Welcome to the World Caps

One of the greatest pleasures of knitting is in the gifting.  We love making and giving things to people in our lives that we care about.  Handmade items are infused with love and caring and it makes the giver and the receiver feel cared for and appreciated.  Recently one of our friends told us about an effort she's involved in in Africa to provide new mothers with baby caps for their newborns.  Her colleague in this effort will be traveling to Africa next month and I would love to be able to give her some caps to take with her.  I thought this would be a great way for us to give-- it's a small effort that would mean so much.  Next Wednesday, March 2nd at Knit Night I will have 2 free patterns for baby hats, we will teach you to knit a hat if you don't know how, and all the Cash Vero, Dolly and Baby Night yarn will be 20% off. 

The pattern for the knit-in-the-round hat is included in this blog post, but will be available for you next Wednesday at the shop.  I have a pattern for a flat hat too in a knitted and crocheted version.  If you'd prefer that one, you can pick it up anytime.

Feel free to bring appropriate yarn for a baby hat if you have some you'd like to use and the right size needles.

This hat is from Nona Knits She has a wonderful website and I've stolen the title of this blog post from her pattern.

Welcome to the World Hat

To Fit
Newborn Baby 
Finished Size
Circumference: 11.25 inches; Height: 5.5 inches
Gauge
This pattern is written for two gauges:

• 20 stitches in 4 inches if using worsted weight yarn
• 22 stitches in 4 inches if using DK yarn

Yarn & Needles
When choosing your yarn, remember that most programs ask for non-wool yarn and prefer blue and pink.

• Worsted Weight -- any yarn with a gauge of 18 – 20 stitches in 4 inches.   Approximately 55 yards required.  Use US 6 double pointed needles (or size required to get a gauge of 20 stitches in 4 inches).
   
• DK Weight --  any yarn with a gauge of 22 – 24 stitches in 4 inches.  Approximately 60 yards required.  Use US 5 double pointed needles (or size required to get a gauge of 22 stitches in 4 inches).

Abbreviations

k2tog -- knit two stitches together

Directions
Please Note:  When two numbers are given, the first number is for worsted weight yarn and the second number in []’s is for DK weight yarn.

Cast on 56 [64] stitches onto 3 needles as follows:  16 [16] stitches onto needle one, 16 [24] stitches onto needle two, and 24 [24] stitches onto needle three.

Join into the round, being careful not to twist. 

Round 1:  *k2, p2* to end of round.
Work in 2x2 ribbing by repeating Round 1 until hat measures 1.5 inches from cast on edge.
Switch to stockinette stitch (knit all rounds) and continue until hat measures 4.5 inches from cast on edge.

Crown Shaping
Decrease top of hat as follows:

Round 1: *k6, k2tog* repeat to end of round => 49 [56] stitches remaining
Round 2: *k5, k2tog* repeat to end of round => 42 [48] stitches remaining
Round 3: knit
Round 4: *k4, k2tog* repeat to end of round => 35 [40] stitches remaining
Round 5: *k3, k2tog* repeat to end of round => 28 [32] stitches remaining
Round 6: knit
Round 7: *k2, k2tog* repeat to end of round => 21 [24] stitches remaining
Round 8: *k1, k2tog* repeat to end of round => 14 [26] stitches remaining
Round 9: *k2tog* repeat to end of round => 7 [8] stitches remaining

Break off yarn.  Using blunt needle, thread yarn through stitches and pull to tighten.  Weave in all ends.

 

Thank you Carol, and Nona and all of you for participating in this project.

Lynn

Notes on the Scrappy Scarf

I finished my scarf last night.  I was kind of sorry, like the end of a good book.  Happily, I have lots more stash, and I'm going to start another one right away.   A couple of notes for those of you knitting this or planning to.

1. Use a bigger needle than you normally would.  I used a 10 when I would have used an 8.  I think I could have used a 10.5 with good results.  It's a stiff stitch because you are slipping stitches every row.

2. If you knit two rows of each color, as I did, you may want to cut fringe as you go.  When you knit two rows of each color, you wind up with all of your ends on one side and if you decide you want fringe you will have to go back, find all your colors, and cut them and attach them.

3. Knot your ends as you go.  Some of my ends got tangled and un-wound themselves.  I tied three at a time.

4. Solid colors will create a stripe-y effect and variegated colors interact with each other in a more subtle way.  Not good, not bad, just saying.

5.  Bind off on the WS row, purlwise, with a much smaller needle.  I used a US3 and it was perfect.  Thank you doubleknitlatte for your expert advice (knitting and otherwise!)

We have the lending library open and available for your browsing pleasure.  Feel free to peruse it anytime you like during store hours.

The pattern is available online, through www.ravelry.com, it's called the Lengthwise Scrappy Scarf and the designer is Zona Sherman.

The top photo is the purl side or what the pattern refers to as the wrong side (WS) and the bottom is the knit side (RS)

Monday's Cowl

Here's what Sunday gave up:  A simple little cowl.  It's made with one skein of bulky yarn.  I used Dream in Color Groovy in the color Good Luck Jade.  I love what the variegated yarn does in this stitch.  Thank you Barbara Walker. 

MONDAY'S COWL

MATERIALS

1 Skein of Dream in Color Groovy in Good Luck Jade. (120 yards)
or another bulky yarn such as Malabrigo Chunky or Misti Alpaca Chunky
sz. US 10.5 needle
1 large decorative button
tapestry needle for weaving in ends and sewing on your button

GAUGE

3.5 sts. = 1" in Purl-Twist Stitch

Gauge isn't too important in this cowl.

PURL TWIST STITCH

rows 1 and 3 (right side) - Knit

row 2 - *P2tog, but do not slip from needle; then purl 1st stitch again, and slip both stitches from needle together; rep from *

row 4 - P1, *repeat from * of row 2 across to last stitch, end P1

DIRECTIONS

Cast on 32 stitches

Work Purl-Twist Stitch repeating rows 1 - 4 until piece measure 22" from cast on.  

Bind off all stitches loosely.  Block your piece.  

With purl side (wrong side) facing out, bring the two short sides of your cowl together, and overlapping slightly.  Fold the top third down in a decorative way that pleases you and sew the button in place to hold all 4 layers of fabric.  

Wear any day of the week.

A Sweet Ada[e]line

The Adalines are rolling in.  If you want ideas about how to modify your sweater, here are two: short sleeves and ribbon through the picot eyelets at the top of the neckline.  So sweet.  If you'd like us to help with your modifications we are glad to offer assistance.  The pattern is written with no shaping to the sleeve.  I did 2 mirrored decreases every 5 rows.  I ended with 36 stitches which is nice and snug on my wrist.  In this one, several rows were added to the sleeve and she purled one row, knit one row and bound off purlwise.  Our friends at Soutache helped her pick out the perfect velvet ribbon.

Here's mine.  Soutache helped me choose these vintage-y buttons.  I used the picot eyelets as my button holes.

I would love to hear updates on your sweaters.  We'll have a little celebration to mark the end of the KAL in March.  I'll announce the date soon.

Lynn

Two Feet of Snow in Chicago