To make finishing the toe of your Christmas Stocking even easier, and to avoid having to graft open stitches, try the following. Your stocking will come off the machine with the toe already completed.

After knitting last row at N/N ss 4.5/4.5, transfer all stitches to back bed.

Now, with 40-decker comb, take the 40 right hand stitches, and after placing them on decker comb, open the beds, and turn the comb - just like turning a page in a book. Then, replace the stitches from the decker comb onto the front bed, needles. Using the bodkin, transfer all front bed stitches to back bed (yes, there will now be 4 stitches on each needle). Bind off using the wrap bind off method.

Hope you find this method to be of help.

The cast on for this ribbing is a bit different, but will provide a doubled hem in 1:1 Rib, with enough body, without having to double strand the yarn. It will also make things easier when going into stitch pattern, because you only have to hand purl loops on the empty front bed needles (not both beds) , to avoid eyelets between ribbing and body of sweater.

With console turned off, arrange needles for 1:1 Rib on front bed, and in full needle set up on back bed. Handle down. Knit 1 R N/N at ss 1. Hang cast on comb and weights. Remove strippers. Knit 2 R CX/CX at ss 2. Now, put handle up, and arrange back bed pushers in a 1:1 division (1 in work, 1 in rest, etc.) in such a way that the pushers in work are under needles that face empty front bed channels. Knit 1 R BX/N ss 2.5. Cast on complete. Insert Orange Strippers. Knit 48 rows for 2-inch cuff. Stitch size must be adjusted for different yarns. Sizes mentioned here are suitable for Lorraine, Suavi or DuoMagic used single strand.

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Knit in 100% washable wool, these socks will keep your tootsies cozy even on the coldest days. Dallas says they are the most comfortable socks he has ever worn.

PASSAP E-6000 or DM-80 use same directions. Electronics are not necessary.

MATERIAL: Jaggerspun Superwash Wool. Wooly Nylon optional for heel & toe reinforcement.

STITCH SIZE: 2:2 Ribbing--1st row at ss 2. Then up to ss 5.

Stockinette = ss 6.5 (use ss 7 for slightly larger sock).

SIZE: As directed, this sock will fit shoe size 7 to 9. If extra length is needed knit more rows between heel & toe shaping. If wider sock is required, add 4 additional stitches.

Cast on in 2:2 Rib over a width of 60 stitches (30+ to 30-). Remember that after you get needles set up for 2:2, you must rack one full turn counterclockwise. ORANGE strippers. Knit 1 row to left at ss 2. Increase stitch size to 5, set BOTH locks to CX, and knit 2 rows. Rack one full turn clockwise, change BOTH locks to N, and knit 1 more row. Cast on Complete. Knit 100 rows.

On the right side, unknit the last 20 stitches. Now, with your bodkin, transfer ALL stitches to back bed, doubling up stitches on the empty back bed needles.

Using the 20-decker comb, remove the last 15 stitches on the right. Put safety bar on decker comb. Place the right edge spring on the last (16th) stitch on right. Lower the front bed. Turn the decker comb as turning a page of a book, swing the decker comb around and place these 15 stitches on the front bed (#1 through #15 on right). Close the beds. Repeat the above procedure for the left side. Then cross the 2 center stitches on front, as for making a cable. This makes seaming neater.

Set both locks to CX, and stitch size to 6.5. Insert BLACK strippers. Racking handle up. Knit 52 rows.

HEEL: Shaping will be done by short rowing (Graduations), using pushers. Pushers will be put down on the lock side of knitting, and returned to work on the side opposite the lock. Wrap yarn around the first NON-WORKING needle on side where yarn is attached to avoid holes formed by short rowing. If heel reinforcement is desired, insert wooly nylon at this time. It is VERY helpful to hang heel grips on the front bed stitches, and to move them up every 4 to 6 rows.

Bring up a front bed pusher for every front bed needle. Set back lock on GX and front lock on BX [LX with console OFF]. Put first pusher on the right all the way down, Knit 1 row. Put the pusher on the left all the way down, Knit 1 row. Continue until there are only twelve (12) pushers in working position (-6/+6). AT THE SAME TIME THE LAST PUSHER ON THE LEFT IS PUT DOWN, YOU MUST ALSO RETURN ONE PUSHER ON THE RIGHT TO WORKING POSITION (The lock is on the left at this time). Knit 1 row. Continue putting the pushers into working position until the width is back to 30 stitches. Remove wooly nylon.

FOOT: Set locks to CX/CX, and knit 90 rows.

TOE: Insert wooly nylon. Decrease (full fashioned with yellow tool) 1 stitch each edge - both beds, every 4 rows 6 times RC=24. Then decrease 1 stitch each edge - both beds every 2 rows, until only 4 stitches remain on each bed. Knit 2 rows over these last stitches, and then, break off yarn, and gather off remaining stitches in a circle onto your yarn tail.

Yarn Cone Angels & Santas Please see photo on Christmas page

Materials: Bramwell 4 ply, mohair or fuzzy acrylic in white, goldfingering in white multi for angel wings. Small knit swatches in colors desired for hair. 1.5 inch Styrofoam balls, empty yarn cones, small amount of batting, pieces of pantyhose, and acrylic paint for eyes & lips. Wire to place inside Santa's sleeves to pose his arms. Twist each end of wire into loop, and form into a mitten shape.

Stitch Size: Open tubular (everything except angel wings) SS 5 for all colors except white fuzzy yarn. SS 6 for white fuzzy yarn. Angel wings knit at stitch size 4.5 (or whatever size gives a good stiff fabric with your yarn). Gauge not important. Weights optional.

Santa Suit and Angel Dress are knit the same. Cast on open tubular over a width of 32 stitches. Knit 180 rows decreasing 1 stitch each side (both beds) every 20 rows. For this item, edge stitch decreases look better than full fashioned. Gather off remaining stitches 16 on each bed. Pull this cone shaped tube over empty yarn cone.

Angel Wings: Knit 2 alike. Cast on FNR over a width of 29 stitches. Stitch size 2, 4, 4.5. Scallop for 8 rows by placing pushers on both beds as follows, and knitting with locks set at BX/LX (or BX/BX). IIIII - IIIII - IIIII (5 in work 1 in rail, etc.) After 8 rows, put front bed pushers back into rail. Go to N/N and knit 14 rows. Now start decreasing 1 stitch every 1 row on one side, and at the same time decreasing 1 stitch every 4 rows on the other. RC22. Gather off remaining 1 stitch. DO NOT PRESS! Wings must be firm to hold shape. Join straight edge of two wings together.

Angel Sleeves: Knit 1. Cast on open tubular over 6 stitches. Knit 160 rows. Gather off. Ends of this cord will be placed on top of cone body before attaching head.

Santa Hat: Cast on open tubular over 20 stitches in white fuzzy yarn. Knit 30 rows for cuff. In red knit 20 rows. Shape as follows: -1s every 10R 2X, -1s every 8R 2X, -1s every 6R 4X, -1s every 4R 1X, -1s every 2R 1X. Gather off remaining stitch. Place wire inside hat when assembling, so hat may be positioned as desired.

Santa Sleeves: Cast on open tubular in white fuzzy yarn over width of 10 stitches. Knit 20 rows for cuff. In red, knit 200R. In white, knit 20 rows. Gather off.

Mittens: Knit 2 alike. In green, cast open tubular over 6 stitches. Knit 40R.Decrease 1 stitch each side (both beds) every 2 rows 2 times. Gather off remaining stitches 2 on each bed. Place a mitten over the loop at each end of the wire that forms Santa's arms.

Cord for trim on Santa Suit: Cast on open tubular over width of 3 stitches in white fuzzy yarn. If using weight, knit until weight hits the floor. Glue or sew in place around bottom of Santa Suit, and up center front. Ends of cord hide under Santa's beard.

Optional Belt: Cast on in black over 5 stitches. Knit 120R. Gather off. Press flat. Join ends at center back when assembling, and attach a gold button for belt buckle at center front.

Heads and Assembly: Wrap a piece of batting around Styrofoam ball, and enclose inside a piece of pantyhose. Tie securely. Make a couple of small stitches to form a soft sculpture nose. For darker complexion, use 2 layers of pantyhose. Paint eyes and mouth as desired, or embroider them on. I have even used straight pins with colored glass heads for eyes & mouth. Assemble using hot glue gun, or sew parts together. Unravel yarn swatch for hair, and glue in place using tacky craft glue. Santa's beard can be a cotton ball, pulled into beard shape, and glued into place, or an unraveled swatch of white yarn for a curly beard. Halo for angel is a piece of gold cord attached in a circle over angel's head by a piece of wire stuck into Styrofoam head. Attach a small Christmas type decoration at center front (over angel's arms) so that she appears to be holding the item. Even a small scrap of gift wrapped cardboard will work nicely if done in pretty paper & ribbon. I used tiny gold items (like musical instruments) purchased from a craft store, and tiny clusters of holly with gold ribbon.

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