Seasalt socks

My latest design, Seasalt is a top down sock inspired by a local venue. It combines gentle cable waves with a central crystal like pattern to represent the salt. 

It is available via Ravelry,  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seasalt-socks  with 1/3 rd off until the end of 31 December 2015 (using the code PEPPER)

P/hop and a new pattern

I'm sure many of you will have heard of p/hop, but for those that haven't, it is a fundraising initiative for Medicine Sans Frontier (also known as Doctors without Boarders). A growing number of knitting and crochet designers have donated patterns to the cause, and if you want to get hold of the pattern a donation to MSF is requested.

Yesterday I went to the Fibre East show near Bedford in the UK.  It was the 3rd time I had volunteered to help out on the p/hop stall at a show, but this one was special because we were able to release my Heads Up sock pattern to the general public.  

This sock was previously available as a bonus pattern for participants in Sock Madness 9, and is now available via p/hop.  We had paper copies at the show, and it will shortly be available via the p/hop website.

I had great fun meeting loads of people on the stall, and it was a brilliant way to do some informal market research.  With any luck a lot of money was raised for the cause.

New Beginnings

Last Sunday I was lucky enough to attend the Muse Collection Volume 2 in London.  This was a get together of knitters organised by A Playful Day and Curious Handmade.

It was a great social event featuring chat, cake, drink and knitting, as well as talks from sponsors PomPom Magazine and sock and accessories designer Rachel Coopey.

The afternoon was themed around new beginnings, which seemed very appropriate for the relaunch of this blog, and gave me inspiration for creating new designs for you.


Stay tuned for a sock design announcement shortly.

Socks with a mathematical theme

So the crochet designs have been on hold while I have had a minor sock obsession.

For the various Ravelry knit-alongs I couldn't find a design that met my needs - so here is One plus One.  The pattern is available as a free Ravelry download from here

Alter Nate Crochet Square

As my geometric designs seem to have achieved the most attention I am aiming to produce a few more for your delight and delectation. This square builds upon Alter Ego, but with a square result. It is a very basic solid square, with minimal weaving of ends, despite working with 4 colours at once.

The example was made with 4 colours (plus border) of 4 ply BFL sock yarn on a 3 mm hook. It could also be worked with double knitting yarn on a 4.5mm hook, or worsted weight yarn and a 5.5mm (I) hook. Repeat rounds until the required measurements are reached.

You will require 4 stitch markers.

American terminology used throughout.

Special terminology: For this design “corner” = 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc in same stitch or chain space

Set-up: With Colour A ch 4, join into ring with slip stitch into first ch.

Rnd 1: ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc into ring 2 times, place marker in working loop. Join Colour B into ring, ch 2 (counts as a dc) dc into ring 2 times, place marker in working loop. Join Colour C into ring, ch 2 (counts as a dc) dc into ring 2 times, place marker in working loop. Join Colour D into ring, ch 2 (counts as a dc) dc into ring 2 times,join with slip stitch into 2^nd chain of Colour A, and place second marker in working loop. (12 stitches)

This is a bit fiddly to start, but here's a photo to explain:

From now on, each stitch worked will be into a stitch of a different colour. This should produce straight lines of colour division, one horizontal and one vertical.

Rnd 2: Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour A. Join to 2^nd chain of Colour B on previous round. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), “corner” in next stitch, then dc in last stitch of that colour, place marker in working loop. Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour B. Join to 2^nd chain of Colour C on previous round. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), “corner” in next stitch, then dc in last stitch of that colour, place marker in working loop. Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour C. Join to 2^nd chain of Colour D on previous round. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), “corner” in next stitch, then dc in last stitch of that colour, place marker in working loop. Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour D. Join to 2^nd chain of Colour A on previous round. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), “corner” in next stitch, then dc in last stitch of that colour, join with slip stitch into 2^nd chain of Colour A on current round, and place marker in working loop. (24 stitches)

That was a lot of words, so this is what is should look like at this point:

Rnd 3: Keeping the pattern of colour changing going, dc once in each stitch of previous round and “corner” in each chain space. Remember to join colours with slip stitches to hold the fabric together.

Repeat round 3 until you reach your desired measurements.

(Design note: It would be possible to work this design in 2 colours where colour 1 = colour A and B, and colour 2 = colour C and D.)

Copyright Dec 2010 Catkitbob designs

Gerbena Crochet Square

This design was actually created before Alter Ego - but needed a tweak, and finally finding some time to write it up.  Presenting Gerbena:

Gerbena 12” block

by Jacqui Goulbourn (aka Tiggerbee)

A lacy flower square

The example was made with 4 ply BFL sock yarn on a 3 mm hook to produce a square of 6”. If working with double knitting yarn on a 4.5mm hook the square should measure 8” or if working with worsted weight yarn and a 5.5mm (I) hook the square should measure 12”.

Special stitches: Cluster = Work 4 dc into one stitch, but leaving last loop on hook each time until all 4 dc have been worked, yarn over and pull through all 5 loops (one from each dc, and loop from previous st).

Beginning Cluster = Ch 3, work 3 dc into stitch at base of the ch 3, but leaving the final loop of each stitch on hook until all 3 dc have been worked, yarn over and pull though all 4 loops (one from each dc, and one from ch).

American terminology used throughout.

Rnd 1: With Colour A ch 4, join into ring with slip stitch into first ch.

Rnd 2: Sc into loop 8 times, join round with slip stitch into first sc.. (8 stitches)

Rnd 3: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in same stitch, * ch 2, 2 dc in next stitch*, repeat from * to * 6 times, ch 2, join round with slip stitch into 3rd chain. (16 stitches and 8 2ch loops)

Rnd 4: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), *ch 2, 3 dc in next chain loop* repeat from * to * 6 times, ch 2, 2 dc in last chain loop, join round with slip stitch into 3rd chain. (24 stitches and 8 2ch loops)

Rnd 5: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), *3 dc in chain loop, dc once in each dc*, repeat from * to * to end of round, join round with slip stitch into 3rd chain. (48 stitches)

Rnd 6: Beginning cluster, ch 4, skip 2 stitches of previous round, * cluster, ch 4, skip 2 stitches of previous round*, repeat from * to * 14 times and join with slip stitch to top of first cluster (16 clusters in total)

Rnd 7: Slip into next chain space. Create first corner in this chain space by ch 4 (counts as first tr) 2 tr, ch 2 ,3 tr, *in next chain space 6 dc, in next chain space 6 sc, in next chain space 6 dc, in next chain space 3 tr, ch 2, 3 tr*. Repeat from * to * twice, in next chain space 6 dc, in next chain space 6 sc, in next chain space 6 dc. Join with slip stitch to 4thchain.

Rnd 8: Slip stitch to corner. Ch 3 (counts as first dc) 3 dc, ch 2, 4 dc. Along side, *ch 2, dc in gap between different size stitches of previous round, ch 2, sc in between 3rd and 4th stitches of 6 stitch group * repeat until reach next corner loop, 4 dc, ch 2, 4 dc. Repeat for another 3 sides and 2 corners. Join with slip stitch into 3rd chain.

Rnd 9: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), *dc in each corner dc of previous round. In corner loop 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc. Dc in next 4 dc, then 2 dc in each chain loop along side of square. * Repeat from * to * 3 times.

Rnd 10: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in each dc of previous round, and in corner loop 2 dc, ch 2, 2dc.

Repeat round 10 until you reach your desired measurements.

Copyright 2010 Catkitbob designs

Alter Ego Crochet Square

This square is all about the colour choices. It is a very basic solid square, with minimal weaving of ends.

The example was made with 3 colours of 4 ply BFL sock yarn on a 3 mm hook to produce a square of 6”. If working with double knitting yarn on a 4.5mm hook the square should measure 8” or if working with worsted weight yarn and a 5.5mm (I) hook the square should measure 12”.

You will require 2 stitch markers

American terminology used throughout.

Set-up: With Colour A ch 4, join into ring with slip stitch into first ch.

Rnd 1: ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc into ring 5 times, place marker in working loop. Join Colour B into ring, ch 2 (counts as a dc) dc into ring 5 times, join with slip stitch into 2nd chain of Colour A, and place second marker in working loop. (12 stitches)

Rnd 2: Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour A. Join to 2nd chain of Colour B on previous round. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc in same stitch, then 2 dc in each of the next 5 stitches, place marker in working loop. Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour B. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc in same stitch, then 2 dc in each of the next 5 stitches, join with slip stitch into 2nd chain of Colour A, and place second marker in working loop. (24 stitches)

Rnd 3: Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour A. Join to 2nd chain of Colour B on previous round. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), 2dc in next stitch, *dc in next stitch, 2dc in following stitch*, repeat from * to * 4 times, place marker in working loop. Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour B. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), 2dc in next stitch, *dc in next stitch, 2dc in following stitch*, repeat from * to * 4 times, join with slip stitch into 2nd chain of Colour A, and place second marker in working loop. (36 stitches)

Rnd 4: Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour A. Join to 2nd chain of Colour B on previous round. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc in following stitch, 2dc in next stitch, *dc once in next 2 stitches, 2dc in following stitch*, repeat from * to * 4 times, place marker in working loop. Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour B. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc in following stitch, 2dc in next stitch, *dc once in next 2 stitches, 2dc in following stitch*, repeat from * to * 4 times, join with slip stitch into 2nd chain of Colour A, and place second marker in working loop. (48 stitches)

Rnd 5: Keeping the established pattern of colour changing going, ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc once in next 2 stitches, 2dc in next stitch, *dc once in next 3 stitches, 2dc in following stitch*, repeat from * to * 4 times. (60 stitches)

Rnd 6: Keeping the established pattern of colour changing going, ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc once in next 3 stitches, 2dc in next stitch, *dc once in next 4 stitches, 2dc in following stitch*, repeat from * to * 4 times. (72 stitches)

Rnd 7: Keeping the established pattern of colour changing going, ch 2 (counts as first dc), dc once in next 4 stitches, 2dc in next stitch, *dc once in next 5 stitches, 2dc in following stitch*, repeat from * to * 4 times. (84 stitches)

Rnd 8: Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour A. Join to 2nd chain of Colour B on previous round. * Ch, sc in same stitch, then into each stitch of the round below work as follows 2 sc, 3 hdc, 3 dc, tr, (5 tr in next stitch for corner), tr, 3 dc, 3 hdc, 6 sc, 3 hdc, 3 dc, tr, (5 tr in next stitch for corner), tr, 3 dc, 3 hdc, 3 sc * place marker in working loop. Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour B. Repeat from * to * , join with slip stitch into first sc of colour A, and place marker in working loop. (100 stitches)

Rnd 9: Reinsert hook into the marked loop of colour A. Join to 1st sc of Colour B on previous round. Ch 2 (counts as first dc), then dc once in each stitch of previous round, until you reach the 3rd tr (middle of corner) - 5 dc in this stitch. Continue working one dc in each stitch and 5 dc in the corner, switching colour half way round.

Rnd 10: Keeping the established pattern of colour changing going, dc once in each stitch of previous round and 5dc in each corner stitch.

Repeat round 10 until you reach your desired measurements.

(Design note: It would be possible to work the circle element of this design in 3 colours, or the whole design in 4 colours – just divide the 12 stitches in round 1 by the number of colours to be used.)

Copyright May 2010 Catkitbob designs