cha-cha pink stooff

Hello!

Our recent holiday was a pretty multi-locationed one, covering a lot of ground and involving buses, trains, ferries, sea planes, also including a few long loooong waits in airports thanks to flights getting annoyingly delayed by fog, and two long looong ferry trips of a WHOLE day each. And because I am the eternal optimist about Getting Stuff Done, even whilst away, I had tossed into my luggage some sock wool and needles, just in case. And thank goodness I did ‘cos consequently I finished two new projects. As they say in Canada, O yaaa! #AirFistPunch

Item ONE! … or should that be items one and two?

A pair of sockeroonies… photographed against the majetic forests of Hanson Island in beautiful British Columbia, Canada…

Yarn; Morris Empire Merino 4ply in col 449, delightfully called Cha-Cha Pink; and the small bit of Sheen Green colour way is leftover from my hand warmers. I used my go to sock pattern, from a 1960’s Patons pamphlet that I’ve inherited from my grandmother.

Item TWO! or should that be… items three and four?!

A pair of adorbs little hand warmers… photographed against the majestic back alleyways of Vancouver in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Pose is thanks to a grapefruit mimosa and the influence of a group of hilarious Vancouver ladies with whom I spent an awesomely fun few hours… thanks so much to Melanie, Sue, Sveta, Barbara and Louisa for a fabulous morning!

See, I’d taken two balls of the cha-cha pink and of course there was plenty of leftovers. And since I finished my socks pretty quick I thought there’s sure to be enough to do something… and fortunately there was plenty!

I just made them up as I went along, pretty simple; and I’ve written a little pattern which I am happy to share. Please feel free to use, I just ask as always that if you do then please do credit me and link back to me here

Simple hand warmers:

Note: one size, fits most ladies

Materials:

approx 120m (135 yd) of 4ply (fingering weight) yarn… I used Morris Empire superwash merino 4ply wool … this pattern uses only about two thirds of a 50g ball

set of 4-5 double pointed needles 2.5mm (US 1) or whatever gives the correct tension as stated below.

Tension (gauge): 31 st and 45 rows to 10cm

Cast on 60 st and distribute stitches evenly onto 3 needles, continue working in the round…
K2 P2, repeat for 10 rows/rounds
Switch to K stitch,continue knitting for a further 22 rows/rounds, turn
sl 1, P59 st… turn.
sl 1, K59 turn
Rep previous 2 rows for a following 20 rows, turn
sl 1, K59 then join work again in the round and continue knitting for a further 12 rows/rounds
Commence K2 P2 rib, continue for 35 rows/rounds.
Cast off loosely

Repeat second hand warmer the same way.

And I’m wearing them today too… wanna see how I “styled” them? I know what you’re thinking… those things don’t go with her outfit AT ALL. No, they don’t. They really really don’t. But I’m wearing them anyway, hehe. #SayNoToGoodTaste #GoodTasteIsEvil