Newborn Button Beanie

This hat is so cute and so tiny! As my toddlers get older it's easy to forget how small a newborn's head is.  I needed a basic newborn hat pattern with all the babies around in my world so I came up with this.

Notions:
Size 6 dpn
DK weight baby yarn
yarn needle
two buttons

Main Hat:
CO64 stitches and join in the round taking care not to twist
K2 P2 for 4cm to create the ribbing
K around until the hat is 9.5 cm

Decrease:
[K6, K2tog] around
K around
[K5, K2tog] around
K around
[K4, K2tog] around
K around
[K3, K2tog] around
K around
[K2, K2tog] around
K around
[K1, K2tog] around
K around
[K2tog] around

Using a yarn needle, thread the excess yarn through the stitches that are left and tie off on the inside of the hat.  Then sew the two buttons to the ribbed area as shown.

Copywrite Material: This pattern may be used to make gifts or donations but you cannot sell items made from this pattern.  You cannot sell this pattern.  This pattern cannot be reproduced, rewritten, or reposted anywhere.  Feel free to link to this pattern if you would like to share it. Happy knitting! 

Yarn Baskets

I came up with this idea of yarn mache to create home made Easter baskets for my children.  They don't take much work, time or money and the kids loved them.  My children are toddlers so they didn't partake in the crafting but this would be really fun and rewarding for kids that are a bit older.  These baskets are surprisingly sturdy and held the weight of all the goodies that spring bunnies bring.  I used various sizes of kitchen mixing bowls to use as molds for my baskets.  You can use any kind of yarn in whatever colors tickle your fancy so get creative!

To make the paste:

In a large mixing bowl, mix 1/2 cup of flour and 2 cups of cold water with a whisk

Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a large sauce pan and then add the flour and cold water mixture

Bring all of it to boil once again

Remove from the heat and add 3 tablespoons of sugar

Let the mixture cool.  The paste will thicken as it cools.

As the paste is cooling you can prepare to make the basket.  Choose a bowl to serve as a mold for your basket.  I used two different sized metal mixing bowls.  Cover your bowl mold with saran wrap and place it upside down on a baking sheet or tray. Although I haven't tried it yet, I would suggest using a bit of butter or oil to grease the bowl before putting on the saran wrap so that your yarn basket is easy to get off the mold bowl.  I had a hard time separating mine and at times I thought I'd have to break the basket the get it off.


Next you should get your yarn nice and gluey!!!  I put about 5 ft of yarn at a time into the glue and just saturated it.  I rang it out a bit, enough to be moist but not dripping.  I chose to start in the bottom center of both baskets and created a spiral shape but you could probably start anywhere you like so long as the yarn is stuck to the basket.  The basket will be hard when complete so you could really get creative and do all kinds of gravity defying things.  Once the basket looked how I wanted it to, I added a bit more glue and smoothed everything out to make sure all yarn was coated well.  To make the handles, I used several strands of yarn to make a braid.  You can do whatever length you want.  I used hair bobbie pins to hold the braid ends together and saturated the braids in the glue.  For one of them, I wrapped another piece of yarn in a contrasting color around the braid.  Once the handles were wet with paste I laid them flat to dry on a baking sheet.


It will take a few days for the basket to dry.  Once the basket seems fully dry separate it from the bowl mold and peel the saran wrap off the inside.  You may need to let it dry another day if the inside is still moist.  I used a nail file to smooth any rough edges and to remove excess glue.  Then I used all purpose craft glue to attach the handles to the basket.  I had to use clothespins to hold them in place while they dried over night.  To seal, protect and harden the basket, I used a glossy acrylic spray hardener and sealant.  Your local craft store should offer various types/brands.  This clear coating usually dries within a few hours and you have a hand crafted yarn baskets! 

Fusion Newborn Bomber Hat

There are so many babies everywhere!!! I can't knit hats fast enough!  This bomber is for a friend who is pregnant with a boy due the end of March.  They live in Colorado and I'm hoping that it's cold enough there for him to get some wear out of it.  I will add photos of him in it as soon as I get some but for now the hat will be modeled by a bear.

For this project you will need:

 Size 6 (4mm) double pointed knitting needles

Size F crochet hook

3 colors worsted weight acrylic yarn

yarn needle

2 buttons

Stitch marker

Ear flaps (make 2 with main color)

CO3

K1, MK1R, K1, MK1L, K1

Purl across

K1, MK1R, knit to last stitch, MK1L, K1

Purl across

Continue with this pattern until there are 15 stitches on the needle.  End with a purl row.

Main Hat:

CO9, knit across 15 from one ear flap, CO16, knit across 15 from other ear flap, CO9 (total of 64 stitches)

Join in the round taking care not to twist your stitches. Place stitch marker.

K 3 rows in main color

K2 rows in second color (Don't worry about jogs in the stripes since the seam will be covered by the bomber flap)

K3 rows in third color

K2 rows in second color

K in main color until the hat measures 8 cm (not including ear flap)

Decrease:

[K6, K2tog] repeat to end of round

K across row

[K5, K2tog] repeat to end of round

K across row

[K4, K2tog] repeat to end of round

K across

Continue with this pattern until the last round is K2tog around

Sew yarn through the last stitches, tie knot and sew in all loose ends

Finishing:

With the size F crochet hook, using the secondary color of yarn, single crochet across the 18 stitches on the front of hat (the side with the stitch marker).  Single crochet back and forth until flap measure approx. 5cm. Tie off.  Using the third color yarn, start at the tip of an ear flap and single crochet around the frame of the hat including the outside of the bomber flap.  You should end at the tip of the ear flap where you began.  Tie ends together and weave in.  Sew the two buttons to the top corners of the bomber flap to secure it to the main hat.

Copywrite Material: This pattern may be used to make gifts or donations but you cannot sell items made from this pattern.  You cannot sell this pattern.  This pattern cannot be reproduced, rewritten, or reposted anywhere.  Feel free to link to this pattern if you would like to share it. Happy knitting! 

Knit Big

I'm so inspired right now! I've stumbled upon some images of people using giant knitting needles to create really amazing chunky projects and I've just got to get into it. Over the weekend I went and bought a pair of size 50 knitting needles. The problem is that there are few yarns available for that size needle. After doing some research, I found that many people use multiple skeins at the same time to create a thicker yarn like in this 2 hour throw pillow tutorial. Lot's people will be getting these for gifts this year!



The chunky knit just looks so cozy!

Source: google.com via Marcie on Pinterest

Source: blog.craftzine.com via Marcie on Pinterest

Source: judithdehaas.nl via Marcie on Pinterest

Source: craftyshannon.tumblr.com via Marcie on Pinterest

My neighbor does wood working and is willing to make me some large needles. I'm thinking 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. I have no idea what size that would even be! I'm looking forward to these adventures in knitting big. I am currently working on a floor pillow that I'm knitting with size 19 needles so I'm working my way up to it. More to come....

Random Coaster

I haven't felted since I made the French Press slippers and since that was the ONLY time I have ever felted, I wanted to play with it a bit more.  Can't go wrong with making a quick coaster!  I think it turned out pretty good.  I used scrap worsted wool yarn, using double strands of each color.

Using size 15 straight knitting needles CO 12
Row 1-Knit across with brown
Row 2- Purl across with brown
Row 3-Knit across with brown
Row 4-Purl across with yellow
Row 5-Knit across with yellow
Row 6- Purl across with yellow
Row 7- Knit across with yellow
Row 8-Purl across with brown
Row 9-Knit across with brown
Row 10-Purl across with brown
Row 11-Knit across with brown
Row 12-Purl across with yellow
Row 13- Knit across with yellow
Row 14-Purl across with yellow
Row 15-Knit across with yellow
Row 16-Purl across with brown
Row 17-Knit across with brown
Row 18-Purl across with brown
Row 19-BO

To felt put the coaster in a pillow case and tie off and run through the hot wash until felted.  Every machine is different but mine took about 15 minutes to felt.

Copywrite Material: This pattern may be used to make gifts or donations but you cannot sell items made from this pattern.  You cannot sell this pattern.  This pattern cannot be reproduced, rewritten, or reposted anywhere.  Feel free to link to this pattern if you would like to share it. Happy knitting!

Martian Lovie

Some friends of mine are having a baby in March. Both of them were a huge help when I was on bed rest for 10 weeks while pregnant with my daughter so I wanted to make something really special for them. This is what I came up with...a martian lovie!

He's only half original pattern. The head was made using the head of this Zozo doll pattern which is available here through knitty.com. If you'd like to make this lovie just copy the head for the Zozo. The only thing I did different from that pattern is add 4 rows of stockinette stitch in with rows 12-15 to make the head a bit bigger. For the blanket part I used size 15 straight needles and cast on 42 stitches with two strands of yarn. The gray is a worsted acrylic and the green is a very soft baby yarn (sorry I didn't the type). Then I did 46 rows doing k2, p2 and cast off. You may have to adjust this but that is easily done since you are aiming to make a perfect square. The martian head should be sewn to the center of the small blanket. The blanket is very soft, stretchy and has a great texture which babies LOVE! This lovie got passed around the baby shower and people were asking where to buy him! Here's the pattern...have at it!

I have a confession. Even though this lovie came out fantastic, I secretly had higher hopes for him but was restricted by time constraints. With ideas to make this martian 5 times more awesome, I vow to make it again, 5 times better! Stay tuned....

Fusion First Bomber Hat

My best friend's daughter and my daughter were born a week apart. How cool is that?!?! Naturally I wanted to make her something fabulous for her first birthday. I really wanted her to have some OG knits from yours truly. So I freestyled a hat for her. It is a fusion first! I wanted it to be kind of like a bomber hat. I decided the body of the hat would be knit and the trim and front flap (which is what makes it BOMBer) would be crochet and BAM! Fusion! Get it. Fusion. Eh hem. Okay. Now that I've established myself as a freestyle fusion yarn charmer, I am pleased to share this pattern! The hat is available in 4 sizes. I made the toddler size for my friend's daughter. It is a tad bit big but will fit her for at least another year. I hope you love it! Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of the hat or if you see any errors in the pattern as this is the first pattern I have written.

Fusion First Bomber Hat

You will need:

Size 8 double pointed needles

Size 7 circular 16 inch needles

Size G crochet hook

Yarn needle

2 skeins of medium worsted weight yarn (I used Vanna's Choice)

Stitch marker

At least 2 buttons

Sizes:

0-6 months

6-12 months

Toddler (ages 1-2 years)

Youth small (ages 3-5 years)

Earflaps (make 2 using size 8 dpn):

Cast on 3 stitches

Row 1 (and all odd rows): K1, mk1R, K to last stitch, mk1L, K1

Row 2 (and all even rows): K1, P to last sticth, K1

Repeat rows 1 & 2 until you have 15 (17, 21,23) stitches

End on a purl row

Switch to size 7 circular needles for the main hat:

Using a knitted cast on CO 9 (10, 12, 13), k across 15 (17, 21, 23) from the ear flap on dpn, CO 16 (18, 22, 26), k across 15 (17, 21, 23) from other ear flap, CO 9 (10, 12, 13). You should now have a total of 64 (72, 88, 98) stitches on the circular needles.

Join in the round, place marker, and taking care not to twist your stitches, knit in stockinette stitch for 8.5 (10, 11, 12.5) cm. If you'd like you can add a stripe after 3.5 cm. It doesn't even need to be jogless because the bomber flap will cover the seam. For the toddler size hat only: On the last row, K1, mk1R, k to last sticth, mk1L, K1. For the youth size hat only: On the last row, K1, k2tog, knit to 3rd to last stitch, k2tog, k1.

Decrease rows:

[K 6 (7, 8, 10), k2tog] for the entire row

Knit across

[K 5 (6, 7, 9), k2tog] for the entire row

Knit across

[K 4 (5, 6, 8), k2tog] for the entire row

Knit across

[K 3 (4, 5, 7), k2tog] for the entire row

Knit across

[K 2 (3, 4, 6), k2tog] for the entire row

Knit across

Continue with this pattern until the row in which you k2tog for the entire row.

Using a yarn needle, sew the remaining stitches together. Weave in any loose ends.

Using size G crochet hook, single crochet the trim of the hat starting at the point on the earflap.

Using size G crochet hook, single crochet across the 18 (20, 24, 26) stitches between earflaps on the side with the stitch marker. Single crochet rows back and forth until the flap measures 7 (8.5, 9.5, 11) cm.

Sew flap to hat by attaching buttons in each of the upper corners.

For braids:

Cut 12 pieces of yarn of each color 65 cm each. Sew 6 pieces of each color through the ends of the earflaps (each strand will be folded in half with the middle at the earflap). Divide the yarn into 3 sections. Each section should have 2 strands of each color. Braid the 3 sections. When you get to the bottom, tie the braid with a knot and wrap the yarn around a few times. Triple knot and then use your crochet hook to pull the yarn from the knot behind the binding and in with the tassle left at the bottom of the braid. Trim the ends of the braids with scissors.

Copywrite Material: This pattern may be used to make gifts or donations but you cannot sell items made from this pattern.  You cannot sell this pattern.  This pattern cannot be reproduced, rewritten, or reposted anywhere.  Feel free to link to this pattern if you would like to share it. Happy knitting! 

Hello Dolly!

My daughter, Ada, is going to be turning 1 at the end of the month. Since it was because of her that I really got into knitting, I wanted to make her something special. Initially I thought of making her a dress but then I thought of how quickly she grew out of her ear flap hat and the dress seemed like it wouldn't be worth the work until she can wear a size for more than 2 months. So I decided it would be best to make her some sort of stuffed animal that she'd be able to love forever and forever. I really wanted to make a doll so I started the search for the perfect doll. It was only after about an hour of digging through Google images when I saw her. She really was the most amazing hand made doll I've ever seen and I instantly knew I was going to make her. I pulled up the pattern and realized that she was a crocheted amigurumi doll. Crap. I don't know how to crochet. The only thing I ever crocheted was a flower and I had to restart the video a million times. I went back and forth. Should I take it on? Can I get it done before her birthday? I decided to do it and I am so glad I did. While it was definitely a lot of work, the actual crochet part was not very difficult. I finished it in plenty of time and she absolutely loves it. It is a great pattern and I will make more dolls based on this pattern. The pattern is available here for free from Stitch.

Hood Hats

Ada has already outgrown her ear flap hat and I found a super cute pattern for a hood type hat. I made two of them. One for me and one for her. I used different yarn so they don't match but I don't think I'm the type to get all matchy matchy with my kids. I LOVE this pattern. It is easy easy peasy and would be a great beginner pattern to try for those intimidated by hats or knitting in the round. The majority of the hat is knit on straight needles and the back joins in the round with simple decreases. The pattern, called Capucine, is available here free for download via Ravelry.

This hat is easily knit in a few hours. Give it a shot!

Big Ribs Beanie

I needed to knit a hat for a last minute Christmas gift and by the description it seemed this one would go fast but it actually took a lot longer than I thought it would. I found that knitting with the several strands of thick yarn made it very difficult and my hands hurt a lot while making this hat! I don't think they could handle making it again! The hat is super warm and stretchy though so it was definitely worth making even though the knitting experience was not that great. The pattern is available here from The Running Yarn blog.

Slippers

The French Press Felted Slippers are a treat for feet! I made 5 pairs to give as gifts for Christmas and they were a hit. The whole process of making these slippers was really fun and they are so fast to make. The pattern is available here from Ravelry.

Go forth and make them for someone you love!

NoNo!

This is the second ear flap hat I've made and I didn't like the overall shape as much as the first one I did but I think the hat came out very cute regardless. I used two strands of contrasting baby yarn which created an almost digital look to the hat. Very cool and super soft. I give you the spunkiest lil darlin in Northern California...Noelle!

Pattern is available free for download here at Ravelry.