Blog #51 Knitted Decorations and Afterthought Heel

Dear Knitter,

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac, a beloved book, includes a chapter called "Christmas Fiddle-Faddle in the Wilds."

Fiddle-Faddle, indeed.

There is still time to make some holiday ornaments, just as I did yesterday! (images below). The stocking is my own design, with Elizabeth Zimmermann's Afterthought Heel, and I offer you instructions below. The star, tree, and doll are all Elizabeth's designs, instructions for which appear in her book, Knitter's Almanac. They are all small and fast to knit.

The Stars are only 5 rows, and take about that many minutes. The Trees are on more sts, but only 6 rows then folded and woven.

Make them plain or, like librarian Greg Cotton, multi-colored. Greg says, "For Christmas 2023 I knit 14 of Elizabeth's stars, and for Christmas 2024 I knit 14 of Elizabeth's trees!  Every Christmas I give each of my nieces and nephews a Christmas tree ornament...this year's (Legos ornaments!) is the 41st for the two oldest. The stars and trees were knit out of Spindrift and lovely they were." Below are some of Greg's renditions, pinned for blocking.

Meg's Christmas Stocking with EZ's After-Thought Heel (bottom, right)

I designed a tiny top-down Christmas stocking with EZ’s After-Thought Heel, as follows:

Shetland Spindrift. 7 sts to the inch on a US #3 for me.

Cast on 24. Join (I had 12 sts on each of two circs. You may prefer dp’s, or magic loop) and (k1back, p1) for 4-5 rounds.

k 2 rnds plain in main color

Chart for Patterns: *for number 4, my knitted stocking used diagonal patterns separated by 3 plain stitches, but I like a separation of 2 better, so the chart shows 2 stitches between the diagonals in the motif. Knitter's choice.

work pattern 1 (white)

k 2 rnds plain in mc

pattern 2 (yellow)

k 2 rnds plain in mc

pattern 3

k 2 rnds plain in mc

pattern 4

k 4 rnds plain in mc (for heel)

pattern 5

k 2 rnds plain in mc

pattern 6

k 2 rnds plain in mc

Shape Toe:

1. *k1, ssk, k6, k2tog, k1. Rep from * on 2nd needle

2. *k1, ssk, k4, k2tog, k1. Rep from * on 2nd needle

3.  *k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1. Rep from * on 2nd needle

Weave 6 to 6.

   Heel: snip half a stitch in the middle of the back (photo). Ravel 6 sts in each direction. Pick up (photo) 12 sts on each of your two needles and knit another toe!

Peace, Happiness, and Good Knitting to All!

Meg