Saturday, May 31, 2008

Cherry Bobble Socks - Free Pattern

After many weeks, the socks and the pattern are complete!


I'm pretty happy with them, although, as usual by the end, I was dying to move on to my next pair of socks...a cool diamond pattern! But, in the meantime, here is the pattern for Cherry Bobble Socks. Enjoy, and please let me know if there are any pattern corrections to be made, since these have only been "tested" by myself...

Cherry Bobble Socks

Size: Medium Ladies (7-8)

Materials:
2 circular US 2 needles (I used Addi 16" and 24" so I could easily tell them apart)
Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino Yarn 420 yds/4oz hank (Cherry color)
Tapestry Needle
Scissors

Gauge:
In SS: 15 sts and 22 rows = 2"
In Bobble Rib pattern: 28 sts across should equal approx. 2.25" (because the ribbing pulls in the sock).

To Make Bobble (MB): (p1, k1) twice into next st. Pass the first 3 sts, one at a time, over the 4th st.

Pattern:
CO 56. Divide onto two circular needles (28 on each). The first needle will become your heel needle; the second holds the instep stitches.

Cuff:
Round 1: *(p5, k3)* repeat** til end of round.
[Note: Here's what you'll end up with on each needle. Needle 1: (p5,k3) 3 times ending with p4. Needle 2: p1, k3, (p5,k3) 3 times. 28 sts on each needle.]
Repeat Round 1 until cuff measures 1" (or until desired cuff length)

Leg:
Round 2 (Begin Bobble Pattern): *(p2, MB, p2, k3)*. Repeat ** until end.
Round 3-5: *(p2, k1, p2, k3)*. Repeat ** until end.
Repeat Rounds 2-5 until leg is 7" or desired length. My leg had 16 bobble rounds before starting the heel.

Heel Flap (on Needle 1 only):
Row 1: Sl 1, k across. Turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, p across. Turn.
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 until Row 26 (i.e., ending with Sl 1, p across)

Turn Heel:
Row 1: Sl 1, k 15, k2tog, k1, leave rem sts unworked. Turn.
Row 2: Sl 1, p5, p2tog, p 1, leave rem sts unworked. Turn.
Row 3: Sl 1, k until 1st st before the gap. k2tog, k1. Turn.
Row 4: Sl1, p until 1st st before the gap. p2tog, p1. Turn.
Repeat Rows 3-4 until all sts are worked. 14 sts re on needle.

Gusset:
With Needle 1: Knit across heel sts, and with same needle, pick up 13 sts along side of heel flap and 1 st in corner.
With Needle 2: Continuing bobble pattern, knit across instep stitches on Needle 2. If you ended the leg with a Round 5, then this first gusset instep round should be a MB round. Continue bobble pattern on instep sts until toe.
With Needle 1: Pick up 1 st in corner of heel flap and 13 sts along side. Begin gusset decreases.

Round 1: K across to last 3 sts on Needle 1, k2tog, k1. Work instep sts in bobble pattern.
Round 2: On Needle 2, k 1 ssk, knit across. Work instep sts.
Repeat Rounds 1-2 until 56 sts remain on needles. (28 instep and 28 sole)

Foot:
Continue in bobble pattern for instep and Stockinette Stitch for sole until foot reaches desired length. (Toe rounds will add 1.25".) The last round will end after a MB round on the instep.

Toe (all in Stockinette Stitch):
Round 1 (rounds begin on Needle 1): K across to last 3 sts on Needle 1, k2tog, k1. On Needle 2: k1, SSK, K across to last 3 sts on Needle 2, k2tog, k1.
Round 2: k1, SSK, k around.
Repeat Rounds 1-2 until 16 sts remain on each needle.
Round 3: k1, SSK, K across to last 3 sts on Needle 1, k2tog, k1. On Needle 2: k1, SSK, K across to last 3 sts on Needle 2, k2tog, k1.
Repeat Round 3 until 8 sts remain on each needle.

Graft toe using kitchener stitch and weave in loose ends.

Immediately put on socks and ENJOY!!

Friday, May 30, 2008

Great Wolf

Three words: What A Blast!!!!!

For those of you who aren't familiar with Great Wolf Lodge waterparks, they are a hotel/resort designed around water: waterslides, wave pool, water works, fountains, etc. On Mother's Day, Tim surprised me with room reservations at the lodge over Memorial Day weekend. I didn't think we would get to go this year, because the lodge booked up through the summer as soon as they officially opened in April (?). But, somehow we got lucky.

It was two days filled with hours in the water, and then after hours, the kids would play MagiQuest, an indoor scavenger hunt conducted with "magic wands" that would record whenever the kids found the appointed hidden objects.

Many fun-filled hours were spent on quests and adventures, and by the end of our stay, Aaron had done so well that his wand (affectionately named "Bob") made it to the list of "top players". The kids even earned their "Master Magi" credentials...

Ginny, on the other hand, didn't care much for Magi Quest (unless you count bonking people on the head with the wands), but she *loved* the water. All weekend long, all we heard was "wa-wa" "wa-wa". And, whenever we tried to take her lifejacket off, she would protest (ok, scream) very loudly. So, apparently, she had a good time too.

Even the hotel rooms were cool (how often can you say that about a hotel?). We got a "Kids Kabin" room which had a separate "log cabin" area for the kids to sleep in.

All in all, a wonderful family outing, and thanks again to Timo for planning such a fantastic family outing. After all, what more could anyone want for Mother's Day than to spend time with this awesome bunch?!