Knit and Make a Difference for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children...

*****Note: Scroll down for mini sock pattern*****

Today, I want to write about something very special, and dear to my heart, and I am going to ask you for your knitting help.
When I was still in California, and working in my yarn shop, I met a wonderful woman named Kathleen, and her two daughters Victoria and Gabriella. Knitting brought us together, and then we became friends.

Kathleen suffers from progressive hearing loss, and because the condition can be inherited at birth, Kathleen had both girls tested, and the youngest one, Gabriella, tested positive. Kathleen has been a wonderful mother, creating the most supportive environment for her daughters, and working with school officials, and healthcare organizations to ensure her youngest daughter' s needs were met. In the process, she realized that resources for families of Deaf or Hard of Hearing children were few and far apart, and she decided to form a non-profit, DHH C.A.R.E.. She writes: " Being in the mainstream school like many hearing impaired kids they get scattered. Then there is no opportunities for them to get together for playdays and shared activities. Girls Scouts, Boy Scouts, soccer, softball. All these activities that may seem simple would be great for these Deaf and Hard of Hearing kids. Along with these things we would provide services to family members. What their rights are as a parent with a deaf child. Getting ASL (American Sign Language) classes, getting help with going to the dentist, doctors office and many other services. Raising a hearing child is VERY different from a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. I know from experience." (Kathleen's brand new blog is http://kwc-adventures.blogspot.com/).

Kathleen and I were talking about fund-raising for her non-profit, and we thought that you could help. All you need is left over sock yarn, your favorite needles, and you can even help if you have second sock syndrome! You do not have to knit matching socks, just unique little ones! Kathleen needs you to knit miniature socks, and send them to her or to me. She and I will apply your donated miniature socks to greeting cards, and raise funds for the children, by selling the cards through yarn stores.
Just think how easy it is to help, and how, one more time, knitters can make a difference in the world! Kathleen, and all the children and their families, who thanks to you will receive the support they need, thank you for your help with knitting the socks, and passing the message along to as many sock knitters as possible.

I designed this simple top down pattern for the project. I am assuming you already know how to knit socks, but if you do not, or need more detailed guidelines, let me know through the comments.

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Materials: left over sock yarn, circular or dpts size1
Gauge: 9 stitches/inch

Cast on 20 stitches, and divide stitches over your needles. Join the round. Knit for 1/2 inch in K1P1 rib, continue in stockinette stitch until the leg including the rib section is 1 1/2 inch long.

Heel flap: Work back and forth in stockinette stitch on 10 stitches only, while slipping the first stitch of every row as if to purl. Continue until heel flap is 1/2 inch long.

Heel Turn:
R1: slip 1 as if to purl knit 5, ssk, k1, turn
R2: Slip 1 as if to purl, purl 4, p2tog, p1 turn
R3: slip 1 as if to purl, knit 4, ssk, turn
R4: Slip 1 as if to purl, purl till last 2 stitches, p2tog, turn

Knit one row.

Pick up and knit 1 stitch in every slipped stitch
along heel flap, pick up 1 stitch at the intersection
of the heel flap and the instep, knit the instep
stitches pick up 1 stitch at the intersection
of the instep and heel flap, pick up and knit one
stitch per slipped stitch along the heel flap, knit
the 1/2 of the heel stitches. Your sock should be in profile, with either half of the stitches of each circular needle, or split over three dpts, and the beginning of the round should be at the center of the heel flap.

Shaping the gusset with circulars:
Place markers to separate the 10 gusset stitches ( knit till 5 sts are left on needle one, PM. On needle 2, knit 5, PM, knit to end.)
R1: knit to 3 stitches of the marker, K2tog, k1, slip
marker, knit to end of needle, go to second needle,
knit to the marker, slip marker, K1, SSK, knit to the
end of the needle.
R2:Knit
Repeat R1, and R2 until you are back to your original
number of stitches which is 20.

Shaping the gusset for dpts:
Do the above decreases at the end of needle one, and at the beginning of needle 3, alternating decrease round and even round.

Foot: Continue to knit in stockinette stitch without decreasing until the foot
of the sock is 1 3/4 inch.

Toe decreases for circulars:
R1: knit to 3 stitches of the marker, k2tog, k1, slip
marker, k1, ssk, knit to the end of the needle, repeat
the same decreases on the second needle.
R2: knit.
Repeat row 1 and 2 until 4 stitches are left on each
needle. Break yarn and with a darning needle gather
the remaining stitches.

Toe decreases for dpts:
Rename needles: With instep stitches on needle 1, 5 sole stitches on needle 2, and 5 sole stitches on needle 3.
R1:
needle 1: K1, ssk, knit to last three, k2tog, k1
Needle 2: K1, ssk, knit to end
Needle 3: knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
R2: knit
Proceed as for circular needles method.

Weave in ends.

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Send your finished socks to:
KWC c/o Sonia
9760 Brooks
> Road S. Windsor CA 95492