This project required that I
create two new knitting charts, Bean Richter's first name and her birth
year (2013).
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| Hurrah for 2013 babies! |
I ended up printing out the above charts and giving it to baby Grace's grandparents for Christmas. I'm so happy to help them keep this tradition alive. In early 2014, I was finally able to cast on and start making Gracie's stocking. It has been so long since I've used straight needles, that this was a bit of a hoot for me.
I messed up with the placement of the Santa eye,placing it over the backpack. I didn't want to erase 4 rows of knitting, so I duplicate stitched over the mistake eye and created a new one. I don't think you'd be able to tell if I hadn't told you.
I should have cropped the yr 13 chart more when I included it with the big chart. My instructions are written for the close cropped version. Thankfully I caught this in the first round I was knitting the year number!
I used a mattress stitch to close the stocking starting at the cuff and working down to the heel. I first did this technique on Keith's sweater and then on my patriots hat and it works really nicely. I'm glad to see my skills have improved since I made Gracie's mom's stocking.
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| Before stitching the stocking closed |
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| After the mattress stitch |
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| The WS of the fabric - look at that sturdy stitching! |
Once I was done the stocking still required some blocking. I soaked the stocking for 20 min before laying it flat on my blocking mats. I didn't even need any pins!
Like Jenn's Stocking, this stocking was knit in KnitPicks Wool of the Andes. In the end, this project used 36 g/ 80 yards red, 9 g/ 20 yards white and 34 g/75 g green. I'm within a gram of each yarn from what I used in my original stocking. Talk about consistency! I used size 3 (3.25 mm) knitting needles.
I am so thrilled to help keep this tradition alive. I'm ready and willing to make more as the family grows! (Although I am sticking with new spouses/children... I couldn't keep this up for the rest of the clan, there are a gazillion cousins!)
