Christmas stocking knitting -- phase 1

**Early Bird** · 12-09-2005, 10:45 AM

I am working from this pattern:

http://www.knitnet.com/happyholidays/

I hope to post pics as I progress. This post should have a photo of Day 1's knitting. I can't seem to preview the photo, so I'll go ahead and post.

**Early Bird** · 12-09-2005, 10:50 AM

Great! It posted!

So, here is my big question:

Can you see where the red changed from a stockingette stitch (looks kinda braided) to a garter stitch (looks like waves)?

I was SUPPOSED to make that change at the time I changed color.

Before I knit any more on it this afternoon, I need your opinion:

SHOULD I RIP OUT AND REDO IT?

I'd only rip to the color change.

PLEASE give opinions; I'm divided, and DD (age 9) isn't much help!

**Early Bird** · 12-09-2005, 11:05 AM

BTW, this is good, good stuff I'm using. I bought it at an estate sale last summer, without knowing that this is good, good stuff!

Lambs' Pride yarn.
Crystal Palace needles.

!

I bought several boxes of partially-finished knitting projects. Paid between $4 and $8 per box. Several of the boxes had about a dozen skeins of nice, nice wool. Some of the boxes were partially-finished projects. I think the bamboo needles were mixed in with a partial-sweater lot.

Anyway, I probably spent $60-$80 on everything. [I had some allowance built up.] Here's what I brought home:

* About 10 Addi Turbo circular needles. (My knitting friend, who was with me, said Addi Turbos run about $12 apiece. So, just in those I got my money's worth!)
* Probably 40-50 skeins of nice yarn (mostly wool, but about 6 skeins of alpaca).
* And at least 5 partial sweaters -- lots of nice wool in those.

YOU KNOW WHAT"S THE PROBLEM WITH GETTING NICE STUFF AT A BARGAIN?

It spoils you! Now I want MORE Crystal Palace needles!!!! And MORE Lambs' Pride yarn!

**SewCrafty** · 12-09-2005, 12:01 PM

LOL

Great deals!

Okay on to your question, yes you can rip it out and start over at the color change, you haven't gone so far that it would be horrible to do.

OR

You can count your rows, stockinette stitch and garter stitch and write them down, then just make the other one to match.

**Early Bird** · 12-09-2005, 01:21 PM

It's going to be a hang-by-the-fire stocking, not a wearing stocking ... so it won't have a match!

**SewCrafty** · 12-09-2005, 01:25 PM

LOL okay, then I would personally rip it out, but that is just me. It looks fine just as it is, and if you hadn't said anything I would have thought that was the way it was supposed to be.

**Early Bird** · 12-09-2005, 01:33 PM

I tlhink I will! Thanks, Sarah!

**Missy** · 12-09-2005, 08:43 PM

I would leave it, I thought it was supposed to look like that too, and i like it!!

I am secretly jealous of your bamboo needles!

Great deals too BTW!!

**Early Bird** · 12-14-2005, 07:39 PM

I've been working a lot on that stocking!

First off, I did rip it out and start over.

And then I got involved helping DD make a secret sister gift for scouts:

The stocking looked pretty much the same till yesterday morning:

Dec 13 stocking progress:

Dec 14 stocking progress:

I made some mistakes turning the heel. In particular, I used Knit 2 together instead of Slip Slip Knit. And I think my 'picking up' stitches left a hole.

Close up of heel, Dec 14:

DD doesn't want me to rip out the heel, so it's staying as is!

**Early Bird** · 12-14-2005, 07:43 PM

trying to get the right size for those pics!

close up of heel:

**Darlene** · 12-14-2005, 08:22 PM

How do you people do this??? You have to have magic fingers or something. Just beautiful and I'd leave it as is, looks great.

**Missy** · 12-14-2005, 09:46 PM

Looks great!! My first project was a pair of socks for myself. I used so much yarn they coulda been christmas stockings. Eventually I'd like to knit christmas stockings for the kids to hang up. Thanks for sharing your progress, I love seeing it come along.

**SewCrafty** · 12-15-2005, 12:43 AM

I think you are doing great! And again, if you hadn't pointed out about the heel, I never would have seen it. Can't wait to see it finished and filled!

**ACEHearts** · 12-15-2005, 11:58 PM

Looks great!

I bought some cheap (got them 2 for $1!) stockings for us for this christmas, but I'm hoping to find some after Christmas sales on festive yarns so I can make stockings for everyone before next Christmas. I'll have to bookmark the pattern you're using!

Cindy

**Early Bird** · 12-22-2005, 11:25 AM

I finished it:

Then, I decided that the weave was too loose. I wanted it to be perfect.

So I felted it.

Uh-oh.

Stitches ripped out.
I had mixed a mohair-ish white yarn with the wool. The wool shrunk and felted. The mohair didn't.

AND

the loose spot in the knitting where I had turned the heel became a HOLE!

There are some lessons to be learned from this:

* FELT WITH CAUTION. Check frequently when it's in the hot water.

* Mixing fibers can cause big problems.

* Felted wool can be used for potholders.