Tag: yarn

Pattern Release – Ski Slope Spirals Beanie

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When I was working through some of my yarn stash to make hats this fall, I started coming up with this textured spiral pattern. 

Then I found a couple sample blankets that I never got around to listing for sale and decided to continue developing the pattern with yarn I reclaimed from those samples.

And now, the pattern is finished and releasing on all my platforms (Ko-Fi Shop, Ribblr, LoveCrafts, and Ravelry) so you can grab it on whichever platform you prefer.

And now for the description:

A simple pattern of yarn overs and slip-slip-knit decreases spiraling up the body of this hat gives a wonderfully stretchy texture that looks super cute with or without a pompom attached. Made with less than a full ball of Lion Brand Heartland yarn, this hat comes together super quickly, making it great for last-minute gifting or a relaxing weekend project.

Skill Leve: Intermediate. Stitches and techniques used: knit, purl, yarn over, slip-slip-knit, knit 2 together, and moving stitches.

Materials:

Yarn: 23 ( 32, 45, 61) [70, 82, 99] grams of Lion Brand Heartland Yarn (142g / 251yds per ball)

Needles: Size 9 circular and/or double-pointed needles (depending on preference for working in the round at a small circumference)

Yarn needle

Scissors

Tape Measure

Optional: Pompom in matching or contrasting color for the top

Choose size based on head circumference, labeled in parenthesis. Size up for a looser fit, and you can size down for a tighter fit. My head is 22 inches around and I can comfortably wear the child size through adult large.

Flat measurements at widest/tallest point:

Newborn (12 inches):  5 inches / 6 inches

Infant (14 inches): 6 inches / 7 inches

Toddler (16 inches): 7 inches / 8 inches

Child (18 inches): 8 inches / 9 inches

Adult Small (20 inches): 9 inches / 9 inches

Adult Medium (22 inches): 10 inches / 10 inches

Adult Large (24 inches): 11 inches / 11 inches

Swatching Up A Storm

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I’ve got to admit, I was not very good about swatching before starting a project for many years. Most likely because I was using cheap worsted weight acrylic yarn that doesn’t really change gauge much for so long that I didn’t think it was necessary. Using real yarn has taught me the value of doing a gauge swatch first. That and reading the book Custom Knits Accessories by Wendy Bernard. I rarely follow a pattern to the letter, so swatching is pretty important.

I’ve even started washing the swatches to see how the yarn does in a normal wash cycle, so I know whether or not it will be okay to wash the final product. Much better to find out that a small square shrinks than having an oddly misshapen hat or glove at the end of laundry day.

I’m casting on two projects this weekend:Starry Stole (swatch 1) and Zooey (swatch 2). I knit the swatches Wednesday, hand-washed them yesterday, and now I am ready to measure once more to be sure and cast on.

Oh, and my other swatch project is still going strong. Up to 297 out of 400 right now according to my Google+ Photo Album. Only 103 more to go.

A Jeweled Set

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(I had hoped to have my pictures edited and uploaded by now, but that seems to be taking a bit longer than I thought. So here’s more crafts and hopefully I will have the pictures up on Wednesday. Friday at the latest.)

I have a friend who happens to love anything purple. I also tend to always have at least one project on the needles at all times. And I try to have that project with me wherever I go. So my friend who loves purple saw me constantly knitting away and requested a hat.

I had a pattern saved in my Ravelry queue from the giant hat project of last year that I knew would be perfect for this project: The Monarch Lyon Hat by Veronica O’Neil. I had a ton of this Caron Wintuk in Evening Jewels Ombre that I knew would be perfect.

Once I made the hat (and still had a ton of this yarn left over), my mom reminded me that my friend also really loves leg warmers. I had just gotten a book with a pattern for a pair of really cute leg warmers, so I decided to try out that pattern as well.

They make a really great set, eh?

I wanted them to be a surprise, so I set them on her doorstep one day after church. I wanted to be sure she knew what they were, so I made little labels for them with washing instructions and everything. Including a brand new logo:

Carrying on with my recent stamp carving obsession, I made myself a stamp. I had been trying to com up with something to make another stamp for, and this time I got a softer material, more like the rubber stamps you buy in the store, or the rubber on the bottom of a pair of sneakers. Much easier to cut into.