[Generic sock pattern]

It looks simple enough, but note that you'll have to use a thin sock yarn (or end up with huuuuge socks).

Too short needles will make it trickier to keep the stitches on the needle, too long needles will make it a bit more awkward to knit with. Longer needles can hold more stitches (obviously) so if you'd like to knit bigger things later or plan to knit huge socks you might want a longer set.

Generic sock pattern (you'll just need a measuring tape and a calculator)
Measure how long your foot is (L) and the circumference around it (C). Knit a swatch to determine how many stitches per cm or stitches per inch you knit. Swatch in the round for a more accurate measurement.

1) around your foot (cm or inches) times stitches per cm or inch
__________ x _____________ = __________

2) Now calculate 10% of 1)
______/10 =______

3) The amount of stitches to cast on = 1) - 2) (round up or down to an even number)

If you'd like a particular rib or pattern you have to fudge the numbers up or down to fit. If I, for example, want the rib of doom on my sock I need to make sure the number of stitches is evenly divided by 6.

4) Number of stitches for the heel flap is half of 3)
_______/2 = ________

When you turn the heel you'll divide the stitches (4) in three parts. If 4) isn't evenly divided by 3 you can put fewer stitches in the middle part, just make sure the outer parts are similar (for 34 stitches you could divide them 12-10-12 for example)

The three parts: 5)_________ 6)___________ 7)_________

Now the fun begins!
CO _______ (3) stitches and divide them on 3 or 4 dpns. I like to use 4. Most socks begin with a few cm of k1p1 rib and later switch to another rib or to plain stockinette. Just don't start with plain stockinette since that will make the sock curl. Work the leg of the sock until you feel it's long enough. Take notes if you'd like to make the other sock identical...

You will now start knitting the heel flap. Slip the first stitch, then knit until you've worked half of your total stitches (4), then turn your work, slip the first stitch and purl all the way back. Keep working in stockinette starting every row with a slipped stitch. Work for (4) rows or until the heel flap looks like it's long enough.

For a reinforced heel: slip 1, knit 1 (repeat across) instead of knitting every other row. You'll have to knit some more rows in order to get a long enough heel flap, but it will be worth it.

Turning the heel (you're starting a knit row):
Note: keep slipping the first stitch on every row.
Knit 2/3 of the heel stitches (5+6), k2 tog, k1 TURN (yes, there are still unknit stitches, don't worry, watch the video at knittinghelp.com)
Slip first stitch, then purl (6)+1 stitches, p2tog, p1 TURN
Keep shaping the heel by knitting until you're one stitch away from the place you last turned (it looks like a gap) knit or purl two together and knit or purl once more before turning. Knit on the knit side, purl on the purl side.
Keep going until you've knitted all the poor neglected stitches and stop when you're about to start a knit row.

Slip 1 and knit all stitches on the heel flap, pick up and knit as many stitches you need from the side of the heel flap. Take note of this number, you'll want to pick up the same number from the other side. I'd rather pick up one too many than end up with holes, but it's up to you.

Keep knitting on the needles you left when starting the heel flap and then pick up and knit along the other edge. Rearrange stitches on needles in a way that suits you.

You'll now decrease every other row to get back to the number of stitches you started out with. This is how I do it:

Knit heel flap stitches and then knit all but two edge stitches, k2tog. Knit the stitches on top of the foot, slip first edge stitch, knit the next then pass the slipped stitch over the knitted. Knit the next row and decrease again on the row after that.

There are better explanations on how to decrease properly out there... Sorry, getting a bit tired...

When you're back to the original amount of stitches you'll simply need to keep going until the sock is nearly long enough and then decrease for the toe.

I like to knit socks with superwashed wool (so I won't accidentally felt them when I wash them). I'm not very fond of cotton since it's slippery and not fun to knit with. Try a wool yarn with a bit of acrylic in it maybe?

When I first started to play with dpns I bought simple wooden ones. I just played around with them, knitting short tube-things that I decorated with beads = bracelets. I think it really helped to have done that when I started my first sock.

At the moment I only use metal dpns since I've realised I knit very tightly. Sure, wood or bamboo can be nice in the beginning since it grips the yarn, but if you knit tightly it will slow you down instead.

Socks from thick-ish yarn is great to start with. My first was the international sock of doom from sock wars and it was a great pattern. You could also try baby socks or childrens socks as a first project. You'll get to try out every part of sock knitting but since it's a small project it will be a quick knit.

I'd be interested, I think, and sending a cop of the receipt sounds reasonable. How many cards will each person send?

This weekend I bought a small air tight plastic box. I'm still not sure if I can justify hiding it somewhere in the great outdoors or if I should take one of the old plastic lunch boxes that are starting to look worn...

I think I could make a small journal for the box too as long as I keep it simple. The stamp is teh biggest problem so far. I asked in the craft shop but they didn't have anything to carve, just some kind of colourful stuff I could cut and glue to something. I want to carve... I guess I could just look for unused erasers around the house.

I hope my first swap package will arrive in time for me to join this swap.

I'm glad you feel a bit better. We all need to vent from time to time... I'm glad I gave myself a deadline before the deadline because I didn't finish in time for it. But... I'll nail the real deadline

*bounces up and down*
I'm doooone! I'm finally done! I couldn't resist making a last little thing to add to one of my items, but I'm done.

And this is when my camera decides to die. I'm recharging it as I write but tomorrow this baby is going to be mailed. Wohooo! *dances the "first swap package ever"-dance*

I've seen a stuffed bunny made from a rectangular knitted piece.

My first proect ever was a pig (of my own design). I used grey and black yarn to knit a rectangle with a black spot in the middle. I think my teacher helped me a bit with the black part... I then sewed it up like a tube, stuffed it and closed the ends. It now resembled a squishy sausage. My teacher helped me to crochet a curly tail and I sewed triengular pieces of soft leather (I think) on as ears. Green buttons for eyes, and it was all done

I collected pigs at that time so of course I wanted to make a pig when we had to try knitting in school. Let her invent a design and help her just enough to make it. She'll be hooked on knitting after that.

Rib-stitches are your friend! They can be adapted to any feet. I like to knit socks where the entire leg and top of the foot is ribbed since that should fit most people. If you pick a k2p2 or k3p3 rib it shouldn't distract too much, even with a self striping yarn.

My advice would be to find a pattern for baby socks, or a pattern that uses a thicker yarn. It will be easier and a quicker knit and after that it's much less frightening to tackle a full sized sock or to knit one in thinner yarn.

Looks like the rate limiting step for me will be to buy stamps. I've got already the goodies and the padded envelope and LOADS of packing tape All I need is 13 or so stamps... I plan to leave a bit earlier than I usually do tomorrow and see if I can find a place that sells stamps.

You could go as a lamp instead. I made a simple lamp costume for spirit day at school and I got "turn on" and other related jokes thrown after me all day...

I bought a big lamp shade from a thrift store and added ribbond to tie it under my chin and some padding from an old helmet to make it stay on comfortably. I also wore a electrical cord dangling like a tail and other than that just plain black clothes.

Could that work? It all depends on finding that perfect shade of course...