Category: Knitting Patterns



This is honestly and truly the warmest hat I have ever had the pleasure to wear. Yarn is natural colored Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool dyed with Kool-aid. The hat is ridiculously simple to knit, and wonderfully soothing in the k2 p2 repetition. If you're on Ravelry, check out all the pictures of the hat from just dyed yarn to done.

Below you will find my method of working a 2x2 ribbed hat from the top down. It is written for flat knitting, however once you get where the increases ought to go it's simple enough to adapt to round knitting.



Special Stitches
KP - Knit and then purl into the same stitch
PK - Purl and then knit into the same stitch
How to cast on in a loop
Suggested Bind Off

Gauge
5 sts to 1 inch, however once you figure out the basic layout of the increases, it's easy to adapt this to any stitch count that is a multiple of 8.

Notes
I have two versions of this pattern here. Both are the same, just one is "patterny" and the other is a talky description of each step. I'd suggest looking at both and using them to augment each other. These top increases are simple once you see where they're supposed to go, but since I'm terrible at charting I think more than one way of explaining it is the only way to do it.


Pattern

Co 8 into a loop, leaving a long enough tail to sew hat up with later.

1. (k1, p1) to end
2. (kfb, pfb) to end
3. (k2, pfb twice) to end
4. (k1, kp, pk, k1, p2) to end
5. (k2, pfb twice, k2, p2) to end
6. (k2, p2, k1, kp, pk, k1, p2) to end
7. (k2, pfb twice, [k2, p2] twice) to end
8. ([k2, p2] twice, k1, kp, pk, k1, p2) to end
9. (k2, pfb twice, [k2, p2] 3 times) to end
10. ([k2, p2] 3 times, k1, kp, pk, k1, p2) to end
11. (k2, pfb twice, [k2, p2] 4 times) to end
12. ([k2, p2] 4 times, k1, kp, pk, k1, p2) to end

Work in 2x2 ribbing until it is the length you want, then Bo. Pull top tight and sew up side.




Talky Version
Because sometimes it's hard to understand what exactly I'm having you do just from the instructions, here's basically what's happening:

-You start with 8 repeats of k1, p1 ribbing in a ring.

-You increase every stitch to make 8 repeats of k2, p2 ribbing

-You increase all of the purls

-Where you have each group of 4 stitches the same, work as such:
a) Work first stitch as is
b) Work second stitch as is, but don't slip off of needle. Twist around and work the opposite into the same stitch. (in flat knitting, this stitch is a knit. Knit into it, then purl into it)
c) Work 3rd stitch opposite and don't slip off needle. Twist around and work the opposite of the stitch you just did. (again, in flat knitting you purl and then knit into the same stitch)
d) Finally work last stitch as is

-Now you will increase every other purl ridge.

-Work groups of 4 same stitches as before.

-Now increase every third purl ridge

-Work groups of 4 same stitches as before.

And so on and so on, increasing only in the original 4 purl ridges until you have the required stitch count. (96 stitches for the hat I did)

Then just work 2x2 rib for the required length. I suggest this bind off because it's awesomely stretchy.

Category: Knitting Patterns



Been knitting tons of Grandmother's Favorite cloths, and every time I do, the corner hanging off the needle always looks like the bottom of a heart. So I made it a heart. And now you can too!

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Yarn - Favorite worsted weight cotton, I like Peaches n Cream
Needles - US Size 6 or your favorite dishcloth needles



CO 4
- K2, yo, knit to end of row
- Repeat previous row until there are 35 sts.
- K2, yo, k2tog, knit to end of row
- Repeat previous row 5 more times (for a total of 6)
- K1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, knit to end of row
- Repeat previous row once more (now have 33 sts)

Now to Split
- K1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k12. Place the remaining sts onto a holder (now have 16 sts)
- K1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, knit to end of row (now have 15 sts)
- K1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, knit until 3 sts remain, k2tog, k1 (13 sts)
- K1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, knit to end of row (11 sts)
- K1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, knit to end of row (10 sts)
- Repeat previous row once more (9 sts)
- K1, k2tog, yo, (k1, yo) twice, k2tog twice (still 9)
- K2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog
- K2tog at the beginning and end of row WHILE binding off all sts. Meaning, k2tog, k1, pass stitch over, k1, pass stitch over...etc...until 2sts left, k2tog, pass stitch over
- Cut yarn and fo

Other Side
Using this picture as a guide, put the first stitch from the first row of the split onto the needle. Now grab all the stitches from the holder. (more pics here and here) There will be 17 stitches on the needle.

Starting at the beginning of the Split section, attach the yarn and repeat everything as for the first side. Obviously you should ignore the instructions to put stitches onto a holder. Make sure the first row is worked from the outside edge in towards the center edge just like the first one was.

Category: Designing

Found some yarn that inspired a project: Red Heart Super Saver in the brilliantly bright "Bonbon Print". For some reason it put in my head the image of an obnoxiously bright hooded jacket type thing. And never one to pass up sudden inspiration, bought 3 rolls and began crocheting.

Nope, no pattern on this one. It's entirely improvised. Here's my basic plan of attack:



Start by following the blue arrows around. I'm going to work back and forth around the main body up to the armpits, and then split off at the armholes. Then the light blue, which shows working the other half of the front. Finish the body by following the purple arrows to do the back. Lastly are the yellow and grey, working the arms in the round, though turning so the texture matches the rest. I'll figure out a hood after that. It'll probably be a simple one.

Yeah, I'll probably go with simple drop sleeves, but I think I will work a neckline of sorts. I plan on finding some equally bright buttons to keep it closed, and maybe I'll work out some pockets.