Monica Knits

Repair StitchI started knitting a pair of socks for my dad late last night in low light and didn't see that I had accidentally split a stitch in the first round until the next morning when it glared at me in daylight. I had completed six or seven rounds by this time. No problem; this is very quick to correct with a crochet needle and a couple of minutes' time. Read more ... for illustrated instructions.

This two color cuff was knitted in 2 x 2 ribbing with the knit stitches in charcoal grey and the purl stitches in light grey. This cuff has 52 stitches and is 2-1/2" long. A stranding technique, with a float of 2 stitches was used and a fingertip yarn guide was used to manage the 2 colors of yarn. Read more... for additional information.

Watch a video on knitting with 2 colors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-0ApmvvhTA

For a quick, festive, warm gift to knit, beaded wrist warmers sparkle. They take longer to knit than wrist warmers without beads--the time depends upon how many beads you decide to use. When you pair beads, plus yarn, you create a unique tribute to the wearer. These narrow, fitted wrist warmers were designed for a medium sized woman working at her computer. The turquoise blue color was selected to complement my sister's coloring. The beads resemble ornaments on a Yuletide tree.    Read more .... for pattern instructions.

CuffThe cuff has both decorative and functional purposes. Designed to stretch and hold the sock up, there are many rib patterns to choose from, from simple to elaborate. For the basic cuff, I use a 2 x 2 rib pattern, the length of which is determined by the type of sock. For an ankle sock, I would typically knit a 1.5" cuff. For a sock which measures 14" high from the sole of the foot, I would use a 3" cuff, as I did for the light khaki colored sock in this Basic Sock photo series.

With self-striping yarns, I may use a 3-1/2" cuff for aesthetic reasons; the stripe pattern will dictate the proportions. For example I might stop the cuff just before a narrow band of color, which would make a good accent for the beginning of the sock body.