Miss Boo's Winter Hat

Way back in the Way Back of Yesteryear, I decided to try a brief stint of child sweatshop labor and force my children to dye their own yarn.  The idea was that I would use the yarn to knit cunning little hats for their cunning little heads.

That was the idea.

Have you noticed that not all my ideas work out?

Thankfully, despite the months (and months) of languishing in my stash, unloved and (semi-) forgotten, Miss Boo's attempt at hand dyeing yarn made it into a finished project.

I used her yarn and mixed it with some vivid nuclear reactor green Caron Simply Soft yarn and knitted up a Toasty Topper.  

Because the Toasty Topper pattern (while most excellent) isn't really written for a five year old head, I had to increase more than the pattern specified.  Unfortunately, I increased a bit too much and ended up with a hat that was slightly too large for my Miss Boo.  I know this because I was informed by Miss Boo that, "She liked the hat very much and loved the hat very much but she couldn't wear it because she couldn't see and kept falling in the snow which was something she did not love."

I almost frogged it, but thankfully last minute I noticed some lovely hot pink fleece remnant on sale at JoAnn Fabrics which I used to line the hat.  

To make the lining, I just laid one of Boo's stocking caps on top of the fabric (folded in half), and traced the stocking cap, being sure to leave a bit extra for 1) lack of stretch in fleece and 2) seam allowance. 

After that, I just turned it so that the wrong side would be next to the inside of the hat, and whip-stitched it around the edges. 

Finally, I used a bit more Caron Simply Soft (this time in matching neon pink) to crochet a flower to add to the side.

I used a button to help hold it on the hat, but the flower doesn't come off.  The button is merely an ornament.

Success! 

 

Hopefully I'll finish Peter's hat before the snow all melts.  

That's the idea, at least.

See the beginning of this post for a reminder of how my ideas usually work out.

More Sabeanies!

I know it's my own pattern, so it's "tooting my own horn" in a truly shameless fashion, but I do so love knitting up these hats!  They're easy and quick, as well as having the added benefit of being simple enough to knit during tv or church.

(Yes, shocking I know, but I knit during church.  It helps me pay attention.)

I think Miss Boo is sick and tired of modeling hats that aren't for her.

 

For all three hats I've used Patons Kroy Socks FX, which seems to work perfectly.  The color striping is pretty but subtle enough to be worn by the masculine man.  (I made sure to ask Handyman, that most monochromatic of Masculine Men.)

If you're interested in obtaining this fabulous, wonderful, and brilliantly written pattern (if I'm going to be shameless, I might as well go all the way!), click here.

Sabeanie Beanie

As I mentioned in this post, I've been trying to knit quite a few Sabeanie Beanies so that I've got some for Christmas presents and some for sale.  I just finished another one which I knit extra-large, yet it has enough versatility to fit my 5-year-old Miss Boo.

 

I love the way the ribbing creates a star pattern at the top.  So fun! 

For this particular Sabeanie I used one skein of Kroy FX sock yarn.  I absolutely LOVE the way this came out.  The yarn is soft and squishy and not at all itchy.  Best yet, it's machine washable/dryable, something which is a must for hygienically challenged men.  (And it's a relatively cheap $3.50/skein).

 

(If you're interested in purchasing the pattern, click here.)

New Pattern for Sale!

If you've ever visited my Ravelry page, you'll know that I have a few patterns that I've listed for free.  For the first time, I decided to list a pattern that isn't free, but only a nominal $2.  I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested, but thankfully a few people were!

It's so nice to occasionally get a "pattern download" notice in my email inbox.  What an odd feeling to know that I'm contributing to our paypal account, rather than depleting it. 

Anyway, here's the pattern, a very easy, very comfy, very useful beanie hat knit with 50 grams of fingering weight yarn.  It is written to fit anyone (except little babies, of course), and is great take-along knitting, since the 3 x 2 ribbing is repetitive and relaxing and the decreasing section only requires minimal attention.

Self-striping yarns are absolutely perfect for this project, and best yet, you would really only need to purchase one ball (bigger skeins of sock yarn will yield two hats).

Men are notoriously difficult to knit for, but I can say with certitude that this hat is a hit with the dudes.  Handyman has been sporting his around town, and he is the envy of all the other guys and I've gotten several requests to knit up extras for Christmas presents that can be purchased.  Some of the bald dudes in the church especially appreciate the fact that there's no seam in the back (the beanie is knit in the round).

I'm going to try to get a few extra's knit and listed on my Etsy page before Christmas, but if you're a knitter, why not save yourself the money and just make your own?  This would make a fabulous present!

Here's the link:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sabeanie

(If you don't have a Ravelry account but would like the pattern, please contact me).

Malabrigo and Gretel

After living in denial for the last three months, I have finally come to (partially) accept that winter might again be here for it's horrific onslaught of vexation and frostbite.

Being caught outdoors wearing only a light jacket while snow fell around me might perhaps have something to do with my erudite discovery.

(And yes, I was also wearing pants and shirt and other accouterments. I just couldn't figure out how to imply all that in the aforementioned paragraph.)

When I finally got home and thawed out, I headed straight for my stash to begin knitting myself a hat, since I have to this point been sadly hatless - a very shocking state for a knitter to be in.
I've been saving a beautiful little skein of malabrigo magic for just such a project. This yarn (named Terracotta) is the stuff of poetic bliss. Stroking its luscious fibers is liking having a massage, getting a really good hair cut, winning the lottery, getting free volunteer babysitter services, and being given a lifetime supply of dark chocolate all at once.

Heady stuff, if you know what I mean, with pun fully intended.

(I'll pause for the groans).
This hat is called Gretel, and is a nice little cabled number that is designed to be a slouchy hat. I think the yarn is a bit too variegated to do the cables justice, but I don't really care, as I am in love with all things malabrigo.
I'm glad I only knit the Regular size, because after I gave it a gentle washing and just let it air dry without any real blocking, it ballooned to twice it's size.

Still, I'm pleased with the results. I got it knit in two days, had four yards of yarn to spare (juuuust squeaked this hat out of one skein, woo-hoo!), and since it's nice and floppy in the back, I won't have to fret about hat hair. (I think I'll give the edges a crochet tighten-up, though, so it stays on a bit more firmly.)
Lovely hat and exquisite yarn to combat wretched weather blues.

Excuse me while I bury my face in my hat for the next nine months.

Sabeanie

Corny, huh? I wanted to merge the island Saba with "beanie", because that's where I knit this.

Okay, when you have to start explaining a pun, then you know it's really a groaner.

Anyway, I noticed a dearth of fingering-weight beanies on Ravelry, so I decided to come up with my own pattern. I really like the way this turned out!

It's not too hot to wear in the summer, and it only used up about 235 yards of yarn, so you could squeeze two Sabeanies out of your usual skein of sock yarn - a great bargain!

I'll try to get the pattern written up soon and put it on my Ravelry and DutchOrchid Design page. If you really want the pattern sooner, let me know, and I'll send you a test-knit pattern.

My Little Frog

To a knitter, the term "frogging" usually accompanies gnashing of teeth and hair pulling. ("Frogging" means pulling out hours of work and having to re-do it). However, this kind of frogging I can handle.

I can handle the frogs.*Sigh* What is it about that Jack Nicholson quote that is so addicting? I blame it all on Pioneer Woman.

Anyway, onward.
Here in the Frigid North, head-wear is a necessity for one's health and to maintain the proper level of brain function. Is that sentence grammatically correct? Hmmm, perhaps it's because I don't wear hats when I go out.

Brain function, I've been told, is important.

That's why I knitted this hat for Baby Gabe; because I want him to have lots of brain function. I wasn't at all tempted to knit this simply because I think it's cute and it makes me smile every time I see it.Nope. Here at Yarn Over, we are all about selflessness and sacrifice.

That's why when my son Gabe is 16, he's going to be so glad that I stuffed him into this hat and took pictures.
Pattern Specs:
Pattern: Toasty Topper from Knitty
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted, 1 skein
Further modifications on my Ravelry page

Of Morels and Men

I am just thrilled to have inspired knitting envy in my husband. No, thankfully he doesn't want to learn to knit himself (I don't want to share my stash), but he was envious of the Koolhaas hat that I knit for my brother for Christmas.

Of course, I had to knit him something, too, to keep that noggin' nice and warm during these frigid months. I used Vanna's Choice Lion Brand yarn, and I found it very soft and easy to use. Other than Caron Simply Soft, I think it's my new favorite acrylic (don't gasp with horror, you snobby knitters out there. Yes, I DO like acrylic. With two toddlers and a smelly male in the house, washable items are a MUST). I normally would have just used the Simply Soft, but it does have a bit of a sheen to it, and I have to be very conscious of the male ego. Sheen or shine of any sort is too much for said fragile ego to bear.

So, the morel bit? I found it the highest compliment when Handyman gushed, "This hat looks like the cap of a morel!" (Okay, not really gushed. He said, "really nice". It was gushing for a Northerner, all right?)

Since he eat, sleeps, and breathes morel hunting during the short spring week when morels are ripe, I am very pleased with the results of my knitted gift.

From anyone else (i.e. normal person), the same compliment would translate into kissing my feet and declaring undying love.

From Head to Toe

I can't believe that my Christmas knitting is done! DONE! Bwa-ha-ha-ha (i.e. evil laugh of smugness).

To celebrate this end to my frenetic knitting schedule, I decided to sit down, relax with a cup of tea, and - yes - knit some more, hee hee!

If you haven't heard yet, Knitty just updated their patterns, and there's some really nice ones in there (as usual). One pattern in particular caught my eye, as it was reputed to be fast, and seemed a clever idea - a hat and scarf combination in one. Perfect! (I have to admit, this was especially tempting, as I have been suffering under the humiliating knowledge that my daughter has been wearing a -gasp!- store bought hat.)

Can I just say that I love this pattern? I just love it. LOVE it. It's clever, well-constructed, easy, and very fast as it's knit with two strands of worsted weight yarn at once. The scarf addition is a nice touch, since my kids are incapable of keeping their hats over their ears, and the snow loves to trickle down their little necks. This hat is ultra-warm, and I'm planning to make another one for Peter with navy blue yarn, since the hat I made him last year is looking rather sad. (Oh, I knitted this hat with my all-time favorite cheap-o yarn, one skein of Caron's Simply Soft.)

(I did make one alteration to the pattern. If you're planning to knit it, I'd recommend using Elizabeth Zimmerman's backwards-loop method to increase, rather than to kf&b. It makes a more seamless increase with no bumps.)

Of course, since I'm the Queen of Over-Embellishments, I couldn't leave well enough alone. My first thought was to embroider snowflakes on the hat, but I quickly realized that I must not understand the geometric make-up of snowflakes, as my initial sketches looked more like satellite antennae. Having given that idea up, I settled on little flowers. It was a good idea, but I over-did it with too many different sizes and colors. Ick. Even I could tell it was too much. So, happily wielding my handy-dandy pair of scissors, I cut out the flowers I didn't like, and stuck to one color of yarn.

Much better. Ah yes, much, much better.

And now to the feet . . .

These are a pair of socks/house slippers that I finished knitting a day or two ago. I am so happy that they are the last Christmas item on my list! I sort of cobbled together a pattern from my favorite sock heels and cuffs, and ta-da! I hope the giftee likes them! They're knit from the most lovely yarn, Blue Sky Alpaca's Organic Cotton. It only took one skein, too, so it was affordable as well as fast! I'm not sure if you can tell from my rather blurry photo (I over-did it again with the photo effects), but the cuff is buttoned together. The buttons are a made from real forget-me-not flowers! How cool is that?

(If you'd like the pattern for the house slippers, let me know, and I'll write it out and put it with my other free patterns.)

Only Two WIP?

Usually I have at least three or four WiP (works in progress) going at one time, simply because I like to have patterns with different levels of difficulty, and also because I get bored easily. My method of keeping my WiP down to a rational number is my Denise Needles; if I run out of needles, then I have to finish something first, before casting on again! However, I would like to announce that I am down to TWO projects (Notice the nice full needle box!)

I have the proverbial pair of socks on the needles (most knitters wouldn't really count that, anyway, as a true knitter is always working on at least one pair of socks at a time), and another Maunawili Falls Vest going, which I'm halfway through.

Just recently I finished the Column of Leaves scarf. I didn't write this pattern, but I do have a charted version on my other blog. I just LOVE this pattern. It's a bit confusing at first, because work must be done on the back as well as the front, but after awhile it made sense and then I was able to memorize it. I still have to block the scarf, but I wanted to take pictures of it first, in case I mess it up while blocking (I've never "officially" blocked anything; yes, I can hear the gasps from here!)

The yarn I used is from Sandy's Palette in her single worsted line of hand dyed yarns, and I think it's beautiful. Everyone who's seen it exclaims over the gorgeous colors. It's 100% wool, but not too scratchy. I still don't think I'll keep it, though. I just don't really like wool against my skin. Ah well, another Christmas gift done for someone!

There's also a hat pattern that matches the scarf, and I had just enough yarn left to knit this as well. Of course, I liked the hat pattern just as much. I think I'll try knitting this set again in a yarn that I like, so I can keep it for myself! I'd definitely recommend this pattern (hey, it's free!).

Now I just have to keep working on my socks and vest, and try to be patient while waiting for the Bee Field's Shawl to get here . . . I'm going out of town this morning, and I bet it'll come this afternoon while I'm gone!