Double Knit Hats for the Boys of all Ages

This is a wonderful, warm hat pattern. I found it at the following site : http://alison.knitsmiths.us/pattern_double_knit_cap.html

It's so much fun to do double knit and watch both layers grow as you go! It is a standard watch-cap style ski hat. My husband, Pat, wanted a cuff that the original pattern didn't have, so I added two inches before doing the stripes. That means his hat is 7 inches to the first stripe instead of 5 inches.My son wants even more length because he wants to roll the cuff twice. I anticipate 9-12 inches before the first stripe on the next hat I make him. (Pretty soon I'll just make him a hooded sweater and be done with it. :) )

Many of the hats I have mader are made with two colors of Lion Brand Wool-Ease. I used needles that let me knit to gauge, but it still came out too large. The pattern says to cast on 164 stitches. I cast on 154 stitches. (That means the decreases begin at 5 not 7 later on.) It is still loose on Pat, so I plan to make the grandsons' hats 144 stitches in circumference. The hat in the photo was made of Red Heart acrylic using size 6 needles. I cast on 72/144 stitches for this hat. This number of stitches means you have six decreases evenly spaced 12 stitches apart (for the first decrease.) Easy math!
I've made the pattern twice now. My son, Joe, who is going to college at Emporia State University requested one last winter because his ears got so cold when the wind came whistling down between the buildings on winter days. He's a well-fed young man with a luxurious shock of hair. I made it to gauge, but still had to take out those ten stitches from the circumference the pattern. I made his hat from Red Heart acrylic yarn I had in my stash. I wanted something he could mistreat and keep on going. It's stood up well, but he is hinting he wants one like Pat's that has a longer body. It still doesn't cover his ears as far as he'd like. Personally, I think he really wants a double knit ski mask. Hm... wonder if anyone has a pattern for one of those?

Lion Brand Chenlle Hood

I'm going to make hats and hoods for the grandkids this year, but I'm starting early! Here's the first hood. It's from the Lion Brand Chenille hood pattern, but I used a different yarn. It worked up a bit tighter, so this will be for one of the younger granddaughters. The boys will get double knit ski caps.
(I was outvoted. When I visited the Indiana/Illinois grandkids in March they all prefered socks, not hats. Poor Emmy. The shrug I made her was outgrown within weeks of Christmas. I gave her this hood. She won't grow out of it.)
Pattern Number: 867 http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/kctq-hood.html?noImages=0

Velvety HoodLion Brand® Chenille Thick & Quick® Wear as a cowl, a neckwarmer or as a hood! SKILL LEVEL: Beginner SIZE: Small, Medium, Large Circumference 24 (26) inches Note: Pattern is written for smallest size with changes for larger sizes in parentheses. When only one number is given, it applies to all sizes. To follow pattern more easily, circle all numbers pertaining to your size before beginning. CORRECTIONS: None GAUGE: 8 sts = 4 inches (10 cm) in pat. BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE.

NOTEHood may be worked on circular needles or straight needles. VERSION A: HOOD (worked in-the-round on circular needles) Stitch Pattern Rnds 1-4 Purl. Rnds 5-8 Knit. Rep Rnds 1-8 for in-the-round version. Hood (in-the-rnd version) With circular needles, cast on 48 (52) sts. Join, taking care not to twist sts. Place marker for beg of rnds. Work in pat for in-the-rnd version until 23" from beg, ending with pat Rnd 4. Last rnd Bind off in purl. Weave in ends. VERSION B: HOOD (worked flat, back and forth on straight needles) Stitch Pattern Rows 1 & 3 (RS) Purl. Rows 2 & 4 Knit. Rows 5 & 7 Knit. Rows 6 & 8 Purl. Rep Rows 1-8 for flat version. Hood (flat version) With straight needles, cast on 50 (54) sts. Work in pat for flat version until 23" from beg, ending with pat Row 4. Last row Bind off in purl. Sew back seam. Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS / REFERENCES Click for explanation and illustration beg = begin(s)(ning) pat = pattern rnd(s) = round(s) RS = right side st(s) = stitch(es)

Learn to Knit instructions: http://learnToKnit.LionBrand.com

I'm Dishcloth Cotton!

This is a hoot! I've had so much fun making dishcloths' this year. Now I take the "What yarn am I?" quiz and find out I'm dishcloth cotton!

What are you?

What kind of yarn are you?

You are Dishcloth Cotton.You are a very hard worker, most at home when you're at home. You are thrifty and seemingly born to clean. You are considered to be a Plain Jane, but you are too practical to notice.
Take this quiz!







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What did I make in 2006?

This was my first full year of non-stop knitting. What did I make? Hm... it seems there must have been more than this. I guess packing and moving took more of my knitting time than I realized. I also taught Jen, Lala, Becky, and Kelly to knit and taught JJ and Kayleigh, Lala and Reyes spool knitting on the Knifty Knitter looms.

In 2005 I started knitting around Halloween.

I made 9 scarfs for Christmas and taught Julie to knit.

2006 Finished:

4 baby blankets

2 stocking hats

2 drawstring knitting bags (one small, one medium)

1 knitted belt (that should have been a tie)

too numerous to count : dish cloths

1 cell phone bag

1 soap bag

5 shrugs

1 Barbie shawl

Started but not finished:

Pat's tie

Pat's vest

Blue socks

Socks, Socks, and more Socks for 2007!

I finished the Christmas shrugs! -- all but one. Renee's is 2/3 done, but I can't get into the spare room to get the last skein of yarn until Joe returns to college from Winter Break. He has the room stuffed with computers and other temporary items. He had to bring home a lot of the things from his dorm room because the staff was going to polish floors over the holiday. The spare room isn't very big to start with. We have the last of the unpacked boxes in there, my sewing materials, Joe and his dorm overflow. Trust me -- it's a case of "Go outside to change your mnd." Ah, well. Guess I'll just have to start a new project. Johanna has challenged the KansasKnitters to join her in knitting a pair of socks a month during 2007. I've never made socks before, so my goal will be 6 pairs in 2007. I started my first pair using Lion Brand Magic Stripe yarn in blue. Here's the pattern. I hope they will look like the picture on the yarn band. Here's the website for this pattern: http://cache.lionbrand.com/patterns/kmstripe-socks.html?noImages=0 Magic Stripe Basic SocksLion Brand® Magic Stripes GAUGE: 28 sts + 40 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in St st (k every stitch in the round; k on RS, p on WS when knitting flat). BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. STITCH EXPLANATION: ssk (slip, slip, knit) 1. Slip the next 2 sts as if to knit, one at a time, to right needle. 2. Insert left needle into fronts of these 2 sts and k them tog. Grafting Holding the 2 needles parallel with wrong sides of fabric together, thread a blunt tapestry needle with one of the yarn ends and work as follows: Insert needle as if to purl into the first stitch on front piece. Insert needle as if to knit into the first stitch on the back piece. Then follow steps 1-4 as outlined below. 1) insert it as if to knit through the first st on the front needle and let the st drop from the needle. 2) Insert the needle into the second st on the front needle as if to purl and pull the yarn through, leaving the st on the needle. 3) Insert the needle into the first st on the back needle as if to purl and let it drop from the needle, then 4) insert it as if to knit through the second st on the back needle and pull the yarn through, leaving the st on the needle. Repeat 1-4 until all sts are gone. When finished, adjust tension as necessary. Weave in ends.

SOCKS Cuff Loosely cast on 56 sts. Divide sts evenly onto 4 double pointed needles. Place marker and join, being careful not to twist sts. Work in K1, P1 Rib for 1 inches. Work in St st until piece measures 6" from cast on edge. Place last 28 sts on a holder (instep sts). Heel flap (worked back and forth on 28 heel sts only) Row 1 *Slip 1, k 1; rep from *. Row 2 *Slip 1, p 1; rep from *. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until heel flap measures 2¼" (28 rows), ending with Row 2. Turn Heel Row 1 K 17, ssk, k 1, turn. Row 2 Slip 1, p 7, p2tog, p 1, turn. Row 3 Slip 1, k 8, ssk, k 1, turn. Row 4 Slip 1, p 9, p2tog, p 1, turn. Row 5 Slip 1, k 10, ssk, k 1, turn. Row 6 Slip 1, p 11, p2tog, p 1, turn. Continue in this way, working 1 more st between dec until all 28 sts have been worked, ending with a wrong side row – 18 sts. Pick up sts for heel gussets as follows: Knit 9 sts; place marker (this is now the end of rnd marker); with another needle, knit 9 sts, pick up 19 sts along edge of heel flap, place marker, (with another needle, knit 14 sts of instep) twice; place marker, with another needle, pick up 19 sts along edge of heel flap, knit rem 9 sts – 84 sts. Gusset Rnd 1 Knit. Rnd 2 Knit to 3 sts before first marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, knit to second marker, slip marker, k1, ssk, knit to end of rnd. Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until 56 sts remain. Note Keep markers in place for toe shaping. Foot Work even in St st until foot measures 7½" (or 2" less than desired total length). Toe shaping Rnd 1 Knit to 3 sts before first marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, k1, ssk, knit to 3 sts before second marker, k2tog, k1, slip marker, k1, ssk, knit to end of rnd. Rnd 2 Knit. Repeat Rnds 1 and 2 until 20 sts remain. Finishing Knit across first 5 sts of rnd. 10 sts will be for the top of foot and 10 sts will be for the bottom of the foot. Graft remaining stitches together.

ABBREVIATIONS / REFERENCES Click for explanation and illustration beg = begin(s)(ning) dec = decreas(e)(s)(ing) k = knit p = purl rem = remain(s)(ing) rep = repeat(s)(ing) rnd(s) = round(s) RS = right side St st = Stockinette stitch st(s) = stitch(es) tog = together WS = wrong side

Barbie's Shawl -- Versatile Grandma's Dishcloth Pattern

I love the Grandma's Dishcloth Pattern. You can use it so many ways. Sometimes I even make dishcloths!
When Jen, Becky, Kelly and Lala were learning to knit before I left Texas, Becky really wanted to make a lacy shawl. I knew she needed an easy pattern because she was still learning and she had not yet progressed to the Purl Stitch. So-- what did I do? I taught her Grandma's Dishcloth.
As a demo of the pattern I made for one of Lala's Barbie's. This was quick to whip out and would let Becky see how the pattern worked. I knitted about 15 rows, then did a row of K1 YO K2Together until I was three from the end. That finished with a K1 YO K2T, K1. After that I did the "lace row" every ten rows. The shawl was knitted until it was as wide as wearers arms are when extended (about your own height). For Barbie around 12" was big enough. Extra long fringe finished it off.
Jen and Becky are big kids at heart. I gave them the Barbie model when I finished it, one night after Lala was asleep. They sat in Jen's room talking, and found themselves absently combing Barbie's hair and rearranging her dress and shawl while they talked. The girls may get bigger, but Barbie is still with them...

Life Changes

The Experts list changing jobs and moving right up there with Death of a Close Family Member for high stressors that can affect your health. I do believe it.
We've been in the Kansas house three months now; I've been on my new job about six weeks. The furniture has pretty much found it's permanent locations but the boxes are still reproducing faster than I can unpack them. We really are going to have to have that It Didn't All Fit Sale. I have found the floor in most of the rooms.
The south bedroom was the big challenge. We stuffed all the "I'll think about it tomorrow... at Tara" stuff in there. I tackled that room last weekend and sorted the boxes. Unfortunately, those were my yarn boxes and sewing boxes and they were not going to be unpacked, just organized.
We put the sewing stuff in the attic (which is convieniently reached from a ladder in the south bedroom) and stashed the yarn tubs under the sewing tables. Aargh! I can't get my black chair in there! Joe, my son in college, gallantly offered to take the chair for his desk. (Why do I feel I lost on that one?) I still have to find room for Mom's cedar chest (full of fabric) that will also go in there. It's a small room. There may only be room to walk down the center.
Those Experts don't know stress. They missed Not Being Able to Use Your Sewing Room.