The Knitter - UK (2019-10)

CAROLINE BIRKETT

Woodruff

PATTERN NOTES
The socks are worked toe-up with an
afterthought heel. Setting the afterthought
heel on round 13 of the pattern makes it
p o s si bl e to c omm e n c e t h e l a c e on t h e b a c k
of the leg at the beginning of a new repeat

• but if necessary for a good fit, mark heel
  where needed and begin lace on back of leg
  partway through a repeat.

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES
JUDY’S MAGIC CAST ON
Note: watch Judy Becker demonstrating
this method at http://bit.ly/judymagicco
or read her Masterclass in Issue 33.

1. Twist yarn around top needle. This
   counts as the first stitch cast on.


2. Hold two needles together with the
   needle that the yarn is attached at the top.
   This will be ndl 2 and the lower needle will
   be ndl 1.


3. In your other hand, hold the yarn so that
   the tail goes over your index finger and the
   yarn that leads to the ball goes over your
   thumb to create a triangle shape.


4. Bring both needles over the strand of
   ya r n on you r f i n ge r, pi c k i n g it up s o it
   wraps below ndl 1 and then between the
   t wo n e e d l e s. P u l l t h e lo op s o it i s
   comfortably tight around the needle.

This is one stitch cast on to ndl 1.

5. Bring both needles down to the strand
   of ya r n on you r t hu m b s o t h at it p a s s e s
   between the two needles then over and
   a rou n d n d l 2. P u l l t h e lo op s o it i s
   comfortably tight around the needle.
   This is one stitch cast on to ndl 2.
   There are now two sts on ndl 2: the stitch
   you just cast on plus the anchor loop.
   The top yarn strand always wraps around
   ndl 1 (the bottom needle), and the bottom
   yarn strand always wraps around ndl 2
   (the top needle).
   Re p e at s te p 4 to c a s t on a s e c on d s t itc h to
   ndl 1 by taking the bottom needle around
   the top yarn.
   Re p e at s te p 5 to c a s t on a t h i rd s t itc h to n d l
   2 by bringing the top needle around bottom
   yarn.
   Continue repeating steps 4 and 5,
   alternating between ndl 1 and ndl 2, until
   you have cast on the number of sts you
   need, ending with step 4 so you have the
   s a m e nu m b e r of s t s on e a c h n e e d l e. Tw i s t
   the yarn tail and working yarn to anchor
   the final stitch.
   Work first round as follows: Let go of the
   yarn tail and let it hang. Rotate the needles
   so that ndl 1 is at the top. If using a circular
   needle, pull ndl 2 to the right until the sts
   lie on the cable; if using DPNs you may
   want to knit the second half of the sts from
   ndl 1 onto another DPN. Pick up the
   working yarn with the yarn tail between
   the working yarn and the needle. Knit the
   row of sts from ndl 1 and a row of sts will
   appear between the needles.
   Rotate work so that the working yarn is on
   the right and ndl 2 is at the top. Knit the row

of sts from ndl 2 to complete the first rnd.

Using this method of wrapping, the sts

should be correctly orientated but if any of

the cast-on loops are twisted, this can be

corrected on the first round by knitting

them through the back of the loop.

INVISIBLE STRETCHY CAST-OFF METHOD

Note: for a video tutorial on this method,

visit http://bit.ly/stretchyibo

Cut yarn leaving a 30cm tail, and thread

tail onto a tapestry needle.

Identify sts 1, 2, 3, and 4, the first 4 sts of the

round, starting at the needle tip. These

numbers stay the same until you finish the

repeat.

Set-up

1. Pass yarn pwise into stitch 1 but leave on
   needle.


2. Come through from the back to the front,
   between sts 1 and 2 and pass yarn kwise
   into stitch 2.
   Cast-off repeat


3. Pa s s ya r n k w i s e i nto s t itc h 1, re m ove
   stitch from needle.


4. Pa s s ya r n pw i s e i nto s t itc h 3.


5. Pa s s ya r n pw i s e i nto s t itc h 2, re m ove
   stitch from needle.


6. Come through from the back to the
   front, between sts 3 and 4 and pass yarn
   knitwise into stitch 4.
   Repeat these 4 steps until all sts are cast off.

To create a neat join between the end and

the beginning of the round, continue

stitching into the appropriate cast-off

stitch following the steps above until all sts

are off the needle.

WORKED FROM the toe up, these socks
by Caroline Birkett feature a charming
floral lace pattern. The stitch pattern
is complemented by the speckled
h a n d- dye d ya r n f rom Q i n g Fi bre s,
called Merino Singles.

SIZE

M L^

TO FIT

FOOT

CIRCUMFERENCE

20-22 22-24 cm

7¾-8¾ 8¾-9½ in

ACTUAL

FOOT

CIRCUMFERENCE

19 22 cm

7½ 8¾ in

Length of leg and foot is adjustable in pattern.

YARN

Qing Fibre Merino Singles (4ply weight; 100%

merino wool, 366m/400yds per 100g skein)

Nougat; 1 x 100g skein

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES

Set of 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) double-pointed

needles (DPNs), or long circular needles if

using Magic Loop method

Stitch markers

50cm of smooth waste yarn in contrast colour

Tapestry needle

TENSION

26 sts and 36 rnds to 10cm over st st using

3.75mm needles

YARN STOCKISTS

Qing Fibre http://www.qingfibre.com

Also available from Loop 020 7288 1160

http://www.loopknittingshop.com

For general abbreviations, see p89

The Knitter 30 Issue 143 Subscribe now at TheYarnLoop.com