I gifted these to a friend of mine  a few weeks ago.  I managed to forget to take a pic of them finished though.  Here are some progress shots.  The pdf has three of the patterns shown in the pick.  I started with the ruffled rib, but it looked funny so I switched to the cable rib socks. 




I broke the tip off one of the needles and one of them developed a curve which still worked but felt weird.  I sent Brittany Needles an email and they sent me three more needles.  I must send them a thank you email! 

Pattern: IK Better-than-Booties Baby Socks cable rib
Yarn: Dale Baby Ull #2203
Needles: 2.5mm dpns

I am not sure if anyone else has posted about this so I will.  I was reading Crazy Aunt Purl today and noticed her link to a yarn shop's blog asking for 8"x8" knitted or crocheted blocks in maroon, burnt orange, white, and black to make quilts for victims and their families.  There are more details on the blog.  I intend to make one.  I think it will be a good chance for me to practice combined knitting!

I am making the cable rib baby socks from IK using this free pattern.  The pattern starts on the second page in the right column and the chart for the cable rib is below it.  First of all, I have never knit from a chart before and second I don't understand the directions for one of the symbols.  I am having trouble with the third line down, last two boxes on the right. 

The directions say

1/1 RC: k2tog, then knit first st again,then slip both sts off needle

So what I did was k2tog but I didn't drop it off the needle and knitted the first stitch of the k2tog then slid both of the stitches off the needle.  Does that sound right 

Also, I am sure this is out there somewhere, but I figure since I am asking one question I might as well as two.  What do the numbers to the right of the chart mean?

Thanks in advance!

This is my first pair of socks. 


Pattern: Widdershins
Yarn: Plymouth Sockotta #6673

I started in the same place in the yarn pattern for both socks, but they still turned out slightly different.   I think I bound off one slightly tighter than the other, but they both stay up!

I have two sweaters I want to knit, one for me one for the BF, but they both require zippers.  I do not own a sewing machine but I am considering buying one.  What would be a good yet affordable machine for a novice?  Also, are there any good tutorials out there for installing zippers? 

Thanks in advance!

Edited due to new info I found!:

Check out Grumperina's tutorial for putting in her zipper for her Brilliant Retro.  She nicely describes how to make the zipper not buckle and has a link to another detailed tutorial. 
http://www.grumperina.com/knitblog/archives/2007/02/closing_the_bri.htm