Out! I started the hat prototype with stash yarn while waiting with the grandkids for camp registration. I knitted a couple more hats while the week was quiet because the grandkids were at camp. I completed another while enjoying the songs of the final campfire, and waiting to pick them up.

Hat - Check It Out!

Marilynn Blacketer '14

The Hat – Check It Out! works well in a cotton or wool blend. The 5/5 checks (400 knitting stitches, by Potter Craft, p21) and color effect give the knitter something interesting to do, and if finished neatly, the recipient can wear it inside-out for a very reversible look. This hat takes just a few hours to knit, and makes a perfect gift or accessory for either gender.

Finished sizes:

Adult: flat 18”, stretches to 22”circumference, height 9”

Child: flat 16”, stretches to 20”circumference, height 8”

Infant: flat 12”, stretches to 16”circumference; height 7”

Gauge: 5 stitches = 1” Adjust needle size to match gauge.

Materials:

Yarn: cotton or wool blend in worsted weight

Adult: 150 yards/ 2.5oz; Child: 125 yards/ 2 oz; Infant: 90 yards / 1.5oz

Photo: Hat – Check It Out! is knit in Plymouth Yarn Encore worsted; 75%acrylic/ 25%wool;

colors 515, and 517

Needles: Size US#8, 16” circular needles, set size US#8 double pointed needles

Notions: Stitch marker, tapestry needle

Abbreviations: CO = cast on K = knit k2tog = knit 2 stitches together

p = purl p2tog= purl 2 stitches together Rnd = round sts = stitches

Special Stitches: 5/5 Checks

Rounds 1- 7: *Knit 5, purl 5; repeat from * to end

Rounds 8- 14 : * Purl 5, knit 5; repeat from * to end

(These 10 stitches and 14 rounds create the 5/5 Checks. )

Color effect: Work Odd rnds: Color A; Work Even rnds: Color B

Directions: Directions are written for adult size. [child and infant directions are in brackets]

Use the long-tail cast-on method, with size #8, 16” circular needles.

Cast on 80 [70, 60] stitches.

Place marker & join together by knitting first stitch being careful not to twist.

Brim Rnds 1-14[12, 10]: With color B, * Knit 1, purl 1; repeat from * to end

Hat: Odd rnds: Color A; Even rnds: Color B

Rnds 1-7: * K5, p5; repeat from * to end

Rnds 8-14: * P5, k5; repeat from * to end

Work the hat in pattern for 8", [7”, 6”] from CO, ending on rnd 7, or rnd 14.

For a taller hat, or fold-up brim work extra rounds of the pattern before starting the crown decreases.

Crown: Continue to work rounds of Color A and Color B as established.

Change to double pointed needles when needed.

Crown decreases ending hat at rnd 7:

Rnd 1: * P3, p2tog, k5; repeat from * to end

Rnd 2: * P4, k3, k2tog; repeat from * to end

Rnd 3: * P2, p2tog, k4; repeat from * to end

Rnd 4: * P3, k2, k2tog; repeat from * to end

Rnd 5: * P1, p2tog, k3; repeat from * to end

Rnd 6: * P2, k1, k2tog; repeat from * to end

Rnd 7: * P2tog, k2; repeat from * to end

Rnd 8: * P1, k2tog; repeat from * to end

Rnd 9: * K2tog; repeat from * until 8,[7,6] sts remain.

Crown decreases ending hat at rnd 14:

Rnd 1: * K5, p3, p2tog; repeat from * to end

Rnd 2: * K3, k2tog, p4; repeat from * to end

Rnd 3: * K4, p2, p2tog; repeat from * to end

Rnd 4: * K2, k2tog, p3; repeat from * to end

Rnd 5: * K3, p1, p2tog; repeat from * to end

Rnd 6: * K1, k2tog, p2; repeat from * to end

Rnd 7: * K2, p2tog; repeat from * to end

Rnd 8: * K2tog, p1; repeat from * to end

Rnd 9: K1, *k2tog; repeat from * until 8,[7,6] sts remain.

Finishing: Cut 12” yarn colors A & B and thread end through remaining stitches. Pull together, and tie off neatly for a reversible hat.

This pattern is available on MarilynnsGardenKnitDesign.blogspot.com

Hat - Check It Out pattern pdf is available at Ravelry.com (login needed)

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com

The hat's texture is created with just knit & purl stitches. The adult hat takes about 100 yards of

color B, and 50 yards of color A. This is a fun hat to knit, and great stash buster.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Caterpillar Surprise Hat

Happy Mother's Day! I know it's a bit early, but we're pretty excited about the arrival of a new grandson in September, and this Grams thinks that special occasion calls for a Caterpillar Surprise Hat! Why not include the serendipitous Stepping Stones Hat, too?

(4/30/14)Ravelry notes (login needed): I am very excited about this project! I noticed the caterpillar stitch, p15, while looking through 400 knitting stitches, by Potter Craft. I’ve made an interpretation of the stitch by working knit 5, purl 1. The caterpillars will appear as the hat is turned inside-out. I started, and finished this little hat while riding the bus for a Sou’Wester Garden Club field trip to Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens in Woodland, WA. It was a good day!

Newborn Caterpillar Surprise Hat

Marilynn Blacketer '14

Caterpillar Surprise, serendipitous Stepping Stones

The Caterpillar Surprise works well in a cotton or wool blend. The caterpillar surprise is an interpretation of the caterpillar stitch (400 knitting stitches, by Potter Craft, p15). The hat is worked with more knits and just a few purls. This gives the knitter something interesting to do, and if finished neatly, the recipient can flip the hat inside-out for the caterpillars to appear. Caterpillar Surprise Hat takes just a few hours to knit, and makes a perfect gift or accessory for either gender.

I am enjoying this project, and purchased an earth-tone DK to re-knit the first hat because I think that interpretation of the caterpillar stitch looks more like stepping stones. I love serendipity.

Caterpillar Surprise, serendipitous Stepping Stones

Finished sizes:

Newborn: flat 10” stretch 16” circumference, height 6”

[Adult: flat 16”, stretches to 24” circumference, height 10”]

[Child: flat 15”, stretches to 22” circumference, height 9”]

[Infant: flat 14”, stretches to 20” circumference, height 8”]

Gauge: 5.5 stitches = 1” Adjust needle size to match gauge.
[5 stitches =1" Adjust needle size to match gauge]

Materials:

Yarn: cotton or wool blend in DK weight Newborn: 50yards/0.6oz

[Worsted weight: Adult: 150 yards/ 2.5oz; Child: 125 yards/ 2oz; Infant: 90 yards/ 1.5oz]

Photo: Newborn Caterpillar Surprise and Stepping Stone Hats are knit in Plymouth Yarn Encore DK; 75%acrylic/ 25%wool colors: 451green, 6002tan(brown)

Needles: Newborn: Size US#5, US#6, 12” circular needles, set size US#6 double pointed needles

[Adult, Child, Infant: Size US#7, US#8, 16” circular needles, set size US#8 double pointed needles]

Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle

Abbreviations: CO = cast on K = knit P = purl Rnd = rounds sts = stitches

pm = place marker k2tog= knit 2 stitches together

Key: knit , purl -

Special Stitches: Caterpillar Surprise

(Asymmetrical, reversible, flip inside-out to find the caterpillars)

Rnds 1- 8: *Knit 11, purl 1; repeat from * to end

Rnds 9, 10: Knit

Rnds 11-18 : * Knit 8, purl 1, knit 3; repeat from * to end

Rnds 19, 20: Knit
(These 12 stitches and 20 rows create the caterpillar surprise pattern.)

Key: knit , purl -

Special Stitches: serendipitous Stepping Stones

(Symmetrical, reversible, think of patio pavers)
Rnds 1-10: * Knit 5, purl 1; repeat from * to end
Rnds 11-20: * Knit 2, purl 1, knit 3; repeat from * to end

(These 6 stitches and 20 rows create the stepping stones pattern.)

Directions: Directions are written for size Newborn using DK yarn.

[Adult, child, and infant directions are in brackets and italic. Use worsted weight yarn,
and size US#7, US#8 needles]

Brim: Use the long-tail cast-on method, with US #5, 12” circular needles. [US#7]

Cast on 60 stitches. [84, 72, 60]sts

Place marker & join together by knitting first stitch being careful not to twist.

Rnds 1-10: * Knit 1, purl 1; repeat from * to end

Hat: Caterpillar Surprise

With US#6, 12”circular needles, [US#8]

Rnds 1-8: *Knit 11, purl 1; repeat from * to end

Rnds 9, 10: Knit

Rnds 11-18 : * Knit 8, purl 1, knit 3; repeat from * to end

Rnds 19, 20: Knit

To work rounds 11-18, I placed a second blue marker after the first purl 1, then counted as I had for rounds 1-8, remembering rounds 9, 10 and 19, 20 were knit.

Hat: Stepping Stones

With US#6, 12”circular needles, [US#8]

Rnds 1-10: * Knit 5, purl 1; repeat from * to end

Rnds 11-20: * Knit 2, purl 1, knit 3; repeat from * to end

To work rounds 11-20, I placed a second blue marker after the first purl 1, then counted as I had for rounds 1-10.

Work in Caterpillar Surprise or Stepping Stones pattern (ending on round 10 or 20)
for 5” from CO. [8”,7”, 6”] from CO

For a taller hat, or fold-up brim work extra rounds of pattern before starting the crown decreases.

Crown: Change to double pointed needles when needed.

Rnd 1: * K4, k2tog; repeat from * to end 50sts [70, 60, 50]sts

Rnds 2, 4, 6, 8 : Knit

Rnd 3: * K3, k2tog; repeat from * to end 40sts [56, 48,40]sts

Rnd 5: * K2, k2tog; repeat from * to end 30sts [42, 36, 30]sts

Rnd 7: * K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end 20sts [28, 24, 20]sts

Rnds 9, 10: * K2tog; repeat from * to end 5sts [7, 6, 5]sts

Finishing: Cut 12” yarn and thread end through remaining stitches.

Pull together, and tie off neatly for a reversible hat.

This pattern is available on MarilynnsGardenKnitDesign.blogspot.com
Pattern pdf is available on Ravelry (login needed)

Newborn Caterpillar Surprise and Stepping Stones Hats!

UPDATE: 9/15/14

Our little caterpillar surprise!

Friday, April 25, 2014

Socks-Take 5 Coffee Roasters

Ravelry notes:(login needed) (3/28/14) 100th Project My husband has been so enthusiast with my retirement, and knitting, these last two years, that I thought it would be fun to knit him a pair of socks as my 100th Project. Again, I have many projects on many needles, so we’ll see how quickly these knit up. I’ll get off the computer, and cast on!
(3/30/14) These are looking great, but without even knowing the recipient, my husband said, “I think I’d like them better as blue socks with brown stripes.” I guess I’ll be knitting two pair!

Let me share the results of this color study with you!

The Socks-Take 5 Coffee Roasters have a slight variation to the stripes in the Socks-Take 5 and Socks-Take 5 Fruit Stripe. The brown and teal pair was worked with 5 rounds of brown, and 3 rounds of teal, with contrasting elastic/cotton. Where as the teal and brown pair was worked with 5 rounds teal, and 3 rounds brown, with contrasting elastic/cotton. We prefer "the blue" pair of socks, but you'd probably enjoy both.

Seaside Coffee House

Socks-Take 5 Coffee Roasters

Marilynn Blacketer '14

The Socks-Take 5 work well in superwash wool blend.

The Take 5 ribbing is fun work, and the socks can be knit in just a few days making them the perfect gift or accessory. This may be considered an intermediate level pattern because knowledge of sock (and stitch) construction is helpful.

Finished size: about 7” flat, stretch 10”circumference, leg height about 10”

Gauge: 8 stitches = 1” Adjust needle size, and row count to match gauge.

Materials:

Yarn: mcA and mcB superwash wool blend in fingering weight, CC cotton/elastic blend, or CC superwash wool blend in fingering weight, and 2 yds of waste yarn in a different color

Photo: KnitPicks Stroll, Coffee Shop Hand-Painted; 75%Superwash Merino Wool/ 25%Nylon; 462yards/100g; KnitPicks Stroll Tweed, Thrist Heather 65%Superwash Merino Wool/ 25%Nylon/ 10%Donegal Tweed; 231yards/50g; KnitPicks Dancing; 41%Cotton/ 39%Wool/ 13%Nylon/ 7%Elastic; 253yds/50g(discontinued) One pair of socks size medium seems to require 75g/350yards.

Needles: Size US#2, 16”and 24” circular needles or size US#2, and/or set double pointed needles

tapestry needle, stitch markers

Resources: Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles by Cat Bordhi

KNITTING circles around SOCKS by Antje Gillingham

Learn to Knit SOCKS by Edie Eckman

Abbreviations: CO=cast on k=knit p=purl k2tog=knit 2 stitches together Rnd/s=round/s sts=stitches mcA = main colorA mcB=main colorB CC= contrasting color

Special Stitches: Take 5 Ribbing Coffee Roasters

Rnds 1-5: with mcA, * Knit 3, purl 2; repeat from * to end

Rnd 6: with CC, * Knit 3, purl 2; repeat from * to end

Rnds 7-9: with mcB, * Knit 3, purl 2; repeat from * to end

Rnd 10: with CC, * Knit 3, purl 2; repeat from * to end

Directions: The directions are written for adult size (small, medium, large) in parentheses, and working with 2 circular needles. (notes are in italic) Make two socks.

Cuff:

Use the long-tail cast-on method, with size #2 needles, with mcA, cast on (75, 90, 105) stitches.

Place marker & join together by knitting first stitch being careful not to twist,

with mcA, * K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end. (50, 60, 70) sts

Rnds 1-5, 7-11: with mcA, * K3, p2; repeat from * to end

Rnds 6, 12: with CC, * K3, p2; repeat from * to end

Sock Leg:

Rnds 1-5: with mcA, * K3, p2; repeat from * to end

Rnd 6: with CC, * K3, p2; repeat from * to end

Rnds 7-9: with mcB, * K3, p2; repeat from * to end

Rnd 10: with CC, * K3, p2; repeat from * to end

Repeat rnds 1-10, working leg to the desired length, ending on rnd 9, set up for heel and foot.

(7”, 8”, 9”) from CO

Instep and Heel set up:

(If working with cotton/elastic yarn, cut CC.)

With mcA/CC as established, [K3,p2](4,5,6)times, k3; instep stitches. (23, 28, 33)sts instep

Drop mcA/CC yarn, and with a strand of different colored yarn knit across heel (27, 32, 37)stitches.

Drop colored strand, pick up mcA/CC, and knit across heel (27, 32, 37) stitches once more. After this work instep as established, and knit sole; the heel will be put in later. (Next round, as established, you're ready to work/continue with mcA.)

Instep and Sole:

Work instep as established (If cotton/elastic yarn cut, continue as 5rnds mcA, 3rnds mcB), and knit sole until sock measures from heel (colored yarn) marker: (4.5”, 5.5”, 6.5”) for desired length.

Toe:

Rnd 1 & odd rounds: with mcA, * K1, k2tog, knit to the last 3 stitches on needle, k2tog, k1;(instep)

repeat from * to end(sole) (4sts decreased)

Rnd 2 & even rounds: with mcA, knit

Continue until (13, 14, 13)sts remain for instep, and (17, 18, 17)sts remain for sole.

Work 2 more rounds: K(13, 14, 13)(instep), k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches on needle, k2tog, k1(sole)

With (26, 28, 26) stitches remaining, cut 18” yarn, and work Kitchener Stitch to finish the toe.

Heel:

Carefully slide the (27, 32, 37)sts below(sole), and (27, 32, 37)sts above the colored yarn(leg) to needles. Carefully remove the colored yarn.

Attach mcA yarn, knit a round, and pick up one stitch at the beginning and end of the needles. (You'll have (29, 34, 39)sts on each needle, and this will help avoid “holes” on the heel sides.)

Now work the heel the same as the toe.

Rnd 1 & odd rounds: with mcA, * K1, k2tog, knit to the last 3 stitches on needle, k2tog, k1; repeat from * to end (4 sts decreased)

Rnd 2 & even rounds: with mcA, knit

Continue until (26, 28, 26) stitches remain.

Cut 18”yarn, and work Kitchener Stitch to finish the heel.

Finishing: Weave in tails. Make second sock.

This pattern is available on marilynnsgardenknitdesign.blogspot.com.
pattern pdf Socks-Take 5 is available on Ravelry. (login needed)

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com

Here are photos of the process:

With KnitPicks Stroll, Coffee Shop and Thirst superwash wool yarns, (and some stash KnitPicks Dancing elastic/cotton), I was ready to start the Socks-Take 5 Coffee Roasters.

I'd completed the cuffs, and worked on the legs of the socks in tandem. I'd work 10 rounds of the sock marked with the green clip, then work 10 rounds on the other.

With a strand of a different colored yarn, I'd knit across the heels. Then I worked the Take 5 ribbing across the insteps and knit the soles.

It was time to work the Kitchener Stitch for the toes.

I used size US#1 needles as I picked up the stitches for the afterthought heel. You can always use smaller needles to pick up stitches. The gauge is set as you work the next round with the needles appropriate to the project.

Socks-Take 5 Coffee Roasters were finished. I counted the markers to count the days.

I got a good night's sleep. In the morning, I started the teal and brown Socks-Take 5 Coffee Roasters.

This pair seemed to work very quickly, and I was ready to work the Kitchener Stitch for the toe.

While setting up for the heel, round 9 of this pair, happened to coincide with the Take 5 ribbing as brown. This was not a problem as I knitted with a strand of a different color to mark the placement of the heel, but I found picking up the stitches in the rib in the dark color (the purls being particularly troublesome) quite challenging. If needed to solve that problem, I would work the instep as established (teal), and knit across the heel (teal) just one time. Then I'd follow the directions for working the instep, and knitting with the strand of a different color to set up for the heel.

I was ready to work the Kitchener Stitch for the heels.

Both pair of Socks-Take 5 Coffee Roasters were finished!

The weather was pleasant! I walked to Seaside Coffee House, and took photos.

This pattern is available on marilynnsgardenknitdesign.blogspot.com.
pattern pdf Socks-Take 5 is available on Ravelry. (login needed)

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com

Monday, February 10, 2014

Socks-Take 5

I started a pair of socks for my son. He likes some elastic in the legs, and I like to make that part of the design feature. I had the beautiful blue, and coordinating cotton/elastic yarn. I started the socks at the cuff, and worked the leg with the Take 5 rib pattern. The ribbing is worked as knit 3, purl 2, and the cotton/elastic yarn is worked into round 5. I also decided to make an interpretation of the heel method (afterthought heel) from an old pattern in KNITTING is fun, Coats and Clarks, 1956. I truly believe this leaflet had been my grandma's. Look at the date (my mom crocheted, but learned to knit in the 1980s), and the leaflet also includes the OCTOKITTEN that I fondly remember my grandma had made for us.

Socks-Take 5

Marilynn Blacketer '14

The Socks-Take 5 work well in a superwash wool blend.

Finished size: about 7” flat, stretch 10”circumference, leg height about 10”

Gauge: 8 stitches = 1” Adjust needle size, and row count to match gauge.

Materials: Yarn: MC superwash wool blend in fingering weight, CC cotton/elastic blend,
or CC superwash wool blend in fingering weight, and 2 yards of waste yarn in a different color

Photo: KnitPicks Stroll, Lullaby Hand-Painted; 75%Superwash Merino Wool/ 25%Nylon; 462yards/100g; CascadeYarns, Fixation; 98.3%Cotton/ 1.7%Elastic; 62yards(relaxed)/50g

Needles: Size US#2, 16”and 24” circular needles, or size US#2 set double pointed needles, tapestry needle, stitch markers

Resources: Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles by Cat Bordhi

KNITTING circles around SOCKS by Antje Gillingham

Learn to Knit SOCKS by Edie Eckman

Abbreviations: CO=cast on k = knit p= purl k2tog=knit 2 stitches together

Rnd/s=round/s sts=stitches MC = main color CC= contrasting color

Special Stitches: Take 5 Ribbing

Rnds 1-4: with MC, * Knit 3, purl 2; repeat from * to end

Rnd 5: with CC, * Knit 3, purl 2; repeat from * to end

Directions: The directions are written for adult size (small, medium, large) in parentheses, and working with 2 circular needles. (notes are in italic) Make two socks.

Use the long-tail cast-on method, with size US#2 needles, with MC, cast on (75, 90, 105) stitches.

Place marker & join together by knitting first stitch being careful not to twist,

with MC, * K1, k2tog; repeat from * to end. (50, 60, 70) sts

Sock Leg:

Rnds 1-4: with MC, * K3, p2; repeat to end

Rnd 5: with CC, * K3, p2; repeat to end

Repeat rnds 1-5, working leg to the desired length, ending on rnd 4, set up for heel and foot.

(7”, 8”, 9”) from CO

Instep and Heel set up:

(If working with cotton/elastic yarn, cut CC.)

With MC/CC as established, [K3, p2](4,5,6)times, k3; instep stitches. (23, 28, 33)sts instep

Drop MC/CC yarn, and with a strand of different colored yarn knit across heel (27, 32, 37)stitches.

Drop colored strand, pick up MC/CC, and knit across heel (27, 32, 37) stitches once more. After this work instep as established, and knit sole; the heel will be put in later.

Instep and Sole:

Work instep as established, and knit sole until sock measures from heel ( colored yarn) marker: (4.5”, 5.5”, 6.5”)desired length.

Toe:

Rnd 1 & odd rounds: with MC, * K1, k2tog, knit to the last 3 stitches on needle, k2tog, k1(instep);

repeat from * to end(sole) (4sts decreased)

Rnd 2 & even rounds: with MC, knit

Continue until (13, 14, 13)sts remain for instep, and (17, 18, 17)sts remain for sole

Work 2 more rounds as follows: K(13, 14, 13)(instep), k1, k2tog, knit to last 3 stitches on needle, k2tog, k1(sole). With (26, 28, 26) stitches remaining, cut 18” yarn, and work Kitchener Stitch to finish the toe.

Heel:

Carefully slide the (27, 32, 37)sts below(sole), and (27, 32, 37)sts above the colored yarn(leg) to needles. Carefully remove the colored yarn.

Attach MC yarn, knit a round, and pick up one stitch at the beginning and end of the needles. (You'll have (29, 34, 39)sts on each needle, and this will help avoid “holes” on the heel sides.)

Now work the heel the same as the toe.

Rnd 1 & odd rounds: with MC, * K1, k2tog, knit to the last 3 stitches on needle, k2tog, k1; repeat from * to end (4 sts decreased)

Rnd 2 & even rounds: with MC, knit

Continue until (26, 28, 26) stitches remain.

Cut 18”yarn, and work Kitchener Stitch to finish the heel.

Finishing: Weave in tails. Make second sock.

This pattern is available on marilynnsgardenknitdesign.blogspot.com.
Socks-Take 5 pdf available on Ravelry. (login needed)

For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com

Here are photos of the process:

I started with notes for the pattern, the Knit Picks and Cascade Yarns wound into 2, really 4 balls, and many needles. I prefer knitting both socks at the same time on 2 circular needles, but I've found it difficult to keep 4 balls of yarn from tangling.

I decided to knit the two socks on two circular needles. I marked one sock with a green clip, the other with orange, and marked my tally crossbars in those colors as I work in the cotton/elastic round. Then I'd work the other sock. I had a good start, but soon realized that I preferred bamboo needles, "more tooth". I worked the next round onto those.

I set up my work station with each sock, and 2 balls of yarn in a lunch sacks. Those were placed in a re-purposed Harry&David's fruit basket. You'll also notice the Ziplock bag containing spare needles, and other tools. I then moved to the sofa to knit.

I placed a clip on one sock each morning, marking my progress, and worked on the socks (in tandem) for an hour or two every day . I also noticed with 60 stitches the variegated yarn was "pooling". The yarn knit up beautifully at 48 stitches on another pair of socks. Sometimes pooling happens.

To help solve the problem with pooling, as I knitted the pink yarn to mark the heel, I rotated one sock by knitting the heel marker first, then working the instep. Now, there was more turquoise yarn toward the front of each leg. You may have also noticed at this point there are more stitches for the heel/sole than the instep. I felt the last two purl stitches needed to be moved to the heel for symmetry of the ribbing in the instep. Knitting Without Tears, by Elizabeth Zimmermann, page 102, suggested having 2/3 stitches available for the heel. She also suggested working the sock to the toe, then "snipping one thread at the point where the top center of the heel-flap would be." I was/am not brave enough to do that, so this pink yarn heel marker worked well for me!

I worked both socks onto two circular needles to continue working to the toe.

I worked the Take 5 ribbing for the instep, and knit the sole until the socks measured 6.5" from the heel marker. (If I had worked the sock with CC wool there would be CC stripes across the sole.) Then I worked the toe decreases.

I opened Learn to Knit SOCKS, and got ready to do the Kitchener Stitch for the toes.

Then it was time to work on the heels.

I very carefully picked up "one leg" of each stitch with spare size US#1 double pointed needles. You can always pick up stitches on smaller needles because the gauge is set when knitting onto the needle in your right hand.

The stitches for the heel were picked up.

I used the tapestry needle to carefully remove each stitch of pink yarn. I worked carefully (and luckily) to be sure each heel stitch was really on the double pointed needles.

I joined the yarn, and knitted the socks onto the 2 circular needles to work the "toe" decreases to shape the heels.

I opened Learn to Knit SOCKS. It was time to work more Kitchener Stitch!

I finished by weaving in the tails. The afterthought heel gave me two more tails to weave.

I counted the markers to count the days! This project was very enjoyable, and took less than 2 weeks to complete.

The socks were ready to be mailed.