Double Reversible Knitting

I have been knitting since I was in sixth grade.  I have made thousands of items from small dishcloths to complicated Norwegian sweaters which I had to steek and Aran cable garments.  I have used thin fingering yarn to thick bulky yarn.  I was becoming bored with it because I like a challenge, and I really don't like to make the same thing twice.  I do make things over and over again, but I would prefer not to.  I surprised myself this winter when I learned a new technique.  I needed some warmer mittens.  I seldom knit for myself, but I thought I would quickly make some for when the weather is really cold like it is getting now.  I have made double mittens in the past where you actually knit two mittens connected at the cuff and tuck one section into the other.  This method makes a really warm double mitten.  While looking for a pattern, I came across another process for achieving the same results.  I was familiar with double knitting and even bought a pattern a few years ago, but the instructions were not that precise.  I forgot about it and never attempted it.  The pattern I now found was very easy.  They are double and reversible.

http://douglask.fog.org/home/douglas-crafting-pages/reversible-twice-as-warm-mittens

My first attempt at this pattern made a huge mitten.  They are double thick so they look big but this was too big.  Rather than adjust the number of stitches, I just used knitting needles that were two sizes smaller.  Instead of a size 6 needle, I used size 4's.  It made a mitten that was just right for me.  Basically you can use any mitten pattern, but after the cuff is made, you have to increase each stitch so you have twice as many stitches. 

To get familiar with the stitch it may be helpful to cast on fifty stitches or so.  You knit the first stitch, bring the yarn to the front as if to purl but instead of purling the stitch, you slip it with the yarn in front, put the yarn to the back and knit the next stitch.  Just repeat this across the row making sure that your last stitch is a slip stitch and your first stitch is a knit stitch.  Repeat this pattern back and forth and your knitting will not have a back side but will look knit on both sides.

You can see the outside of the mitten and the inside of the mitten look the same.  It would be perfect for a scarf because you could knit every row but you wouldn't have one smooth side and one bumpy side. 

I am so happy I learned this new technique.  I will use it often.  I guess you are never too old to learn.  I also discovered there are many different ways to cast on stitches and bind off.  I just have to broaden my horizons. 

Beating Winter Boredom By Knitting a Doggie Sweater

For the past two weeks or more it has been bitter cold here in Wisconsin.  Fortunately today we reached temperatures near 30 degrees with even warmer temperatures predicted for the next few days.  We haven't had much snow because it's too cold to snow.  I don't know if that is a proven weather fact, but it seems to be true. 

The days tend to get long for me in the winter because it is dark in the morning when I get up, and it  gets dark early in the evening. However, the days seem to be getting a little longer.  It is 4:36 pm and it is still light out.  My husband rather enjoys getting comfortable and cozy in his recliner.  He reads, plays computer games, researches whatever he has on his mind and watches TV.  He gets up occasionally to stoke the fire or to go outside for more firewood.  I am not so content.  I'm not a snuggler, and I get antsy pretty easy.  I may not accomplish that much but I need to move a lot more than him.  I also tend to snack more than he does.  That is not a good thing.

I decided that I needed a project.  Nobody in my family needs any more knitted or crocheted items.  We have more hats, scarves and mittens than we need.  I have been knitting for charity, but I needed a break from that.  I told you I get bored easily.  I thought that I would make sweaters for our granddogs, Piper and Bandit.  I found a pattern in Free-KnitPatterns.com.  It was in the side bar on my facebook page.  It's a little creepy that they knew I was looking for something to knit.

This is the final sweater.  Bandit is a small dog, but I thought I would start with a medium size.  I figured it would fit one of the dogs.  If it was too big for Bandit, then it would fit Piper.   As it turned out, the medium fit Bandit perfectly.  I used yarn that I have in my stash so it didn't cost anything.  I also made it a little shorter than it called for.  I didn't want him peeing on his new sweater.  I think he is adorable, and he didn't chew it off so maybe he likes it too.

Now I have to make another one for Piper.  It was fun to make something a little different from a pattern I had never used before.  I will post a picture of her when I get it finished.  Winter will be over soon enough and then I can complain about being too hot.  There is no pleasing some people, namely me.

Knit a Scarf and Fingerless Gloves

Every year we either adopt a family for Christmas or some how contribute to a cause or person.  This year we decided to help out a person who fell on hard times.  It is harder and harder for some people to recover in today's society, so a little help is important.  Some people think the harder you work, the more you succeed.  That isn't always the case.  Some of the hardest workers I know, struggle the most.   Sometimes it takes a little luck and some help from others.

While out looking for some basic gifts, we decided a scarf and mittens would probably be useful.  As unbelievable as it sounds, a nice scarf and mitten set are not that easy to find for a good price.  I did find some cashmere scarves for a lot of money but figured we could buy a lot of stuff for the cost of one scarf.  I decided to go home and make a set.

I went down into my stash of yarn and came up with 4 skeins of white worsted weight yarn.  Who knows how old it is but it seemed in good shape.  Then I started knitting.

The scarf in progress.

Easy Scarf Pattern

Using two strands of worsted weight yarn held together and a size 11 knitting needle, I cast on 26 stitches.

Row 1:  Knit 3, purl 2, knit 2, purl 2, knit 8, purl 2, knit 2, purl 2, knit 3
Row 2:  Purl 3, knit 2, purl 2,  knit 2, purl 8, knit 2, purl 2, knit 2, purl 3
Row 3:  Knit 3, purl 2, knit 2, purl 2, knit 8, purl 2, knit 2, purl 2, knit 3
Row 4:  Purl 3, knit 2, purl 2,  knit 2, purl 8, knit 2, purl 2, knit 2, purl 3
Row 5:  Knit 3, purl 2, knit 2, purl 2, knit 8, purl 2, knit 2, purl 2, knit 3
Row 6:  Purl 3, knit 2, purl 2,  knit 2, purl 8, knit 2, purl 2, knit 2, purl 3
Row 7:  Knit 3, purl 2, knit 2, purl 2, *cable on 8 stitches, purl 2, knit 2, purl 2, knit 3
Row 8:  Purl 3, knit 2, purl 2,  knit 2, purl 8, knit 2, purl 2, knit 2, purl 3

*Make cable by slipping 4 stitches onto a cable needle and hold in back of the work, knit 4 stitches and then knit the 4 stitches from the cable needle.

This is a cable needle

Repeat these 8 rows until the scarf is as long as you want it.  I did 30 repeats.

As a helpful hint, I wrote down the rows I needed to do the cable.  They are rows 7, 15, 23, 31, 39, 47, 55, 63, 71, 79, 87, 95, 103, 111, 119, 127, 135, 143, 151, 159, 167, 175, 183, 191, 199, 207, 215, 223, 231 and 239

There are different styles of row counters for knitting and crocheting including writing a hash mark for each row on paper, but I used a hand tally counter like they use to count people.  It worked great.

Next I needed some gloves or mittens.  I decided that fingerless gloves are popular now.  People like to have their fingers available to use their smartphones.  I have blogged a couple fingerless glove patterns in the past so I made a variation of them.

Fingerless Gloves

This pattern also uses two strands of Worsted Weight yarn held together and four double pointed size 9 knitting needles.

Cast on 28 stitches divided on three double pointed needles.  Knit a 2 x 2 rib for 2 1/2 inches (approx. 13 rows).

Round 1:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2,  knit around.
Round 2:  Repeat round 1
Round 3:  Repeat round 1
Round 4:  knit 2, purl 2, Cable* on 6 stitches, purl 2, knit around
Round 5 - 11:   Repeat round 1
Round 12:   Repeat round 4

*Make cable by slipping 3 stitches onto a cable needle and hold in back of the work, knit 3 stitches and then knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle.

Round 13:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, knit 1, place marker, increase in next two stitches (4 sts) , place marker to begin gusset, knit 13
Round 14:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, knit 1, slip marker, knit 4, slip marker, knit 13
Round 15:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, knit 1, slip marker, increase, knit 2, increase (6 sts), slip marker, knit 13
Round 16:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, knit 1, slip marker, knit 6, slip marker, knit 13
Round 17:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, knit 1, slip marker, increase, knit 4, increase (8 sts), slip marker, knit 13
Round 18:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, knit 1, slip marker, knit 8, slip marker, knit 13
Round 19:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, knit 1, slip marker, increase, knit 6, increase (10 sts),  slip marker, knit 13
Round 20:  knit 2, purl 2, Cable, purl 2, knit 1, slip marker, knit 10, slip marker, knit 13
Round 21: knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, knit 1, slip marker, knit 10, slip marker, knit 13
Round 22:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, knit 1, slip marker, knit 10, slip marker, knit 13
Round 23:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, knit 2, bind off 8 stitches, knit 14
Round 24:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, knit 1, closing the thumb hole gap.  It's easiest to cast on two extra stitches. finish row in knitting
Round 25:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, finish row in knitting
Round 26:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, finish row in knitting
Round 27:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, finish row in knitting
Round 28:  knit 2, purl 2, Cable on 6 sts, purl 2, knit around
Round 29:  knit 2, purl 2, knit 6, purl 2, knit around
Round 30:  knit 13, knit next two stitches together (dec), knit 13, knit next two stitches together (dec)
Round 31-34:  knit 2, purl 2
Bind off all the stitches (28 sts.)
Weave in the tails.

Now you have to make a 2nd fingerless glove reversing the rounds.  Instead of making the cable section on the first needle make it on the third needle.  If you eliminate the cable pattern then both gloves can be made the same.

If you are a knitter and need a quick gift, this is perfect.  This is my pattern adapted from other projects I have made.  I hope the instructions are clear.  I included as much detail as I could.  It only took 10 oz. of yarn and is very quick to knit.  I made these in 3 evenings while watching TV.  You could make a cowl by connecting the ends of the scarf. 

Let's Make A Pair Of Mittens

As most of you know, I am a knitter.  I taught myself to knit from a Learn To Knit book when I was in sixth grade.

I did need some help learning to purl from my long time friend's mom.  Wendy, I still remember the light bulb moment when she showed me.  It took thirty seconds, but made everything click for me.  My first project was mittens on four double pointed needles.  I remember they were blue, and I was very proud.  Now I am seeing on Facebook and through other knitting sites they offer instructional videos for $39.99.  I find it hard to believe people will pay that much for something I could learn by myself as a child.

There are two schools of thought for knitters.  One type I call knitting purists.  They will only use super valuable yarn, buy designer patterns and spend tons of money on a project.  I guess they think their time is worth so much more than I do.  I agree that money can be invested in a classic sweater that will remain in style and last a lifetime.  I also believe if you are a hard to fit person, perhaps making an item that is custom fit is necessary.  For the most part, I belong to the other school.  I believe knitting is therapeutic and fun.  It should be made for the least amount of money possible.  I buy yarn on sale,  at thrift stores and garage sales from people who buy expensive yarn and then donate it when the project doesn't work out.  Why make a pair of kids mittens (which will most likely get lost) for $12 when you can buy a pair for 99 cents or make them for 50 cents.

For those who don't want to spend $40 on a video on how to make mittens, I am posting this little tutorial for free.  I hope you can follow my instructions.  Any type of knitting worsted weight yarn will work.  Recently at Joann fabrics I found a bag of mill end yarn.  Some of the colors were  NFL football team colors.  I found some orange and black self striping yarn which happens to be our grandson's school colors.  It did cost $7.98 but with some store discounts, I did get a couple dollars off.  There is 14 oz. in the bag which is quite a lot of yardage.   I have made two pair of mittens and a hat and only used half the yarn.

This is the packaging for the yarn and the 9" circular needles
 plus the double pointed needles I used. 

Classic Knitted Mittens for a Child

These mittens will fit a child about 8 to 10 years old.  Adjustments can be made for other sizes using the same general instructions.  There are a lot of patterns on the web.  For this pattern I used a size 3 and a size 5 needle.  I like using 9 inch stainless steel circular needles but using double pointed needles will also work.  In fact, you will need double pointed needles for the thumb and finishing off the top of the mitten.

I cast on with the larger needle (size 5) and then knit the stitches for the cuff with the smaller needle (size 3).  This gives the cast on some stretch and the cuff made with a smaller needle makes a snug fit around the wrist.

Begin by casting on 36 stitches.  Place a stitch marker and begin knitting Knit 2, Purl 2 around the row.  Continue placing the knit stitches over the knits and purl stitches over the purls.  This will make the ribbed cuff.  Knit in this manner for three inches or longer if you want the cuff to come up higher on the wrist so it fits under the coat cuff.

This is the knit 2, purl 2 ribbing, but knit 1, purl 1 would also work.

Switch to the larger needle (size 5 in this case) and begin knitting every stitch around.  Transfer marker on each row.  Knit even for three rows.  On row 4, slip the marker and increase on the first stitch of the row, then knit 1 stitch and increase in the next stitch.  Place another marker and finish knitting the row.  The stitches between the markers will be your thumb stitches.  Knit even around for rows 5 and 6.  On row 7, slip marker and increase on the first stitch of the row, then knit 3 and increase in the stitch before the next marker.  Continue in this manner of knitting two rows even and increasing every third row until you have 11 stitches between the markers.  Knit two more rows even.  You will have 44 stitches on your needle.

The thumb gore with the 11 stitches between the markers.

At this point the stitches between the markers are put on a holder to be worked later.  I use a piece of yarn because it's flexible.  A small safety pin or stitch holder would work but I like using the yarn.

Yellow yarn serving as a stitch holder.

Now place a marker, cast on two stitches and begin knitting around again on 35 stitches until the measurement from the top of cuff is 5 inches plus 3 inches for the cuff for a total of 8 inches.   The size of the mitten can be adjusted at this point.

Completed hand ready to be decreased and finished.

When the length of the hand is where you want it, it's time to decrease for the top of the mitten.  At this point I change to double pointed needles to accommodate the lesser number of stitches.

Finish using double pointed needles.

Row 1 of decrease:  (Knit 2 together, knit 2), knit 2 together, knit 2  repeat around.
Row 2 of decrease:  (Knit 2 together, knit 1), knit 2 together, knit 1 repeat around.
Row 3 of decrease:  Knit 2 together in succession around row.

Break off yarn and draw through remaining 9 stitches.  I usually run the yarn through two times and fasten off to the inside.

All that is left is finishing the thumb by using the double pointed needles again.  Tie on a new piece of yarn and put the stitches onto your double pointed needles that are being held on the yarn (11 stitches) plus 2 to 4 stitches from the area where you cast on stitches for the hand.  You may have a small hole which can be closed by pulling the yarn tighter or worse case sew it closed when finished.  I usually manage to knit those extra stitches tight enough to avoid a hole but either way works fine.

11 stitches on needle plus the picked up stitches.

Knit around the thumb until it is 1 1/2 inches long.  Rather than deal with knitting stitches on three needles, I just put them on two needles and knit around with the third.

To finish the mitten, decrease the stitches on the thumb by knitting 2 stitches together, knit 1, around the row.  Next knit 2 together in succession ending with 3 to 5 stitches.  Cut the yarn and draw through the stitches in the same manner as the top of the mitten.  Secure the yarn and fasten off.

Finishing the thumb

Weave all the loose ends and you have a mitten.  Now do it all again to make a pair.  There isn't a right or left.  Both mittens are made the same.  I have a suggestion for the striping yarn.  Try to start your cast on at the same color point in the yarn.  That way both mittens will somewhat match.  If you don't mind that your stripes don't match, then start the cast on anywhere.   Good Luck.

How To Make A Knitting Seam

Normally I don't get a lot of views to this blog.  It is mostly my kind Facebook friends and some family members.  I don't sell ads or use it to make money.  It is mostly a journal of this moment in my life.  We turn the blogs into hard covered books.  I imagine future generations won't believe how primitive ma and pa lived in the 21st century.  The blog I wrote for knitting a Christmas Stocking is the exception.  I have over 10,000 views to that blog.  People have asked some very good questions about knitting the stocking and knitting in general.  I am not an expert, unless knitting for over 50 years makes me one.

I usually knit in the round, if I can.  However, some things need to be knit flat and then sewn up.  One question I had was how to sew a neat looking seam.  In order to demonstrate that, I knit two small sample pieces.

The stitch in this sample is called the Stockinette stitch.  It is knit one row and purl one row when knitting flat.  Looking at it you can see the vertical rows that look like a crochet chain stitch, and the horizontal rows look the same only side by side.  These rows are connected by cross pieces that are created by knitting from stitch to stitch across the row.  I use these cross bars to seam two pieces together.  In the picture below you can see the hidden cross bars between the stitches.

To start seaming, I thread a yarn needle with matching yarn.  In this case I am using a contrasting thread to show how it's done.  It will be easier to see this way.

Put your needle under the first bar on the right side piece.

Under the bar on the right, then the left.

Working under a bar on the right, then under a bar on the left, continue back and forth as pictured.  Pull the the yarn tight to close the piece together as you continue.

Pull the yarn through on each side.

Continue until the seam is closed.

I used contrasting yarn but it can't be seen when finished.

Inside of seam looks like this, but the outside is nearly invisible.

I hope this helps those having trouble creating a smooth seam.  You can also pick up two bars on each side if you want a more relaxed seam.  Just be sure to do both sides the same or you won't come out even when you are finished.  

Knit A Helmet Hat

After a fairly mild, snow-free December, we are having a bitter cold start to January 2015.  Below zero temperatures are common throughout the area today and many schools are closed.  My middle grandchild, Sam, asked if I would make him a knit helmet hat.  I needed a project for our car trip to Michigan, so I grabbed my knitting needles and some yarn.  I put the supplies in the front seat with me and started to knit shortly after we began the trip.  Knitting in the car makes it easier for me to travel.  I am not a good traveler.  If we listen to a book and I knit, I can handle it.  I get car sick if I read, but for some reason I can knit.  A while ago, I blogged about making a skull cap.

 http://www.thecabincountess.com/2014/03/ribbed-knit-skull-cap.html

I took the ribbed skull cap pattern in the child size and modified it a little.  With a worsted weight yarn, I cast on 92 stitches.   I used a size 8 twelve inch circular needle but four double pointed needles would work.  I put a marker at the beginning of the row and knit 2, purl 2 around for seven inches, slipping the marker when I came to it.  You can adjust this length depending on how far you want neck coverage.  Next I made the face opening by knitting 30 stitches, binding off 31 stitches and finishing the round by knitting 31 stitches in the rib pattern to the marker.  The next row, I knit in the rib pattern the 30 stitches after the marker, then cast on 31 stitches (the same number I just bound off) and then finished that row.  Again I knit round and round on 92 stitches keeping in the rib pattern for about five more inches.  The piece is about twelve inches.  Now it is time to decrease for the top of the head.  This is not ribbed, it is just plain knit.  If using a circular needle you may have to switch to double pointed needles to finish the decreases as the number of stitches becomes less.

Row 1: Knit around
Row 2: Knit 2 together, knit 21, knit 2 together, knit 21, knit 2 together, knit 21, knit 2 together, knit 21. (4 decreases-88 stitches)
Row 3: Knit around
Row 4: Knit 2 together, knit 9, repeat across row (80 stitches)
Row 5: Knit around
Row 6: Knit 2 together, knit 8, repeat across row (72 stitches)
Repeat in this manner knitting one less stitch between decreases until 12 stitches remain.
Knit three together across leaving four stitches.  Cut yarn and pull tail through those 4 stitches and secure.  

This is NOT my grandson, but it is a really cool dude.

Side view of the helmet hat

Here Sam is modeling his helmet hat.  The reason he wanted it was that he was invited to a fisheree birthday party.  The term Fisheree may not be a familiar term for those who live outside Wisconsin.  A Fisheree is an ice fishing tournament.  Many communities who have a nearby lake host fisheree's in the winter when the ice is frozen thick enough to be safe.  They cut holes in the ice and fish.  I guess this kids birthday party will be an ice fishing fisheree party.  Sam is very excited about this and now his face will be warm.

Knit Some Slippers For A Last Minute Gift

It doesn't look like I am going to get one of the gifts I ordered.  I ordered two items from an online store.  I received one of them, but the other was backordered.  I am pretty sure I won't get it in time for Christmas.  I like to keep things even with the kids.   To keep the number of packages equal I decided to make these slippers, just in case.  They won't come close to the original gift, but it's better than nothing.  I took a knitted slipper pattern that I have made before.  I modified it a little.

Slippers (Will fit small adult)
Size can be changed with the number of stitches cast on.

On a size 10 knitting needle cast on (CO) 30 stitches with a double strand of worsted yarn

Knit 1, purl 1 across.

Repeat this ribbing row for 24 rows

I use a row counter to keep track of my rows knitted.

Change to double pointed needles, join and start knitting around for 6 more rounds in the ribbing pattern.  Total of 30 rows from start.

If you would rather not join to form a circle, you could continue to knit flat but then you would have to seam the top of foot and the toe.  

Form the toe with a plain knit stitch.  If you knit flat, you will have to knit across and purl back.  On double pointed needles you knit every round.  It is shown in the white area.  If you prefer to make a plain slipper, the rib stitch can be continued to the end of the toe.

Toe:
Row 1: k3, k2 tog., k 4, k2 tog., k 4, k2 tog., k 4, k2 tog., k 4, k2 tog. K2=26 stitches

Row 2-8 knit around

Row 9: K2 together around = 13 st.

Row 10: K2 together around plus 1 st. = 7 st.

Thread needle and pull through toe stitches and secure.

Fold in half and sew back heel seam.

Then with 3 double pointed needles or circular needle, pick up 42 stitches around the top of the slipper. This will make the cuff.  Knit 1, purl 1 around and be sure to place a marker to keep track of the rows.

Knit around for 24 rows and bind off.  If you want to do this flat, don't seam the back heel, pick up the stitches and knit cuff.  Then seam the back of heel and cuff.

This is the cuff shown using a 12 inch circular needle.

If you decide to put in a stripe remember the cuff folds over.

To do this stripe,  change color at the marker.  Purl around the whole row in contrasting color.  Slip the marker for the next row resume the rib pattern.  I did this three times before binding off.

After I added some stripes on the top of the cuff, I made some ears, sewed on buttons for eyes, and put on a red mouth.  This is what I got.....a sock monkey.

I need a little work on the mouth.

Piper's New Christmas Stocking

My daughter and her family have a cockapoo named Piper.  She was one year old this fall, so last Christmas she was only a few months old.  I didn't get around to making her a Christmas stocking last year, but I promised I would make her one before Christmas 2014.  Then I promptly forgot about it.  When the decorations came out for the season, there was no stocking for Piper.   They reminded me that she needed one to match the rest of the family.  The stores don't sell the exact yarn I used in the other stockings anymore, but fortunately I had enough left to do the job.  Hopefully I won't have any more stockings to make or I will be scrounging in thrift stores for another skein.  On Thursday, I thought I better get started.  After all, it's less than two weeks until Christmas.  I used the pattern I created in a previous blog except I charted out a doggie theme.  My dog looks a little strange, but I never claimed to be an artist.  The line by his butt is supposed to be a tail in case you were wondering.

http://www.thecabincountess.com/2013/10/my-basic-pattern-for-knitting-christmas.html

Piper puppy's new Christmas stocking.

These are the first three I made for the family.

Then Ewan was born and I needed a stocking for him.

His stocking before I put his name on.

Ewan's first Christmas.  I can't believe that was 4 years ago.

Boot Cuffs

A few days ago it was Thanksgiving Day.  We were invited out this year.  My son-in-law's parents were kind enough to include us in their family meal.  It was a wonderful time.  My daughter's mother-in-law has recently retired.  She has learned how to knit, so we had fun talking about knitting.  She showed me some of her new projects.  One thing she made were Boot Cuffs.  I am so out of touch, I didn't know what they were.  When we got home, I looked on ravelry.com and discovered they are very popular.  I found many styles and patterns.  So this past weekend, I pulled out some yarn and started knitting just to see how they looked.  I basically cast 56 stitches on a size 8 circular needle.  It was a 12 inch circular needle.  I did the knit 2, purl 2 ribbing stitch for 4 inches.  I would make it 6 inches long next time.  It is just a ribbed tube and took no time at all to make.  This is the final product.

Twelve inch circular knitting needle in a size 8.

It looks like I have a wool sock under my boot.

These turned out pretty well so I tried another style.  These are a little fancier.  They are done in crochet.  These took even less time.  I made them during the Green Bay Packer game yesterday.

For those who crochet, here is the free pattern.  It is called the Belmont Boot Topper.  It is on ravelry.com.  If you knit or crochet, it is a wonderful website.  If you can't find a pattern there, you may not find it anywhere.  I plan on making more and trying some different styles. 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/belmont-boot-toppers

I think I am a little old to wear this trendy style, but the ribbed style does add warmth.  Today we certainly needed all the warmth we could get.