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]

The Woodman’s Cap would make a fine accessory for the tin man in your life. The shape is reminiscent of the funnel the Tin Woodman wore on his head in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. However, this cap is made out of some of the yummiest merino around – Malabrigo worsted. I’m sure it will bring much more warmth and comfort than the original metal.

I made this cap for my cousin Paul’s birthday and thought I’d write up the pattern to share with you. The overall shape is based on an existing machine-knit hat that he has worn (and worn and worn), and wanted a replacement for. This new version is a classic toque with a ribbed brim, funnel topper and optional handle.

Note: If you choose to use one colour rather than two you will likely only need one skein of Malabrigo

Finished Measurements

Hat circumference  = 23 inches (58 cm) or man-sized

Materials

1 skein Malabrigo Worsted in Vaa (51) – colour A

1 skein Malabrigo Worsted in Lettuce (37) – colour B

US 9 (5.5 mm)/ 16 inch (40 cm) circular needle

US 9 (5.5 mm) double-pointed needles

2 stitch markers (different colours)

tapestry needle

measuring tape

Gauge

17 sts and 28 rows in 4 inches (10 cm) of stockinette stitch

Directions

Cast on 88 sts with colour A

Place a stitch marker and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist any stitches

Work K2, P2 rib for 3 inches  (7 1/2 cm) as follows: [K2, P2] to end of round, repeat for every round

Change to colour B using the TECHknitter’s Stationary Jogless Stripes technique: slip the marker at the beginning of the next round, start stockinette stitch with colour B and work to end of round; on the next round, slip the marker and slip the first stitch of the colour change round purlwise; knit the rest of the stitches in the round (2 rounds worked)

Continue in stockinette stitch for five more rounds

Shape body of hat as follows:

a)  k2tog, knit 42, place second stitch marker, k2tog, knit to end of round (86 sts)

b) knit five rounds

c) k2tog, knit to second marker, slip marker, k2tog, knit to end of round (84 sts)

d) knit four rounds

e) k2tog, knit to second marker, slip marker, k2tog, knit to end of round (82 sts)

f) knit three rounds

g) k2tog, knit to second marker, slip marker, k2tog, knit to end of round (80 sts)

h) knit two rounds

i) k2tog, knit to second marker, slip marker, k2tog, knit to end of round (78 sts)

j) knit one round

k) k2tog, knit to second marker, slip marker, k2tog, knit to end of round (76 sts)

l) knit one round, removing second stitch marker

Shape the crown as follows:

Round 1 – [k2, k2tog], repeat to end of round (57 sts)

Rounds 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 – knit

Round 3 – [k1, k2tog], repeat to end of round (38 sts)

Round 5 – k2tog, knit 17, place second marker, k2tog, knit to end  of round (36 sts)

Round 7 – k2tog, knit to second marker, slip marker, k2tog, knit to end of round (34 sts)

Round 9 – k2tog, knit to second marker, slip marker, k2tog, knit to end of round (32 sts)

Round 11 – [k2tog], repeat to end of round (16 sts)

Round 13 – k2tog, knit to second marker, remove marker, k2tog, knit to end of round (14 sts)

Work funnel tip in stockinette stitch for approximately 2 inches (5 cm), or until desired length

Bind off

Optional funnel handle (concept courtesy blacksanta)

Cast on 3 stitches with colour B and work an I-cord for 3 inches (7 1/2 cm)

Bind off and attach to hat at colour change round (placement pictured above)

Finishing

Weave in yarn ends with tapestry needle

Wet block being careful not to stretch ribbing at brim

This is the project that will accompany me on the five-hour flight from Toronto to Vancouver tomorrow evening. Paper Crane. Just the thing for a confined space and an extended knit session. Tiny stitches on tiny circular needles. And 20 cm of stockinette stitch to go on the body!

Happy Canada Day! The only connection this post has to my country’s birthday is the yarn used for this project. Mission Falls is 100% Canadian!

A Baby Yoda Sweater knit for Oliver, a new BC baby. Mission Falls 1824 Cotton makes this perfect for a coastal summer and autumn – lightweight and soft. I knit this in pieces and then assembled according to the pattern. If you have a deep hatred of sewing up (perfectly understandable!), there are seamless versions on Ravelry that are knit from the top down.

I love the texture of this yarn. There’s something pebbly about it. This was my first Mission Falls project but it won’t be the last! I bought enough yarn for another Yoda in a different colourway. When it comes to yarn, decision making is not my strong point.

(Raveled)

My version of Hannah Fettig’s wildly popular Whisper Cardigan is finally finished and blocked! There are more than 800 versions of this cardigan on Ravelry, and that’s just since the spring issue of Interweave Knits came out in February. The pattern calls for laceweight yarn, which makes for a nice light cardigan for spring. However, if I were to do it all over again I would knit it in a sport/ sock weight yarn instead. I found it challenging to get a nice fabric with the gauge given. I ended up knitting the largest size on small needles in order to make the cardi less webby and more whispery.

The cardigan is knit primarily in stockinette stitch, with ribbing at the collar and to shape the waist. It’s seamless, which is a real plus when it comes to finishing! Hannah posted a schematic on her blog if you’d like a closer look at the construction.

It was almost a year ago now that I knit my first lace. I was intimidated by the complexity, but once I got into it I realized lace knitting is really just knits, purls, increases, decreases and yarnovers. Nothing scary, and there’s nothing more pleasing than finishing a lovely piece of lace.

Ishbel is another knit from Ysolda Teague’s Whimsical Little Knits collection. At the rate I’m going, I should be through the collection by the end of the year! Ishbel can be worn as a shawl or scarf and knit with either laceweight or sport weight yarn. I used Misti Alpaca lace (100% baby alpaca and so very soft) in cobalt blue.

It’s so lightweight and airy, but alpaca is deceptively warm. Even in laceweight yarn, it makes for a very cozy shawl/scarf.

Another sweet, seamless pattern by Tora Frøseth! My first Tora knit was the Magda Tunic and I fell in love with the top-down construction. I used the same yarn in this Sweetheart Dress for Anaya – Cadenza by Estelle. Merino and tussah silk! Not too warm for an L.A. baby I hope.

The heart detail around the yoke is too cute. The body of the dress is worked in stockinette stitch, with rows of garter stitch at the bottom to stop it from curling. This project had me thinking about a me-sized knit dress, and then I remembered this lace dress from Védis Jónsdottir’s book Einband. Hmmm.

You can just make out this handsome Pottageville horse in the background of the top photo. As you can see, we were more interested in him than he was in us!

My Sweet Pea Coat is finished! The pattern was designed by Kate Gilbert and published in Twist Collective Winter 2008. My birthday burly spun was put to good use in this project. The coat is so very cozy.

I love the texture of the stitch pattern. A double moss stitch pattern on the cuffs, plackets and bottom edge set off by stockinette on the rest.

I knit the sleeves using the Magic Loop technique of circular knitting. I’d never tried it before and am a convert -  fully and completely. It’s so much faster than fiddling with double pointed needles!

There’s something a bit retro about this coat – maybe it’s the swing it has to it. I’m really happy with the way it turned out. I was wondering just how bulky Brown Sheep’s burly spun would be. The end result isn’t cumbersome – just soft and very warm!

P.S. By popular demand… A very pregnant sheep at Riverdale Farm.

Pictured, my second attempt at this sweater. The first time around I tried to convince myself it was right, even when it became painfully obvious that it was wrong. My garter yoke cardigan (Melissa LaBarre’s design from knit.1’s Fall/Winter 2008) was large to begin with, and even larger after blocking. Two lessons learned here. One: don’t make a sweater two sizes too big. Two: when a yarn label says “Don’t soak”, don’t soak! So, after sitting on the finished product for 24 hours I started ripping.

While I was lamenting my stupidity, my friend Sara reminded me that this is just one way knitting is different from so many other things. You can start over. That’s it. Just start over. The material is still the same, albeit a bit crimped, and you’ve likely learned something from the experience. For example, I will never again pretend I have a 38″ bust.

Okay, not entirely finished but I couldn’t resist. Still drying, here’s my garter yoke cardigan. It was designed by Melissa LaBarre (a.k.a knitting school dropout) and the pattern was published in knit.1 Magazine’s Fall/Winter 2008 issue. This was really fun to knit – top-down and seamless! You start with the yoke – garter stitch rows shaped with short row wrapping – and the rest is raglan shaping and stockinette stich.

I love these buttons – courtesy of Jane. They make me happy just looking at them sparkle.

I really like knitting with DROPS extra fine merino but it did seem to stretch out a fair bit when I blocked the sweater last night. I’m feeling less nervous now as it’s drying and shrinking back down to a normal size…