Avoiding Holes at Gusset

There is an excellent video at http://knittingatknoon.com/gusset.html showing how to add an extra stitch at the end of the first side of the gusset and before picking up heel stitches for the second side of the gusset. The book I'm using suggests that you pick up two extra stitches in that space than can leave a hole between the gusset pick-up stitches and the instep stitches.
Just jab the needle into two different holes and make two extra stitches.

Then, according to my pattern book you work the following rows to close this gusset top.
Needle 1: knit to last 2 sts, ssk.
Needle 2 - work est pattern
Needle 3: K2 together, knit to end

You then start your gusset decrease rows per your pattern.

Now in my opinion you still have two extra stitches and therefore end up working an extra decrease row. However since you generally work the gusset decrease rows until you have a specific number of stitches remaining, I don't see the harm.

If this as clear as mud let me know.
Patti

Rib pattern in my first socks.

Rib pattern I used in the body of sock is a 4 stitch pattern, so you will need to have 56 or 64 stitches ie., any number of stitches that can be divided by 4. This pattern works well with k1, p1 ribbing for the cuff of the sock.

Seeded Ribbing
Sock Body
Rnd 1 *K1, P1, K2, rep from *,

Rnd 2 *P3, K1, rep from*

Repeat rounds
1 and 2 for desired lenght

Instep
All the patterns in my book have you slip one stitch before beginning the heel to the needle carrying the instep stitches. Because of this you have to knit 1 stitch at the beginning of all rows of pattern on the instep. Do not repeat this knit 1, just start each round with it then repeat the rounds as shown above.

First Socks for me!

My first pair of socks are finally done. Celery green. The yarn was Bamboo, silk and wool as well as stretchy nylon.

Loved the yarn. Even though this knitted to gauge - I did do the swatch - I thought the socks were a little big for me.

The yarn says it knits to this gauge on either size one or two needles. I will opt for size one needles next time. My Mother is complaining about socks being too tight for her, so I'll see if these fit her. That might be too short. We will find out. It's certainly interesting to see how many ways you can contort stitches to make a heel, toe and all. I did make a birdseye heel flap on these. I like the idea of the socks being a little thicker at the heel.

May your stitches never drop -

Patti

Teeny Tiny Baby Socks

So, here is what I have been working on for the last few days. I never thought little tiny socks could take so much effort, but it's actually tricky working with such tiny DPN's. I bought this outfit as a shower gift and decided that hand-knit socks would be a good personal addition. They were fun to do and didn't take too long, especially on the second one...you're right about that, Pat. I've thought of knitting a bunch of socks just to have something to take to showers. I like receiving things that people have made. Somehow it just means more. Anyway, they were really easy (after a couple calls to Anshan to clarify) and fun.

Red and Brown

Here are some pictures of my red and brown felted purse. I just finished it this morning. It is kind of hard to see the lining because it matches the color of the purse pretty well. It is a washable silk that was on the clearance table at Walmart for $1 a yard. I sunk the pockets a little deeper on the inside too to keep things from sliding out or making the purse too top heavy. I recycled some leather straps from a thrift shop purse and added the rings so I could use the felt tabs.

Finally...I made something!

Hello friends...here are the pictures of my new purse I made yesterday.

finally done

Well ladies I just finished putting the finishing touches on my blue striped purse. Here it is. I hope you like it.

We knit, but it's still funny!

A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to open or ask her about.
For all of these years, he had never thought about the box,but
one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not recover. In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside.She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $95,000.He asked her about the contents. 'When we were to be married,' she said, ' my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll.' The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with happiness.'Honey,' he said, 'that explains the dolls, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?'
'Oh,' she said, 'that's the money I made from selling the dolls.' A Prayer.......Dear Lord, I pray for Wisdom to understand my man; Love to forgive him;And Patience for his moods; Because Lord, if I pray for Strength,I'll beat him to death, because I don't know how to crochet.

Here are the hats I made. The one Skye is modeling is really Michael's valentine's day present. It was supposed to be ribbed and then cabled, but apparently I don't like to cable, so I returned to ribbed. The other hat is for Karen LaFortune's newborn baby, Emily.

Another one

Hello there. Well this is my new purse that I just finished. It was a learning process on this one. I tried felting it in my front loader by checking it every 5 minutes. I took it out after 15 minutes and rinsed it and rolled in a towel. It was too flimsy for me and after talking with Pam about it, I threw it back in the washer this morning. After the first felting it was 14"x14 1/2" and did not hold it's shape. After the second felting, where I did let it spin for a minute, it is 10 1/2"x10 3/4" and is thicker and holds it's shape better. Just thought I would share that you can refelt one even after it is dry. The first photo shows the 1st

felting and the other two are the 2nd felting. Have a good one ladies.

Pami, I guess we all commented on your scarf on email and not on the Blog. I think it is a wonderful result of your first try with big girl needles - especially since you were not feeling too well during that time. Love You - Aunt Pam

The Scarf

Briana refused to pose for photos, so our dog Allie got to be the subject of our torture.