Friday, March 31, 2017

Brainwave hat - Adapted to slouchy

I often use existing patterns and modify them for the yarns and needles I am in the mood to use at this point in my life.  Sometimes I am in a chunky mood (please, I am talking about yarn!) and sometimes, like now, I want to knit with a thinner yarn.  However, I always give full credit for the idea to the original pattern designer and only if the pattern is free. Plus I got permission from the designer to post the link. Thank you Jen!

So the link to the original pattern is http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/brainwave. Copy this into your address bar and it should take you right there.

For this pattern I used Woolike from Loop and Needles. It is 100% acrylic so if you are allergic to wool or other natural fibers, this is the yarn for you. It has the feel of an alpaca lace yarn so it is extremely soft.

I used size 2 circular needs for the brim and Size 4 for the body of the hat. I cast on 128 stitches.  You can use any number of stitches as long as they are divisible by 8. I just love the cable ribbing and it is stretchy enough for any sized-head. I also did not do the return wave but I think I will on the next hat. The cable rib on the brim is so much fun too. I might do an entire hat in that pattern in a future hat.


Monday, March 27, 2017

Yarn holder?

I was just informed by the husband that the circles between the seats are actually to hold your drinks, not your yarn. Just whom is he trying to fool?

Right? I mean, right?

Monday, March 20, 2017

Ken Broken Rib Slouchy Hat

The slouchy hat can be made for men, women, or unisex by just using the color scheme of the sock yarn. This sock yarn is in navy, forest green, gold and orange. Unfortunately, it was in my late mother’s stash and did not have a label other than the box stating “sock yarn,” so I don’t know if it is still available. Although you can make this with a single-colored yarn, self-striping sock yarn will create the effect above.


MATERIALS
1 skein any sock yarn (you will probably only need about half a skein)
Size US 4 (3.25 mm) Circular Needles
Size US 4 (3.5 mm) Double Pointed Needles
Yarn needle
Stitch markers
Gauge: 18 (3½ pattern repeats) stitches per 2 inches.
Size: Fits most medium (22-23”) to large (23-25”) sized heads since pattern is very stretchy. To make a smaller size, reduce the number of cast on stitches by numbers divisible by 4.

Broken Rib Pattern Stitch:
Round 1 and 2: P2, k2. Repeat these 4 stitches to end of round.
Round 3: P2, YO, K2, Pass YO over the two knit stitches. Repeat to end of round.
Round 4: P2, k2. Repeat these 4 stitches to end of round.

Hat Pattern:
Cast on 168 sts. Place marker and join.
Work the four rows of the pattern stitch for 10 inches, ending with round 4.

Crown:
Switch to double pointed needles when appropriate.
Round 1: P2, k2. Repeat these 4 stitches to end of round.
Round 2: P2tog, k2. Repeat to end of round.
Round 3: P1, YO, K2, Pass YO over the two knit stitches. Repeat to end of round.
Round 4: P1, k2. Repeat these 4 stitches to end of round.
Round 5: P1, k2tog. Repeat to end of round.
Round 6: P1, k1. Repeat to end of round.
Round 7: k2tog. Repeat to end of round.
Round 8: K2tog. Repeat to end of round.


Break yarn. Thread yarn thread and draw through the remaining stitches.  Weave in ends.


Thursday, March 16, 2017

Shaylah Mock Cable Fingerless Gloves

If you liked the Shaylah Mock Cable Hat, you need to also make the fingerless gloves to go with it. 

Fingerless gloves are popular today, but they are actually from the Victorian era. At those times, a young lady was expected to learn to play music and sing, as well as do needlecrafts such as knitting, embroidery, and sewing. To keep her hands warm but still free to play the piano, fingerless gloves were not only fashionable, but functional. 
Now these gloves are in fashion as computer gloves.  In order to stave off the chills of low thermostats in the winter or air conditioning in the summer, these gloves made working on computer keyboards a must.  They are also called texting gloves, allowing thumbs to racing across cell phones keypads while keeping hands warm.  No matter what you use them for, they are a delightful accessory to any wardrobe.


MATERIALS
1 skein each Loops and Threads Woolike in #9 Rose (85% Acrylic; 15% Nylon, 620m/678yds)
Size US 2 (2.5 mm) Double Pointed Needles
Yarn needle
Stitch markers
Gauge: 20 (5 pattern repeats) stitches per 2 inches.

Mock Cable Pattern Stitch:
Pattern 1 and 2: K3, p2. Repeat to end of round.
Pattern 3: Slip 1 stitch. K2. Pass slipped stitch over both knit stitches, p2. Repeat to end of round.
Pattern 4: K1, yo k1, p2.

Pattern:
Cast on 70 sts. Place marker and join.
Work the four rows of the pattern stitch for 4½ inches (12 repeats of the pattern) ending with Row 4.


Begin thumb insert: - Created between two purls stitches.
Round 1: Work two repeats of pattern (10 stitches)
K3, p1. Place marker. Make 1, place marker. P1. Continue working pattern through the end of the round. (Although you can use any method to make a stitch, I used my right needle to pick up the yarn from the row below and placed it on the left needle. Then I knitted that stitch from the back loop.) 

Round 2: Work pattern to marker. Slip marker, K1, slip marker. Work pattern to the end of round.
Round 3: Work pattern to marker. Sm (slip marker), make 1, K1, make 1. P1, continue in pattern to end. See the instructions at the end of the pattern, in order to make a clean, definite line defining the thumb insert.
Round 4: Work pattern to marker. SM, K3, sm. Work pattern to the end of round.
Round 5: Work pattern to marker. Sm, make 1, K to next marker, make 1, sm. Continue in pattern to end
Round 6: Work pattern to marker. SM, K all stitches to marker, sm. Work pattern to the end of round.

Continue Rounds 5 and 6 until you have 21 stitches between the markers.
Repeat Round 6 two more times.

Next round: Work pattern to marker. Remove marker. Place the thumb stitches onto a holder. Cast on 4 stitches (using the e-cast on method) join to other side and continue the pattern to the end.
Next round: Work pattern to the one stitch before cast on stitches. Place marker. P1. Purl the cast on 4 stitches. P1. Continue pattern to the end of the round.
Next round: Work pattern to the marker. P2tog, p2, p2tog. Continue pattern to end.
Next round: Work pattern to the marker. p4. Continue pattern to end.
Next round: Work pattern to the marker. Remove marker. P2tog, twice. You are now back to the original p2 stitches of the pattern. Continue pattern to end.
Every round:  Continue knitting in the round in pattern for 2½” from thumb cast on edge (about 5 pattern repeats)
ending with Round 1 of pattern.
Bind off in pattern; weave in ends.

Thumb:
Put the 21 stitches from the holder on the double pointed needles. Join yarn and knit 21 stitches. Pick up 4 stitches from the cast on edge of the hand. Place marker. Join to the first stitch.
Knit 6 rows.
Round 1: Work round 2 of the pattern. (K3, p2)
Round 2: Work round 3 of pattern.
Round 3: Work round 4 of pattern.
Round 4: Work round 1 pattern.
Round 5. Work round 2 of the pattern.
Round 6: Work round 3 of pattern.
Bind off loosely.

Cut yarn, leaving an 8” tail.  Weave in ends.


Thumb insert details.

Although you can use any method you want to insert for the thumb insert, I like the nice clean lines this method gives me.

SM, knit the first stitch. Using the left needle, pick up the yarn from the left side of this stitch. Knit that stitch.

Continue to one stitch before the second marker. Using your right needle, pick up the yarn from the right side of the stitch and knit it. Knit 1, sm.
 


If you like the fingerless gloves, be sure to check out the pattern for the Shaylah Mock Cable Hat also available on Ravelry - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shaylah-mock-cable-slouchy-hat and my blog. 

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Shaylah Mock Cable Slouchy Hat

I am continuing my love affair with Loops and Threads Woolike yarn. This is the loveliest shade of rose and it is shown off beautifully in this slouchy hat. It is done with two sizes of needles and in the mock cable stitch. This stitch is popular for hats, scarves and socks, but shaping can be a little tricky if you want to keep the cables even. However, by using drastically different-sized needles, you can achieve the snug ribbing around the head while having more room for the slouchy part. I am currently working on the fingerless gloves to go with this pattern, so come back in a day or two to see it.  

Shaylah Mock Cable Slouchy Hat






MATERIALS
1 skein each Loops and Threads Woolike in #9 Rose (85% Acrylic; 15% Nylon, 620m/678yds)
Size US 2 (2.5 mm) Circular Needles
Size US 6 (4.0 mm) Circular Needles
Size US 6 (4.0 mm) Double Pointed Needles
Yarn needle
Stitch markers
Gauge: 20 (5 pattern repeats) stitches per 2 inches.

Mock Cable Pattern Stitch:
Round 1 and 2: K3, p2. Repeat to end of Round.
Round 3: Slip 1 stitch. K2. Pass slipped stitch over both knit stitches, p2. Repeat to end of Round.
Round 4: K1, yo k1, p2.

Pattern:
With small needles, cast on 160 sts. Place marker and join.
Work the four rows of the pattern stitch for 4 inches.
Switch to size 6 circular needle. Continue until the entire hat measures 10 inches, ending with round 4.

Crown:
Switch to size 6 double pointed needles when appropriate.
Round 1: K3, p2tog. Repeat to end of Round.
Round 2: K3, p1. Repeat to end of Round.
Round 3: Slip 1 stitch. K2. Pass slipped stitch over both knit stitches, p1. Repeat to end of round.
Round 4: K2 p1. Repeat to end of round.
Round 5: K2tog, p1. Repeat to end of round.
Round 6: K1, p1. Repeat to end of round.
Round 7: K2tog. Repeat to end of round.
Round 8: K2tog. Repeat to end of round.


Break yarn. Thread yarn thread and draw through the remaining stitches.  Weave in ends.