Knice Knitties: May 2017

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Tom’s Seed Rib Slouchy Hat

Purple, lavender, and beige

Tom’s Seed Rib Slouchy Hat

Blue, navy and light gray

The slouchy hat can be made for men, women, or unisex by just using sock yarn. I have made several hats it in different colors and I will continue to make many more. They are fast and easy, perfect for ‘mindless’ knitting while watching TV. I used my favorite yarn Loops and Threads Woolike, but any sock yarn or similar weight will work. You can also make it using just one color, or use a self-striping sock yarn to create a unique striped effect.

MATERIALS
1 skein each Loops and Threads Woolike in any two colors (85% Acrylic; 15% Nylon, 620m/678yds)
Size US 4 (3.25 mm) Circular Needles

Size US 4 (3.5 mm) Double Pointed Needles
Yarn needle

Stitch markers

Gauge: 18 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.

Seed Rib Pattern Stitch:

Round 1:Color 1, knit.

Round 2: K2, P2. Repeat to end of round.

Round 3:Color 2, knit.

Round 4: K2, P2. Repeat to end of round.

Hat Pattern:

Cast on 144 sts. Place marker and join.

Work the four rows of the pattern stitch for 10 inches alternating colors, ending with round 1.

Round 1: With Color 1, P2tog, k2. Repeat to end of round.

Round 2: With Color 2, Knit.

Round 3: P1, k2tog. Repeat to end of round.

Round 4: With Color 1, Knit.

Round 5: k2tog to end.

Continue with K2tog until you have about 10 stitches left.

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

Orange, brown and cream (Still working on it)

Monday, May 22, 2017

More snow

Just wanted to post pictures from the snowstorm of May 18th. No, this is a different storm from the April 29th storm. Plus we are supposed to get another one this week. Winter may last until June this year -- and it wouldn't be the first time we have had snow in June. And I'm okay with this because it means the heat of summer will be delayed again. Let it snow!

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Erin Honeycomb Hat

If you like playing with color combinations, you need to try this honeycomb pattern in a hat. Woolike yarn comes is several colors along with neutral colors such as gray, white and black. This uses two shades of gray to offset the pink and maroon. I want to try this in a purple and lavender, orange and brown, and shades of blue. I used four different colors for the honeycomb, but you can use only one up to several colors. It also uses a banded brim for extra warm, but if you prefer, you can use a rib of 1x1 or 2x2 as well. I would love to see your combinations.

MATERIALS
1 skein each Loops and Threads Woolike (85% Acrylic; 15% Nylon, 620m/678yds) in:

A – Demin blue

B – Light gray

C – Pale pink

D – Dark gray

E - Maroon

Size US 2.5 (3.0 mm) Circular Needles

Size US 2.5 (3.0 mm) Double Pointed Needles
Yarn needle

Stitch markers

Approximate 20” waste yarn

Gauge: 32 stitches in pattern to 4” (approximately one pattern per inch); 24 rows to 2"

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 8.

Pattern Stitch:

Round 1: With A, knit.

Round 2: With A, purl.

Round 3-8: With B, slip 1, * k6, slip 2; repeat from * across to last st, slip 1.

Round 9: With A, knit.

Round 10: With A, purl.

Round 11-16: With C, K3, *slip 2, k6*, repeat from * across to last 3 sts, k3.

Round 17: With A, knit.

Round 18: With A, purl.

Round 19-24: With D, slip 1, * k6, slip 2; repeat from * across to last st, slip 1.

Repeat Rows 1-32 for Honeycomb Pattern.

Round 25: With A, knit.

Round 26: With A, purl.

Round 27-32: With E, K3, *slip 2, k6*, repeat from * across to last 3 sts, k3.

Round 9: With A, knit.

Round 10: With A, purl.

Hat Pattern:

Cast on 128 sts. Place marker and join.

Work in stockinette (knit every round) for 1½”.

Next round (fold line): K2tog, yo.

Next rnds: Knit in stockinette (knit every round) for 1½”.

Increase round: K 8; m1*. Repeat to end of round (144 stitches)

Begin pattern: Work rounds 1 through 32 unless you reach the desired length. For this hat, the patterned part of the hat is 8 inches.

Crown:

Switch to double pointed needles when appropriate.

Round 1: P1, k1. Repeat these 2 stitches to end of round.

Round 2: K2tog to end of round.
Continue Round 2 until you have a few stitches left.

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

Sewing up the brim.

Using a needle and some waste yarn or thread, fold the brim on the fold line and baste the two sides of the brim together. Change the thread to Color A. Using a loose whip stitch, sew the cast on edge to the last row of the brim.

Weave in ends and enjoy!

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Our Foothills Home and Wildlife Need Protection -- from our Panther

We lived in a beautiful community just south of Denver in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The hills you see in the picture above are out our east kitchen windows. Our property backs up to the Pike National Forest so I can always say it is part of our backyard. As you imagine, we have lots and lots of wildlife in our yard and we want to preserve our wildlife habitat while we live in the center of it.

Therefore, we have to be careful not to let our little black kitty Neko out. He would show no mercy to the wildlife! He has been cited by the Wildlife Habitat and Territory (WHAT!) society as being a danger to the environment and wildlife surrounding our home. Neko knows no fear and will defend his home against any and all alien wildlife creatures, including humans and the following critters we have found in our yard:

We have bears, ...