Leyburn Sock Stitch Pattern for ML

The STR (Socks That Rawk) group on Ravelry is hosting a KAL with the Leyburn Socks. Well,.... it's a toe-up pattern. One construction that I haven't perfected to accomodate my very high instep. Someone had posted the pattern revision for top-down, but I knit both socks at the same time on magic loop. I tweaked that pattern a bit so it would work with magic loop. Here it is --
Leyburn Socks – stitch pattern for magic loop
Row 1: * wyif, sl 5, wyib, K1. Repeat from * around.
Row 2: Knit.
Row 3: K2, *lift loop with tip of left needle and k tog w/next st, K5. Repeat from * ending K3.
Row 4: K to last 3 sts, wyif, sl3.
Row 5: Continue wyif, sl2,* wyib K1, wyif, sl 5. Repeat from * ending K4.
Row 6: Knit to last st, lift loop and ktog with last st.
Row 7: *K5, lift loop and ktog with next st. Repeat from * ending K6.
Row 8: Knit.
I'm on my third repeat and I believe it is correct. Any problems or questions let me know. Will try to take a pic of the sock legs tomorrow. (edited - Here's the pic. The stitch pattern above is OK.)I had some "white-knuckle" driving today. This past week has been horrible here in northern Iowa. Monday was a blizzard - no school! Tuesday was a two-hour late start school day. Wednesday and Thursday were days off due to extreme cold temps -27F and -29F with wind-chills in the -40F. Friday, then, was another two-hour late start. I didn't see my first period class at all during the entire week! At the high school, we only have a 30 minute class with one of the three morning classes. On Tuesday, we began with 2nd period and Friday with 3rd --- first period had their time earlier when the weather was bad. I had cabin fever!!! I almost had my fill of knitting with so much time away from school. My AC adapter to charge my laptop died this week, so after trying to purchase one in town, I headed about 55 miles east. We still have about 8 inches of light, fluffy snow that blows around whenever the wind is up ....... today, again, the wind was blowing 20 to 35 mph. It was blowing low to the ground, so visibility wasn't too bad on the way over . After purchasing the adapter at Best Buy, I made a stop at a couple of stores, and then met my SIL and her DGD for lunch. Then ...., the drive home. I had noticed that wisps of snow were beginning to come out on the highway from the north on the way over, but they were a lot of them now. Most of the time, I could just move over the center line, but a couple of time I did have to break through the small drift. There were places, most right before and after the towns that the visibility wasn't too good and travel slowed to 25 mph. It took about 20 minutes more than usually, but I was home safe. I don't think that I am as brave at almost 60 years old as I was in my 20s to 40s. Just want to stay home and knit tonight.

Socks 2009

An "intention" for this year is to knit at least two pairs of socks each month. My two pairs for January are -

Mad Color Weave Socks by Christine Lorin in Skacel Trampoline in colorway 233 (red, orange, yellow, green, blue) on magic loop. These are commissioned from a silent auction at church in Nov. One of our pastors ordered a pair for himself and also one for his wife.....these will be for Hope. Pastor's will be started next in CTH supersock in the java colorway.... so appropriate for him since he loves a hardy, bold coffee.

The other pair is the Faceted Rib Socks from the Little Box of Socks in Ewephoria handpainted sock yarn (from the LYS about 40 miles from home) in a black, brown, grey and red-orange colorway. These will be my "Bulldog" socks to wear on the days of athletic competitions at AHS. The pair dd knitted three years ago are so faded that they look more rose and grey instead of black and red.

Also, I signed up for the STR Leyburn Socks KAL. The KAL members are trying to use as many different colorways of STR lightweight or mediumweight, so I chose Dixie Chick. I have yet to cast on the socks, however, school has been cancelled today because of the extreme cold. It started off at -3F and has been falling since. It is to "bottom out" at -30 to -40F before the cold spell ends on Friday. That doesn't include the wind chill which may approach-60F. I don't ever recall this frigid of temps in northern Iowa in my almost 60 years. Today may be the day to cast on since I usually have at least two different pairs on needles at the same time.

Happy knitting everyone ...... and stay warm! TLGB

2009 Intentions

I've finally decided on my knitting "intentions" for 2009. Finish wips -
Joe's scarf 50% done - finished & blocked 1-11-09

• Darcy's felted purse just need to kitchener the i-cord handle and felt


• MS4, a beaded stole 75% done


• SOS2, 80% done


• Felted cabled briefcase - sew-on handles and magnetic closures and felt


• Jodi's Nordic mittens - finish top of last mitten and both thumbs


• Tulip sweater 80% done

In addition, I intend to knit 1-2 pairs of socks each month (many of mine are starting to show wear), continue learning lace knitting by trying more difficult articles especially an Estonia shawl, and knit at least one sweater each for dd and me.

Right now, I'm working on a commissioned pair of socks from a silent auction at church. I had four pairs on display, sold only one of those pairs, but had said I would knit any color. Our associate pastor wanted a pair for himself and his wife. I'm doing both socks on ml and am almost ready to start the heels on the wife's socks made with Skacel Trampoline - red, orange, yellow, blue, and green colorway - in the Mad Color Weave Socks pattern.

Also, I'm starting a KAL with Beth's Yarn Shop with Cascade Eco-Wool in a darker taupe color in the Hemlock Ring Doily Throw. The shop is about 100 miles away, so I'm knitting from a distance. I should have started on Thursday, but had a class for teacher re-cert, so will start tonight. I will have gotten a lot of suggestions from the gals already knitting on round 20+.

I'm anxiously awaiting the start of the Ravelry Scarf Exchange 3. I've been in all three exchanges and also knitted an additional "angel" scarf for someone whose partner bailed out. I've received scarves from Scotland, and Oregon. My scarves went to Massachusetts (angel scarf), Florida, and Maryland. I enjoy keeping in touch with the swap pals. What a way to meet on-line friends.

Happy knitting. TLGB