Knitting All Sides Together Peacefully: A Patriotic Sock Pattern for Unity and Mindfulness During Election Season

Volume 1, Issue 1 May 24. 2016 By Alice Curtis

Knitting All Sides Together Peacefully

Inside this issue:

No matter how you feel about this election cycle, we can all agree it will be an historic year with no one knowing what the final results will be. Opinions are running high and common ground will be hard to find. It's important to remember that this is all temporary and will be over in a few months. You have to admit it's a nail-biter this year but knitting is a great way to occupy your mind and hands. The patriotic theme of this sock is designed to be appealing to all Americans (and can easily be adapted to many other flag colors) and reminds us that whether you consider yourself Left, Right or Center, we are all one, together. WHATYOU'LLNEED Size Woman S/M/L Finished Measurements: Circumference 7 % (8 % ,9 %) unstretched Foot Length 9 (9 % , 10)" - adjust length as needed. Yarn: FatCatKnits Tough Sock Minis Yarn kit, 75/25% Merino wool/nylon, 2 skeins Antique Navy, 1 skein Antique Red, 1 skein Antique White, 92 yds/20 gr each. Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge

Other Supplies: Stitch markers, stitch holder, yarn needle, US F/ (3.75 mm) crochet hook Gauge: 32 stitches and 40 rows = 4"in stockinette stitch. (Note: Mosaic stitch will draw in slightly)

Working Mosaics:

\* Mosaic patterns are knitted with only one color at a time; changing at the beginning of each right side row. \* The chart shows only one row representing one RS row and one WS row. \* When knitting with the Red yarn, slip the White stitches, and vice versa.

Caesar's Check Mosaic Pattern Chart is worked over center 25 stitches

Right Sock

CUFF

Same for both right and left socks: Cast on 65 (73, 81) stitches loosely with Red. Row 1 (RS): Knit across. Row 2 (WS): Slip 1, purl across to last stitch, slip 1. Cut Red. Attach White. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 twice. Cut White. Attach Navy. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 twice. LEG Pattern setup Row 1: Continuing with Navy, k4 (6, 8), join White and k25, join second ball of Navy and k36 (42, 48) to end of row. 65 (73, 81) stitches. Row 2: Slip 1, p35 (41, 47), p25 White, p3 (5, 7) Navy and slip last stitch. Row 3: K4 (6, 8), join Red and begin Caesar's Check Mosaic Pattern over next 25 stitches, k36 (42, 48) Navy to finish row. Continue even, following chart or instructions for mosaic pattern for two full repeats and then work Rows 1-10 once more.

HEEL

Heel Setup: K4 (6, 8), work Row 11 of mosaic pattern, k4 (6, 8); place these 33 (37, 41) stitches on a stitch holder or waste yarn (or simply hold unworked on the needle). Remaining 32 (36, 40) stitches are heel flap stitches. Row 1 (RS): K32 (36, 40). Row 2 (WS): Slip 1, p30 (34, 38) slip 1. Working flap stitches only, repeat Rows 1 and 2 15 (17, 19) more times. 32 (36, 40) heel flap rows.

HEEL TURN

Row 1 (RS): Slip 1, k18 (20, 22), ssk, k1, turn, leaving 10 (12, 14) stitches unworked. Row 2 (WS): Slip 1, p7, p2tog, p1, turn, leaving 10 (12, 14) stitches unworked. Row 3: Slip 1, knit to 1 stitch before gap formed on previous row, ssk, kl, turn. Row 4: Slip 1, purl to 1 stitch before gap formed on previous row, p2tog, pl, turn. Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until all heel stitches have been worked, ending with a WS row. 20 (22, 24) heel stitches remain.

GUSSET

Row 1: Slip 1, k19 (21, 23), pick up and knit 16 (18, 20) stitches along the side of the heel flap. 36 (40, 44) stitches. Row 2: Slip 1, purl back to top of heel flap. Pick up and purl 16 (18, 20) stitches along the side of the heel flap, place marker. Move For a neat seam, slip as if to purl the first and last stitches on every Ws row. the 33 (37, 41) unworked stitches back onto the needle and work in established pattern to end, slipping last stitch. 85 (95,105) stitches. Row 3: Work in pattern to marker, k1, ssk, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. 83 (93, 103) stitches. Row 4: Slip 1, purl to marker, work in pattern to 1 stitch before end, slip 1. Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until 65 (73, 81) stitches remain. Remove marker.

Caesar's Check Mosaic pattern- written out

Row 1: K9 Red, [slip 1, k1 Red] 3 times, slip 1, k9 Red. Row 2: P9 Red, [slip 1, p1 Red] 3 times, slip 1, p9 Red. Row 3: K10 White, [slip 1, K1 White] 3 times, k9 White. Row 4: P10 White, [slip 1, p1 White] 3 times, p9 White. Rows 5 and 6: Repeat Rows 1 and 2. Rows 7 and 8: Repeat Rows 3 and 4. Rows 9 and 10: Repeat Rows 1 and 2. Row 11: K25 white. Row 12: P25 white. Row 13: [K1 Red, slip 1] 4 times, k9 Red, [slip 1, k1 Red] 4 times. Row 14: [P1 Red, slip 1] 4 times, p9 Red, [slip 1, K1 Red] 4 times. Row 15: K2 White, [slip 1, k1 White] 3 times, k9 White, [k1 White, slip 1] 3 times, k2 White. Row 16: P2 White, [slip 1, p1 White] 3 times, p9 White, [k1 White, slip 1] 3 times, k2 White. Rows 17 and 18: Repeat Rows 13 and 14. Rows 19 and 20: Repeat Rows 15 and 16. Rows 21 and 22: Repeat Rows 13 and 14. Rows 23 and 24: Repeat Rows 11 and 12.

Volume 1, lssue 1

FOOT

Row 2: Slip 1, p58 (66, 74), slip 1. the length of sock and cut. Keeping stitches even continue working in pattern until foot measures 7" or about 2" shorter than required length. Try to end the mosaic pattern on Row 12 or 24 (all White) and switch over to solid Navy to make remaining length needed, decreasing 1 stitch on top of toe — 64 (72, 80) stitches.

WEDGETOE

Sample has optional star motif which may be worked as intarsia or duplicate stitched on when finished knitting but before closing the seam. Place star beginning on the first row of toe decreases and centered on toe stitches. Toe Setup Row 1 (RS): K1, ssk, k26 (30, 34), k2tog, k1, place marker, k1, ssk, K26 (30, 34), k2tog, k1. 60 (68, 76) stitches. Row 3: K1, ssk, knit to 3 stitches before marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, K1, ssk, knit to 3 stitches before end, k2tog, k1. Row 4: Slip 1, purl to last stitch, slip 1. Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until decreased to 32 (36, 40) stitches ending on RS Row 3. Next WS row: Slip 1, p2tog, purl to 3 before marker, ssptbl, pl, slip marker, pl, p2tog, purl to 3 stitches before end, ssptbl, slip 1. Continue decreasing on RS and WS rows until decreased to16 stitches.Workto center, remove marker, fold tip of sock in half so tips of needles are side by side right sides together and work a 3-needle bind off to close. Alternatively, fold with wrong sides together and close tip with Kitchener Stitch. Measure the yarn out to about five times

SEAM

Hold the sock with wrong sides together. Match up the slipped edge stitches and pin in place. Using the crochet hook and the tail from toe, work a crochet slip stitch knitwise from the front into each corresponding set of stitches to close the seam.

Left Sock

CUFF

GUSSET

GLOSSARY

Work the same as for Right Sock.

LEG

Pattern setup Row 1: Continuing with Navy, knit 36 (42, 48), join White and knit 25, join second ball of Navy and k4 (6, 8) to end of row. 65 (73, 81) stitches. Row 2: Slip 1, p3 (5, 7), p25 White, p35 (41, 47) Navy and slip last stitch. Row 3: Knit 36 (42, 48), join Red and begin Caesar's Check Mosaic Pattern over next 25 stitches, k4 (6, 8) Navy to finish row. Continue even, following chart or instructions for mosaic pattern for two full repeats and then work Rows 1-10 once more.

HEEL

Row 1 (RS): K32 (36, 40). Place remaining 33 (37,41) stitches on a stitch holder or waste yarn (or simply hold unworked on the needle). Row 2 (WS): Slip 1, p30 (34, 38) slip 1. Working flap stitches only, repeat Rows 1 and 2 15 (17,19) more times. 32 (36,40) heel flap rows.

HEEL TURN

Complete Flap and Heel Turn as for Right Sock. Row 1: Slip 1, k19 (21, 23), pick up and knit 16 (18, 20) stitches along the side of the heel flap, place marker. Move the 33 (37, 41) unworked stitches back onto the needle and work Row 11 of mosaic pattern, knit 4 (6, 8). 69 (77, 85) stitches. Row 2: Slip 1, purl back to top of heel flap. Pick up and purl 16 (18, 20) stitches along the side of the heel flap, slipping last stitch. 85 (95, 105) stitches. Row 3: Slip 1, ssk, knit to 3 stitches before marker, k2tog, k1, work in established pattern to end. 83 (93,103) stitches. Row 4: Slip 1, work in pattern to marker, purl to 1 stitch before end, slip 1. Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until 65 (73, 81) stitches remain. FOOT&WEDGETOE Continue even and work foot as for Right Sock.

SEAM

Hold the sock with wrong sides together. Match up the slipped edge stitches and pin in place. Using the crochet hook and the tail from toe, work a crochet slip stitch purlwise from the back into each corresponding set of stitches to close the seam. Slip- Move the next stitch in a purlwise manner from the left needle to the right needle. K2tog- Decrease. Knit 2 stitches together as one. Ssk- Decrease. Slip 2 stitches knitwise one at a time, then insert left needle into the front of both and knit together as one. P2tog- Decrease. Purl 2 stitches together as one. Ssptbl- Decrease. Slip 2 stiches knitwise one at a time, slip both back to left needle, then insert right needle Crocheted Slip Stitch Seam- Using crochet hook, insert hook into matching stitch set and pull a loop through. Pull another loop through next set of stitches and the loop on the hook. Repeat to last stitch and pull tail through and neatly finish off.

"Join us for our summertime election-watch KAL on the Knit Your Socks on Straight group on Ravelry." Taking sign ups Now! Phone: 315-868-8586 E-mail: alicecurtis@pincushionpatch.com On Ravelry as pincushionpatch When it all unravels, Just Knit!

To Order Your Custom Hand Dyed Yarn Kits Go To:

http://stores.fatcatknits.com/left-right-and-center-mini-skein-set-tough-sock/

Ginny and I have worked together to create just the right colorways for this patriotic pattern. They come in packs of 4 mini skeins with options to order extras for larger sizes. While you're at the website don't miss all the amazing fibers and hand dyed yarns available. The quality is premium and a pure pleasure to spin and knit with. Per set www.fatcatknits.com Questions? Contact Ginny at FatCatKnits@gmail.com