Playing Hooky with the sticks... .

I've been so busy with the Lazy Hooker's CAL and with designing for Artesano (new summer shawl/wrap on my hook as we speak), that I have to admit that when I finally sit down in the evening,  I have taken to picking up the sticks instead of my hook. I know, I know, how could I?

I think it must be something to do with my age (shhhh),  but for the last year I have had this strange desire to knit socks. I have really tried to get what I want by crocheting socks like these, 

                                                          

I used a size 3 hook and 4-ply sock yarn and although they're great to wear...

                                                        

                                

... I still just craved all those gorgeous tiny-stitched-stripes which are only possible with knitting. I think I got quite close with my fingerless gloves using a version of Linen Stitch, 

 but it's just not quite the same...

 So, a lovely friend who both knits and hooks was brave enough to take me on and introduced me to the wonderful world of 5 pointed needles...

This was my very first foray with the sticks and at first I really struggled...

 I persevered as I could see those STRIPES forming ....and was soon falling in love...

Magic stripes and magic patterns...ooohhhh

                                         

It did all feel terribly fiddly to start off with and my hands were all over the place, fighting with all these pointy things. I dropped many, many,  stitches; many, many, times and realised just how patient knitters are...no quick frogging here that's for sure.




                                                        

This was my first pair, and although they are a bit big as I used DK instead of 4-ply, I LOVE them and finally realised my dream of stripey heaven! 

Trying on for size!

Feeling rather flushed with success,  I moved on to Sock Yarn and had another go...turning the heel is the hardest bit, but with lots of help and a fair bit of sweat, I eventually cracked it.

This pattern is from Craftsy and well worth buying as it's very straightforward to follow.

This is Opal sock yarn,,isn't it delish??

                     

I can't even begin to describe how ridiculously proud of these I am..I certainly can't wear them as I like looking at them so much and refuse to hide them in boots!

I've now moved on to  knitting gloves which I can stroke and love (and show off) every day and am equally addicted.. more to come...

Lazy Hooker's CAL WEEK 7

Repeat WEEK 3 (2 x small spikes)

http://gaynorwhite.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/lazy-hoohers-cal-week-3.html

(I've just noticed  that the link  says hoohers instead of hookers as I spelt it wrong on the post...ah well, it still works!)

Lazy Hooker's CAL WEEK 6

Week 6

Repeat Week 2 ( 2 x small popcorn squares)

2016/03/lazy-hookers-cal-week-2.html?m=1

It's not called the Lazy Hooker''s CAL for nothing....

LAZY HOOKER'S CAL WEEK 5

LARGE DOUBLE PETALLED SQUARE  (MAKE 1) 

Ch7, slsttj

1) ch3, 11 tr in ring ( 12 tr)

2) Ch3, 1 tr at bottom of ch, 2 tr in each of the next tr , slsttj (24 tr)

3) ch1, 1dc at bottom of ch, *ch6, miss next 2 trs, 1 dc in next tr, rep from * 6 times, ch6, slsttj to 1st dc. (8  6-ch sps)

4) Slip stitch in to next ch-sp, (1dc, 2htr, 3tr, 2 htr, 1dc)  in to the same space,

Then do (1dc, 2htr, 3tr, 2 htr, 1dc) in every ch-sp around , slst to back of 1st dc made. (8 petals)

5) Working behind the petals, *ch6, then fpdc (front post double crochet) around the post of the next dc from round 3 (the stitch lying in between the petals), rep from * all the way round  to make 8 6-ch sps behind the petals.

Front post dc around the dc from row 3 - put hook from front around the post

then yo

and pull the yarn back through

2 loops on hook

yo pull through 2 loops (1fpdc worked)

8 6-ch sps at back of petals

6) slip stitch in to the next 6-ch sp and do (1dc, 1htr, 2tr, 3 dbtr, 2 tr, 1htr, 1dc) in the space and in each 6-ch sp, slsttojoin

Second row of petals plus chains from Round 6 plus start of round 7

 7) Sl st in the next 4 sts, ch1, 1dc in same place, 1 dc in each of next 2 sts, * ch5, 1 dc in each of next 3 dbtr from row below, ch8, ** 1dc in each of next 3 dbtr from row below, rep from * twice and from * to ** once again, slst to join. (4 x 8-ch-sps and 4 x 5-ch-sps).

8) ch2, now do 1htr in every dc, 5 htr in each 5-ch sp and (5htr 2ch 5htr) in each 8-ch sp around, slsttj

9) Ch2, then 1 htr in every htr around, doing (2htr 1ch 2 htr) in each corner space

10) Ch2, 1 htr in next st, * ch1, miss 1st st, 1 htr in  each of next 2 sts, rep from * along the edges, doing 2htr 1 ch 2 htr in the corners, slsttj. ( I had an extra st at the end but ignore it as it really won't make a difference)

11) Ch3 , * 1 tr 1 ch 1 tr (= v-stitch) in next ch1 sp, miss 1 st, rep from * to end doing 2 tr 1ch 2 tr in each corner ending with last tr 1 ch to join to top of 1st ch3 with a slst.

Add caption

12) Ch3, now do a v-st in each v-st ch-sp around , doing 3tr 2ch 3 tr in each corner ending with 1 tr 1 ch, slsttj to top of ch3.

13) ch2, now do  2 htrs in each ch-sp and 1 htr between each v-st around , doing 2htr 2 ch 2 htr  in each corner and 1 htr in each tr before and after the corner sp. Slsttj.

14) Begin popcorn : ch3, 4 tr at bottom of ch, remove hook from loop and replace in top of ch3 then back under last loop made of the 4th tr, yo pull through .
* Ch 3,  Miss 2 sts, 5 tr popcorn in next st : 5 tr

Remove hook and replace in top of 1st tr then back under last loop of 5th tr made

Yo pull through , 1 popcorn made,

 Rep from  *  around, doing 3 tr 2 ch 3 tr in each corner and 3 ch before and after each corner. slsttj. If you don't end up with exactly the right amount don't panic just try to space them evenly on each side.

15) Ch3, Now do, 1 tr in top of each popcorn and 3 tr in each 3-ch-sp around, doing (3tr2ch3tr) in each corner

16) Ch2, *miss 1 st, 1 dc in next st, ch1, rep from * around doing 2dc 1ch 2 dc in each corner. slstsj

17) ch2, 1 dc in 1st ch-sp, * 1ch, 1 dc in nhext ch-sp, repo from * around, doing 2dc 1 ch 2dc in each corner, slstsj

18) Repeat row 17

Now BLOCK it using your preferred method. I spray it with cold water then pin out to desired size and spray again. Leave to dry naturally. You can now sew in the ends if you want although I will crochet most under when we do the border...