Gnomes and such!

Well, I learned something new while visiting Crazy Aunt Purl. If you ever have trouble coming up with a title for your blog entry, just put gnome somewhere in it. Apparently, that takes care of everything…and of course, since I love CAP, I sometimes have to copy her. You know, just for the sake of continued “obsession” with her/her blog/her cats/her wine, etc. Anyway, at the risk of totally boring you (as if I haven’t already), I have to show….yes, ANOTHER pair of Fiber Trends Clogs. But wait! There’s more. I’m going to give you the benefit of my vastly comprehensive experience with the pattern. Some of these things will be so simple you won’t believe I didn’t notice them the first time. See…I’m not the kind of knitter that reads through the pattern first…I know I should, but I don’t. I jump right in. Call it a quirk impatience. Alas, I did not, but you will benefit from the err of my ways. If you never, ever intend to use this pattern. Quit reading now. Really. You’ll find it extraordinarily boring.

Fiber Trends Clogs: You can usually purchase this pattern at your LYS. There are a few online sources for Fiber Trends patterns, but I have yet to find the clog pattern available for order online. That may soon change though as I am looking into carrying it whenever I finally decide to get my *()&&*%&* little store open (yes, stay tuned…didn’t I say that a couple of months ago???).

After much experimentation by some of my buddies over at KH, the general consensus is that Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (WOTA) is the perfect yarn for this pattern. If you’re interested in hearing others’ experiences with using different wool and the pattern in general, go HERE.

Observation #1: I do a long tail cast on which is a) kind of a pain when you’re casting on 55+ stitches but b) good to use since the first row of the clog sole is a knit row. Saves time and all. Fear not having a tail that’s too long. Leave it attached and you can use it to weave the sole together later…it’s perfectly placed for that. You’ll see. If your tail is REALLY long you can cut it leaving 12-15 inches. If your tail is too short to use later…no worries. You have plenty more yarn for that.

Obversation #2: If you use WOTA, it takes just about exactly 2 skeins for a women’s medium for the upper part if you’re doing a 2 color clog. Either make sure you don’t waste ANY if you’re making that size or order an extra skein. Bigger sizes are definitely going to take 3 for the upper…the edge and sole 4 skeins, maybe a fifth for the largest men’s size.

Observation #3: You begin with the sole. You go along and have to do a lot of counting and increases. Glancing down to the rest of the pattern, you fear the whole thing will be that way (It kind of is, but with my experience you will notice a pattern). Fear not, continue on and worry about that when we finish the sole.

Observation #4: There is a pattern to the upper that makes counting A LOT easier. Wish I would’ve noticed this the first time, but I was way too busy going row by row as so not to get lost in a pattern that has two whole columns of directions with each being a different row. The pattern: Once you get to row 5 for women’s sizes and row 7 for men’s sizes, you can get the pattern. You’ll begin to notice that where you SSK and K2T, there is a gap. This is nice because you don’t need to count any more. Just work the proper stitch until you reach that point. Ok, so at this point you just alternate by slip 1, kX (no need to count, go to gap) SSK, turn and then slip 1, pX (go to gap) P2TOG, turn. When you get to a purl row where you do 16, stop for all women’s sizes and stop at 18 for men’s sizes. (ok you do have to count eventually to see where you are, but at least you can chill for a few rows) Now extra rows…women’s small has none so move on to row 15. There are 2 and 4 extra rows for women’s med and large; men’s have 4 and 6 extra. ALL of the extra rows are worked the same was as you have to this point (work to the gap, p2tog or ssk, turn). So summary:

Women’s small: Stop on the purl row where you purl 16 stitches
Women’s medium: Stop on the purl row where you have 18 stitches
Women’s large: Stop on the purl row where you purl 20 stitches
Men’s medium: Stop on the purl row where you purl 22 stitches
Men’s large: Stop on the purl row where you purl 24 stitches

Observation #5: Now we are on row 15 for all sizes. Work the row as shown and notice the next few rows. Row 15 has decreases. Rows 16, 17 and 18 do not (work as above with gap etc.) Row 19 has decreases. Thus the pattern. Row 15, 19, 23, 27 and extra row 4 (for men’s large only) have decreases…that is every 4 rows, so decrease on 15, work until your 2nd purl row, do the decrease row…repeat until you get to 27 and do your extra rows as per size. Row 28 is as before but 29 begins adding k3 or 2 after the ssk instead of just one additional stitch as you have done before. Other than that change, row 31 is a decrease row and all others as before with the 3 or 2 addition at the end. After row 33 and 35 don’t turn the work…you’ll now join together.

Observation #6: I’ve done the pattern with and without the bumper. It’s personal preference of course and I’ve decided I like it with the bumper. Of course, the bumper does add about 15 minutes to the total time so if you’re really in a hurry they look fine without it.

That’s about it. Again, it’s a great pattern, blah, blah, blah, yada, yada, have fun!