Free Gingerbread Stocking Pattern

I have been searching Ravelry lately for a white on white cabled stocking pattern worked up in worsted weight wool.... but I couldn't find one that looked like what I had in mind.  I had also recently seen this very beautiful cable, "Gingerbread Cable" on LionBrand.com.  Thus, the "Gingerbread Cabled Stocking" pattern was born :).  

Photo Credit:  Lion Brand Yarn

I adapted the cable pattern to a 6 stitch cable (which I prefer) from the original 4 stitch cable.  Here is my finished stocking:

  The stocking pattern features a knit-in hem to reduce bulk and add a nice finished edge to the top of the stocking.   

The Gingerbread Cable pattern is worked over 60 stitches until the desired length is reached (10" in the sample).  I chose a short-row heel for this particular pattern, but you could insert whatever your favorite heel technique is! 

I also chose to keep the instep stitches in pattern as I worked the toe, but you could knit them plain to match the heel.

I finished up the stocking by crocheting a chain to add the inside back of the stocking as a hanging loop, and then steam blocked the entire stocking.  I hope your stocking makes you as happy as mine did!  This pattern is available on Ravelry OR ....

Download the free pattern here! 

 

Fall Crafting

I think Autumn may be my very favorite season... there is something about the crisp, cool air paired with blue skies, red and yellow leaves, and fun family activities!  It is also my favorite season for crafting!  So many projects, and so little time!  Here's what I've been working on this month:

1.  Embroidered Fall Tablecloth - pattern from Sweet Pea Designs

I recently upgraded my sewing machine to the Pfaff Creative 3.0 - and it came with a bonus embroidery unit!  This little runner is pieced and quilted in the hoop, and then you just sew the blocks together and add a backing.  I love the addition of the fall leaf outlines.. and the satin stitching on the "L" shaped blocks!

2.  Knitted Mini-Pumpkins (betcha can't knit just one!)

I think my favorite project this month were these little knitted mini-pumpkins (Itty Bitty Pumpkin by Sparrow Kelley)  They knit up quick, and a are a snap to finish.  The cute little stems are also easy.. and they really add to the finished item.  As you can see.. it's hard to stop at one!

3. Pumpkin Dishcloths

I try and knit up several of these every year, because they make great hostess gifts!  My secret is that I knit them 2-3 at a time on a long circular needle.  That way, you have to read the pattern line in the chart only once, but you end up with several cloths!  I prefer to knit off a chart, so I whipped one up to go with this text only pattern.

4. Last but not least... embroidered dish towels on by new machine.  I just love this stitched out redwork design (and all of the open space in the design helps to keep it from puckering in the wash!)  The design is from Emblibrary!

That's all my fall crafting in progress!  I hope your Fall season is crafty as well :)

Dozens of Dainty Dishcloths

Dozens of Dainty Dishcloths

We are getting ready for a big, cross-country move... and I wanted to leave a little something for each of my wonderful friends.  I thought about socks... but my sock knitting ability wasn't up to knitting 17 pairs in a short 30 days... so what to do?  And then it hit me.... DISCHLOTHS.  Humble... I know; but oh-so-practical!  And so many pretty designs and beautiful colors.  I also learned a thing or two along the way about each pattern that I used, which I will pass along :).  

First up:   Grandmother's Favorite by Traditional Design.  

I think this might be the VERY first dischloth pattern that comes up on Ravelry when you type in "easy" and "knitted dishcloth" - and for a very good reason!  This is a mindless pattern that you can do just about anywhere.  Also, because it is knit on the diagonal, you don't lose your sanity in endless knit rows with no variation.  These are the first ones I started with.   Simple, no frills, and absolutely practical!

Next up:  The Almost Lost Washcloth by Julie Tarsha.

These little beauties are fun to knit, and provide almost an endless variation in color!  It is supposed to be knit flat, and then seamed at the end, but I quickly started doing a provisional cast-on (via a 16-18 stitch crochet chain) and grafting them together at the end with a garter Kitchener stitch.  Easy Peasy.  I also used the German short row method (love this!) It makes an almost invisible short row turn - and makes these cloths look very finished!

For a little added challenge, I also tried the Dash Cloth by Renee M (in two different color schemes):

And the Circle Cloth by hakucho:

As well as this cute Pumpkin Dishcloth by Kathleen (with bonus chart for those of you that prefer charted directions like I do!)

And have you tried illusion knitting yet?  What a fun technique!  The arrangement of purls and knit stitches makes a wonderful design that only pops out when you are eye-level with the piece!  Like this:  Illusion Snowflake by Emily Byrd Adams 

From there, I branched out into a couple of cute crochet versions:  Rose In Bloom Crochet Dishcloth by Deb Wolf 

But my very favorite?  Hands-down it was: Yvonne's Double Flower Cloth by Yvonne Hussey 

This sweet cloth looks fancy... but the pattern is very intuitive, and easy to follow.. and such a gorgeous result!

I hope this list has motivated you to do some fun knitting of your own! I also whipped up a batch of cards to attach to these little handmade gifts:

Feel free to click on the picture, and download your own!