Easy Baby Crocheted Tube Socks

As promised, here is a crocheted baby tube sock. Actually 2 versions.

Easy Baby Crocheted Tube Socks

Soft worsted weight yarn-about an ounce
Size I crochet hook

Cuff: Chain 9.
Row 1: Sc in second ch from hook and across. 8 sts. Chain 1, turn.
Row 2-12: Sc across 8 sts in back loops only. Ch 1, turn. There are now 6 ridges. Bring the last row to the first ch row and slip stitch the 2 sides together forming a tube. Turn right side out.

Variation #1 (solid blue in photo)
Row 1: Sc 16 sts evenly spaced around the cuff.
Row 2-9: These rows are crocheted in a spiral. There is no joining or turning. Mark the beginning of the row but keep going around. 16 hdc for each row.
Row 10: Hdc dec over 2 sts, 4 hdc , hdc dec over 2 sts (2x), 4 hdc , hdc dec over 2 sts. (12 sts) No turning
Row 11: 12 hdc
Row 12: Hdc dec, 2 hdc, hdc dec (2x), 2 hdc, hdc dec (8 sts)

Turn inside out and sl st the sts together for toe or cut yarn leaving a tail and sew the toe closed. Weave in ends. Make another bootie

Variation #2 This is a slightly more dense, cozy fabric. (variegated yarn in photo)

Make a cuff as above

Row 1: Sc 17 sts evenly spaced around cuff.
Row 2-9 (Sc, dc) around. This is the pattern. Again the rows are crocheted in a spiral with no turning or joining. After you finish row 2, you will always have a sc in a dc and dc in a sc from the row below so it's easy to keep track of the pattern. Just mark the beginning of the row and keep going around.
Row 10: Dec over 2 sts, 5 sts in pattern, dec (2x), 4 sts in pattern, dec (13 sts)
Row 11: 13 sts in pattern
Row 12: Dec, 3 sts in pattern, dec (2x), 2 sts in pattern, dec (9sts)

Finish toe off as above. Make another bootie.

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Everything on Website is 50% off!!!

Yep, that's right! Every purse, shawl, blanket, scarf and tapestry is 50% until the end of the year. And that includes shipping as well. There are some great gift ideas to be found. Everything is one of a kind, designed and made by me so when it is gone, that is it. The link to the website is along the sidebar here, so check it out and find some unique and beautiful gifts for giving or keeping yourself.

Here is a little preview of what you'll find:






Thanks for looking!

Easy Baby Garter Stitch Tube Socks

The last year or so, I've been knitting or crocheting baby booties for charity. They go into newborn kits for moms who don't have anything for their new babies and the kit contains a few essentials. It's a nice little project to carry around or work on here and there and still get something finished. I tried various patterns that I found online and liked the tube sock concept best because it seems like it will stay on without a tangly tie and also fit a growing baby's foot the longest.

This is knitted flat and after the ribbing, it is all garter stitch so very simple to knit. It could be done in the round but is much faster knit flat, even with the seam-sewing time. It's such an easy pattern that after the first one, you'll pretty much have it memorized.



Worsted Weight Tube Socks

Gauge is not important
Needles-#7 or 8
Scant ounce of yarn

Loosely cast on 20 stitches
Cuff: Rows 1-10-- K2 P2 ribbing across
Rows 11-42: Slip first stitch, knit each row across = 16 ridges of garter stitch.
Row 43: K2 tog, K6, K2tog(2x), K6, K2tog
Row 44: Knit across
Row 45: K 2 tog, K4, K2tog(2x), K4, k2tog

Cut a long tail and thead a yarn needle. Draw through last sts on needle and go through again to gather into a circle. Pull it tight and sew up the side seam right sides together. Weave in ends. Turn right side out. Which side you call the right side doesn't matter much but I call the right side the one that has the starting yarn tail on my right when the work is facing me. I think that the top of the ribbing looks better on that side but it's a minor detail. Make another one.




Sport Weight Version

#5 needles
Less than 1 ounce of yarn

Loosely cast on 24 stitches
Rows 1-10: K2,P2 ribbing across
Rows 11-50:Slip first stitch, knit across all rows = 20 ridges of garter stitch
Row 51: K2tog, K8, K2tog(2X), K8, K2tog
Row 52: K across
Row 53: K2tog, K6, K2tog(2X), K6, K2tog
Finish as above.

For Crocheters: Have patience, in a few days I will post the crochet version.

Check out my website...Everything is 50% off until the end of the year. All my purses, scarves, blankets, shawls and tapestries. Postage is still included.

My Maneki Neko crochet pattern

Here is the pattern for a crocheted maneki neko. A couple years ago I saw a knitted fortune cat on Just Jussi's blog and made a few of them. Then I converted the pattern to crochet and have added my own embellishments and changes over time. Please use the pattern for your own enjoyment but not for sale or to repost on other sites.

I use my own wool handspun and so the cats turn out different sizes depending on the size of the yarn. Just match the size of your yarn to a crochet hook that makes stitches tight enough so that the stuffing doesn't show. I also stuff with wool fleece but polyfil would be fine. Sometimes I make the body striped. Just have fun and use your imagination.

The only coins I could find are probably Chinese but if you are lucky enough to have access to Japanese coins, all the better. It's fun to find different bells and beads to use. These cats are royal so need lots of fancy accessories.





Head

Make magic ring
Row 1: 7 sc in ring
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc (14 sts)
Row 3: 1 sc, 1 inc (21 sts)
Row 4: 2 sc, 1 inc (28 sts)
Row 5: 3 sc, 1 inc (35 sts)
Row 6: 4 sc, 1 inc (42 sts)
Rows 7-9: Sc even
Row 10: 1 dec, 4 sc (35 sts)
Row 11: 1 dec, 3 sc (28 sts)
Row 12: 1 dec, 2 sc (18 sts)

Body

Make magic ring
Row 1: 7 sc in ring
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc (14 sts)
Row 3: 1 sc, 1 inc (21 sts)
Row 4: 2 sc, 1 inc (28 sts)
Row 5: 3 sc, 1 inc (35 sts)
Row 6: 4 sc, 1 inc (42 sts)
Row 7: 5 sc, 1 inc (49 sts)
Row 8-13: sc even
Row 14: 1 dec, 5sc (42 sts)
Row 15: sc even
Row 16: 1 dec, 4 sc (35 sts)
Row 17: 1 dec, 3 sc (28 sts)
Row 18: sc even
Row 19: 1 dec, 2 sc (21 sts)
Row 20: 1 dec, 5 sc (18 sts) Leave a tail for sewing.

Legs (Make 2)

Make magic ring
Row 1: 6 sc in ring
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc (12 sts)
Row 3-8: sc even. After row 8, do another 6 sts, technically half more of a row. Leave a tail for sewing.

Arms (Make 2)

Make magic ring
Row 1: 6 sc in ring
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc (12sts)
Row 3-12: sc even. After row 12, do another 6 sts extra half around. Leave tail for sewing to body.

Ears (Make 2)

Make magic ring
Row 1: 4 sc in ring
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc (8 sts)
Row 3: 3 sc, 1 inc (10 sts)
Row 4: 4 sc, 1 inc (12 sts). Leave tail for sewing.




Fish (optional)

Make magic ring
Row 1: 4 sc in ring
Row 2: 2 sc in each sc (8 sts)
Row 3: 3 sc, 1 inc (10 sts)
Row 4: 4 sc, 1 inc (12 sts)
Row 5-12: sc even
Row 13: 1 dec, 4 sc (10 sts)
Row 14: 1 dec, 3 sc (8 sts)
Row 15: dec around (4 sts)
Row 16: Tail row- 2 sc in each st (8 sts)

Assembly

Stuff head and body firmly and sew together opening to opening. Stuff the arms and legs lightly, mostly just the paw and very little in the limb. Sew on legs straight out so the cat will sit. Sew on the beckoning arm either on the right or left. There are various interpretations of what this means. Usually the right arm beckoning is to bring good luck and wealth so I go with that. For the raised arm, the extra 6 sts go towards the bottom of the cat and on the other arm, those extra sts are at the top. Sew on the ears without stuffing. Traditionally these are Japanese bobtail cats so I don’t add a tail but you can if you like.

I embroider the faces with either crewel yarn or embroidery floss. My method for doing this is to knot the end of the yarn and go in an inch or so from the place I want the stitches to start and bring the needle up there, tugging the knot through the crocheting and into the stuffing. This has held up well for me. I end the same way by going out from my embroidery an inch or so, tying and knot and going back into the same spot to bury the knot.

The paws have stitches that go around and through to divide into 4 claws. On the beckoning hand, I fold down that tip of the paw, after it has been divided with claws and sew it down from underneath so those stitches don’t show.
These are royal cats so they need lots of embellishments such as bibs, bells, coins, ribbons and beads... whatever you like. The fish is a Lucky Tai and represents plenty.

Have fun making and enjoying your Maneki Neko! Please send me photos of fortune cats you make.