The Knitting Siren

Papallona Earflap Hat

 

Aww, ain't he cute!

Materials: worsted weight yarn, wool works great, superwash wool even better.

US #7 16" circular needles.

6 st markers.

Gauge: 5 sts per 1 inch

Sizes: Infant (child, small adult, large adult)

Finished dimensions 14 (16, 18, 20)"  Pick a size that is about 2" smaller than actual head circumference.

 

 

Rolled brim:
Cast on 70 (80, 90, 100) sts loosely. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round. Join in a round and work in stockinette st for 6 rounds.

 

Stitch pattern:

Rows 1, 3 and 5: *k5, sl 5 wyif; repeat from * to beginning.

Rows 2 and 4: Knit.

Row 6: K7, * insert needle between the 3 loose strands and the knit fabric coming from the top to bottom, yarn over needle and draw loop up (this will gather the 3 strands together); knit the next st and pass loop over knit st, knit 9; repeat from * end last repeat k2.

Rows 7, 9, and 11: *sl 5 wyif, k5; repeat from * to beginning.

Rows 8 and 10: Knit.

Row 12: K2, * insert needle between the 3 loose strands and the knit fabric coming from the top to bottom, yarn over needle and draw loop up (this will gather the 3 strands together); knit the next st and pass loop over knit st, knit 9; repeat from * end last repeat k7.

 

Repeat these 12 rows until piece measures about 4” (5”, 6”) from edge of rolled brim. You’ll want to end having just worked either row 6 or row 12.

 

Prep row for decreases:

Knitting even, decrease 4 (2, 0, 4) sts evenly over the next row. You will now have 66 (78, 90, 96) stitches.

 

Crown decreases:

Place a stitch marker after every 11 (13, 15, 16).

*Knit to 2 stitches before the stitch marker, k2tog, slip marker; repeat from * to beginning. 6 decreases total.

Knit even.

Repeat these last 2 rows until 6 sts remain (you can stop earlier for a less pointy top).

When you stitches get too tight to continue, switch to dpn's, magic loop or 2 circ method.

Draw yarn through these 6 sts, pull tight and weave in ends.

 

Optional knot top: Decrease from 6 to 4 sts. Work i-cord for 2”, weave in ends and tie in a knot.

 

Optional earflaps:

Place hat on the head of the person the hat is knit for. Mark wear the earlobes are. If person is unavailable, fold hat in half and mark about ½” back from halfway mark.

With hat right side out, count 6 rows in from cast on edge. Count 8 stitches back from your mark. Pick up 8 stitches, make sure you are at your earlobe mark, pick up 8 more stitches past the mark.

Work in garter st or seed st for about 2 (2.5, 3, 3.5)”.

K2tog, work to last 2 sts, ssk.

Work in pattern.

Repeat last 2 rows until 4 sts remain.

Continue on in pattern or work an i-cord on the remaining 4 stitches until long enough to tie under chin.

I've caught the sewing bug!

Why did no one warn me that sewing can be as addictive as knitting?!  I can't stop!  Just this weekend I've made 6 t-shirts and 1 pair of pants and have plans for so much more. 

Here is one complete outfit.  Muchacho doesn't like wearing clothes lately so I had to wait until he fell asleep.

If he's not asleep and I try to take a picture of him this is what he looks like.

Not so cute.

Show off!

I just had to show off these pants.  I love the rich colors, sooo pretty.  And it would look good on a boy!  Good boyish colorways are hard to come by.

 

It's Horizon by www.doodlebirds.com on BFL.  I did a rolled hem on these that I'm really liking.

Next up a pair in **eek** acrylic!  Kiddo is mostly potty trained now and since I don't need wool I thought I would try a pair that are machine washable.  I actually found some pretty acrylic yarn that looks hand-painted at Hobby Lobby.  I'm not a big fan of acrylic, but I just wanted some inexpensive washable yarn (and I didn't want cotton). 

A tribute to my Scandinavian heritage, Nalbinding.

Thanks Ceecy, like I need another hobby!

 

This is called nalbinding.  It's kind of like a series of knots and with hand-dyed yarn, it looks pretty cool to me.  The look of it reminds me of Tunisian crochet.  The above piece is destined to be a pair of mittens and the piece below was going to be a pair of pants, but I think I'll stop after this last row and call it a headband/ear warmer (finished it and added pic).  Here is the website that I referred to:  http://home.arcor.de/bedankbar/index-eng.htm

 

It's fun to do, but I don't think it will be replacing my knitting obsession any time soon.  It's just not as fast. 

I want to try it on a scarf next using a different color on each row.

Is it possible...

to get sick of knitting?  Oy, I'm getting close after knitting all these pants.  I've got 3 done and just 2 more to finish this week.

These were made with Doodlebirds.com BFL "Forest Floor."  I ordered extra of this colorway for myself and am glad I did.

 

And these pair of "scrappies".  I used a fibonacci striping to achieve a more random effect.  I'm not good at real random, I tend to stress about it looking right and over think it.  With fibonacci, no thinking necessary once the striping sequence was figured out.  I did a sequence of 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 with 9 different colors.

 

And another snowy farm pic.  There was a soft layer of snow on everything when we woke up yesterday and no wind to blow it off.  The goats are still freaking out about the whole snow thing.  It's pretty funny.

Drop Stitch Hair Thingie

 

Yes, I'm in a naming funk.  Again, any suggestions?

Nothing too fancy with this one, just another great way to use up scraps.

I used some scrap linen I had, very slubby "natural" yarn, but I love that about it.  This is fingering weight and I used US #3 needles.  Experiment with any yarn fiber and size you have.  Just remember, fatter yarn will make a fatter headband.

Stitches: Garter stitch, just knit each row.
kfb, knit in the front and the back of the next stitch (use whichever increase you prefer).
Knit, purl and yo.

 

CO 4, work garter stitch for about 5".
Kfb, k2, kfb.
Knit 3 rows.
Kfb, k4, kfb.
Knit 3 rows.
kfb, k6, kfb.
Knit 3 rows.
kfb, k8, kfb.
You'll now have 12 stitches on your needles. Insert your needle into the next stitch, wrap your yarn around the needle 3 times and pull through stitch taking stitch off the needle. Repeat this for each stitch across.
Knit the first stitch dropping the extra yo's off your needle. Do this for each stitch across. This will create an elongated stitch.
Knit 2 rows.
Repeat the last 4 rows until the piece measures about 23" from the cast on edge.
Decrease rows:
k2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, ssk.
knit 3 rows.
Repeat the last 4 rows until 4 stitch remain.
Work in garter stitch for 5".
Bind off and weave in ends.
That's it!

Winter is here!

It's funny how cold weather/snow makes me want to knit.  The kiddos have off from school thanks to all the snow we got yesterday. 

 

We actually got a lot more snow than you can see here.  It's extremely windy here so all the snow blows away.  Last year I never had to shovel.  I hope the same goes for this year.

I'll be working on getting out some custom knit pants this weekend.  Let's see if I can knit 4 pants in 8 days!

Hair Thingie #2

I love making these little hair ties out of extra yarn as well as the head band.  A great way to use up extra bits of your hand-dyed beauties.

Very simple, just single crochet around an elastic hair tie.  Make sure you pack them on fairly tightly.  With worsted weight bamboo/cotton and a regular sized band, I made 58 sc's.  When you get back around to the beginning, slip stitch in the first stitch and weave in the ends.

You can also work a few chains in between the sc's and get this:

More of a scrunchie type hair tie.  Specific instructions can be found here.

Or you can work a second round using any picot type stitch pattern:

Done with a fingering weight linen.  For this one, work the same as the first, after you sl st in the first st, ch 1 and turn.  Sc in the first st, *(sc, ch1, sc) in the next st, sc; repeat from * to beginning.  Sl st in the first st and weave in ends.

A couple corrections and a preview

I made a couple corrections to "Elvish."  Nothing too horrible.  The decrease round #'s were off by 1 stitch (already edited).  And you'll end with 9 sts, not 6.

And here is a preview of what I'm working on now:

 

I'm still working out a couple of the concept's bugs.  So, I'll cast on another hat today.  This one might have a ponytail hole.  I'm never without my ponytail and it needs a place to go. 

And my little bugger finally let me get a picture of Elvish on him.  As you can see, I got the picture but he wasn't too happy about it.  He doesn't like hats.  

   

 

Oooh, mean mommy makes me keep my ears from freezing!

Hair Thingie, crochet pattern

I'm horrible at coming up with names.  If you can think of a better one, please pass it on!  This is crocheted.  One day I might come up with a simple knit one.

 

 

Materials:  Scraps of any yarn.  The one pictured is made with my bamboo/cotton blend worsted weight.  Use a hook size appropriate for you yarn (I used a G).

Special st:
Decrease 1 st,insert hook into first st and pull loop through, insert into next st and pull loop through, yarn over and pull strand through all three loops on hook.

Ch 3, turn.
Skip the first chain, sc in the next 2 ch, ch 1, turn.
Sc in the next 2 sts, ch 1, turn.
Repeat last row 32 times. 2 sc in the next 2 sts, ch 1, turn. (4 sts)
Sc in the next 4 sts, ch 1, turn.
2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 2 sts, 2 sc in the last st, ch 1, turn. (6 sts)
Sc in the next 6 sts, ch 1, turn.
2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 4 sts, 2 sc in the last st, ch 1, turn. (8 sts)
Sc in the next 8 sts, ch 1, turn.
Dc, sc across, ch 1, turn. (8 sts)
Repeat the last row until piece measures 14" from last inc row. You will work the double crochets in a previously worked single and the single crochets in a previously worked double. Decrease 1 st, sc to the last 2 sts, work decrease 1 st in last 2 sts (see special sts for decrease 1 st), ch 1, turn. (6 sts)
Sc in the next 6 sts, ch 1, turn.
Repeat the last 2 rows until you have 2 sts.
Sc in next 2 sts, ch 1 turn.
Repeat last row 32 times.

Weave in ends. Voila!