If You Want to Destroy My Sweater…

Hats For Alex

So I was cruising along the internet and I stumbled upon Hats For Alex, and it touched my heart so much, and I couldn’t stop crying. I mean, I’m crying right now.

So, in short, I’ll be making Baby hats.

The Easiest Way to do a Short Row Heel

I saw this method on some pattern somewhere, but I have since forgotten where. I don’t take credit for this Method of Short Rows,

So I was teaching my mom the way I do short row heels, and we both agreed that we have no idea why everyone doesn’t do them this way. In my opinion, it’s the fastest, easiest, and best looking way to do a short row heel. There is no wrapping or anything like that. So here’s a tutorial for ya’ll:

Start off with your heel stitches on one needle (I just cast on for the purpose of the tutorial, but these would be the heel stitches of your sock):

Slip the first stitch, knit to one before the end:

Turn, slip the first stitch, purl to one before the end:

Turn, slip the first stitch, knit to 2 before the end:

Turn, slip the first stictch, purl to two before the end:

Keep Going like this, turning, slipping the first stitch, and knitting to 3 before the end, than 4, than 5, and so on and so forth, each time you’ll be leaving a stitch behind and havin less and less stitches to knit. Keep going until you’ve got however many stitches you want to stop at (I did 6 or so, but a standard sock might be 10 or 12, whatever you want, really.)

Your work should look something like this:

(Click on the picture to see it better, to see the writing)

Ok, so.. You should be ready to do a knit row. Slip the first stitch, knit to one stitch before the gap:

Slip the stitch before the gap onto the right hand needle, pick up the bar running between the gap and put it on the right hand needle:

Knit the slipped stitch and the picked up bar together:

And thats how you close a gap on the right side. Now turn, slip the first stitch, and purl to one stitch before the gap:

Slip the stitch before the gap, pick up the bar running between the gap, and put it on the right hand needle:

Purl the slipped stitch and the picked-up bar together:

And that’s how you close the gap on the purl side. Here are videos to help you out.

On the Knit Side

On the Purl Side

Keep going like that, Turning, slipping the first stich, knitting to the stitch before the gap, slipping it, picking up the bar, and knitting them together, until you’ve closed all the gaps.

And you’ve finished your heel! Mine ended up a little pointy, but you get the idea. Here’s how it looks on the side:

And here’s how it looks knit on a real sock:

Viola! The easiest way to knit a short row heel. Any questions?

I forgot to post when I updated my shop!

I updated my shop a while ago. I added a few Drawstring Project Bags, A new Super-cute shoulder bag like the one I made for myself, and I even marked down the price on the last Knitting Tote. Snag it while it’s on sale! And, I still have one skein of Self Striping Sock Yarn left!

In other news, I’ve been entraced with this Cable Twist Sock pattern, but I don’t have to perfect yarn in my stash for them. I’ve been looking at the pair that Marion made for me, and the pair on Grumperina’s Blog. Oy, I want to make them!!

I think that’s enough links for one post.

Summer Knitting Goals

I entered a contest at this blog, and one of the rules is to post your Summer Knitting Goals. Well, here I go:

1. Finish My Endpaper Mitts
2. Finish my Something Red
3. Actually Knit Something out of the Yarn I’ve spun.

If you want to enter the contest, hop on over to Ali’s Blog, and if you say that you heard about the contest from me, I would be very appreciative. What are your goals?

Quick Decisions

I got this far on my Endpaper mitts. Then I decided they where to small (Like, really too small. Like, cutting-off-circulation small). So I ripped them out and started over on a size larger needle. We’ll see how It goes.

I also decided that I was bored with my hair (I do that I lot.)

So now I have Bangs. I never thought I could pull off bangs, but I decided just to go for it. And you know what? I like them. I think they make me look older? I dunno, I like them.

And…. I’m officially on Summer Vacation. Yay! Finals went okay. We’ll see when grades come in tomorrow. Well, actually, I already found out I got an A in my History Class (Everybody say “Yay!!”). Keep your fingers crossed for the other 3.

And now I’m gonna fart around on the internet for a while, maybe knit a little while, then go to bed. Night, guys!

TA DA!!!!

I finished the first Squirrel Mitten! Freakin’ Sweet!! I love it! It fits, too. I even casted on for the second. Go me!

I also did a small shop update. I have two new Drawstring Project bags, and I made another one of those shoulder bags like the one I made for myself for the shop. I also marked down the price of the last Knitting Tote.

Whoppee!

I am so close to being done with school this semester. I have a final tomorrow at 10 and another final on Wednesday at 9, and then I’m free for summer. That seems really early, huh? I have a long while until I go back to school in the fall, what am I gonna do with myself?

Well, I’m gonna get a job… somewhere. I just don’t know where… I’m thinking Payless Shoes? It’s in town, and it’s hiring. Who knows.

I’ve also started a new project. I’ve been feeling the Fair-Isle itch lately. I actually finished the hand on one of my Squirrel Mittens this morning. I’ll post a picture when I knit the thumb. I went to the LYS today to get something to make the Endpaper Mitts.

I was thinking about using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, but I settled for Dalegarn Baby Ull (or something like that). It was cheaper, and still quite soft. Plus, they had the colors I wanted. The light blue is actually supposed to be gray, at least that’s what it says on the label. But, I like the blue-ness to it.

Anyway, I’m babbling. Happy Mother’s Day to all you mommy’s out there, and especially to mine. I love you mommy!

So, we all know and love Heather, and if you don’t, than it sucks to be you, because she’s awesome. She’s so cool, she sent mom and I a present just because.

Check it out! Mom got the Koigu, and I got the roving and that super cute fabric in the background. I liked it so much, I made myself a new purse;

Cute, huh? I love it! It was so fun and easy to make, I went to the fabric store and bought some fabric on sale to make more.