My dear friend Erin has a brand new niece! I picked up some sweetgeorgia Superwash Merino in Savory (a nice, vibrant colour for a baby, I think) and knit up a cardi and hat set for little Madeline. The cardi is Debbie Bliss‘ Ribbed Baby Jacket and the hat is my go-to pattern for baby hats – the Umbilical Cord Hat from Stitch ‘N Bitch.
It’s been so warm and summery here in Toronto that it really doesn’t feel right to be modelling knits! I can imagine though, that once the summer is over this will make quite a cozy cowl. It’s a simple, infinity-style knit with dropped stitches forming ladders at either edge.
Destroyed Cowl is a free download by Martha Merzig (Ravelry link) and takes just one skein of worsted-weight yarn. I used Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Pearl. Love it, but I’m giving it up!
[Photos courtesy of Chris]
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When I first started knitting I was more inclined to make up my own patterns. Sometimes they worked out, other times not so much. I was more adventurous in a way, less focused on proficiency and more on experimentation. I had completely forgotten about an early hat I made for my brother, but when I saw him over the Christmas holidays he told me he still wears it. Since I can barely remember making the hat, I figured it was high time to replace it. Or at least add to his collection!
I decided on Jared Flood’s Turn a Square – a toque with raglan decreases and subtle striping. I used Mission Falls 1824 Wool and Noro Silk Garden. The hat takes less than a ball of each, so it could be a great project to use up some of your yarn leftovers.
Here are some other man-friendly patterns I came across in my search for my brother’s birthday hat:
Windschief (Ravelry link) by Stephen West
Golden Autumn (Ravelry link) by Lucy Sweetland
Thorpe (Ravelry link) by Kirsten Kapur
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My cousin (aka The Ginger Ninja) requested a camouflage Woodman’s Cap just like the one I made for her dad. I modified the pattern a bit to accommodate her cute little redhead: I casted on 72 sts and worked K1, P1 rib for three inches (rather than K2, P2). I worked the decreases as established for the larger version.
We went shopping this afternoon for a flower girl dress for her to wear to my brother’s wedding in the spring. She asked if she could wear her hockey pants under the dress. She’s definitely more of a hockey gear than dress girl! Regardless, she looked pretty darn cute.
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These little moccasins are technically not my first project of 2010. I think I finished them on Christmas Day after my sister learned that one of her friends had given birth to a baby girl named Olivia. We both got knitting straight away: my sister on one of my favourite baby hats, Cisco; and I on these Baby Mocs by Whitney Van Nes and a pair of Yumiko Sakurai’s Kanoko Pants (Ravelry link). I didn’t get a shot of the pants before my sister packed them so I’ll have to share a photo once Olivia is big enough to model them!
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I’m almost at the end of my holiday knitting, which is good since I leave for Vancouver tomorrow morning! Hints were dropped for a muff, so I decided on a slightly modified version of Cirilia Rose’s Hanne. I’m not sure if it was the stitch pattern or me but I ended up with the wrong stitch count two times. Not a believer in third time lucky, I switched to a similarly shaped stitch from Barbara G. Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns (Powder Puff on pg. 136). It was a fun project to make. There was some assembly required – it’s knit in two separate layers, then padded with batting and secured with running stitches to anchor all three layers.
These are Those Mitts by Leslie Friend. This pattern, along with other great ones (hello, toast and toasty!), is available as a free download in her blog sidebar. I can see why this is her “go-to” pattern for mitts. I love them!
I used Mission Falls 1824 wool in Raven for both the muff and mitts. Can’t get enough!
[Muff photos courtesy of Chris]
As promised, here is the pattern for the Sag(ittarius) Snood/ Cowl! I made the snood version for Chris’ birthday, which just so happens to be tomorrow! It’s super bulky and super warm, just in time for winter. I love the texture of double seed stitch, especially in a bulky yarn like Brown Sheep Burly Spun. Whether you make the snood or cowl version, you’ll be able to tuck right in once the snow starts falling.
Finished Measurements
Cowl: 32 inch (81 cm) circumference and 8 inches (20 cm) high (fully extended)
Snood: 32 inch (81 cm) circumference and 23 inches (58 cm) high (fully extended)
Yarn
Brown Sheep Burly Spun (100% wool; 132 yards/ 121 metres)
Cowl: 1 skein of Sable (BS07)
Snood: 3 skeins of Deep Charcoal (BS06)
Needles
US 15 (10.0 mm)/ 20 inch (50 cm) circular needle, or size to achieve gauge
Notions
stitch marker
tapestry needle
measuring tape
Gauge
10 sts in 4 inches (10 cm) of stockinette stitch
Pattern Stitch
Double Seed Stitch in the round
Round 1: * P2, k2; rep from*.
Round 2: same as round 1
Round 3: * K2, p2; rep from*.
Round 4: same as round 3
Repeat these 4 rounds for pattern stitch.
Directions
Cast on 80 sts (I used the cable cast on method)
Work pattern stitch until piece measures 8 inches (20 cm) from the cast on edge for cowl, 23 inches (58 cm) for snood (or desired length)
Bind off (I used the chain bind off method)
Brave the weather!
I love the slouchiness of this hat! I don’t know if I’ll be able to give it up… Katushika’s Wurm pattern is available for free (along with some other great patterns) and knits up quickly enough to make it a perfect last-minute holiday project. I’ve been loving Mission Falls lately. This hat took about two and a half balls of their 136 charcoal merino. One feature of this pattern that I love is that the hat band is doubled, which makes for a neat-looking, snug finish.
[Photos courtesy of Chris and his awesome new camera]
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Seven years ago I visited my knitting partner for life in Boise, Idaho just before the holidays. She had decorated her Christmas tree with very fine crocheted snowflakes. I have to admit, I made fun of her for her use of fabric stiffener – sold in the States as “Stiffy.” I couldn’t help myself. As I found out this weekend, it’s sold as “Stiffen Stuff” here in Canada.
So far I have only produced one of these snowflakes but I have plans for more. Many more. I have a whole lot of crochet cotton and fabric stiffener after all. I used Martha Stewart’s pattern 4 for this one. Five other great patterns I’m considering are:
1. Sally V. George’s 10 Different Original Snowflakes
2. Norah Gaughan’s Snowflake
3. Susan’s Six Point Snowflake
4. Cylinda Mathews’ Sparkling Snowflake
5. Better Homes and Gardens’ Crocheted Snowflake Ornament (this pattern is missing ch 16; join with sl st to form the foundation ring before Rnd 1)
Let’s see if I manage to crochet enough to string a snowflake garland before the holidays!
The Looped Loop by Kirsten Johnstone is a simple, sculptural variation on the cowl. It’s knit in a ribbed stitch pattern and grafted together at the end with a full twist to the fabric. So it’s technically not a Möbius but a loop upon loop when worn. The pattern is available as a free download on Ravelry (membership required). I used Rowan RYC Cashsoft so it is very soft indeed.
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