Candied Apples

The Candy Apple Stockings are finished! This was a long knit, because I knit and crocheted so many other things at the same time!



I used Regia Colour (machine washable sock yarn that is also Soft!), 2 balls, which I got at Patternworks after Christmas. Needles are Knitpicks Harmony double-points, size US 1.5

These were knit toe-up, on 60 stitches for the foot and leg, in a K2 P1 pattern, with occasional 3 stitch increases for shaping, directly in the back. I made two sets of increases about an inch apart on the lower calf, and one set of increases on the upper calf.



As you can see, these increases were made over a set of 4 rows, increasing in the purl stitch with ordinary m1 increases. So, you have p1 k3, p1, k3 going. One the first increase round you p1, k3, kf&b in the purl stitch, k3 according to the regular pattern. Next round, when you get to that place, you p1, k3, p1, kf&b in the stitch made on the previous round, k3, continue in pattern. In the next round when you get to that place, you p1, k3, pl, k1, kf&b in the stitch just made, k3 and continue in regular pattern. Next, p1, k3, p1, k2, kf&b, k3, continue. Next, p1, k3, p1, k3, p1, k3 and there you are back to your regular pattern with a nice little v-shaped increase up the center back of your stocking!



The ribbing at the top is a full 2 inches of K1P1 with a stretchy sewn bind-off. I used every bit of each skein and they came out exactly the same length.

I love this yarn! The colour is a perfect candied apple red. There are accents of grey and gold in there too but they mostly blend into the red to make this very gorgeous sweet red.



I seem to be on a red kick lately, don't I?

Soothing stockings

Everybody knows that the northeast has been pummelled by a worse winter than we've had in 100 years and that we're still having snowstorms while the rest of the country is growing flowers. Such a stressful season needs some soothing activities to keep us all sane! My stress soother is socks...

I'm making good progress on my Plimoth Plantation over-the-knee stockings.



The yarn is harsh but the pattern so far has been easy to follow. I'm almost finished with the first of the pair and I think it will use up the entire cone of yarn. I have a second cone for the second stocking. I love the shaping and the mock seam down the back!

Wouldn't these be lovely in a very fine white cotton/silk?

When I slipped on the ice and sprained my wrist, I couldn't handle the increases and decreases of the Plimouth stockings while I was wearing the ace bandage. I started a pair of mindless ribbed stockings in soft Regia yarn. This stitch and soft yarn was easier on my wrist.

Candy Apple Stockings:



Now I'm going back and forth between the two. I can't wait to see the pair of Plimoth stockings in their full finished glory. I hope we have another now storm soon so I can knit all day!

I'm feeling achy and tired today - coming down with several things at once. This wouldn't be happening to me if I was Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris doesn’t have normal white blood cells like you and I do. His white cells have a small black ring around them. This signifies that they are black belts in every form of martial arts and they roundhouse kick the shit out of viruses. That’s why Chuck Norris never gets sick.