Knitting Dragonflies

  Well I’ve become somewhat obsessed with sock monkeys! It seems that people have definite opinions on them, similar to clowns, love or hate them. So it all starts with a pair of socks $4.95 from WalMart. After making a couple for gifts for my niece and nephew. The mania began. The traditional sock monkeys that we think of were made with a specific sock, the  Rockford Red Heel Socks . John Nelson, a Swedish immigrant to the United States, patented the sock-knitting machine in 1869, and began manufacturing work socks in Rockford, Illinois in 1890. During the Great Depression, American mothers first made sock monkeys out of worn-out Rockford Red Heel Socks. Sometime around 1951 Nelson Knitting company discovered that their socks were being used to make monkey dolls, this resulted in a dispute over the pattern. The company was awarded the pattern in l955 and started including it with every pair of socks. In 1992 the Nelson company was acquired by Fox River Mills.  A  change in the re

Enjoy yourself, watch some football and knit!

We seem to be on a rented movie marathon at my house. I think it has something to do with the post holiday decompression. Mostly rainy and cloudy here during the winter, it’s perfect to cuddle up on the sofa and knit or spin. I found some yarn in my stash and I’m off. Easy Ribbed Hat (made with bulky yarn) yarn Bernant Felting Natural Wool, color way 94420 Needles size 8 US, circular needles I used the magic loop method, see here for help Cast on 64 stitches, being careful not to twist stitches Pattern is K1, P1 all around every row Continue until approx 6 inches or around the top of your head Start your decreasing Row 1: Knit pattern (k1, p1) 6 stitches, ktog , place stitch marker Row 2: Knit all around Row 3: Knit pattern until last two stitches before marker, then ktog Row 4: knit all around Repeat rows 3 and 4 until you have 8 stitches left on the needle. Cut a long tail and draw through all of the loops. Stitch back and forth through the top