Been busy with Scrubbies -- and I don't mean cleaning

I suddenly got on a scrubby kick. I can make one in a couple of hours. I give them away to my friends and suddenly, they want to purchase more as gifts for their friends, or they just want more for themselves. I even had one who accidently put one down her garbage disposal and needed another. 

I had a booth at a craft fair last Christmas and sold them for $5.00 each. I know that is really cheap for the time and effort. However, I am thinking that I knit them because I like making them, not to make money. So anything I make is gravy, right? I would be knitting them anyway, and I am not going to be using them all myself. (By the way, I hate cleaning) 

One skein can make three scrubbies with the leftover used to make scrapy ones. You need to use the specific yarns called scrubby. You can purchase them at Michaels or online in a variety of solid or variegated colors. There are some wonderful colors online that you can't find in the stores. I went wild last year and went wild with  buying scrubby yarns. 

The pattern I use is https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/garter-stitch-round-scrubby. However, there are several varieties on Ravelry. There is a square scrubby that you can probably make in a hour or less (https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/square-scrubbies). There are also some fun pattern in the face of an owl, a tomato, a puppy dog, a kitty cat, and a flower. I hope to make some of those one of these days, but this pattern is my "mindless" pattern.

In fact, I discovered that I can complete an entire scrubby on the drive from Littleton to Fort Collins Colorado. My son live in Fort Collins so it works out perfectly. By the time we finish our visit, I have two additional scrubbies, as well as any I knit while I am there. 

And don't forget all the patterns of scrubbies that you crocheters can use as well. I can crochet, but I prefer to knit. I learned to knit and crochet at the same time when I was a preschooler from my mom and grandma, but for some reason, I liked the look of knitting more. I learned to knit making Barbie clothes and knit clothes were less bulky.

You do have to use the specialty yarns made for dishcloths but there are lots of them out there. Michael's has lots of scrubby yarns, many in bright vibrant solid colors and several variegated ones too. You can also order many online as well. I really like the brand called Jubilee Yarn Scrubby Dish Yarn. It has wonderful colors in more muted colors. I don't like the 'sparkle' or 'eyelash' ones, but that is a personal preference. But I warn you. Searching for scrubby yarn is a big rabbit hole to fall into!

So dive in and enjoy yourself!

Making Hats in the Heat

I know it is ironic, but in this heat, I am making hats for winter. I don't even know what I am going to do with them. Some I will put on Etsy to sell, some I will give away to friends and family, and some I will donate to our local shelter. The truth is that I gotta knit! 

This isn't even all of them.

Additional Lorne Hats

 I used Big Twist for these hats. Big Twist is a cotton and acrylic yarn with a soft feel available at Michaels. It is a striped yarn with a design so all you have to do is knit to get all this texture. I got four different colors and made up the blue one and the lavender one. I am working on a red one now, and I think the other is a yellow color. 

I also got a bunch of striped sock yarns and I plan to use to make more hats. They are solid colors instead of the designs 

White and Striped

I made one of my Lorne hats in white. Not a good idea. I spent more time picking little black kitty hairs out of the hat than I did knitting it. It's a pretty hat though. 

I also made the other hat in a self-striping sock yarn because I have given up on knitting socks for awhile.

I will be packing up most of these hats and taking them to the Gathering Place. It is a day shelter for women and children. I just cleaned out my closet of my working clothes and will bring those as well.

I am truly addicted to this pattern. I have several WIPs (Works in Progress) with this pattern, including a pink one and a purple one. I need to move onto another pattern but I just can't help it.

The Sandie Fingerless - Free pattern

 

This is a very soft novelty yarn I purchased several years ago. I was happy to see it still available online since the yarn store where I purchased it is long closed. It is a little tricky to work with though. You have to be sure to knit through the thread holding the fluff on. It is very easy to knit some of the fluff instead. The other hard part is that it is very difficult to frog --  just a warning.

Sandie Fingerless Gloves

 

MATERIALS
1 skein Sirdar Snowflake Ultra light Chunky

(100% Polyester; 125m/137yds) 50g
Size US 5 (3.75mm) Double Pointed Needles
Yarn needle

Stitch markers

Gauge: 8 stitches per 2 inches.

Two sizes: Medium (Large). Both left and right hands are made the same.

 

Cast on 30 (34) sts. Place marker and join.

Purl one round.

Work in stockinette (knit every round) for 4½” (5½”).

Thumb hole: Turn your work. Slip first stitch as if to purl. Purl around to the gap.

Turn. Sl1. Knit to the gap.

Turn. Sl1. Purl to the gap.

Repeat the last two rows until the gap is 2” (Total work is 6½” (7½”)

Knit to the gap but do not turn. Knit over the gap and continue to work in stockinette (knit every round) for 2½” (3½”) or the desired length.

Purl one round. 

Bind off. Cut yarn, leaving a tail. Weave in end.

 

Bon Booties

I used worsted yarn for these booties and they are very dense and sturdy. I am thinking that they may not stay on baby's feet as well as some of the other patterns but that can be overcome by wearing socks.

Once again, they knitted up very fast. I used the stockinette cuff instead of the ribbed one. I will probably do this one again with the ribs.




https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bon-booties

Hiking booties

Just a heads up: this is not a free pattern, but it is still worth the purchase. It has a rounder toe than some of the other patterns I've used. I used Caron Simply Soft yarn and I think these are my favorites.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/combat-booties

Kimono booties

These booties are so fast! In fact, it took me longer to make the flowers than it did to make the flowers!



http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bitty-baby-booties-2

High Top Sneaker Booties

Yeah, you gotta have the high tops! Make a bunch of them. They are everyone's favorite.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-converse

 

Baby Tenny-runners

Little tennis shoes. I only made one of these so far, but I will be doing more. They knitted up very fast. And I have lots of scarp yarn.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-booties-stricklinge

Baby Hug Booties

This is a very simple pattern using small amounts of yarn in two colors. The blue one is knitted with smaller needles so it is a bit smaller than the pink one. 

The pattern is free on Ravelery.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-hug-boots

And On to the Booties

After months of knitting baby hats for charity, I suddenly had an urge to start making booties. I first started a baby sweater and I do plan on finishing it, but it is sitting here beside me half done once the bootie-fairy hit me. Here is what I have made so far. I did not create any of these patterns, but they are all on Ravelry and I'll post the patterns over the next several days. 

The booties go fast; in fact, I made three pairs in one day. So stay tuned, and see close-ups of all the booties hot off my needles.

Baby Entrelac Cap

I am still on my baby hat kick. I tend to find a pattern I like and make it over and over again.  So searching through my patterns, I found this pattern for entrelac hats. It is sized for adults, but I used smaller needles and DK yarn so it would fit babies and children instead. The pattern (Ravelry link posted below) uses size 7 and 9 needles, but I used size 3 and 4. The hats are a little bigger than baby size, but I still like the effect. 

So, back to the needles.

Here is the pattern:

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/entrelac-cap-2

Layla Baby Hat

In my expanding baby hat project, here is the Layla Hat.

My nephew’s baby girl is just the sweetest little doll, so I had to make a hat for her. What is great that you use less than a skein of yarn, and from my calculations, can also make at least two hats from one full skein. Once you make one of these, you will want to make more and more, using variegated yarn, striped yarns, and bright colors.

The other cool thing is that this is a cable stitch without needing a cable needle. If you have a fear of trying the cable stitch, this is a baby step with a baby hat!

Materials:

1 skein DK (double knit) yarn

Size 6 (4,0 mm) 16” circular needle
Size 6 (4.0 mm) double pointed needles
Stitch marker
Yarn needle

Abbreviations:
K: Knit
P: Purl
Mock cable (over two stitches): Knit two stitches together but do not remove from your left needle. Insert right needle into the first stitch and pull up a stitch. Remove from left needle.

Cast on 64 stitches. Join being careful not to twist the stitches and place marker.

Round 1-3: Work in 2x2 ribbing (K2, P2).
Round 4: *Mock cable, P2; rep from * to marker.
Work these 4 rounds until piece measures 5 ½”.

Crown:
Switch to double pointed needles when necessary.
Round 1: *K2, P2tog, K2, P2; rep from * to marker
Round 2: *K2, P1, K2, P2; repeat from * to marker.
Round 3:  *K2, P1, K2, p2tog. Repeat from * to marker.
Round 4:  *Mock cable, p1; repeat from * to marker.
Round 5:  *K2, P1 * repeat from * to marker.
Round 6:  *K2tog, P1, K2, P1; repeat from * to marker.
Round 7:  *K1, P1, K2, P1; repeat from * to marker.
Round 8:  *K2tog, P1, K2, P1; repeat from * to marker.
Round 9:  *K1, P1, repeat from * to marker.
Round 10-11: K2tog until there are six stitches left.

Cut yarn, leaving an 8” tail. Cut yarn, thread through the remaining stitches and secure tightly.  Weave in ends.

You can alter the pattern easily to make hats bigger or smaller. Just make the number of stitches a number divisible by 4, or use a larger or smaller needle. 

Thermal Hat

I have made a couple of Thermal hats in between my baby hats. The link for this hat is at the bottom. I used Loops and Threads Woolike (85% Acrylic; 15% Nylon, 620m/678yds). This is one of my favorite yarns because it is acrylic and very soft, especially for those allergic to wool. I also used slightly bigger needles for the upper part, and made it longer so it would be more of a slouchy hat. 




The other thing I like about this hat is that it is very easy to take with me when I leave the house. My husband and I have been going to sports bars lately so he can watch the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs. (We don't have cable or satellite) I don't know what all those sports fanatics think of a woman knitting in a sports bar, but they seem to be okay with it. I get a lot of questions about what I am making and admiring it. I am more likely to get a comment from some that they will bring their knitting next time.

Some ask me how I can drink and knit at the same time. I tell them that my limit is one or two beers because one time I was knitting a mitten at a bar and ended up with a sock. Some laugh; some just don't get it.

I am currently working on another Thermal cap using Red Heart Unforgettable in Pearly (100% Acrylic; 246m/270yds). It is a much thicker yard than the Woolike but it is working out well -- and I love the colors.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/thermal-cap

Into the Delightful Rut of Knitting

I have been knitting baby hats since the beginning of the year, and I have noticed a pattern. Once I find a pattern I like, I knit it. And I am not talking about just knitting a hat or two -- I'll knit several and do the pattern over and over again until I get tired of it. Actually I never really get tired of it; I just am ready to do another pattern.  I often use an adult hat pattern and make it into a baby hat.

 

I first made the 'square' hat because I had yarn that 'phased' from color to color. Then I purposefully changed colors manually to make the stripes and of course had to add a variety of pom poms to accent the edges. The pattern for these hats are posted on 1/23/19.

Of course, I only had to make some "normal' hats with brim, body and crown.














Then I made some berets, which is not only of my designs. You can get this pattern from Ravelry at https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stripey-baby-beret.

One of my favorite patterns for adult hat is the Regina hat, so I made some baby hats using that pattern. You can read more about this pattern and get the link by going to the 3/28/19 post here on my blog.














Then I was reminded of a bobble hat and yes, I went a little overboard.

I posted this pattern on 4/18/19.

So what am I going now? I am making some adult hats with a couple of other baby hats on the other needles.  I will be posting my Thermal hats tomorrow with the links, and another set of baby hats the next day. So stay tuned.