Stranded for Christmas: Six Festive Knitting Patterns Including Hats, Mittens, and Stockings

STRANDED for CHRISTMAS!O

http.//'Www.ravelry.com/designers/deborah-tomasello

STRANDEDforCHRISTMAS!

I rarely—almost never—receive hand-knitted items for Christmas. I am sure this is because I am a knitter myself, and knitters who are givers of such gifts opt to give them to non-knitters. This is sad. People (and I am a people!) are thrilled to receive uniquely hand-crafted and thoughtful gifts, like stranded hand-knit socks, hats and mitts. Knitted colorwork items such as these are treasured long after their practical usage has worn out, if it ever does. Far more valuable than mere accessories to protect against the cold of winter, these can be precious works of art. Colorwork is fascinating. It has a long history, meaning its appeal has stood the test of time. And, it is great fun to knit, watching the design emerge as you work. Little wonder that so many of us stranded knitters get completely, hopelessly, and blissfully hooked on colorwork. We look for opportunities, reasons and giftees to justify purchasing just one more design and just a little more must-have wool for a particular project. Among enablers to the stranded addiction, I am foremost. And, 1 am happy to feed your habit, here, with six specifically holiday patterns. I give you the Let it Snow hat, Deck the Halls hat and socks, Stranded Stockings, Holiday Mitts, and Christmas Fair Isle Earrings . Better get stranding; Christmas is just around the corner!

BY WAY Of REVIEW

If you are new to the wonderful world of colorwork, welcome! I am including links to my YouTube tutorials. These will help you with the basics. And, to re-state my oft spoke mantra: stranded knitting is easier than you think. You need only to tackle a couple tricks. And, to my mind, the most important of these is LEO. When carrying yarn across the back, remember to “float" Loosely, Evenly, and Often. If you have stranded in the past, a review of my brief YouTube tutorials might serve as a quick review. Have a look: VIDEO I: Decision-Making Time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dhm2- bBRp8 In my first eBook, STRANDED KNITTING: It's Easier Than You Think, I wrote the following note, which bears repeating here: Remember, the world won't implode, explode or self-destruct in any other manner if you make a mistake. “Ehh, nobody will ever see it,” is among my most frequently uttered sentences. Mistakes are inevitable, always fixable, and sometimes they're just charming. Knitting is joy. It has taught me how to live better, to be at peace with my imperfections, and to enjoy the process. So, off you go, Dear Friend! There is a world of color and joy waiting for you. And there are eager, experienced hands ready to help you keep going! Choose a pattern, and let's get started!

LET IT SNOW!

Size: Adult (Male and Female) 21''- 23" Materials: 1 ball each KnitPicks Palette, Celestial and. White and small amounts ofTomato andBlack. One 16" #3 circular needle, four #3 DPNs (or size needed to obtain gauge), stitch marker, and tapestry needle Gauge: 32 stitches and 32 rounds = 4" using #3 needles. Abbreviations: K2TOG = Knit two stitches together. SSK = Slip one stitch, then slip the next. Insert left needle into the front loops of the slipped stitches and knit them together from this position . D = Duplicate stitch NOTE: For areas with long stretches of same color, use the technique I explain in this video tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYxX7MrpJ-Q Instructions: With circular needle, CO 136 sts using Celestial. Join to work in round, placing stitch marker and being careful not to twist stitches. Knit six rounds corrugated rib (see CHART A) using White for knit sts and Celestia/for purl Ssts. Increase round: (round 1 of CHART B) Using Celestial, inc to 168 sts (knit 4 sts, then, inc every 4th st evenly to last 4 sts. Knit last 4 sts). Follow CHART B Rounds 1-29 (7 repeats per round). Follow CHART B Rounds 30-42(6 repeats per round) Follow CHART B Rounds 43-66, 7 repeats per round, decreasing as indicated and switching to DPNs when necessary. (Each dec round has 2 decreases next to each other; k2tog for first dec at beginning of chart, and ssk for second each time at end of chart.) After round 66, with 14 sts on the needles, k2tog around. 7 sts remain. Knit last seven sts for 5 rounds; cut yarn leaving a tail several inches long. Move all sts from needles to tapestry needle, and pull tightly. Secure from the inside. Finishing: Duplicate st in Tomato for scarf, as indicated. Add and fray fringe. Tie and weave in or trim all color change ends at beginning and ends of rounds. Wash and block to fit.

CHART A

Knit sts using White, and purl sts using Celestial. Dash in square indicates a purl st.

CHART B St -with a dot= duplicate st after hat is knitted. Red lines = fringe...fray a little

288706482 0987654321 NNGNNNNDN

CHRISTMAS MITTS

by Deborah Tomasello

ed and edited by Emma Hewitt Cover photo: Emma Hewit: http://www.ravelry.com/stores/deborah-tomasello-designs Sizes -Woman's Medium Materials: 1 ball each of KnitPicks Palette: Serrano and /vy. Five #3 DPNs (or size needed to obtain gauge), and tapestry needle Gauge: 32 stitches and 32 rounds = 4” using #3 needles. Abbreviations: K2TOG: Knit 2 stitches together M1: Insert the left needle from front to back into the horizontal strand between the two stitches. Knit the stitch through the back loop.

MITTENS: Make 2

With DPNs, CO 56 sts using Ivy. Knit 2x2 rib for 2.5" or desired cuff length. Then follow CHART A through round 13 To increase for thumb: Round 14: m1, k1, m1, continue to k sts as shown around Round 15: knit all sts according to chart Round 16: m1, k3, m1, continue to k sts as shown around Round 17: knit all sts around according to chart Round 18: m1, k5, m1, continue to k sts as shown around Round 19: knit all sts around according to chart Round 20: m1, k7, m1, continue to k sts as shown around Round 21: knit all sts around according to chart Round 22: m1, k9, m1, continue to k sts as shown around Round 23: knit all sts around according to chart Round 24: m1, k11, m1, continue to k sts as shown around Round 25: knit all sts around according to chart Round 26: m1, k13, m1, continue to k sts as shown around Round 27: knit all sts around according to chart Round 28: m1, k15, m1, continue to k sts as shown around Round 29: knit all sts around according to chart Round 30: m1, k17, m1, continue to k sts as shown around Round 31: knit all sts around according to chart Round 32: m1, k19, m1, continue to k sts as shown around Round 33: knit all sts around according to chart Round 34: Move 21 thumb sts before marker to fifth DPN ( as thumb later. Follow chart around with 56 stitches on nee Rounds 36-50: Knit chart. Knit 2x2 rib in Ivyfor 6 rounds. BO.

Thumb:

Pick up 3 sts from body of mitten, knit 21sts on 5th DPN (or waste yarn) for a total of 24thumb sts, join. Knit 2x2 rib for 10-12 rounds in Ivy. BO. Mitten Cap: CO 60 sts in /vy. Do several rounds of ribbing to match top of mitt Follow Chart B for 21 rounds. 12 sts left on needles. K2TOG around. 6 sts remain. Move all 6 sts from needles to tapestry needle, and pull tightly. Secure from the inside.

Pocket:

Pick up 30sts from the back of the mitten approx 5" up from cast on. Match sts to appropriate round on chart, and continue to knit pattern in stockinette st (k on front side, purl on back), back and forth 20 rows, taking care to keep all floats on the inside, and stopping short of ribbing rounds on main mitt. \*\* I recommend drawing a square around sts on chart that will comprise the pocket. This will make it easier to keep to the pattern when working back and forth. Break off Serrano and k5 rows of 2x2 rib in main color.Bo.Sewupsides.

Finishing: Attach mitten cap to mitten on pocket side at base of ribbing. Tie and trim all yarn ends. Wash and block.

CHART A

Deck the Halls: The Hato by Deborah Tomasello

Www.PatchworksByDebi.com

Size: Adult and Teen 21"- 23" circumference Child 18"——20" circumference Materials: 1 ball each of KnitPicks Palette: Oyster Heather, Serrano, Ivy and Spearmint. One 16” #3 circular needle, four #3 DPNs (or size needed to obtain gauge), stitch marker, and tapestry needle Gauge: 32 stitches and 32 rounds = 4" using #3 needles. Abbreviations: K2TOG = Knit two stitches together. SSK = Slip one stitch, then slip the next. Insert left needle into the front loops of the slipped stitches and knit them together from this position. Instructions for adult/teen hat: With circular needle, CO 136 sts using Ivy. Join to work in round, placing stitch marker and being careful not to twist stitches. Knit six rounds corrugated rib (see CHART A) using Spearmint for knit sts and Ivy for purl sts. Increase round (round 1 of CHART B): Using Ivy, inc evenly to 168 sts: k4, (knit 4 make 1 around to last 4 sts), k4. Follow CHART B (7 repeats per round) for 67 rounds, decreasing as indicated and switching to DPNs when necessary. (Each dec round has 2 decreases next to each other; k2tog for first dec at beginning of dec round and ssk for second each time at the end of each dec round.) After round 67, with 14 sts on the needles, k2tog around. 7 sts remain. Knit last seven sts for 5 rounds; cut yarn leaving a tail several inches long. Move all sts from needles to tapestry needle, and pull tightly. Secure from the inside. inishing: Tie and weave in or trim all color change ends. Wash and block to fit. Instructions for child's hat: With circular needle, CO 120 sts using Ivy. Join to work in round, placing stitch marker and being careful not to twist stitches. Knit six rounds corrugated rib (see CHART A) using Spearmint for knit sts and Ivy for purl sts. Increase round (round 1 of CHART B): Using Oyster Heather, inc to 144 sts (inc every 5" st evenly). Beginning with round 17 of CHART B, follow CHART B (6 repeats per round) through round 67, decreasing as indicated and switching to DPNs when necessary. (Each dec round has 2 decreases next to each other; k2tog for first dec at beginning of dec round and ssk for second each time at the end of each dec round.) After round 67, with 12 sts on the needles, k2tog around. 6 sts remain. Knit last six sts for 5 rounds; cut yarn leaving a tail several inches long. Move all sts from needles to tapestry needle, and pull tightly. Secure from the inside. Finishing: Tie and weave in or trim all color change ends. Wash and block to fi

CHART A

Use Spearmint for knit sts and Ivy for purl sts. Dash in st means purl.

Holly Socks ?by Deborah Tomasello

www.PatchworksByDebi.com

Featuring Cat Bordhi's innovative, new Sweet Tomato Heel!

Size: Women's Medium-Large Men's Medium -Large Child's Small-Medium Materials: 1 ball each of KnitPicks Palette: Forest Heather, Spearmint, Serrano and Oyster Heather. One long circular needle, two circular needles, or 5 DPNs, size#3 or #4 or whatever size gives you the correct gauge working in the round; two stitch markers; tapestry needle Gauge: 32 stitches and 32 rounds = 4" Abbreviations: K2TOG= knit 2 stitches together SSK= slip one stitch, then slip the next. Insert left needle into the front loops of the slipped stitches and knit them together from this position Instructions: Socks are worked top-down.

LEG: Women's {Men's, Child's} sock

With circular needle or DPNs, CO 60sts {for men's CO 72sts, Child 48 sts} using Forest Heather (16sts on first 3DPNs and 12sts on 4th) {men's 20, 20, 16 and 16, Child's 12, 12, 12, and 12}. Join to work in round, placing marker and being careful not to twist stitches. Knit 12 rounds 2x2 rib. Follow CHART A (5 repeats per round {men's, 5 repeats per round, Child's 4 repeats ↓), for a total of 54 rounds, or for as long as you want leg to be. Rearrange sts on this round as you go, setting up for the heel as follows: For women's sock: Heel will be worked on needle's 1 and 4, over 32 sts. K16 sts on needle 1. K 14 sts on needle 2, moving last 2 sts to needle 3. K 14 sts on needle 3, moving last 4 sts to needle 4. K 16 sts on needle 4. Needles 2 and 3 have 28 sts, comprising the instep sts. For men's sock: Heel will be worked on 48 sts. knit 20 sts on needle 1 plus 4 sts from needle 2. Needle 1 now has 24 sts. Knit 16 sts left on needle 2. Knit 8 sts on needle 3. Move last 8 sts on needle 3 to needle 4 and knit these with the 16 sts on needle 4 for a total of 24 sts on needle 4. For child's sock: Heel will be worked on 32 sts. Knit 12 sts on needle 1 plus 4 sts from needle 2. Knit 8 sts left on needle 2. Knit 8 sts on needle 3. Move last 4 sts on needle 3 to needle 4. Nit those 4 sts plus the 12 sts on needle 4 for a total of 16 sts on needle 4. Woman's sock: Men's sock: Needle 1 has 16 sts Needle 1 has 24 sts Child's sock: Needle 2 has 14 sts Needle 2 has 16 sts Needle 1 has 16 sts Needle 3 has 14 sts Needle 3 has 8 sts Needle 2 has 8 sts Needle 4 has 16 sts Needle 4 has 24 sts Needle 3 has 8 sts Needle 4 has 16 sts ats every 3 or 4 sts. on socks so toes don't get caught when putting on the soc

HEEL: Women's, Men's, and Child's sock

Women's Sock:

Once you understand Cat Bordhi's STH, proceed with sock. Follow Cat Bordhi's heel instructions, knitting heel with Ivy. Work three wedges on the 32 sts. Work wedges leaving 7 stitch pairs on each side. When knitting across instep between wedges, continue following the chart and lining up stitches according to chart pattern. (You will likely have to attach yarns here and so will have several thread ends, at this point, to be trimmed and tied later.) Men's Sock: Same as instructions for Women's sock above, except the wedges willbe worked across 48 sts with 9 st pairs on each side, leaving 12 unpaired heel sts unpaired between pairs. Child's Sock: Same as instructions for Women's sock above, except wedges will be worked across 32 sts, with 6 st pairs on each side, leaving 8 sts unpaired between pairs.

FOOT:

Working all sts on circular needle or split evenly on DPNs as with leg, pick up pattern keeping true to chart Continue to work color pattern according to CHART A for foot as you did for leg, until total foot length minus 1.5 for toe is reached.

TOE: Woman's sock:

Using Forest Heather, decrease for toe as follows: Needle 1: K to last 3 sts of NEEDLE 1, K2TOG, K1 Needle 2: K1, SSK, knit until the last 3 stitches of NEEDLE 3, K2TOG, K1 Needle 4: K1, SSK, knit to end of round. Repeat this until there are 8 sts left on each needle. Shift to 2 needles, 16 sts each, one needle for top of sock and the other for sock bottom. Graft the remaining stitches together using Kitchener st, and weave in all ends. Finishing: Tie and weave in or trim all color change ends at beginning and ends of rounds. Wash and block to fit.

TOE: Men's sock:

Using Forest Heather, decrease for toe as follows: Move sts evenly to 2 needles: 36 sts each, with half sts on top needle and half on the bottom. Needle 1: K to last 3 sts, K2TOG, K1 Needle 2: K 1, SSK, knit until the last 3 sts, K2TOG, K1 Repeat this until there are 10 sts left on each needle. Jraft the remaining stitches together using Kitchener st, and weave in all ends Finishing: Tie and weave in or trim all color change ends at beginning and ends of rounds. Wash and block to fit. TOE: For Child's sock: Using Forest Heather, decrease for toe as follows: Move sts evenly to 2 needles: 24 sts each, with half sts on top needle and half on the bottom. Needle 1: K to last 3 sts, K2TOG, K1 Needle 2: K 1, SSK, knit until the last 3 sts, K2TOG, K1 Repeat this until there are 8 sts left on each needle. Graft the remaining stitches together using Kitchener st and weave in all ends. Finishing: Tie and weave in or trim all color change ends at beginning and ends of rounds. Wash and block to fit.

STRANDED CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS?by Deborah Tomasello

(FOUR STRANDED KNITTING PATTERN)

www.PatchworksByDebi.com

FEATURING CAT BORDHI'S INNOVATIVE, NEW SWEET TOMATOHEEL!

Materials: 1 ball each of KnitPicks Palette: Serrano, Tomato, and Macaw. 2 balls of Iuy.( If knitting 2 color version, 3 balls of the main color and 2 of the pattern color.) Two 16" #3 circular needles, four long #3 DPNs (or size needed to obtain gauge), stitch marker, and tapestry Needle 6mm beads, if desired and small crochet hook for attaching beads Gauge: 32 stitches and 32 rounds = 4" using #3 needles. Abbreviations: K2TOG = Knit two stitches together. SSK = Slip one stitch, then slip the next. Insert left needle into the front loops of the slipped stitches and knit them together from this position. Instructions: With circular needle, CO 168 sts using Iuy. Join to work in round, placing stitch marker and being careful not to twist stitches. Knit 4" corrugated rib. (Use Iuy for both knit and purl sts.) After ribbing, turn tube inside out so that floats are on the outside (will be hidden when cuff of stocking is folded down). LEG: Follow CHART A (3 repeats per round) for 48 rounds (or more if you want longer stocking). \*If you want to avoid four-stranded rounds, substitute beads for Iuy in the 4- color rounds-but don't! Watch my YouTube tutorial and discover how much fun it is to work with 4 strands: . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVczfDl18Oo After completing last round, cut yarns. NOTE: Remember to create floats every 3 or 4 sts. HEEL: READ CAT BORDHIS INSTRUCTIONS BELOW BEFORE CONTINUING. Heel will be knitted with Iuy, doubled.

Cat Bordhi's Sweet Tomato Heel:

No more gussets! This pattern features Cat Bordhi's ingenious Sweet Tomato Heel (STH). Cat Bordhi developed her STH over many months, working closely with over a hundred test knitters of all skill levels. During this time she distilled her illustrations and explanations again and again, until her test knitters and tech editor agreed the instructions were as clear and perfect as possible. In order to be sure that her work is not misrepresented, Cat asks that designers who wish to use her heel in their patterns send their readers directly to her free videos as well as to purchasing links for her eBook, Cat's Sweet Tomato Heel Socks (\$20), and to the eBook's individual patterns (\$6 each). She is encouraged that many knitters have been able to work from the free videos alone; if not, the eBook or individual patterns will give you the detailed instructions, illustrations, and explanations you need. Links: (Copy and paste into your web browser.) Video: Sweet Tomato Heel: http:/tinyurl.com/4x4xmp2 Video: Padded Sweet Tomato Heel: http://tinyurl.com/3dayxlt http://catbordhi.com/books/cats-sweet-tomato-heel-socks-? To purchase individual patterns: http:/catbordhi.com/category/patterns/socks/ Once you understand Cat Bordhi's STH, proceed with sock. After completing round 48, cut yarns and begin knitting with 2 Iuy yarns. \*\*Unlike Cat's socks, which are knitted on DPNs, you needn't change needles. Entire sock can be knitted on your circular needle. K19, slip 2 more from leg, to total 21 sts, Turn, slip 1 Iuy purlwise and k to marker. K19 Iuy and slip 2 more from leg. Turn Slip same 2 and 1 Iuy. You now have 42 sts established and can continue to work Sweet Tomato Heel back and forth, working instep sts per Bordhi's instructions. Follow Cat Bordhi's heel instructions. Work three wedges on the 42 sts. Work wedges leaving 8 stitch pairs on each side (io heel sts left unpaired between pairs). When knitting across instep between wedges, continue following the chart and lining up stitches accordingly. Between the first and second wedges, you will knit round 50, keeping the pattern flowing on the chart across instep. Between the second and third wedges, keep true to the pattern as written in the chart. (You will have to attach yarns here and so will have several thread ends, at this point, to be trimmed and tied later.)

FOOT:

Cut Ivy yarn, and Join yarns according to chart pattern. Continue to work pattern as with leg through round 100.

TOE:

Using Iuy, doubled, decrease for toe as follows: Knit 39 sts, K2TOG, K1, place marker, K1, SSK, K78 sts, K2TOG, K1, place marker, K1, SSK, K39 sts. Keep dec in this manner, until there are 72 sts left. Divide sts in half between two needles, with half on top and half on bottom. Graft the remaining stitches together using Kitchener st, and weave in all ends. Finishing: Using Iuy, knit 7 inch i-cord. Attach, for hanging stocking, where cuff ends and leg begins. Tie and weave in or trim all color change ends. Wash and block to fit.

CHART A

FOUR -STRANDED KNITTING INSTRUCTIONS

See my YouTube video tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVczfDl18Oo Look at the chart below.

When knitting round 1, you would just stranded knit as normal, knit one color while you float, mindful of keeping even tension, the other strand in back. The same is true for rounds 3,4,5, 8, 9, 11, and 12. Although some of these rounds involve carrying 3 strands rather than the usual 2, the repeats are close together, and as long as you keep your yarn sources from tangling, these rounds don't present a problem. Now notice rounds 2, 6 and 10. The chart shows 4 colors in each of these rounds. To keep from carrying all that yarn around, simply do the following. Knit the rounds once this way: knit the black st, slip the next 2 sts purlwise, knit the gold st, slip the next 2 sts purlwise and so forth all the way around. Now, KNIT THE SAME ROUND A SECOND TIME. Only this time, knit it this way: slip the black st you knitted the first time around, knit the green and cream sts you slipped last time around, slip the gold st previously knit and knit the cream and green sts previously slipped, and so forth. (It doesn't matter which 2 colors you choose to knit each time around...any two will work!) \*\*Remember that stranded knitting pulls work in, so you might want to go up one needle size for looser fit.

Navy Brass Heather Bluebell Celestial

55555551

Christmas Fair Isle EarringS? by Deborah Tomasello

http://www.ravelry.com/designers/deborah-tomasello Size: Approx. 1" x 1 14" Materials: Small amounts of KnitPicks Palette: Serrano and Macaw . Plus Ivy for option B. Two #1 DPNs or straight needles or #1 circular needle and tapestry needle Gauge: Not important. Instructions: CO 24sts using Serrano. Adding Macaw, K row 1 of CHART A reading right to left. Purl row 2 of chart, reading from left to right. Complete all 12 rows of chart. BO with Serrano, leaving long tail for sewing seams shut. Fold in half, closing all ends inside, stitch open sides closed with Serrano tail. Secure ends. Attach earring Wires.

CHART A

Instructions: CO 25sts using Serrano. Adding Macaw, K row 1 of CHART A reading right to left. Purl row 2 of chart, using Serrano and Ivy, reading from left to right. Complete all 13 rows of chart. BO with Serrano, leaving long tail for sewing seams shut. Fold in half, closing all ends inside, stitch open sides closed with Serrano tail. Secure ends. Attach earring wires.