Deborah Raymond
Learn to Knit Socks Live Video Tutorial Series
Update: You can find the entire Learn to Knit Socks series here on YouTube.
Have you wanted to knit socks but never got around to it? Maybe you’re intimidated by knitting the heel. Or maybe you’re just overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there. Queen Deborah and Queen Emily want to help you get started! While we don’t claim to know everything about knitting socks, we’d love to share our experience and ideas to make getting started easier. This live video series will begin on February 28th and instruct you in using either DPNs (double pointed needles) or magic loop. For more details, please read below and check out the videos on YouTube.
NOTE: this series assumes you already have a basic knowledge of knitting. You should know how to knit and purl and do a long tail cast on.
We will be referring to the How I Make My Socks pattern, by Susan B. Anderson. It is a free pattern.
Video #1: Beginning your sock. Sock fitting, cast on, join in the round, knit the cuff and instructions to knit the leg.
Video #2: How to knit a slip stitch heel flap
Video #3: How to turn the heel, pick up stitches along the heel flap, and knit the gusset decreases.
Video #4: How to determine foot length, and knit a wedge toe.
Video #5: The dreaded, but fun, Kitchener stitcher, weaving in ends, and blocking, vs. not blocking.
What to do before the live video series begins.
Get your fingering weight sock yarn, and needles, and print your pattern. Knit a swatch, making sure your gauge is 8 stitches per inch, before blocking. If you are unsure where to begin, both Emily and Deborah use a 2.25mm needle for their socks, try that first and see if your gauge matches. Then take take your foot measurements according to the chart below.
This is the formula we talk about in our first class to help you determine your cast on number for your socks. You can use this formula for any gauge to knit socks in any weight of yarn.
Here is a chart to help you remember the basic steps of the Kitchener Stitch.
Share your finished socks on Facebook and Instagram with the hashtag #MYFIRSTSOCKSKAL, and head over to our Ravelry group to post your finished pair of socks in our finished objects thread to enter our giveaway.
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Holly and Ivy Felt Christmas Ornament Pattern
Make some fun and easy ornaments for your tree this year with some simple supplies and basic skills. You can stitch the leaves on the heart, or glue them in place, depending on your mood.
If you have not yet learned how to blanket stitch, watch this great tutorial from Hobby Lobby by clicking on the link below.
by Gnome Christmas Ornament Tutorial
Raspberry Cordial Recipe
While attending the most enjoyable reading retreat, I tasted the most delicious drink! If you have read Anne of Green Gables you will be familiar with raspberry cordial. I always wondered what it would taste like, and during our Anne themed dinner, I had the opportunity to find out. I quickly decided it is now one of my favorite things to drink! Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think.
RASPBERRY CORDIAL
serves 6
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
This recipe is from the Anne of Green Gables cookbook by Kate MacDonald.
by Deborah’s Lorax Socks
In our latest podcast, episode 16, I shared some socks I am knitting for my 1o year-old daughter. Some have requested the pattern. I don’t have an actual pattern, but will happily share some of the details, and the two-row braided column stitch pattern I used. I am not a pattern writer. Hopefully this makes sense.
Cast on 52 stitches on 2.25mm magic loop.
Knit 15 rows of a 2×2 rib, beginning with k2. Using a 2×2 rib will allow the braided stitch design to line up with the ribbing.
Begin the leg. I only knit the pattern on the front needle, and the back was knit all in stockinette stitch.
- Row 1: k4, *sl 1 stitch pwise, k1, yo, psso the k1 and the yo* , k6, repeat from *, k6, repeat from *, k4
- Row 2: knit all stitches
Continue the pattern all the way down the top of the foot.
At first glance, it seems as though you will loose a stitch with each psso, but try it, you will see that you keep your original stitch count.
If you knit socks with this pattern, I’d love to see them. Tag photos of them with #Loraxsocks or share them on our Ravelry group page.
Best Wishes,
Queen Deborah
by Episode 15: Pay It Forward
We have received such an enormous outpouring of love and support since we began podcasting last August. Because of this, we wish to share this joy with others, so we have a surprise giveaway! Thank you so much for your kindness to us. We love you.
Come Join our KAL!
The neon-along kal will run until the end of May. The rules are simple: just knit something you can wear that uses at least fifty grams of neon yarn and come post photos of your finished objects in our Ravelry Group. You can enter multiple times, so keep knitting!
Our prizes are amazing and include a project bag by Chestnut Fibres, a skein of Hedgehog Fibers Sock in Envy colorway, stitch markers by Knitty By Nature, and the gorgeous Pacifica shawl pattern by Lisa Seifert. Come see a photo in the Ravelry Group!
Contact Us
You can find Queen Deborah on Ravelry as IndigoChicken, on Instagram as IndigoChickenDolls, and on Etsy as Indigo Chicken. Queen Emily can be found on Ravelry as Egclawson and on Instagram as SaltCityKnits.
Queen Deborah’s Projects
Spectrum Fibre in Rainbow Brite 2 colorway
Knit Picks Stroll Tweed in Flagstone Heather, Down Heather and Thirst Heather colorways
Knit Picks Hawthorne in Parkrose colorway
The Rainy Apply Shoppe – Beach Bum yarn in Hula Girl colorway
Sweet Nesting Fibers in unnamed colorway (instagram only as #sweetnesting)
Blue yarn is not Cascade Heritage as mentioned. It’s actually Manos del Uruguay Fino in Watered Silk colorway.
Love Socks pattern by Devon Clement
Lartha pattern by Smoot Designs
Good Vibes Shawl pattern by Nadia Crétin-Léchenne
Canyonlands Shawl by Very Busy Monkey
Queen Emily’s Projects
Anzula Meridian in Emerald colorway
Glacier Ice Shawl by Klara Zhulamanova
Flowers for Yvonne shawl pattern by Romi Hill
Books Mentioned
Book of Unnecessary Quotation Marks
by Episode 12: Not So High-Brow After All
We’ve settled in now and are feeling comfortable enough to let a little of the inner crazy out. In this episode we start our first KAL, a NEON themed knit/crochet along! #neonalongKAL
You can find Queen Deborah on Instagram as @indigochickendolls, on Ravelry as purplepinwheel, and on Etsy as IndigoChicken. We also have a Ravelry group for Meanwhile, At the Castle.
Queen Emily can be found on Instagram as @saltcityknits, and on Ravelry as egclawson.
Patterns mentioned
Little Spring Mandala by Barbara Smith
Ophelia Bonnet by RDP Knits
Lancashire Dream by Gabrielle Danskknit
Pinwheel Scrap Blanket by Mina Phillips
Rye Socks by Tin Can Knits
Fish Lips Kiss Heel by Socks Therapist
No Purl Monkey Socks by Cooki A.
Dot Shawl by Cassapinka
Geek Socks by Wei S. Long
Good Vibes by Nadia Crétin-Léchenne
Fusion Blanket tutorial by Coriander Quilts
Hermione’s Everyday Socks by Erica Leuder
Yarns and Fibers mentioned
Up In Yarn Designs (business no longer open)
The Alpaca Yarn Company – Glimmer Yarn
Knit Picks Stroll Tweed, “Flagstone Heather”, and “Down Heather”
Rhapsody Fiber Arts, “Darlene”
Malabrigo Sock, “Impressionist Sky”
Mrs. Crosby Loves to Play, Satchel, “Bahama Woodstar”
Knit Picks Felici, “Bubble” – discontinued
Hedgehog Fibers, “Banana Leg”
Frabjous Fibers, #249 “Kaleidoscope”
Cascade Ultra Pima Cotton, “Silver”, “Ice”, “Natural”
Created by Elsie B Fiber Braids
Vintage Fairie LLC on Etsy
Books mentioned
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
Other mentions
Willow Hill Yarn Company at Gardner Village in Utah
Introducing our first Knit-Along/Crochet-Along!
Visit our Ravelry page for more details. Use the hashtag #neonalongKAL on Instagram and other social media to share your ideas, progress and creations with everyone.
Prizes will be given away at the end of the KAL in May.
Prizes from:
Chestnut Fibres Project Bag
Hedgehog Fibers sock in “Envy”
Pacifica shawl pattern by Lisa Seifert, DoleValleyGirlKnits
Podcaster Shoutouts
Amber of the Yarn Hoarder Podcast
Opera Jo of Stitching the High Notes
by Episode 10 – Meet Our Crazy, Creative Children
We’ve invited our children to join us as we interview them each separately to discover what they have been creating and reading. We also share updates on our own knitting.
Where to Find Us
You can find Queen Deborah on Instagram as @indigochickendolls, on Ravelry as purplepinwheel, and on Etsy as IndigoChicken. We also have a Ravelry group for Meanwhile, At the Castle.
Queen Emily can be found on Instagram as @saltcityknits, and on Ravelry as egclawson.
Yarns, fabric, and patterns mentioned
Barenwolle in Wild Orchid (yarn)
Loop by Casapinka (pattern)
Anzula Nebula in Denim (yarn)
Drops Eskimo Uni in Light Gray #53 (yarn)
Knit Picks Felici in Time Traveler (yarn)
Deborah Norville Serenity yarn
Cotton + Steel fabric by Sarah Watts
Black Apple Doll (pattern)
Kit Kat hat by Andre Sue
Everyday shawl by Jenny Faifel (pattern)
Quince & Co. (yarn)
Mrs. Crosby Loves to Play in Bahama Woodstar (yarn)
Malabrigo in 400 Rupestre (yarn)
Up In Yarns Designs in Fart Flowers
Knit Picks Hawthorne in Parkrose
Split Back Snowflake Hat by Susan B. Anderson (pattern)
Websites mentioned
Custom fit by Amy Herzog (pattern generator website)
Books mentioned
All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry
These is My Words by Nancy Turner
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Lego Star Wars Character Encyclopedia
Wings of Fire book series by Tui T. Sutherland
The Ranger’s Apprentice
Series by John Flanagan
Lord of the Rings
Mercy Watson to the Rescue by Kate DiCamillo
The 5000 Year Leap by Skousen
The Giver quartet by Lois Lowry
Carry on Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
Harry Potter
The Mouse Mansion by Karina Schaapman
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Other mentions
White Buffalo Pottery (local Utah potter)
Hidden Figures (movie)
by Episode 3: Introducing my Co-Host, and a Giveaway!
September 21, 2016
Show notes:
Lancashire Dream by Gabrielle Danskknit
Hitofude Cardigan by Hiroku Fukatsu
Project bag by AMarieKnits on Etsy
Yarns mentioned: Cascade Effects, Wonderland yarns, Shusui by Qing Fiber on Etsy
***JOIN OUR GIVEAWAY!***
A darling hand-knit bunny. Giveaway is open until October 5th, 2016. Enter by joining our Revelry group at the link below and answering the question, “What books are you reading right now?”
Join our Ravelry Group: Meanwhile at the Castle
Find us on Instagram as @saltcityknits and @indigochickendolls
My Etsy Shop: Indigo Chicken
by Episode 2: Great Basin Fiber Arts Fair, and Llama vs. Alpaca
September 3, 2016
Show notes:
A Tale of Two Knitters podcast
The Dyer’s Notebook podcast
Hey Sister podcast
Inside Number 23 podcast
Grocery Girls podcast
Join our Ravelry Group: Meanwhile at the Castle
Find us on Instagram as @saltcityknits and @indigochickendolls
My Etsy Shop: Indigo Chicken
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