OK, I promised this eons ago, but summer vacation just started and I frankly have a hard time transitioning from full time work to time off each year. I know that it sounds insane, but I really do better with a todo list and a bell schedule.

Here’s the pattern. I used superwash wool yarn-this was a sock yarn, but anything that weight would also work. I used size 1 double point needles. I do not do a heel…this way they fit baby’s feet longer, or they can be used as mittens.

• Using this cast on method cast on 8 stitches, 2 on each needle.
• Knit all stitches.
• Knit 2 Increase by lifting stitch below current stitch and pull yarn through. Repeat in next stitch and K2. Turn and repeat across stitches on other needle.
• Divide stitches between 4 needles, 5 stitches per needle.
• K2, place marker. Knit across all stitches.
• Increase row: Knit 2. Increase by lifting stitch below current stitch and pull yarn through. Knit to end of needle. On next needle knit until the last two stitches. Increase by lifting stitch below next stitch and pull yarn through. Repeat this over the next two needles. This will increase 4 stitches each time.
• Knit row.
• Repeat the last two rows until you have 8 stitches per needle (32 total).
• Knit 4 more rows.
• Move the stitches from needles 1 and 2 to one needle to make it easier to work the cable pattern.
• The cable pattern:
  • Knit 4, purl 2 (dots on the chart), knit 4, purl 2, knit 4. Knit the rest of the row.
  • From here follow the chart below. For the twist put the first two stitches on a cable needle and leave in front. Knit the next two stitches, then knit the two stitches off the cable needle.
  • 
• Work 4 repeats of the cable pattern.
• Work 16 rows in 2×2 ribbing (Knit 2, purl 2).
• Cast off loosely.

You gotta love Japan…this is from the official government website (Ministry of the Environment)

Visiting Japan last summer was so much fun, but one of the problems we ran into over and over was trash disposal. There are no single trash cans, but stacks of bins for recycling. Which is wonderful, but it was the one time my sister and I really couldn’t figure out the pictograms. I had several days where I got chastised by old Japanese ladies about trying to put something in the wrong bin, and wandered around all day with trash in my pockets.

Point being they are very environmentally conscious. I really would love to print this out to frame…I have a lot of Christmas bags I’ve made through the years to try to cut down on paper waste, but this is a much easier soltion.

I have been looking for something super simple to make for new baby/expectant mom. I finally settled on these:

Sorry for the cruddy picture. I finished them while we went to see Kung Fu Panda (better than I thought it would be).

It is super-wash 100% wool sock yarn of some variety. I used size 1 DPN’s. I worked them without heels since babies tend to grow quickly early on. Sort of a cable tube sock.

 The pattern is almost done, I’ll try to post tomorrow.

We are seconds away from summer break around here. I actually have been doing a lot of knitting lately…will try to post pics now that I have some free time.

To go along with all these knitted items I made some gift tags. All of my knitted gifts tend to be machine washable…giving someone a fussy handwash item for a new baby seems cruel somehow.

knitting_care_cards.pdf