Category: Knitting

Mommy and Me Hats

2/19/2015

Matching Mom and Newborn Winter Hats... A Challenge.

So a friend of mine from work threw out a simple request to me, and it's been more of a challenge than anticipated. To make matching mommy and newborn baby hats. It's an adorable idea, however, a unique one , as there are few patterns out there that can be used this way. So, yet again, I gave up my slog through zillions of newborn patterns, and wrote my own... A pattern that I would want to wear, but that would still be adorable on a newborn. I liked the idea of a knitted stitch with lots of texture, to add interest without making the hat too busy. So I discovered the 'alternating dot stitch'. It's kind-of lacy without adding giant holes to the fabric... Perfect! So, I knitted up my test hat, and it SHOULD fit a newborn perfectly (but I don't have a newborn to test it on). It knits up to fit a 12-14" circumference head, and has enough length to have the brim flipped up (so it can be worn for a little longer as baby grows). So... here is the pattern kids! Now to make the Mommy version!!!

For Newborn Hat:
Using US size 6 circular needles and Caron simply soft yarn (or any worsted weight yarn) cast on 64. Join in the round, do not twist. Knit in 1x1 twisted rib for 10 rounds (brim should be about 1inch wide). Change needles to size 8. Start alternating dot stitch…
Row 1: knit
Row 2: k1, p1 around
Row 3: knit
Row 4: p1, k1 around
*** Do 7 sets of these first 4 rows. Should measure approx. 5" when completed. ***

To start decrease rounds:
Row 1: k6, k2tog around
Row 2: k1, p1 around
Row 3: k5, k2tog around
Row 4: p1, k1 around
Row 5: k4, k2tog around
Row 6: k1, p1 around
Row 7: k3, k2tog around
Row 8: p1, k1 around
Row 9: k2, k2tog around
Row 10: k1, p1 around
Row 11: k1, k2tog around

Cut a long tail and draw yarn through remaining stitches, bring to inside of hat and weave in tail.
Then as Stephen West would say, "Pom pom it!".
Mommy pattern still in progress....

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Simple Snood

1/12/2015

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A Snood... plus making your own bulky weight yarn!

I made this with an Alpaca/Wool blend that I picked up at the craft store... It was a super quick project, and it doesn't require a pattern. Just go with the flow I say! For this one, I cast on a solid 28 - 32 stitches on my 19mm straight needles (MASSIVE NEEDLES), using 2 strands of chunky weight yarn held together. I just knit back and forth in garter stitch until I ran close to being out of yarn, then bound off and seamed together (without a twist of course. A twist would make it an infinity cowl, not a snood!!). It's fun to just forget the pattern sometimes, and just knit. If you want to make a bulky weight project (like this one) but only have worsted weight yarn, just hold multiple strands of yarn together! Bulky weight yarn tends to be pretty expensive. Worsted weight yarn is not only cheaper, but there are often discounts for buying multiple balls of the same kind, and you get way more yardage per ball!

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Local Yarn

1/11/2015

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The Alberta-Tillamook Cabled Hat

I know I write a lot about sourcing local products... but here I go again anyway! I found a wonderful little mill located in Carstairs, Alberta, who spins and dyes local fibres into beautiful yarn, at a really great price! I bought 3 skeins of different kinds of yarn from them, and finally completed my first project made with their yarn! This one is the Prairie Wool Lopi Softspun, and it comes in 33 beautiful colours. This one is called Jade Heather, and is a stunning turquoise with flecks of pink and purple. It's 100% Dorset sheep wool, and it's not the slightest bit itchy and very warm (but will bother someone with sheep-wool sensitive skin). I encourage all of my friends to check out their website, customwoolenmills.com, and browse all of their lovely yarns. I'm very happy with how this hat knitted up (natural wool is the BEST for cabled knitting). The pattern is free on Ravelry, and is called the Tillamook Cabled Hat. I made it a bit slouchier than the pattern called for, so you can wear it with the ribbed brim folded up or left as is for a slouchier look.

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Knits to Snuggle With

11/28/2014

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A Shawl and a Scarf... Versatility Baby!

I joined a yarn club for my fave alpaca yarn, and it's been keeping me busy. Last month I received a stunning turquoise blue and purple hand-dyed skein, and it needed to be made into something extra beautiful.

I used a free pattern off of Ravelry called the 'Simple Luxury Scarf', and just adjusted my needle size to the weight of my yarn. The shawl turned out gorgeous, and the pattern really allowed the colours of the yarn to shine.

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Versatility Knitting

11/18/2014

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The Hooded Cowl

I am still looking for multi-purpose knits to create, and what better than to take something as cozy as a cowl, and add a hood?!? I'm just imagining those winter days where the wind and snow seems to just appear out of the blue, leaving you wishing you had a hat laying around. I'm using the Failynn Fox Cowl Pattern as a very rough guideline for this hooded wonder. That's the great thing about great patterns though... they can be adapted to make a million different things. I used two strands of golden Homespun yarn, and my now well-used 15mm circular needles, to whip this up in just one day. I'm smitten. Hope you are too.

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Versatility Knitting

11/17/2014

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Knits... Adapted

I've been loving the boot cuff trend... It looks like everyone's walking around with cozy knit cabled socks on! Then I found some 2 colour boot cuffs on Etsy... What a brilliant idea! 2 cuffs for the price of one! The pattern I found on Ravelry is a reversible cable pattern, which adds even MORE diversity in how they can be worn, because they can be folded over your boots, or left up. I'm in LOVE with this idea! Inspired, I also made a neck warmer for my niece, that can be folded and worn as an ear warmer (I haven't pinned Lauren down to get photos of that one yet!). I'm inspired to see what other knit items I can make more versatile...

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Free Knitting Pattern

11/9/2014

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Broken Rib Cowl

Finding a pattern for a chunky infinity cowl, with no seams is difficult. Strangely difficult. I hate seams. They're difficult to do, and even when done well, they're kinda ugly. So, I made my own pattern yesterday... and it turned out really well. So I've decided to share it with you (and If you're not a knitter I'd be happy to make one for you)! It's called a broken rib cowl because of the stitch it's made of, and it makes it textured and fully reversible... with NO SEAMS!!!

double wrapped... it's mega warm

single wrap for shawl-like wearability.

Broken Rib Infinity Cowl Pattern
You will need:
2 skeins of extra bulky yarn
15mm circular needles

Using long tail cast on method, cast on 70 stitches onto your circular needles. Normally you would ensure the yarn is not twisted when joining... (If you want a loop cowl not an infinity cowl this is what you would do). Join with a single twist in the yarn (take the end of the joining side, the side with no yarn ends, and turn it up and over the needle one time). Place marker, knit all the way around. Second round, Knit one, Purl one the entire way around. Row 3 knit all the way around, Row 4 Knit one, purl one all the way around. etc... Just repeat row one and row two until you've used up almost 2 balls of yarn or until it's the desired width (This one, for reference, is 14 inches wide). Bind off and weave in ends. Taa-daa!!!

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Knits for the Cold

10/31/2014

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Should I Start an Etsy Shop?

I've been working on making my own patterns. I just haven't found the right patterns lately (as in, the past week). So, I made the coordinating mittens to the snowflake cable beret without a pattern. I think they turned out beautifully, and not so matchy-matchy that they look silly. Because they, and the hat, are made from high-end local alpaca, the hat is $75, and the mittens are $50. If purchased together, I will apply a 15% discount. I also made a chunky grey cowl out of acrylic yarn (soft and machine washable), which is $35 (also made without a pattern). I made a pair of short cabled, multi-coloured boot cuffs, which are also $35. I will post them in my shop soon, but I am debating just starting an Etsy shop. I would love to hear everyones feedback about which you would prefer: the shop as currently attached to my website, or a separate Etsy shop. Thanks for your feedback, and support!

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Winter Knits

10/23/2014

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Snowflake Cable Hat

The challenge of matching the perfect yarn (colour, weight, and fibre) with the perfect pattern, can sometimes make me crazy... Not this time! I found this pattern for free on Ravelry, and although a challenging cabling project, it was MADE for the hand-dyed pure alpaca yarn that I had stashed away. The pattern is called 'Cable Top Cap' by Susan Mills, and the yarn is called Tranquil Waters by A to Z Alpacas. I think might sell this hat, but I feel like I should make a coordinating pair of mittens or fingerless gloves to go with it first. If you might be interested in this item, with or without matching mitts, please let me know!

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Oh the Irony

10/10/2014

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Moose Hunting Beanie

I understand that it is perhaps hard to understand why a vegetarian would make a hunting hat. I actually have no problem at all with hunting. My husband, his family, and most of my friends are all hunters. It's not something I am personally capable of doing, but I respect the idea of living off the land. Organic, free range animals, that have lived healthy lives in the wild... I certainly think its the way to go if you are going to eat meat. SO, in honour of all those hunters heading out this fall, and for my husbands strong family tradition of Moose meat and macaroni suppers, I knitted up this hat. I'd love to hear your thoughts, and happy Thanksgiving weekend everyone!