"Turn a Square" Hat by Jared Flood FO

Patttern: "Turn a Square" by Jared Flood

Source: Free Ravelry Download

Yarn: Miscellaneious Remnant Worsted Wool

Needles: 4.0, 4.5mm circular, 4.5mm dpns

Start: March 11 Finish: March 11, 2016

Modifications: extended band to 1.5", added 1 row of MC between each CC stripe.

One recent Saturday morning I pulled together this little sack of equal toned remnants with the printed pattern I queued years ago. Ravelry says almost 18,000 of these have already been knit - time to get to it!

As a pattern designed to use up remnant yarn, the necessary quantity of contrast colour yarn is given in weight rather than "balls" which made it easy to switch from the self striping Noro of the pattern to equal toned, separate remnants...

I wanted something a bit softer looking than the original snug design so...

• Lengthened the ribbed section 'round the bottom 
• Added another round of black between each coloured stripe.

Having a full day of Saturday "stuff" to do, I then resolved to stitch this little piece whenever I did sit down that day. So by the time I went to sleep that Saturday night I had a new hat!

My slouchier fit lets the "square" hang down the back rather than sitting atop the head all but hidden from sight of my tallest friends...

And the feather lightness doesn't mess with my hair either! This one is all good, now posted and gone from my queue!

"Rikke" by Sarah Young FO

"Rikke" by Sarah Young

Source: Free Pattern on Ravelry

Yarn:Cascade 220, Cascade 220 Heathers

Colours: Pink, White, Dark Grey

Source: Knit O Matic

Needles:

Start:December 14 Finish: December 18, 2015

Modifications: Added Furry Pom to the top and used Worsted Weight Yarn

Another hat. Another Christmas knit - kind of spontaneous - possibly prompted by the furry poms available at Knit-O-Matic when I stopped in to drop off my donations for the Syrian Refugees.

Very, very well received by my SIL at the big family gift exchange - no doubt enhanced by her fashionable DIL's gushing but I'll take it however I can get it!

Aside from all that, the approach to this garter stitch pattern, shamelessly copied from  "Woolythistle"  rests on how purl bumps appear when paired with bumps of a different shade , tone or colour on alternating rounds. I could see this being quite entertaining to explore (if I wasn't busy cabling my brains out these days!)

Colour play aside "Rikke" is a comfortable, well fitting hat.

I added one of these wee little tags picked up when I purchased the yarn and the pom. I was surprised by how well I liked it on the outside at the back.

Knocking off these backlogged FO posts is feeling good!

Thanks for dropping by!

"Seathwaite" by Kate Gagnon Osborn FO

Pattern: Seathwaite by Kate Gagnon Osborn

Yarn: Yorkshire Spinners BFL Undyed

Source: Romni Wools

Size: One Size

Start: November 10 Finish: November 18, 2015

Modifications: None

Can you tell by the way this girl is smiling she was happy with this knit?

I had great luck with how knitted gifts were received this Christmas - this one getting it all going on Christmas Eve morning when she dropped by the house and I pointed out there was something under the tree with her name on it.

Seathwaite is the 5th installment of #FringeHatalong at FringeAssociation. It starts with a doubled brim folded over and knit together on the inside for a warm and springy start to a straightforward cabled beanie.

I picked up the yarn - West Yorkshire Spinners BFL - at Romni as I flew through the store mid December. Its the stuff I'm interested in knitting with at the moment. 'Must remember next time I'm in there to take time to look around for more.

I wet blocked it without pinning. It kept the cables nice and round while still opening up the ribbing of the band nicely.

Straightforward, error free, pleasant knitting, well received. Pretty nice!

Nice of you to drop by...thanks! 

Baker Street Hat by Courtney Kelly FO

Pattern: Baker Street by Courtney Kelly

Source: Free Ravelry Download

Yarn: 1 Ball Rowan Kid Classic

Colour: Peat

Source: Romni Wools Toronto

Needles: 4.5, 5mm

Start: February 1 Finish: February 4, 2015

Modifications: Knit Ribbed Band 2.25"

Making post Christmas returns to a clothing store in late December I saw a picture of a model styled in an outfit that featured a hat like this in a coat like one I've worn for many years.

So during my colour-search shopping trip at Romni last month I picked up three balls of this gorgeous aran yarn with a plan to find a pattern to match it then wear it with, and so update, my old coat.

At first the yarn looks black, then closer up, dark, rich brown and then in differing levels of light it reveals a surprising array of other colours like red (which you can see in the photo above) and purple (seen below)!

I also like the lovely soft halo.

I expected to use at least two balls to get a proper slouchy hat but this knit up in well under one ball.

Its a great hat - warm but light! It somehow stays put without feeling like you're wearing much of anything and it makes no impression on even freshly washed and dried hair. Then when you take it off it slips easily into a pocket or purse, folding up into the smallest little square.

Its trendy but not to a degree that would make it look silly on someone of my "advancing years". Darling Daughter suggested I make the ribbed band more substantial so I added an inch to it.

It gives a bit more length for pulling it down over my ears when necessary (This kind of move could well eradicate the trendiness factor but form must follow function when the windchill is -25 as it so often is these days.)

As an added bonus its reversible and I would think, is also, a unisex design. (Is that still a term people use - "unisex"?)

Thank you Ms. Kelly for free access to a great pattern. Thank you for dropping by today!

Baby Hats Project FO

Four options from which I'll be able to choose to include with Tomten for a big or tiny newborn, a boy or a girl due in three weeks or so...

2 "Troll" Hats by Gabriela Widmer-Hanke

Source: Free Ravelry Download

Yarn: (Biggest Hat)Worsted size: Berroco Ultra Alpaca "Winter White"

        DK size (Second Largest Hat): Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino "Denim"

Size: "Baby" on 60 stitches

Modifications: None

'Love the neat, graphic decreases all slanting one way and the thick-looking garter stitch band across the forehead. It infers a watchman's cap roll without having to organize one on the baby and handily echoes the garter stitch of the Tomten. 'Bet this one goes onto a little head easily and stays put once its there!

After working up these modern caps I moved on to Vintage patterns beginning with one for a little girl...

Infant Girl's Bonnet

Source: Vintage Baby Book "Beehive for Bairns"

Yarn: Viola Sock "Blossom"

Needles: 2.25

Modifications: Affixed ties to alternate point and only sewed 1/4 of neck edge closed.

Another garter stitch piece, I followed the knitting instructions for this exactly but then moved the spot where the ties that go under the chin are affixed substituting blush satin ribbons for the knitted band with button closure.

I love the little detail on the sides of the bonnet where the chin strap is intended to go (That little band edged with eyelet yarn overs) and how about those adorable swirling eyelets around the back of the head!

I worked it up right on the recommended 8st/inch gauge but 50 years ago when these patterns were written people (and their babies) were a lot smaller. I don't think this will likely to fit an average newborn today.

Nonetheless I finished it and dove into another garter stitch vintage pattern. this time for a boy...

Infant Boy's Helmet-Style Bonnet

Source: Vintage Patons Baby Book

Yarn: Koigu KPM Sock "Cloudy Sky Blue"

Needles: 4mm

Modifications: Tacked sides back, substituted ribbons for knitted ties and buttons for ribbon trims

The pattern states this Layette is knitted on "big needles" and after the 2.25's of Little Blossom Hat, that's just how 4mm  dpns seemed. Despite the bigger needles on the same sized superwash wool sock yarn this one, on 10 more stitches than required for Blossom didn't yield a piece all that much bigger.

The zigs and zags in garter bring the finished piece "in" quite a bit I guess,

I felt the "zags" protruding either side of the ears onto the cheeks were a bit excessive so I tacked them back with a button detail when adding ribbons for tying under the chin.

I've wondered for years about this question of relative size for Vintage patterns and what the effect of using different yarns for newborns versus babies might yield with baby patterns in general. This little exercise has given me some idea about that and has me looking at my remnants with a newly enlightened eye.

And a new desire to cast on a hat for myself which is just what I did during the Super Bowl last night. Its a slouchy toque but in Aran weight yarn at a much larger gauge, its on roughly the same number of stitches as the two vintage bonnets which is kind of interesting.

Oh and by the way, I saw the expectant parents over the weekend and gave them "Gus in his Dog House". They were tickled by the likeness to their "first baby" as they call him. Pregnant mom noted I've given her gifts related to the dog in the past that she cherishes and so was very pleased to receive this as a nod to both dog and soon-to-be-arriving daughter or son.

Lots of finishing over the weekend=lots of fun over the weekend. 'Hope you had a good one too!

I Forgot to Show You This!

My Aunt made me this adorable hat last month!

We had such fun, she dropped in with the finished hat and a fresh ball of Malabrigo Rasta for working up a huge pompom. (Love how the dye doesn't penetrate the dense single ply yarn all the way to the centre of the strand so when you cut the ends of the pompom you get a mottled look keeping the hat from feeling too precious.

Its no exaggeration to say we were in a frenzy from the moment she took off her coat to get a great, dense 5" beast of a pompom whipped up and sewn on so we could see how it looked. (Like I said, I think it looks adorable and boy is it warm too!)

Then, as quickly as she arrived she was off again - part of the twirling whirl that was early December around here.

Thank you Aunt P!

Sockhead Hat by Kelly McClureFO

Pattern: "Sockhead Hat" by Kelly McClure

Source: Free Ravelry Download

Yarn: Tanis Fiber Arts Sock
Source: DKC Frolic

Modifications: None

Started as a lark, more to use up the yarn than anything while car knitting to NYC over Christmas but most of its construction occurred over three evenings in T.O. watching the Star Wars Trilogy.

Around and around and around knitting mindlessly in the dark with only the Stars of the "Galaxy", the blue-white flash of explosions and the flickering of the fire to see by. In other words I just knit but never really paid any attention to it.

Then quite suddenly it seemed to materialize into a hat.

Then again, without any real expectation to do so, I wore thing.  It pulled so nicely down over my ears with a generous ribbed brim it was long enough to cover my neck, under my cowl and scarf, creating a complete block against the wind, once the collar of my coat was turned up.

It also turns out that it goes with a lot of things!  The yarn in the skein was such a riot of equal parts garish green, pink, blue and white I thought it would be an orphan for sure but the net affect once knitted up is very chameleon-like. The pieces I wear with it with visually dictating what will appear prominent among the colours of the hat.

Its such a great piece a couple of other knitters from Craft Group have whipped up Sockhead hats of their own after seeing mine!

Bottom line on this free pattern is it is meant to use that single skein of multicoloured sock yarn, will work equally well with any solid or marled colour if that's what you prefer and Darling Daughter tells me the shape and fit make it bang on trend right this red hot minute. Its all a surprise to me!

2 Teeny, Tiny Preemie Hats by Cheryl Andrews FO

Pattern: Teeny, Tiny Preemie Hats by Cheryl Andrews

Source: Free Ravelry Pattern

Yarn: Remnant Koigu Premium Merino

Colour: 1010

Needles: 2.75 dpns

Start:November 23 Finish: December 3, 12013

Modifications: None 

This is a great pattern suitable for even the tiniest early arriver in a whole range of little sizes. (I cross referenced the pattern with on-line charts for typical head sizes according to gestational age.) I liked the idea expressed by the designer in the pattern that even if the gifts were too small that could well serve to give the new parents hope and optimism - that their wee little one was actually too big for something.

My Cousin and his wife were expecting identical twin boys when, early last month, Number One Son and I were in NYC staying with them. Being identical twins there was a chance the babies could be born any time so I decided to make a couple of these little caps to take along in case the babies made an appearance while we were there.

I made these up using remnant Koigu. It has a smooth, hairless finish and soft, superwash texture. I may well stash some in future for last minute baby knitting. In this instance it did not disappoint. I also loved the marled pale blue and white colourway for wee baby boys.

As it turned out, the babies stayed put and the hats stayed in my suitcase, returning with me 10 days later when we went back down for Christmas. The day after our arrival the twins were born on Christmas Eve and after time in two NICU wards with his boys, I showed my Cousin the hats and sure enough he was pleased they were too small. When we saw him again the next day on a break from the Hospital with his older son he said he had seen babies there for whom the fit would be good. So he took them and the next day dropped them off there to cover a couple of impossibly small heads.

Best of all, now, when non-knitters who learn I knit ask if I make things for hospitals, I can finally say Yes!

Up next....details on the sweaters I made for the twins. Thanks for dropping by today!

"Ganomy Hat" by Elizabeth Zimmerman FO

Pattern: "Ganomy Hat" by Elizabeth Zimmerman

Source: Knitter's Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmerman

Yarn: Remnant Worsted Held Double

Needles: 5mm dpn's

Start: October 1 Finish: October 3, 2013

Modifications: None

Poor Ganomy. Finished three weeks ago yet in the "shadow" of "Shearer", not  given a proper public launch until now. This in no way reflects my true feelings about this quick little project. It was entertaining from start to finish, used up more remnant yarn and best of all I am unreasonably thrilled with this hat! Clearly, from the reaction of my loved ones when I modelled it, it is not the best look for me. But it feels so great on and if I pull it down it will keep ears and neck warm - soooo important on my twice daily, often long outings with the dog.

My Ganomy will be a Bitter January Afternoon Hat or a Blustery February Blizzard Hat. The kind of thing you put on when warmth comes above all else not only for comfort but because you know the conditions will be so bitter no one you might meet will be looking at how you look - they'll be too busy trying to keep themselves warm!

The application of mitred shaping to a hat while also working the technique on mittens was interesting to explore and I love how the back of the hat shows that structure as the graphically attractive feature it can be.

Beyond that I'm pleased I resisted my initial impulse to work a bold colour in place of the Oatmeal Grey band. The silhouette is plenty playful without adding bright colour to it as well.

I also quite like the 2x2 row of coloured "notches" at the base of the Oatmeal section that then becomes 1x1 up in the confines of the narrow tip top when changing back to the cream yarn.

With Ganomy finally given its "due" I think I'll indulge in a couple of rows of "Shearer" now. Thanks for dropping by!

"Keep It Simple Hat" by April Klich FO

Pattern: "Keep it Simple Hat" by April Klich

Source: Free Pattern on Ravelry

Yarns: Zen Garden Superwash Worsted & Galway Heather Remnant Grey

Colour: Fire Red

Source: Lettuce Knit Toronto

Needles: Addi 4mm circular, 4mm dpn's

Start: May 11 Finish May 13, 2013

 (Leafs in the Playoffs Knitting - the hat worked out better than the games!)

Modifications: worked in two colours rather than five

 
 A quick, fun, knit using a free pattern, remnant yarn and another of my Christmas gift skeins from Number One Son.

Aptly named it is simple with thoughtful construction details and opportunity to play with the colours as I did. If you consult the projects pages you'll see a variety of colour combinations, added pom poms and variations that play with the length of the droopy bit at the top. Lots of inspiration!

My version has resulted in what I think is a handsome hat that looks good on "boys" or "girls".

'Love the notched slit in the bottom band that works as a design feature and also makes for a comfortable fit.

A long tail cast on gives a stretchy, tidy edge. Then the bottom band is worked flat to facilitate that slit.

Before joining to work in the round an invisible-on-the-right-side increase is worked into a stitch a couple of rows back, It was new to me and something I'll try to remember when working garter stitch in the future because I really like the effect - or maybe better to say lack of visual effect!

After the stranded colour work chart, swirling decreases, made all the more lovely by the hand dyed yarn, march in softly turning lines towards the crown. 

I need a hat for walking the dog in winter. This should fit the bill perfectly. I also badly need warm wool mittens so I plan to knit up a pair of solid colour twined mitts in a similar colour of Cascade 220 Heathers. I want to echo the diamond pattern in the hat with raised chain stitches over the back of the hand and nod to the contrast colour with a bi-colour braid at the wrists.

A "kit" for that project is wound and ready to cast on once the second Tyrolean sock is done. (If you're thinking "...didn't she just knit that giant Man-Cardi in this same colour as these two projects? Yes, I did, hence the break to work on the Orangy Pink socks before the same-colour-red mitts.)

Humidex readings are forecast after which we're to expect another cool down but I spent yesterday in a turtleneck and wool sweater and wore hand warmers to walk the dog so the mood for mittens will still be with me for a while yet - it'll be great to have the whole works done and ready to go next autumn.

And there you have it. "Simple"! Thanks for dropping by!

Keep it Simple with Zen

"Zen emphasises the attainment of enlightenment and the personal expression of direct insight..."

Over the weekend, with Deco's second sleeve cap done and on a piece of yarn I was ready to begin the button bands. I tried it on first then  I measured, re-checked gauge, remeasured, stretched the thing and rationalised what miracles might be wrought out of a good blocking

Then, suddenly, in front of the mirror with an apparently shrunken outline of a someday cardigan straining around my underarms I attained "enlightenment" as to the fact I have no idea how big I am/what size a garment must be in order to fit me. (Yes the last sweater I finished was miles too big, lets not get distracted here...) this issue - (once again) is failing to understand how big I am/what size a garment must be in order to fit me.

The inch of insurance width I added at the underarm? Ha! How about more like 6 inches!

SIX INCHES!

Reconsidering the pattern from this enlightened point of view I see I need to express that direct insight by working a version of Deco two sizes bigger than the one I have almost just completed. Although I might momentarily want to set fire/drive over/shred/leave at the cottage dump I can't abandon this project, however long however much Zen it takes. I 'love the pattern the yarn, the colour and process of knitting it all together.

Re. Knit.

'Thing is, I hadn't the heart to frog 5 weeks of dedicated knitting to cast on and start over just then...but I was working on "Zen" for Deco why not take a bit of break and knit with Zen (Garden Serenity) for this little cutie? 

So that's what I did. at the cottage, in the car, back home watching the Players and the Hockey Game I knit something called  "Keep it Simple" worked with Zen Garden Serenity Worsted and some remnant Galway Heather.

"Keep It Simple" hat by April Klich - free pattern on Ravelry

After each repeat of the pattern I took it off the needles and tried it on. The good news is I seem to understand how big my head is. Now all I have to do is sort out the actual size of all the stuff below that!

Onwards (with Zen but lets face it, once this hat is blocked, little chance I'll try to keep on keeping it simple! There's no sustained fun in that!)

Thanks for dropping by!

Tweed Beret & Handwarmers FO's

Pattern: Tweed Beret by Kristen Tendyke

Size 9.5

Source: Interweave Knits Winter 2006

Yarn: 150-160 yds Jo Sharp Aran Tweed Remnants
Colour: 148 Gypsy (Discontinued)

Start: February 20 Finish: February 8, 2012

Modifications: None

Quick, fun, made with remnant yarn yielding a fabulous end product.

A basic tam with a felted appearance, well suited, I think, to this type of hat. (Good eye Brenda!) Yet felted its not. In fact, I think it outperforms Rowan Felted Tweed in looking felted without actually being so. It also feels flat, soft and, well, felted!

As gravity and I continue the ineveitable "argument" of aging its nice to wear things like this that infer a vertical lift rather than a downward droop. The dense quality of the fabric of this hat and understated size mean it doesn't offer a "slouchy" (aka "droopy) profile and the little i-cord doo-hickey on the top reinforces that idea of perky (aka youthful) verticality. Too adorable!

With the hat done yet more remnants to be used I worked a pair of matching hand warmers...

• Gusset thumb - comfort and flexibility.
• Eyelet & ribbed border followed by decreases flares the cuff to prevent itchy wrists.
• Ribbing along the top edges means no gaping or rolling.

I wore these pieces a lot last spring and as the weather turns here this week, I can see more mileage coming up in the cooler weeks to come.

Tomorrow's post will feature a very unique Sweater FO! 'See you then I hope! Thanks for dropping by today!