Getting Ready for the Holidays..
Santa's Laundry Line
by Eleonore von Castelmur
ooking for some non-breakable, (more or less) cat-proof Christmas decorations I found inspiration in all the wonderful ornament patterns out there and decided to knit a little garland to spread some holiday spirit. All you need to make one yourself is some yarn, a set of double pointed needles (they're all knit in the round and seamless) and some time. It's up to you if you want to knit just one or a few, use them as decoration for the tree, as tags for gifts or make your own garland with some cooking twine for the laundry line and small clothespins sold to hang up holiday cards.
Materials
Yarn
Sock or light fingering weight in red, cream, dark green and grey. The garland shown here is knit in light fingering weight Admiral 4ply by Schoppelwolle (colorways feuer, natur and petrol as well as some scraps of dark grey Regia 4ply). Since these clothes are tiny, it's a great project to use up some leftover sock yarn. You can substitute any yarn you want, adjusting the needle size accordingly. This will influence the resulting size of your garments though
Needles
A set of 2.5-3 mm dpns (US 1%-2%); since gauge is not critical, just use the needles that give you a fabric you like.
Notions
Tapestry needle Locking stitchmarkers (used as markers & stitch holder) Optionally small beads or tiny buttons as closures for the longjohns and coat
Coat
Rd2 (RS) \* k to 1 st before marker, kfb, slm, kfb, \* repeat 3 more times, knit to end, Rd3 (WS) and all wrong sides, purl Repeat the raglan increases as established in Rd2-3, until there are 18 sts for the sleeves and 24 ts for the front and back. Knit to the 1st marker, place all the sts to 2nd marker on scrap yarn (1st sleeve), k to 3rd marker, place all sts to 4t marker on scrap yarn (2nd sleeve), k to end. Knit for 26 rows in St st. On next RS row, switch to cream yarn, k to end, pick up and knit sts evenly along selvedge up the side, along the collar and back down the other side of selvedge. Knit 4 rds of garter st in total, kfb at each “corner" stitch, bind off.
Pick up sleeve sts, and close to the round. Knit in St st. On 2nd rd pick up 2 sts through back loop in the loose thread where you joined in the round. Decrease the extra sts again in the next rd (k2tog, ssk together with the sleeve sts on either side). After 18 rds, switch to cream colour and knit 4 rds of garter st before binding off. Repeat for second sleeve.
Trousers
CO 40 sts in red, distributing 10 sts each on 4 needles, join in the round and purl 1 rd. Split for legs, putting the sts from 2 needles on scrap yarn. Redistribute the 20 sts from the other two needles onto three and join in the round. In 2nd rd pick up two sts in the loose yarn from the joining. Knit 32 rds, then switch to cream yarn. Knit 5 rds of garter stitch, bind off. Repeat for 2"d leg, except pick up two sts on the 1st round in the crotch. Make 2 lengths of 2 stitch i-cord of approx. 11 cm length and fasten to trousers as suspenders. Weave in all the ends.
Abbreviations
CO: cast on BO: bind off k: knit p: purl st(s): stitch(es) rd(s): round(s) r: row pm: place marker slm: slip marker RS: right side WS: wrong side St st: Stockinette stitch kfb: knit front and back; increase mlr: make one right; lift loop be tween stitches from the back, knit into front of loop; increase mll: make one left; lift loop be tween stitches from the front, knit into back of loop; increase k2tog: knit 2 together; decrease p2tog: purl 2 together; decrease ssk: slip, slip, knit through back loop; decrease sl: slip stitch pwise: purlwise
Longjohns
Row 1 (WS) k3, pm, k3, pm, k6, pm, k3, pm, k3. Row 2 (RS) \* knit to 1 st before marker, kfb, slm, kfb, \* repeat 3 more times, knit to end. Row 3 (WS) and all wrong sides, purl Row 4 (RS) \* knit to 1 st before marker, kfb, slm, kfb, \* repeat 3 more times, knit to last st, kfb (only once, to create a little overlap for potential buttons.) Row 5 (WS) purl. Continue with the raglan increases (rows 2-3) until there are 17 sts for the sleeves and 20 sts for the front and back. Knit to 1st marker, put all the sts between the 1st and 2nd marker onto scrap yarn, knit to 3rd marker, put all the sts until the 4th marker onto scrap yarn, knit to end. On the 15th row of the body, knit to the middle 8 sts and bind them off for the flap, knit to last st. Redistributing the sts onto three needles, close the long johns in the front by k2tog the last st of the row with the 1st st of the next row. Knit 5 rows of St st (still in the flat).
On a spare needle, CO 11 sts for the flap and knit in St st for 8 rows. On the next RS row, when you come to the flap opening, knit the last st of the longjohns together with the 1st st of the flap (making sure to hold the RS out), knit across the flap, ssk the last st of the flap together with the edge st of the longjohns. Knit 2 rds in the round, then split the longjohns for the legs, putting half the sts (from the middle of the flap until the middle of the front) onto scrap yarn. Knit together the 1st and last st, when joining in the round and go ahead knitting the two legs separately. Knit for 32 rows. Bind off purlwise, to prevent rolling up. Pick up sleeve sts and pick up one st under the arm, to prevent a hole from forming and knit together with the first st of the first needle. On the next round, k2tog the two sts on either side of the join again, 15 sts remain. Knit for 22 rounds, then bind off purlwise. Optionally pick up the sts along the opening along the back and knit three rows of garter st (in red) before binding off.
Thp 3
Boots
@ Frankie Brown, reprinted with permission Cuff: Using cream yarn cast on 18 sts, divide evenly between three needles and close for knitting in the round. Work 5 rds in garter stitch (alternate knit and purl rounds).
Leg:
Change to gray yarn and knit 7 rds.
Heel Flap:
This is worked back and forth on half the sts only. Leave the other 9 sts on a spare needle. Work 10 rows in stockinette st.
Turn Heel:
Row 1: sl 1 pwise, k4, ssk, kl, turn. Row 2: sl 1 pwise, p2, p2tog, pl, turn. Row 3: sl 1 pwise, k3, ssk. Row 4: sl 1 pwise, p3, p2tog (5 sts).
Instep:
The stitches are divided between four needles like this: Needle 1: k5. Needle 2: Pick up and k5 along side of heel flap, k1 from leg sts. Needle 3: k7. Needle 4: kl, pick up and k5 along other side of heel flap (24 sts). Now shape the instep by working the following round three times: Needle 1: knit. Needle 2: k to last 2 sts, k2tog. Needle 3: knit. Needle 4: ssk, k to end (18 sts in the end). Foot: Divide the sts between three needles and knit 8 rds. Toes: Needle 1: ssk, k4. Needle 2: k1, k2tog, ssk, k1. Needle 3: k4, k2tog. (14 sts). Knit one round without shaping. Needle l: ssk, k3. Needle 2: k2tog, ssk. Needle 3: k3, k2tog. (10 sts). Knit one more round without shaping. Graft the toes together and weave in the ends. Knit the 2nd boot the same way.
Hat
Cast on 24 sts in cream, distribute over 4 needles and close to k in the round. K 5 rds of garter st in cream, starting with a purl rd. After the 5th rd, switch to red and continue in St st. After 6 rds start decreasing: k2tog the last two sts on each needle (20 sts). K 2 rds, then repeat the decreases again (16 sts). K 2 rds, then repeat decreases again (12 sts). K 3 rds, then repeat decreases again (8 sts). K 2 rds, then cut yarn and thread through remaining sts and secure on the inside. Optionally, rather than securing the red yarn tail on the inside, bunch it up and wrap it repeatedly with the cream yarn to create a bobble at the top, then fasten the tread on the inside
Scarf
Cast on 7 sts in green and k garter st until you reach the length you want the scarf to have. Bind off. Optionally, use a small crochet hook to pull through short pieces of red and white yarn to make tassels.
Socks
The socks are knit adapting the boot pattern. Cast on 15 sts. Purl one row, then k for 16 rows. K the heel flap over 8 sts for 8 rows (in stockinette), leaving the other 7 sts on a spare needle.
Turn the Heel:
Row l: sl 1 pwise, k3, ssk, kl, turn. Row 2: sl 1 pwise, pl, p2tog, pl, turn. Row 3: sl 1 pwise, k2, ssk. Row 4: sl 1 pwise, pl, p2tog, p1 (4 sts).
Instep:
The stitches are divided between four needles like this: Needle 1: k5. Needle 2: pick up and k 5 sts along side of heel flap, k1 from leg sts. Needle 3: k5. Needle 4: k1, pick up and k 4 sts along other side of heel flap (20 sts). Now shape the instep by working the following round three times: Needle I: knit. Needle 2: knit to last 2 sts, k2tog. Needle 3: knit. Needle 4: ssk, k to end (14 sts) remain.
Foot:
Divide the stitches between three needles (leaving the top of the foot sts and 1 st on either side on the same needle) and k 8 rds, finish by knitting needle holding the st for the top of the foot.
Toes:
Ssk, k3, k2tog, ssk, k3, k2tog (10 st remain). Knit 1 rd. Ssk, k1, k2tog, ssk, k1, k2tog (6 sts remain). Break yarn. Graft the toes together and weave in the ends. Repeat for the 2nd sock.
Mittens
CO 12 sts with cream, leaving a 20 cm tail (for the cord later), distribute evenly over three needles and close for knitting in the round. Knit 1xl rib for 1 rd in cream. Knit 4 rds of 1x1 rib in red (leave a 20 cm tail, for the cord) Knit 2 rds in St st. Knit 4, mlr kl mll k7. Put the mlr, k and mll stitches on a stitch marker (for the thumb), keep knitting the remaining 11 sts in St st in the round. In the 2nd rd m1 stitch through backward loop where the thumb stitches were parked (12 sts). Knit 7 rds St st. K2, k2tog, ssk, k2, k2tog, ssk. K2tog, ssk, k2tog, ssk. Pull the end through all loops and secure on the inside of the mitten (a knot is fine for once).
Put the 3 sts for thumb back on needle, knit 4 rds of i-cord, cut thread and loop through the sts. Pull through the thumb and use to potentially close the hole that might have opened at the join. Weave in the thread (a knot is fine, since it will be hidden inside the mitten). Knit the second mitten in the same way. With the cream and red tails from the cast on make a cord for each mitten by making alternating half knots like for a friendship bracelet. When you get close to the end of the tails knot the two cords together and you'redone. String up your laundry line and attach the clothes, then sit back and admire your garland.
Pattern @ Eleonore von Castelmur; with the exception of the Boots @ Frankie Brown, reprinted with permission; Images Alexandra Feo The pattern is for unlimited personal use. Do not reproduce or sell the pattern. Do not sell items that are knitted from this pattern except for charity
