The Prinz Eisenherz Hat is a test knit for katushika. I love the texture of the stitch pattern and crocheted seams. The hat is knit in one piece, with the border stitches picked up and crocheted after the body is complete. The pattern release will include matching fingerless mitts as well.
This was my first time working with Manos Silk Blend and I loved it. So soft!
[Photo 1 courtesy of Chris]
[Ravelled]
This is Gudrun Johnston’s Bousta Beret – a birthday present for Jane. I love the Horseshoe lace pattern, and the fact that the name – Bousta – means farm in Old Norse. It seemed like the right beret for Jane!
[Ravelled]
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.
Wabbit Season
Doublish
Catacomb
There’s so much to love about Malabrigo – it comes in fantastic colourways and is unbelievably soft. The Malabrigo Junkies on Ravelry love it so much they’ve named an entire month after it – Malabrigo March.
Alexandra Tinsley of Presents Knits has designed five cute and easy accessories using Malabrigo yarns. I love her take on the earflap hat, Wabbit Season. It’s so sweet with the pompoms and flaps that double as little pockets. This pattern also placed first in the Malabrigo Junkies Malabrigo March 2010 Design Contest. Congratulations Alexandra!
The collection includes two hats and a shawlette (pictured here) as well as a ruffled scarf and headband/ neckwarmer. You can buy the patterns separately or together in the ebook Go Go Malabrigo. If you’re not on Ravelry, you can also buy them from Alexandra’s Etsy store.
[Photos courtesy of Alexandra Tinsley]
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
[Ravelled]
Have you heard of Magpie Patterns? I came across this great collection of knitting, sewing, crochet and embroidery patterns through their blog, Crafty Bird. They’re based in Portland, Oregon (as so many good things are!) and some patterns are printed and mailed, and others are downloads. I really enjoyed browsing Magpie’s collection of handpicked designs. Some designers I knew, but more were new to me! Here are just a few.
Kalea and Malia by Kids Tricots (Images courtesy Kids Tricots)
Kids Tricots is the work of French knit designer Muriel Agator (Ravelry link). Magpie carries six of her English patterns. These are some seriously cute kids’ knits. I’m glad my friends are giving me plenty of little people to knit for!
Hooded Cardigan and Floral Wrap by She's Crafty Handknits (Images courtesy She's Crafty Handknits)
New Zealand-based Hadley Fierlinger (Ravelry link) is the designer behind She’s Crafty Handknits. More adorable knits for little people! Hadley designs beautiful baby knits and is the author of Vintage Knits for Modern Babies. One of my absolute favourites has to be the Floral Wrap (above right). The next baby girl in my life will definitely be getting one!
Pasha and Elizabeth by Jane Richmond Designs (Images courtesy Jane Richmond)
Canadian designer Jane Richmond has designed some perfect slouchy hats and chunky scarves. I have a skein of Burly Spun that has her Autumn toque written all over it. Jane also has some really cute, and seamless (hurrah), baby patterns as well.
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.
[Ravelled]
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]
[Ravelled]
Jane brought me back the loveliest Donegal tweed from Ireland. You can just make out the angora halo in these photos – so soft in colour and texture. I think it turned out to be the perfect choice for Ysolda Teague’s Snapdragon Tam.
I know I’ll love wearing this hat – thanks Jane! And I have some gauntlets planned for the Aran Tweed, also spun in Donegal. Ireland will make a fantastic knitting excursion someday!
[Photos courtesy of Chris]
[Ravelled]
I started this hat in Addison, PA and finished it at the Angola, NY rest stop. It’s Ysolda Teague’s Icing Swirl Hat from the Whimsical Little Knits collection. It was the perfect road trip project – bulky yarn and a pattern that was easy to remember! Chris and I drove down to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in Mill Run, PA. It was such a beautiful drive from Toronto – misty and golden since the leaves hadn’t fallen yet. Chris took these photos with his fancy new camera. You can barely tell they were taken at a rest stop!
[Photos courtesy of Chris]
[Ravelled]