Flapper knit hat

Another hat done for Baby Z.  This time it is a flapper hat with a cute bow on the front.  The pattern is from 60 Quick Baby Knits: Blankets, Booties, Sweaters & More in Cascade 220 Superwash (Sixth & Spring) which I received as a gift from some friends of ours along with three balls of Cascade 220 superwash to make it with.  It turned out pretty darn cute except that it's supposed to fit a 6month-12month old and it probably won't fit her until she's about 10.  I have the hardest time with gauge and hats - they always come out way to big.  Either way it's adorable and it's also pleasing to have made one more thing for her.

Baby Z's first knit

 

Baby Z should be arriving in just a few months!  I thought I better get going on one of the million projects I'd like to finish before she gets here.  I started with a simple knitted matching hat and booties.  The booties are from Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook.  They say they are one hour booties and they really are one hour booties.  They are part shoe part sock and will be great in the cold months.  I love how they have a cute crocheted strap over the top with a button on the side:

The hat is a pattern from Fiber Fiend which I found off of Ravelry.  It's rib so even though it should fit her the first winter she's here I might be able to get away with dressing her in it a year later because it stretches quiet a bit.  

I can't seem to remember where I got this yarn although I know it was called something Angel Hair.  It's a super soft mix of wool and synthetic.  It was probably the last yarn that I bought from a big box craft store as I've been trying not to buy or use synthetic since I took my spinning class.  I usually find that synthetic yarns are itchier and coarser then wool, contrary to popular belief,  but this yarn is actually like knitting with cotton candy so I don't mind.  

There will be more projects to come but I'm pleased with her first knitted item, what can say, she's already spoiled!

Handmade present: Potato Chip Scarf

What a fun handmade gift:  a potato chip scarf.  I made a few of these for Christmas presents this year and I love them!  They are easy to make, relatively inexpensive and perfect for the season.  I got the pattern from Knit Picks.

Needle: Size 8, circular, 32"
Yarn:  I use whatever I have around - I have made them chunky with larger yarn and smaller with DK weight yarn

Directions:

Cast on 90 sts.

Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Knit into front and back of every stitch
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Knit front and back
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Knit front and back
Row 7: Knit
Row 8: Bind off

Weave in your ends.

Wa na na na na na Bat Shawl!

 Blocking the bat shawl on the deck

So, I lied, the black alpaca I got wasn't for a Christmas present it was for a birthday present.  My mom's birthday is right around Halloween and we are a family way into bats.  My parents were both cavers and we all admire bats.  So, when I saw this shawl as a show in tell at my last knitting group in New Mexico, I thought, I have to make that for my mom!  The pattern is free from The AntiCraft you can get it here.  Seeing as it was my first shawl, my first lace and my first time working with charts, it was a trial and error for the first month of working on it.  My errors included the fact that I discovered I knit with a twisted stitch which I have now corrected thanks to Sally from my knitting group and Emilee from The AntiCraft.  A twisted switch is when you knit and pull the yarn from behind instead of in front of your needle.  What a difference a untwisted stitch makes. 

 This is the first part knit with a twisted switch - you can't see it!

So, I had take it out several times, make it survive the move across country last month and then figure out where I left off, but I did it!  I think it is lovely and it is perfect for Halloween.  I don't have a great picture of it on, but if you go to AntiCraft you can see what it looks like on someone - although as a side note, I did not do the border, I only blocked it in a scalloped edge.

See all the bats?!

Matching gloves and scarf!

 

I finished my matching scarf and gloves for the hat I knitted earlier this summer.  They are made with the same Peruvian highlands wool that I got from Purl In The Pines.  They are fun colors, almost child like, but will brighten up a gloomy winter day this fall I'm sure.  They are also very comfortable and warm.  I'm excited to be able to wear them for the first time!

Scarf

Directions:

Yarn: Berroco Peruvia Colors

Color: Raku Glaze

Needle: #8 16" Circular

CO 15 stitches.  Garter stitch until you run out of yarn or until desired length.  Cast off.  Weave in tails. 
                            

Mittens

This pattern is part mine part Knitting Pretty.  I did a combination so it work work with my yarn and fit my hand.  For the entire Knitting Pretty pattern click here.  

Directions:

Yarn: Berroco Peruvia Colors

Color: Raku Glaze

Needle: #10 set of five DPN's

CO 36 stitches.  Divide this stitches among 3 needles, 12 on each.  Working in the round, do a 2-2 rib stitch for 13 rows.  For row 14, K2 M1 K3 *M1 K4*.  Repeat * till the end of row 14.  You should have 46 stitches now.  Next, knit rows 15-21.  Then, divide 11 stitches on to three needles and 13 stitches on to a forth needle or a stitch holder.  This will become your thumb, but not until later.  Using just the 33 stitches (11 on 3 needles), knit in the round for 23 more rows.  To start the decrease after knitting 23 rows start by K3 k2og in a round until there are only 10 stitches left.  Cut your yarn leaving a 8 inch tail and weave your tail through your 10 remaining stitches.  Pull tight to close and weave in tail.  

Next, finish the thumb.  This part was taken from Knitting Pretty:

Slip the 13 stitches from the stitch holder onto 2 DPN's.  Place 7 stitches on one side and 6 on the other.  Using a third needle, pick up 3 stitches in the space between the first 2 needles to form a triangle.  Starting on the right side of the third needle, knit a round, leaving an 8 inch tail to weave in later.  Knit 14 more rounds.  Begin decreasing to create the thumb tip.  For 1 round, knit 1 stitch and then K2tog, repeating throughout.  For the final round, K2tog throughout.  Cut an 8 inch tail and use your yarn needle to draw the yarn through the remaning stitches.  Pull it tight, knot to secure and weave in and trim the ends.  Gently tighten the trail at the base of the thumb and weave it in.  

Summer/Winter - Knit Hat

The first day it really gets cold in the fall, I'm always like, "I wish I would have thought to make ----- last month so I'd have it today."  So, this summer begins my summer/winter knitting - knitting in the summer for next winter.  I always have the idea do it but now I have the ambition.  My first summer/winter knitting project I started was a nice simple hat that I made with the wonderful Peruvian wool I got in Flagstaff, AZ at Purl in the Pines.  I got the pattern from the blog, a Friend to knit with and I really love how simple it was, yet it looks pretty neat.  The complete pattern is also here.  Thank you Lesie and I love your blog!

Chunky Knit Hat 
via Leslie @ a Friend to knit with

Directions:

Yarn: Berroco Peruvia Colors
Color: Raku Glaze
Needle: Circular 16 inches Size US 15
Gauge: 2 stitches per 1"

Cast on 44 stitches.  Knit in garter stitch for 5 rows.  Change stockinette and knit until piece measures 5 1/2 inches, ending with a wrong side row.  Next row (RS) knit 2 together until end 22 stitches.  Next row (WS) Purl 2 together until end 11 stitches.  Next row (RS) Knit 2 together to end.  (On this row, on the small size, you will knit 2 together 5x, and have 1 stitch remaining for 6 stitches total)  6 stitches also remain for large size.  Cut yarn and run through remaining 6 stitches.

Next up is trying my hand at making mittens to match.  I have four months until I want them to be done so I think it's manageable.  ;) 

My first (real) sock

I finished my first real sock!  I say real because I actually started one in February, however it turned out to be what my husband calls a cankle sock.  It had a really wide ankle and then I got frustrated and I finished it really quick so it was too short for my feet and too skinny at the bottom.  It was pretty sad.  But, I was determined to make a sock so I started again with this pretty sock yarn I got in Albuquerque.  It took me two months but I finally just finished the first one!  I used the Beginner Sock pattern from Knitting on the Net.  Be aware that the picture of my sock is what the pattern makes, not the picture they have on their website. 

Beginner Socks Knitting Pattern by Kim Goddard from www.knittingonthenet.com


Directions:

Yarn: Happy Feet DK (I made one sock with about 3/4 of a skein)
Color: Multi - Aspen Print
Needle: 5 Size US 2 double pointed needles
Gauge:  28 sts = 4 inches

Cast on 56 sts.  Join and mark beg of round.

Rib in K2, P2 rib fr 7 inches or desired leg length. (I did it to about 6 inches)

(con't after the jump)

Easter Cap

When I was in Albuquerque, NM a few weeks ago and found my pretty in purple wool, I also found this gorgeous organic wool by O-Wool called Balance.  It is 50% Merino wool and 50% cotton.  When I saw it I thought of my mom who loves the color blue.  It's a blueish gray with specks of white and although I didn't know what I wanted to make with it I knew I had to get it.  I ended up going on O-Wool's website for ideas and they had a free pattern for a cute little hat called In-Between Seasons Cap.  I had never done a cable stitch but this was a good time to try.  This pattern also had a few other stitches I had never used before like twR and ssk.  The cable band was somewhat easy but as the hat went on I found it to be somewhat difficult, however the end result was worth any frustration I had.  Mine came out somewhat small like a beanie so if I were to do it again I would make it longer.

In-Between Seasons Cap from O-Wool:

Yarn: 1 skein O-Wool Balance, 130yd/50g 
Color: Lapis
Needles: Circular 16 inch size US 6, 1 cable needle, set of 5 size US 6 dpn's
Gauge: 20 st = 4" over Stst  30 rows = 4" Stst
Size: Woman's M (20" circumference)


Directions can also be found on O-Wool's website along with other great free patterns.

Using either circular or two dpn’s, CO 19st.  Do not join.

Work back and forth as follows:
Row 1 and all WS rows:  p4, k2, p8, k2, p3
Row 2, 4:  k1, twR, p2, k8, p2, twL, k2.
Row 6:  k1, twR, p2, sl 4 st onto spare dpn or cable needle and hold in front, k4, k4 from dpn or cable needle, p2, twL, k2.
Row 8, 10: As Row 2
Repeat Rows 1-10 until piece measures 20” (13x total).
Work Row 1 once more.

Chemo Cowl

A woman in my crafting group (known as The Vixons) is part of our counties fiber guild that knits/crochets scarfs and cowls for the chemo patients at our local hospital.  I asked her if I could make one and started on my first cowl.  A cowl is basically a scarf that is closed.  It’s big enough to slide over your head and rests like a big fancy necklace around your neck over your shoulders.  They are incredible easy to make and fun! 

Directions:

Yarn: Red Heart
Color: 59
Needle: Circular 29 inches Size US 8

  Cast on 70 stitches or desired length
   Join round and knit in round until hat reaches  desired length
  Bind end

That’s it!  Of course this pattern would be really easy to change and I think if I was going to do it again I would have used a more chunky yarn and maybe tried something other then just a knit, but that’s what is so fun about a cowl, they are quick enough to make a second one in no time!  I hope that a chemo patient enjoys the cowl I made and that it keeps them warm and fashionable!

Pretty In Purple

Two weeks ago my husband and I made the big journey up north to Albuquerque.  I was more then excited to see what the city had to offer in terms on yarn and wool.  I stumbled upon a cute little store called, Village Wool.  I was lucky to leave with a few dollars left.  They have such a large selection of wools from around the world I didn’t know what to do.  I ended up leaving with two skeins of the yarn pictured above.  It’s Happy Feet DK in a lovely purple/brown color.  Isn’t it wonderful?  I can’t wait to start on some socks!

Blake's Curled Baby Hat

My mom’s good friend just became a grandmother and I thought I would send her daughter and son-n-law a hand knitted baby hat.  After looking online for a baby size knitted hat I decided to combine two patterns that I found and add my own twist to it. 

Directions:

Yarn: Lion Brand Hometown USA
Color: Washington Denim
Needle: Circular 16 inch Size US 10

• Cast on 34 stitches 
• Join round and knit in round until hat reaches  6-7 inches from beginning, hat will start to curl up - this is okay
• After 6-7 inches of knitting in the round, K2tog one row 
• Knit one row 
• K2tog one row again 
• Knit one row again 
• Thread tail through stitches remaining on needles and pull tight 
• Weave in ends

Hooray!  You now have a cute baby hat!