Socks with a Picot Hem

Finished Picot Hem

These socks needed something a little different after being knit in ribbing.  The picot hem was the perfect finish.  I switched from K4P2 ribbing to stockinette for the width of the lavender stripe.  Then I repeated [K2tog,YO] for the folding row.  The next row was K, including the YO's.  Lastly, came K3P3 ribbing for the width of the lavender stripe, followed by a stretchy bindoff.  I tacked the hem over with a cross stitch needle (fine tapestry needle with a blunt tip) threaded with woolly nylon serger thread (one could split the fingering yarn into strands as an alternative).  Every inch, I stopped to stretch the hem so there would be enough slack in the woolly nylon to fit my leg.  I also kept the whip stitches short to prevent my fingers from snagging them when I put on the socks.  These socks are only a little over 5 inches long in the leg.  They stay up without additional support from elastic thread caught in the ribbing rows, an optional addition for longer socks on thin legs.

Picot Hem after the Socks Come off the Needles

 

Picot Hem Tacked in Place with Woolly Nylon Serger Thread

M'Lady's MP3 Player Bag

My MP3 player was residing in an odd sport sock, definitely not a classy case. With my new fascination with sock knitting, I was practicing the Aloha cast-on on circular knitting needles. Using a scrap ball of worsted weight yarn and 10 1/2 US circs, this little bottom up bag sort of magically grew on my needles. It is about 6 inches tall by 5 inches wide.

Here are the general instructions for worsted weight yarn and 10 1/2 US circular needles. Change them as necessary to get the gauge or size bag you desire. Note that an even number of stitches on each needle are required for the decreases and eyelets to distribute evenly.

1. Using the Aloha cast-on, cast on 8 stitches on each needle. Knit the first round.
   
2. Next round and those remaining until you have a total of 22 stitches on each needle: Knit 1, increase one in the next stitch and the next to the last stitch, knit last stitch on each needle.
   
3. Then knit even for about 3 inches.
4. Decrease: Knit one, knit 2 together every stitch then knit last stitch on each needle (12 stitches remaining on each needle).
5. Knit even 4 rounds.
6. Eyelet row: Knit 1, *YO (yarn over), knit 2 together* repeating until last stitch, YO then knit last stitch.
7. Knit even 4 rounds or so then bind off with the Stretch Armstrong sewn bind-off.
8. Make 2 twisted cords and thread through the eyelets for drawstrings. I started with 3 yards of yarn folded in half for each cord (each cord has 4 strands of yarn).

Let me know if you make a bag! I would love to see it!