Off the Needles: Monika Hat

April 24, 2013 in Elsebeth Lavold, Hats

I finished my Monika hat just in time for the warm weather to arrive.

Taunting Spring by continuing to knit winter projects finally worked!

Why yes, that is a Color Affection I’m wearing.

The Monika hat is from the Elsebeth Lavold book “The Small Things Matter Collection“.

In the book the hat is knit using shades of blue and purple, but I decided it mix it up and use autumnal colors.

Monika set from Elsebeth Lavold The Small Things Matter Collection

The pattern calls for original Silky Wool yarn held doubled, but I was able to get gauge with Silky Wool XL.

I used colors #17 – Dark Chocolate, #18 – Sap Green, #20 – Toffee, #11 – Purple, and #16 – Tomato Red.

Short rows makes this side taller.

This was a fun and relatively quick knit. When I started it I was rotating it with other projects (as you do) but then I reached a point where I focused on it and it just flew along.

I posted a picture of it on Facebook and people were saying they’d made similar striped hats, but they couldn’t see the interesting shaping involved.

This hat is worked flat. Most knitters cringe at the thought of hats worked flat. It’s much easier to work it in the round and be done when you’re done rather than needing to seam it at the end.

As I was facing the prospect of seaming the hat I was considering how to convert it to knitting in the round. However, I realized the seam is a design element that shouldn’t be skipped.

On the side away from the seam (photo above) there are short rows to give that side of the hat height.

When you sew the seam you pull it tight to gather that side and make it shorter.

The seam gathers this side to make it shorter.

My short side can be shorter. When I was seaming the hat I thought I would be clever and use the tails from the colors changes to sew it shut, but that meant I couldn’t gather it as tightly as I probably should have.

I’m vaguely considering undoing it and sewing a new seam with a single strand of yarn so I can pull it snug.

The hat should probably also be blocked to smooth it out.

This is a good example of why you should read a pattern through completely before you start making changes. If I had converted it to working in the round then read the finishing directions I would have been pretty annoyed to realize what I’d done!

There might be a second, modified Monika hat in my future.

After I had seamed it, but before I attached the side band, my husband found it on the dining room table and started wearing it around the house. It fit him nicely and looked pretty good.

But it’s safely on my side of the coat rack now. We both agreed the side band makes it too feminine for him to borrow it!

In case you’re wondering…that is my Color Affection scarf I’m wearing. I used Ella Rae Lace Merino yarn. You can read more about it in this blog post.

Tags: finished objects, hats
1 Comment »

Monika Hat Progress

April 1, 2013 in Elsebeth Lavold, Hats

You might be wondering how I decided to resolve my Monika hat color dilemma from over the weekend.

Shall I switch the orange stripe for the blue yarn?

To recap:
This is the Monika hat from the Elsebeth Lavold Book “The Small Things Matter Collection.”

I am using Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool XL yarn.

I had been happily chugging along, but decided that the orange yarn at the top was too close to the red-orange yarn below the purple. The blue was a contender to use instead.

A lot of good feed back was provided in the comments on the other blog post and on our Facebook page. There was a lot of support for my concern that the orange and red-orange are too similar.

Blue and orange were both cut from the team. The top is a dark green.

Many people liked the idea of adding the blue because the more colors the better!

Other people said to skip the blue because it was a cool color and the other colors are warm.

As a designer with training in color theory, I say stick with your warm colors. The color scheme you have running right now is Analogic. If you throw in Blue, it will become an off-kilter Triadic scheme, and you’ll have to get rid of all the orange.
This is science! Listen to science.–Nicole D

Some people started making wild suggestions about ripping the hat back further and placing the blue closer to the start. Those suggestions made me LOL.

But what made up my mind was a clever move by our Facebook fan Henrys Wigglebus.

A fan edited the picture to show the blue instead of orange.

They used a photo editing software to approximate what the blue yarn would look like in the hat.

Personally I didn’t like it.

Just need to seam it!

After considering all the advice, I decided to stick with the colors I already had that were working well together.

I ditched the orange and the blue and repeated the green, purple, and red instead. The pattern calls for five colors with colors three and four repeating at the top.

Since the hat is worked flat and seamed, there is a band that is knit separately and attached to hide the seam. I’m going to knit that band in the tan color so it has a second appearance.

I think this has been a good exercise in remembering that just because a pattern is shown in certain colors in the book doesn’t mean you can’t change them around!

Tags: hats, WIPs
No Comments »

On and Off the Needles: Indulgence Beanie

March 2, 2013 in Free, Hats, Knitting Fever Inc

Just because a yarn is called “sock yarn” doesn’t mean you have to restrict yourself to knitting socks with it.

Did you already know that or is it a light bulb statement?

So called sock yarn can be used to knit shawls, scarves, hats, gloves and mittens, and even sweaters.

The two things to remember about sock yarn is that it will usually be a fingering weight (so it will fit in your shoes nicely) and it usually has a touch of nylon included for durability. (Think of the friction of rubbing against the back of your heel as you walk.)

Not all sock yarns need to be knit on itty bitty needles at a fine gauge. Our Indulgence 6 Ply yarn, for instance, has a suggested gauge of 21 sts to 4″ (5.25 sts/1″) on needles ranging from a US 3 to US 6. It is a 75% Extrafine Merino Wool, 25% Polyamide blend.

That is considered more of a sport weight gauge and is much more reasonable for projects beyond socks.

Indulgence also comes in some awesome self-patterning colors.

Socks and photo by Wool Becomes Ewe.

These happy lime/blue/purple socks are being knit by Wool Becomes Ewe, a local yarn store in Virginia. (There is a sock pattern on the Indulgence ball band.)

That picture, combined with this one from Metaphor Yarns, a local yarn store in Massachusetts, reminded me that I was hording some Indulgence of my own.

Photo by Metaphor Yarns

Aren’t those colors luscious?

I’ve made myself socks using the color at the top right. And I used the color in the middle to make socks for my brother.

The one in the bottom right is the one that caught my eye this week.

Hello, handsome.

I don’t know about you, but a lot of my younger relatives are suddenly having babies. There are three new babies in the past four months and another one due in April!

It occurred to me that since Indulgence is silky soft AND machine washable it would be great for baby garments.

I settled on the Amity Print Beanie pattern from Ella Rae, which is free on our website (look for the “download pattern” link under the big picture on the left), and got to knitting. I cast on Wednesday evening and finished it up Friday night.

No baby handy, so my hand had to model.

How adorable is this hat?!

The colors came up so nicely and it’s such a clean, simple design that I want to make one for myself.

Considering it didn’t take much yarn at all, there is probably enough left in the ball for me to do that. Each ball is 426 yards, after all. In fact, based on past experience, and my little feet, I’m pretty sure there is enough yarn left for me to make myself a pair of socks, because I just love this color.

I like the gathered effect on the top.

Now, I did make some modifications to the pattern.

First off, the pattern is written to be worked flat and seamed. I don’t have the patience for that so I just followed the stitch count, but worked it in the round. Of course, when you get to the crown shaping you have to change the purls to knits in that case.

Second, I dropped the top knot.

Third, and this is probably a big one, in the fine knitting tradition of “It will fit someone” I didn’t bother trying to get gauge. I used US6 needles and got 6 sts per inch, which is nowhere near the 4.5 sts/inch called for in the pattern. But, for a baby hat, I think it will be just fine.

When you are weaving in your ends remember that because of the rolled brim you should weave the cast on tail onto the “public” side of the work. If you weave it to the “private” side the end might show when the brim rolls up.

With so much yarn still available I’m debating making little socks to match.

Or maybe fingerless mitts for myself!

Tags: baby, hats
No Comments »

Newborn Baby Hat

December 24, 2012 in Elsebeth Lavold, Free, Hats

A few days ago my friends sent me a picture of their new baby wearing the hat I had knit for their first baby three years ago.

Three years! They’d kept my hat safe for future use.

I was so flattered and excited that I had to knit them another one right away. They are in a New England state so they’ll need winter wear for him. Isn’t it great when our gifts are used and appreciated?

Personally, when I knit or crochet a gift I want to see it used. None of this “It’s too special and will wear out” nonsense for me! If you wear it out I can make you another one.

A little hat for a little head

This little hat took 14 grams of Elsebeth Lavold Favorite Wool yarn. Really, I weighed it. Since Favorite Wool comes in 50 gram balls you’ll be able to make a couple hats, or maybe matching socks or mittens, from one ball.

Newborn Baby Hat

Size: About 14″ circumference. About 3 3/4″ tall

Materials:

Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Favorite Wool (100% Peruvian Wool), less than one ball

Needles: US8 Double pointed needles or size needed to obtain gauge

Gauge: 4 sts x 4 rows = 1″ in garter stitch in the round.

Abbreviations:

CO-Cast on
Dec-Decrease
K-Knit
K2tog-Knit two stitches together
P-Purl
P2tog-purl two stitches together
St(s)-Stitch(es)

NOTE: This hat is worked in Garter Stitch in the round. You have to alternate knit and purl rounds.

The Pattern:

CO 48 sts.

Join to work in the round being careful not to twist stitches. Place marker for beginning of round. Distribute sts evenly on four needles (12 sts each needle).

Beginning with a knit round, work in garter stitch in the round (knit one round, purl one round) for 16 rounds or about 2″ from cast on edge.

Decrease round: *K2tog, k4. Repeat from * around

Work 4 rounds even in garter stitch

Decrease round: *P2tog, P3. Repeat from * around

Work 3 rounds even in garter stitch.

Decrease round: *P2tog, P2. Repeat from * around

Work 2 rounds even in garter stitch.

Decrease round: *K2tog, K1. Repeat from * around.

Work 1 row even in garter stitch.

Decrease round: K2tog around (8 sts remain)

Leave a reasonable tail (6″ or so) and cut yarn. Use a darning needle to draw tail through remaining sts. Remove knitting needles and pull tail tight to close top.

Weave in ends.

No babies were around to model for me.

Lacking a baby to use a a model, I put the hat on this canister of bread crumbs to try to give you an idea of the size. Almost all of us have breadcrumbs in the house, right? My use of this particular brand of breadcrumbs does not constitute an official endorsement (haha).

Of course babies have round tops.

Here’s a picture of the top. Of course, unlike bread crumbs, babies have round tops, which will be much more flattering to the hat!

I used Favorite Wool color #26-Prussian Blue because my friends have a new baby boy. I like primary and strong colors for babies. I think they are a nice change of pace from the usual pastels used for baby garments.

Just a few of the great colors available.

Favorite Wool is available in 34 colors, including some pastels, so you can be more traditional if you want.

I hope you enjoy making this little hat. If you do make one, share a picture on our Facebook wall. I’d love to see it.

Tags: baby, free pattern, hats
1 Comment »

Crochet Noro Book

October 31, 2012 in bag, crochet, Hats, Mitts, Noro, Scarves, Sweaters

Noro has always been good about including a mix of both knitting and crochet in their pattern books.

You can see examples in the new Noro Passion book by Jane Ellison, in the Volume #31 book, and in the premier issue of Noro Magazine.

Now, after a few hard cover books dedicated to knitting patterns, there is an entire book of crochet patterns!

The Shades of Blue Shawl graces the cover

Crochet Noro brings together many of today’s favorite crochet designers and one of the world’s best-loved yarns to create to create a collection of incomparable beauty and originality. From exquisite shawls to stylish cardigans to quick-to-crochet accessories to fabulous bags and totes, this stylish book contains 30 gorgeous projects to entice every crocheter.

Eisaku Noro has been creating his world-renowned yarns in Japan’s Aichi province for more than forty years. Spun from the finest natural materials with great respect for enviromental concerns, these spectacular yarns are dyed exclusively by hand in a dazzling array of colors. The patterns in this artful collection employ several popular Noro yarns, including Silk Garden, Silk Garden Lite, Silk Garden Sock, Taiyo, Taiyo Sock, Kureyon and Shiraito.

These exciting projects are as much fun to stitch as they are to wear. If you aren’t yet hooked on Noro, you will be.

With so many awesome patterns from which to choose, it’s hard to select favorites.

Fortunately, I find that I crochet faster than I knit, which means I could work through the book at a good pace.

Since many of the projects are accessories that require just one or two balls of yarn there is a lot of crochet gift potential in this book as well.

Here are a few patterns that caught my eye.

Hats

Swirly Tam in Silk Garden Sock

This Swirly Tam is very attractive. I like how the ridges add visual interest.

It takes just one ball of Silk Garden Sock. So if you love that yarn, but don’t like making socks, this could be the pattern you’ve been waiting for.

Engineer Cap in Kureyon

Add a little bit of rebel to your wardrobe with the Engineer Cap. It also gives you a chance to use some of the great buttons you’ve been collecting.

This hat takes two balls of Kureyon. With 8 new colorways for the fall no two hats will be the same.

There are two other hats in the book, as well.

Scarves

Strawberry Lace Scarf in Shiraito

There are several scarf, cowl, and shawl patterns in the book. (See, good gift ideas abound!)

I think my favorite is the Strawberry Lace Scarf. I like the large size of the motifs, which has always been one of my favorite crochet designs.

There is no doubt this scarf is unique!

Crocheted using two hanks of Shiraito, a 45% Cashmere, 45% Angora, 10% Wool blend, this scarf is destined to become a favorite because the yarn is so soft and luxurious.

Mitts

There are two pairs of mitts in the book. The elegant and textured Shell Stitch Wristers and the fun Bobbled Mitts below.

Bobbled Mitts in Silk Garden Lite

The Bobbled Mitts are crocheted using two hanks of Silk Garden Lite.

Maybe it’s because we’re still getting rain and clouds from Hurricane Sandy, but the bright, happy colors used in the sample pair make me smile.

Sweaters

Cap Sleeve Cardigan in Taiyo Sock Yarn

Just because I’ve highlighted small projects don’t think this book is all accessories. There are several sweaters as well and even a skirt.

I like the circular design of the Cap Sleeve Cardigan. It’s very visually appealing.

Crocheted using 3 to 4 balls of Taiyo Sock Yarn, a 50% Cotton, 17% Wool, 17% Nylon, 16% Silk blend, this cardigan will be a year round staple in your wardrobe.

It’s just the right size for chasing a chill in doors or wearing over a sun dress outside.

Purses and more!

Flower Blossom Purse in Kureyon

In addition to the projects you can wear, there are 3 purses, a set of bowls, and a throw blanket.

Of the purses, the Flower Blossom Purse makes me smile. Wouldn’t it be a great way to add a bit of color to a gloomy winter day? Or to use in the spring to encourage the flowers to bloom?

The pattern calls for four balls of Kureyon. While the sample in the book uses a bright happy color, you can always select one of the dark or neutral colorways depending on the season and your wardrobe.

This is just a sampling of the projects in this book. You can preview the rest on our website.

The book has started arriving at local yarn stores across the country. Head down to yours to get your copy and supplies!

Tags: bag, crochet, hats, mitts, Noro, scarves, sweater
3 Comments »

Hacho Hat Flat and Round

April 26, 2012 in Free, Hats, Mirasol

If you are a fan of Knitting Fever Inc. on Facebook then you saw my progress last week as I knit the blue chemo cap for my friend using Mirasol Hacho yarn.

Pretty colors.

This hat is a free pattern on our website. After you downloaded it you were probably rather surprised to find it was knit flat since I was obviously working mine in the round on double pointed needles.

Fear not! I wrote down what I did to convert it and am going to share it with you. However, I thought I’d offer a few general tips first.

Flat Version

People get excited to see hat patterns that are knit flat since they aren’t very common.

While it is very logical to knit a hat in the round, since that is the final shape you want, there are times when knitting flat is desirable. Beginners are often intimidated by working in the round. A complex pattern or color work might be better worked flat. You get the idea.

Worked flat the colors are more random.

To make this pattern, even the flat version, you should know how to knit and purl as well as be confident reading a pattern.

The hat is worked in a diagonal rib, so you’ll have to be able to keep track of that as you go along. Also, a word of caution, don’t think you can use these numbers to work a plain hat in stockinette stitch. Remember that ribbing pulls in and stockinette stitch doesn’t. If you drop the pattern stitch your hat could end up a weird size.

A few people have contacted us because they were confused about the part where the diagonal rib begins. The hat starts with a few rows of plain P2,K4 ribbing. Then there is a decrease row, then the diagonal rib starts. The rib pattern starts marching to the right. Just follow the directions and you’ll be fine.

Converting Flat to Round

There are a lot of exceptions and things to consider when converting a knitting pattern written flat to working in the round. Far too many for me to cover in this little post, so I’m just going to offer some quick rules of thumb. There are many excellent knitting reference books that go into more depth that you should seek out.

Barbara Walker has a good discussion of the topic in the introduction to her “A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns.”

The first thing to consider is that you won’t have to sew a seam when working in the round, which means you can probably safely eliminate at least 2 sts (on a sweater maybe 4 sts) that would have gone to the seam.

Second, think about how your ribbing will come together in the round. You don’t want a wide swath of either knit or purl stitches messing up your pattern.

Third, in general the very broad rule of thumb is that you’ll want to change purl stitches to knit stitches and vice versa. But before you do that willy-nilly you really need to stop and think about what the original pattern is trying to accomplish.

Keep in mind that the purl stitch is the back of the knit stitch. You know this deep down inside, but maybe hadn’t thought about it for very long. That is why ribbing is reversible. That is why when you work stockinette stitch in the round all you do is work the knit stitch.

If the pattern you are converting has ribbing or a lace stitch you’ll want to see where all the knits and purls fall and what will happen if you reverse them. It might be wise to knit a swatch flat following the pattern so you can get a feel for it before you convert it.

Fortunately, in this case, I’ve done that thinking for you. Ready to get started?

In the Round Version

Remember, I can’t claim this is an original pattern. I’m just converting the existing Tintiri Hat pattern. You’ll want to download it to get the specs and there is also a cute matching scarf pattern on there, too.

Worked in the round gives a swirl.

Yarn: One skein of Mirasol Hacho. (I had about 3 feet left after seaming the flat version and about 9 feet left after working the round version)

Needles: US 6 or size needed to obtain gauge. (For instance, I used a US 5)

Gauge: 22 sts & 30 rows in 4″ over stockinette stitch

Pattern:

Cast on 90 sts

P2, K4 around.

Continue in rib as established until hat measures 3/4 inches from cast on edge.

Begin diagonal rib:

Rounds 1-4: K4, P2 around

Rounds 5-8: K2, [P2, K4] around, ending K2

Rounds 9-12: P2, K4 around

These 12 rounds form the diagonal rib.

Repeat last 12 rounds until hat measures approx. 7″ from cast on edge

Shape Crown:

Round 1: *K2tog, K2, P2, repeat from * around (75 sts)

Round 2: K3, P2 around

Round 3: *K2tog, K1, P2, repeat from * around (60 sts)

Round 4: K2, P2 around

Round 5: *K2tog, P2, repeat from * around (45 sts)

Round 6: K1, P2 around

Round 7: *K1, P2tog, repeat from * around (30 sts)

Round 8: K1, P1 around

Round 9: K2tog around (15 sts)

Round 10: K around

Round 11: K2tog around to last 3 sts, S1, K2tog, PSSO (7 sts)

Draw tail through all sts on needles, pull tight to close hole, fasten off.

In case you’re wondering

what the differences are between the two versions:

1) Cast on fewer sts to make the initial ribbing work

2) Eliminated the decrease row since you already have 90 sts

3) Worked 2 extra rows at the top of the crown because I thought the 15 sts hole was too big.

You’ll notice the way the colors fall in the two versions of the hat are very different. That is the fun of hand painted yarns in action. You can meld the colors by alternating working 2 rows from both ends of the ball of yarn. (Of course you can also buy two balls of the same color and alternate 2 rows of each. Then you’ll have enough yarn for two hats.)

On a different note, I was reviewing the new free patterns we’ve posted on line and noticed that this Odin hat from Viking Design is also knit flat. It is a basic rib pattern, which makes it very good for beginners.

This hat is worked flat, too.

Tags: chemo cap, free pattern, hats, Mirasol
No Comments »

Off the Neeldes: Chadwick hat

January 31, 2012 in Juniper Moon Farm Yarns

I finished the hat I was knitting using Juniper Moon Farm Chadwick yarn.

The pattern is the “Cable Brim Cap #25″ from the Winter 2011/12 issue of Vogue Knitting.

Even though I only have one hat now, I actually knit it twice. Which proves that even experienced knitters make mistakes, but also highlights a great thing about knitting: It’s one place in life where you are guaranteed a do-over if you need it!

The problem the first time around is that the hat came out way too small. I could cram it on my head, but it slowly worked its way off. It was so tight I was sure that if I tried to wear it I would get a headache.

This was very disappointing because I liked the look of the hat and I loved the yarn.

Swatches Lie?

I’m sure you’ve heard that before. I know I have, but this is the first time I’m positive it happened to me. I’m really sure I got gauge when I swatched on US 5 needles, but during the course of knitting something went horribly wrong and instead of ending up with 5 sts per inch my finished hat was around 6 sts per inch.

One stitch per inch might not sound like much, but it can make a big difference across an entire hat. It’s even worse across an entire sweater. At least a hat is a small enough project that reknitting it wasn’t a big time investment. If an entire sweater had gone wrong I would be crying right now.

That is why it is important to swatch carefully and stop every so often to remeasure your gauge as you are working on the project. That might sound silly, but your gauge could change. Your mood affects your tension. If you were stressed out when you swatched (or as you’re knitting) your fabric will be tighter than when you are relaxed. Also, as you become familiar with a stitch pattern you’ll be more relaxed and have a different rhythm than when you first start knitting it, which could also affect your gauge.

The rule of thumb I’ve heard is that every step in needle size is equal to half a stitch. So if you are getting 4.5 sts per inch on a US 7 needle you would get 4 sts per inch on a US 8 needle. Since every knitter is different you should test this theory out for yourself.

With that guideline in mind I jumped straight to a US 7 needle (two sizes up to get a whole stitch difference in gauge). The new finished hat fits just right.

Pattern Tips

As I mentioned in my previous post about this hat, Vogue Knitting has this pattern designated for an experienced knitter. There were a few things I noticed as I worked through it.

First, follow that rule about reading the entire pattern before starting. I noticed a few spots where it said to work X repeats and at the end of the sentence mentioned to place a marker or other instruction on one of the early repeats.

Second, don’t sweat the short row ear flaps. Aside from the cables they were easy short rows to knit. No wraps to worry about picking up! I think the cables made them “self-healing” so there were no holes visible from the turns. Just pay attention to the chart and you’ll be fine.

Third, pay attention to where you place your decreases on the body of the hat after you pick up from the cable band. On my first attempt I thought I had everything placed properly where the pattern directed, but one set of decreases flowed nicely from the center of the ear flap in line with the cables and the other set was in front of the ear flap.

I was willing to let it go, but since I had to reknit the hat anyway I took the opportunity to fix it. Instead of going with the placement the pattern recommends I made sure my markers were between the cables on the ear flaps.

A picture would be helpful here, but this yarn is just confounding my attempts to photograph it. I think it’s vampire yarn. Or maybe it’s just shy.

Finally, I think the wording on the crown shaping isn’t clear. The set up row has you place 7 B markers, but only 6 A markers. Your end of round marker is the 7th A marker.
So Round 3 should read 6 times, knit to 2 sts before end of round, k2tog. (That will make sense when you’re working the pattern.)

The directions tell you to knit to two stitches before marker A and k2tog 7 times, but since there isn’t a 7th marker A I forgot to do that last decrease and ended up with too many stitches at the end of the shaping. At the time I just fudged it by working an extra few decreases. Obviously, it was another error I was able to correct the second time around.

Although my first attempt took me about a week of knitting in the evenings, I blasted through the second hat in one marathon three hour knitting session last night. I think it helped that I didn’t have to rework the cabled band. My focus meant I had a cozy new hat to wear on my morning walk in the snow today.

Chadwick and Willa Design Contest

Chadwick comes in 202 yard balls. This hat took about 3/4 of the ball.

If you are planning to enter the Juniper Moon Farm Design Contest that gives you an idea of the size of the project you can make with one ball of Chadwick.

Just think of the possibilities with two balls!

Remember, the entry deadline has been extended to March 1 so there is still plenty of time to enter.

Tags: hats
3 Comments »

On the Needles: Cable Brim Cap in Chadwick

January 26, 2012 in Hats, Juniper Moon Farm Yarns

Cables count as knitting magic in my mind.

The stitches twist and turn over themselves to create a visually stunning design. But as complicated as the the finished cables appear creating them is just a matter of knitting (or purling) the stitches out of order.

If you haven’t knit cables yet that statement might sound flippant, but trust me, once you try them I’m sure you’ll agree.

Since I’m predisposed to prefer cables anyway, you won’t be surprised that I fell in love with the Cable Brim Cap #25 (link for the Ravelry project page) in the Winter 2011/12 issue of Vogue Knitting.

The single cable band around the edge of the hat ensured there would be enough challenge to be interesting, but meant the crown would be quick knitting. I also found the short row shaping to create the little ear flap intriguing.

Over the weekend I cleared my needles and cast on using Juniper Moon Farm Chadwick in color #1-Indian Paintbrush. Chadwick is a worsted weight, 60% Merino Wool, 40% Baby Alpaca blend that comes in 202 yard balls. In addition to being both soft and warm I knew one ball would be plenty to make the hat.

Does it look like a hat yet?

Red yarn is notoriously hard to photograph, as you know if you have a blog or keep your projects and stash up to date on Ravelry. The Chadwick red is a nice, clear red with blue undertones. But don’t take my word for it, find a local yarn store near you that carries it and see it in person.

This pattern is marked for an experienced knitter and I would agree with that. It has a provisional cast on, cables, short row, and grafting. Just to name a few techniques. I was knitting while watching TV last night and crossed a cable in the ear flap incorrectly! At least I discovered it right away so it was easy to frog and fix.

I’m almost done with the cabled section. Hopefully in my next picture the project will actually resemble a hat!

Skjalf Hood

This Cable Brim Cap is not my first Chadwick hat.

In the fall, before the cold weather arrived, I made the Skjalf Hood from Elsebeth Lavold’s Second Viking Knits Collection. I had seen it in person when the “Knitting Along the Viking Trail” museum exhibit was in Philadelphia over the summer and fell in love.

Skjalf from the "Knitting Along the Viking Trail" exhbit.

Since this book is from a few years ago the original yarn is now discontinued. However, it was an alpaca blend similar to Chadwick, which gave me confidence when substituting.

Skjalf was a quick knit. There are two cabled bands up the side of the hood, but most of it is worked in stockinette stitch, as you can see from the pictures. It’s worked flat, aside from the initial ribbing around the neck and the ribbing around the opening for your face. The top is closed using a three needle bind off.

One ball of Chadwick was enough yarn to complete the project. I had just 8 grams of yarn left over.

My Skjalif Hood. Pattern by Elsebeth Lavold

I think it’s rather cute and it’s very comfortable to wear, especially when I’m walking the dogs early on a cold winter’s morning since my ears and cheeks are protected.

Sluggy Bonnet

But don’t limit yourself to single colored hats with cables. Chadwick works great for color work projects, too. When Susan Gibbs was selecting the colors she ensured they would all (or most) work well together for stripes and Fair Isle projects.

Sluggy Bonnet photo by Joel Eagle

An example of this is the Sluggy Bonnet pattern from the Chadwick book. It uses three colors of Chadwick, which is actually enough to make two Sluggy Bonnets if you change the colors around.

The hard part is selecting just three of the 12 beautiful colors to make one!

Chadwick color for my Sluggy Bonnet

When I finished the Skjalf hood I selected this lovely mint chocolate chip colorway to knit a Sluggy Bonnet of my own.

But Fair Isle isn’t my strong suit so I’m still working up the nerve to cast on. ha!

Which do you prefer cables or Fair Isle?

Share your Chadwick projects with us on the Juniper Moon Farm Yarns or Knitting Fever Inc. Facebook walls.

Chadwick and Willa Design Contest

Don’t forget about the design contest using Chadwick or Willa. Submit your unique design using one or two balls of either yarn (two colors max) for a chance to win up to $300 worth of Juniper Moon Farm Yarn.

You can read the details in this blog post.

Entries have to be postmarked on or before March 1, 2012, so hop to it!

Tags: cables, hats
No Comments »

Hats with Flaps

October 26, 2011 in Hats, Juniper Moon Farm Yarns, Mirasol, Sirdar

The weather report says there is a chance of snow showers in Vermont and New Hampshire this week. It’s early in the season, so if it does snow it probably won’t stick, but this serves as a portent of things to come.

It’s time to get out the winter woolies and determine whether we need to rearrange our project list to prioritize garments that can be used this winter.

Those of you who live a little further south have more lead time to bundle up, while those people who live in the deep south will have more time to laugh at the rest of us.

Whether you prefer to admire snow from behind a window, or are a winter sports enthusiast who can’t wait to hit the slopes, a hat is a quick way to refresh your winter wardrobe.

You can purchase these pattern books and yarns at fine local yarn stores across the country. You can locate stores in your area by using the “find a store” feature on our website.

Juniper Moon Farm

Tanis Gray designed two fetching hats for the new Juniper Moon Farm line.

The Sluggy Bonnet, which it’s simple Fair Isle pattern, has been very popular. It is knit using one ball each of three different colors of Chadwick, a 60% Merino Wool, 40% Baby Alpaca blend yarn.

You can stick with the colors from the book, or have the yarn store staff help you select a different combination. When Susan Gibbs was selecting the 12 colors for Chadwick she made sure they would mix-and-match nicely for stripes and other color work.

Since Chadwick comes in 202 yard balls I’ve heard from people who have made two Sluggy Bonnets by mixing the colors around.

The Beaded Hat from the Willa book gives you a chance to visit your local yarns store’s bead section (or visit your favorite local bead store!).

This slouchy beret takes one ball of Willa, a 60% Merino Wool, 40% SuperKid Mohair blend yarn. With 12 vibrant colors from which to select you can make a hat for every day of the week.

Mirasol

Hats with ear flaps are both cute and practical. They are also much easier to knit than you might think. Usually it’s a matter of knitting the ear flaps flat, then knitting across them to attach them to the hat on your first round. Sometimes they are sewn on after the hat is finished, which gives you more options for placing them where you want them.

Jane Ellison has designed three ear flap hats for the Mirasol line.

The Isla Hat is in Book #17-Sulka. This hat requires one ball each of four different colors of Sulka, a 60% Merino Wool, 20% Alpaca, 20% Silk blend yarn.

The cute heart pattern will tell the recipient loud-and-clear that you love them (as if a hand knit hat wasn’t enough!), making it a good gift for the holidays or even Valentine’s Day.

If knitting color work isn’t your favorite, the Hattie pattern from Book #14-Akapana might be more your style. This cabled beauty will be fun to knit and warm to wear in the 65% Baby Llama, 25% Merino Wool, 7% Acrylic, 3% Viscose blend yarn.

The Kinglet Hat from Book #6-The Mirasol Accessories Collection has a more rugged look that will appeal to the men out there.

The book includes three version of the hat adjusted for the different weights of Akapana, Tupa, or Sulka.

Sirdar

If you’ve just started knitting, or haven’t made many hats, you should check out the Pom-Pom Helmet from Sirdar Book #361-Big Softie-More Knits for Beginners.

This pattern takes just two balls of Big Softie, a 51% Wool, 49% Acrylic blend that works up at a suggested gauge of 2 stitches per inch. With a yarn that chunky you’ll definitely be finished this hat before the snow hits.

This book also includes an adult hat with a little bit of color work if you want to give that technique a try.

For a more experienced knitter the Girl’s Cabled Hat in Book #356-Farmyard Girls & Tractor Boys will present a nice challenge. The pattern calls for one ball of Supersoft Aran, a worsted weight 100% acrylic yarn that is machine washable.

That is just a sample of some of the hats you can make to keep yourself and your loved ones warm this season. You can see more patterns on our website and select the style you want before heading to your local yarn store to get your supplies.

Tags: children, hats, mens, womens
2 Comments »

Gift Knitting Ideas

October 10, 2011 in Araucania, Cowls, Elsebeth Lavold, Gloves, Hats, Mirasol, Noro, Scarves, Uncategorized

Malin by Elsebeth Lavold

The middle of October is here and you know what that means.

Time to start thinking about your holiday gift knitting (and crocheting) if you haven’t begun already.

Including today, there are 73 days to December 21, the first day of Chanukah, and 76 days to December 24, Christmas Eve.

Have you ever timed your knitting? Not your stitch per minute speed, but how long it takes you to complete a project. For instance, I know a pair of socks usually takes me two weeks. A sweater for myself (an adult small), if it’s the only thing I work on, takes about a month. While a sweater for my husband, a men’s large, takes about two months.

If you are a member of Ravelry you already know that it is a great place for tracking how long a project takes, which is all important when planning your gift knitting time.

To maximize gift knitting time many people stick with simple or small projects, which makes accessories a great choice.

We have a number of books focused on accessories and other small projects that might help get your gift knitting juices flowing.

Elsebeth Lavold

The Small Things Matter Collection (Book #17) by Elsebeth Lavold is a good place to start. This book features around 20 projects ranging from hats and gloves to shawls and bags. There are even a pair of cute decorative boxes.

Most of the projects are knit in Silky Wool, which adds eight new colors this season so it will be easy to match your recipient’s tastes.

Matching the recipient’s tastes is an important first step to make sure your gift is used and not relegated to the bottom of a closet. Don’t select flashy colors for someone who likes neutrals and don’t select a complicated stitch pattern for someone who would prefer a smooth stockinette.

For your gift to be a success you need to spend some time thinking about what the person you give it to will enjoy wearing rather than what you’ll enjoy knitting. Hopefully you’ll be able to find a project that satisfies both of you.

The Malin smoke ring, shown at the top of this post, could be such a project. It calls for just two skeins of Silky Wool and features an easy lace pattern with shaping accomplished by changing needle sizes.

With the continuing popularity of cowls, your gift with be both cozy and stylish as well as fun to knit.

Mini Knits

Jenny Watson has put together “Mini Knits” books for several of the lines for which she designs.

Araucania Book #6 features 16 designs ranging from garments to home decor items.

For a change of pace there is also a cute teddy bear pattern. Just one skein of Itata is needed to make this new friend.

One skein of Araucania Itata is needed for this teddy.

If you enjoy making teddy bears, Debbie Bliss also has a few patterns. There are two sizes in her Booties, Blankets and Bears book that take Cashmerino Baby, which has six new colors this season.

There is also a free pattern for a teddy bear using one ball of Noro Kureyon on our website. Kureyon has eight new colors this season. That’s a lot of variety for your bears!

When making stuffed animals as gifts keep the age of the recipient in mind. Judge whether embroidered on eyes or plastic safety eyes will be better. For stuffing, it is easy to get either fiberfill or plastic beads at a craft store. Some knitters like to put the stuffing in a old panty hose that has been sewn or tied shut to prevent any from sneaking out through the fabric.

While Noro yarns make adorable stuffed animals they are mainly known for eye catching garments.

Jenny Watson’s Noro Mini Knits Two book covers a variety of garments from hats and scarves for both men and women to sweaters and shrugs for women of all ages.

Convertible mitts let you search for change.

One skein of Noro Silk Garden will make these cute flip-top mittens. This style of mitten is great because it keeps your fingers warm but if you need dexterity you can free your fingers without taking off the whole glove. The pattern is also fun to make with the challenge of the fingers to keep your attention.

K'acha scarf and gloves

The men in our lives can be some of the hardest people to knit for. To make it enjoyable for everyone it’s really important to select a style and color they will enjoy wearing. Showing them a selection of pictures of projects and yarns can help them narrow down what they would like. It is especially useful if they don’t “speak yarn” because instead of having to explain what they want they can just point.

This handsome scarf and glove set are from Jenny Watson’s Mirasol Mini Knits book. The set it knit in K’acha, a 60% Merino Wool, 25% Suri Alpaca, 15% Silk blend that comes in 12 jewel tone colors. Surely there will be one to satisfy that fussy man you know. The book also includes a men’s cabled hat and a boy’s vest.

Don’t worry, the book also includes plenty of pretty patterns the women in your life, including a cardigan, cowl, and hats.

If you get a start now, and plan carefully, you’ll be able to meet your gift knitting goals.

Tags: gifts, gloves, hats, mens, scarves, womens
2 Comments »

Yarnologue

You are browsing the Blog for hats.

Off the Needles: Monika Hat

Monika Hat Progress

On and Off the Needles: Indulgence Beanie

Newborn Baby Hat

Newborn Baby Hat

The Pattern:

Crochet Noro Book

Hats

Scarves

Mitts

Sweaters

Purses and more!

Hacho Hat Flat and Round

Flat Version

Converting Flat to Round

In the Round Version

In case you’re wondering

Off the Neeldes: Chadwick hat

Swatches Lie?

Pattern Tips

Chadwick and Willa Design Contest

On the Needles: Cable Brim Cap in Chadwick

Skjalf Hood

Sluggy Bonnet

Chadwick and Willa Design Contest

Hats with Flaps

Juniper Moon Farm

Mirasol

Sirdar

Gift Knitting Ideas

Elsebeth Lavold

Mini Knits

Recent Posts

Blogroll

Meta