Dubbed the Cushy Chroma Socks due to their warmth and thickness, these socks make for perfect winter knitting.  I don’t know about you, but as the hectic holidays wind down, I’m always in the mood for some easy, quick knits. The Cushy Chroma Socks fit the bill. No teeny needles or thin sock yarn here – Knit Pick’s Chroma Worsted works up quickly on US #5 and #6 needles. The end result? Soft, warm socks that are perfect for padding around the house on frigid winter days, wearing to bed  to keep tootsies toasty at night, or even to wear out in your roomier shoes or boots.

The Cushy Chroma Socks pattern is available for free from Knit Picks. Sizes are Women’s small (shoe size US 5-6), medium (7-8), and large (9-10), ranging in circumference from 6.5″ to 8″. Chroma Worsted comes in vibrant colors ranging from blended stripes to bold. I love wearing these cheerful colors when the weather is dreary!

I’ve been privileged to be part of the Knit Picks Independent Designer Program since April 2010. I thank Stacey and the rest of the Knit Picks team for the opportunity to include another pattern!

Just in time for holiday and cold weather knitting, I give you my Tonalita Socks pattern… for free! Made of Trendsetter’s lovely, soft Tonalita yarn, the socks are just right for lounging around the fire, giving as gifts, and even wearing to bed on those chilly nights when your feet just can’t get warm enough. Tonalita comes in lots of gorgeous colors. If you’re like me, you’ll end up making several pairs - they’re quick to knit, and its a pleasure to watch the colorways reveal themselves.

Here are the details:

Women’s’ sizes: S (shoe size US 5-6), M (shoe size US 7-8) and L (shoe size US 9-10)
Finished Measurements: 
Leg Length: 6 inches/15.25 cm for all sizes
Circumference:
6.5 (7.25,8) inches/16.5 (18.5, 20.3) cm
Foot Length, Approx.: 8.75 (9.5, 10.5) inches/22.25 (24.2, 26.7) cm
Yarn:
Trendsetter Tonalita (52% wool, 48% acrylic, 100 yds/50g/1.75 oz) (for substitution purposes:18 sts = 4” on US9 per ball band); 2*(2*, 3) balls
*Note: If you want a longer leg (such as 8”) you will need an additional ball of yarn
Needles: 1 set of 5 US#4/3.5mm double-pointed needles
1 set of 5 US#5/3.75mm double-pointed needles

You can download the pattern for free here: http://audknits.com/products/tonalita-sock/

Happy knitting!

To atone for my negligence, I offer you a cute little pattern: the Kellie Fingerless Gloves. It’s fun to make, and free! Using sock yarns, the finished gloves measure 8″ around.  If you’re like me, you have sock yarn galore in your stash; this pattern uses a printed yarn (sometimes called jacquard) and a solid. The pattern is shown in two colorways, but there are endless combinations you can come up with.

Here’s the skinny for the Kellie Fingerless Gloves:

Size:
M

Finished Measurements:
Hand circumference: 8″/20.5cm
Length: 7.5″/19cm

Yarn:
Turquoise and Yellow Version:
MC: Opal 4 Ply Wool (75% superwash new wool, 25% polyamide; 465yds/425m/100g); Color Petticoat #1297; 1 ball. Or use about 140yds/128m of any patterned sock yarn.
CC: Cascade Yarns Heritage (75% merino superwash, 25% nylon; 437yds/400m/100g); Color #5626; 1 ball. Or use approximately 95yds/87m of any solid sock yarn.

Blue & Red Version:
MC: Opal 4 Ply Wool (75% superwash new wool, 25% polyamide; 465yds/425m/100g); Color #750 (3206) Blind Venus; 1 ball. Or use about 140yds/128m of any patterned sock yarn.
CC: Regia 4-Ply (75% superwash new wool, 25% polyamide; 230yds/210m/50g); Color #2137; 1 ball. Or use approximately 95yds/87m of any solid sock yarn.

Needles:
US#1/2.25mm set of 5 dpns in 6″/15cm or 8″/20.5cm length for working body of gloves
Optional: US#1/2.25mm set of 5 dpns in 4″/10cm length for working fingers

You can download the pattern for free here:

Many thanks to John Kieger/www.KiegerPhoto.com for photography, and Khani Nguyen for modelling.

I, of course, had to choose the Designer Biathlon. I love the biathlon events in the real Olympics, and I love to design. But here was the challenge -  to cast on, design a project, write the pattern for it, photograph it, have it tech edited, and then publish it during the allotted time. Whew!

Here’s the result!

I chose Cascade 220 as the yarn, since it comes in so many great colors. The braided cable cuff is made first. I include instructions for grafting stitches together in pattern. When the hat is complete, the cuff is folded up. The circumference is about 20″, which will fit most women.

You may download the pattern for free here: