Puff Stitch Crocheted Baby Hat

I love making these hats. I made this one for my niece, who is 3 months old. I used the puff stitch, and size F hook, and I used Peaches & Cream Yarn Red. I actually did not follow a pattern for this hat. I knew what the big one called for and modified it to a smaller version on my own.

I also crocheted the flower for the hat. I think these are so cute on hats.




Here is the pattern for the flower, from Little Birdie Secrets

Materials:
Any size hook (depending on what size flower you want)
Any weight yarn

Rnd 1: Ch 5, join into a ring w/sl st in 1st ch.
Rnd 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc), work 9dc in ring, join to top of ch w/sl st -- 10 sts.
Rnd 3: **Ch 2, work 3dc in next st, ch 2 sl st in next st** five times. Fasten off.

For a different color center, try changing yarn colors after round 2. Experiment with different weight yarns and hook sizes. To layer a slightly smaller flower on top, go down one hook size from larger flower.

Ripple Baby Blanket

I started a ripple blanket for my nephew a couple of days. I am currently on the 8th row...I took the picture below a couple of days ago. But once I finish this blanket, I will be sure to post more pictures. I had no idea how to do a ripple blanket, but have wanted to for a long time. I found a great website that showed how to do almost anything that has to do with crochet. The lady that explains everything is really good. So if you want to learn how to crochet, I highly recommend her site. It is called Crochet-Mania

I am doing my blanket in grey and a mossy green color. I am using a size F needle.

Hot Pads

I am trying out some different crochet styles. One of the things I wanted to try was to make Hot Pads. These will most likely be Christmas gifts. I started this Hot Pad from a pattern that I found in Norwegian. Unfortunately for me...I don't speak Norwegian. I understood the pattern for the first 3 rows...then couldn't figure it out. So I made the rest up. I used a size F needle. Once I could not read the norwegian ladies blog, I just did an increase every other row. That way it would lay flat, other words it would have curled up and started forming a hat!

So here is the first 2 rows:



Then I switched colors:


Then I switched colors one more time and then added a border:

Scarf

I fell in love with this yarn when my local yarn shop was closing. Happy to be able to get several hanks I was sad to realize I didn't have enough for a cardigan I was wanting to make. Thankfully I came across a pattern in Knitted Lace of Estonia,the Raha Scarf, that I thought would go well with this colour.



I used Inca Alpaca by Classic Elite Yarns. This is the first ball of yarn I ever wound myself, not pretty but it works. The yarn is completely the wrong gauge for the project but using size 8 (US) needles I was still able to get the right effect.


This was also my first project I blocked using pins.


The finished project. I made this to donate for a silent auction but I like it so much I will be making one for myself.

Knitting Update

Despite the lack of posts on this blog I have been busy knitting. Below is the knot hat from Blue Sky Alpacas. Love the hat, have to learn to knit looser. It is a nice pattern with the use of knots/bramble berry stitch. This hat was made for a friends mother who is now undergoing chemo. It was knit in a bamboo blend by Caron Yarns.




Here is one of the items that has been keeping me busy. Pepsi with real sugar :P. No, despite my new addiction I am now knitting baby hats for a hospital. Look how tiny they are, they are knit on a size 3 needle, whew. I couldn't get over the size of the first one I knit. They are knit in acrylic with yarn the hospital provides. I am not a fan of acrylic but I do need to abide by their standards if I want the hats to actually be used.


I also knit my baby a sweater. Just like the previous ones on this blog but in a blue/grey cotton and wool blend.

Christmas Knitting Completed

Just realized I never finished posting my Christmas gifts.

Here is the hat I made for my sister-in-law. It ended up being a little snug compared to her normal style but looks good.

Close up of the lovely stitches. I just love it.


Here is a scarf I knit in a tube for my niece. The hardest part was the fringe, my goodness that was harder then it needed to be.

Christmas Present 1 done part 2

Here is the hat post blocking but still drying. You can't really see the difference but it is a lot longer and narrower. I think this will look good on her. I even have enough yarn to make a slightly smaller version for her or perhaps a matching scarf. Well time to start Christmas project two.


I need to take a class about digital photography.

Christmas Present 1 done

Here is the present for my daughter. I used size 17 needles to get the correct gauge on this project of 2 st per 1". Talk about awkward! I had a rough time using needles that large in the round. I did skip buying circular needles in size 17 and just used dpn, the circular needles probably would have made the beginning easier.
My daughter was willing to model the hat so I could check the size. It was a little loose here, hopefully something blocking will correct.
I has some extra buttons I wanted to add for a little extra zip. I unfortunately forgot to block the hat before adding the buttons. Oh well, they wold have to be washed at some point.
The Hat preblocked it a little longer than 12 inches. Post blocking it grew 3.5 inches but I like the narrower shape better.
Preblocked the hat was 19 inches in diameter. Post block it is looking to be closer to 12 inches.

Christmas Presents

Now that I have finished baby sweater #2, the Christmas present for my niece, I find my knitting list growing larger not smaller. I have hope ( and the help of my Monday morning crafting group at Church) that I will get this increasing list done.

The first photo is the yarn and needles recently purchased to create the Elf Cap I found in "Handknit Holidays." I love so many of the patterns in this book. Using thick yarn and size 17 needles this shouldn't take long to knit. I also have a pair of metal daisy buttons I would like to add for extra zing; it all depends on how they look with the finished product.

Next up is the mystery present for my mystery recipient. Each year our family draws a name for Christmas giving. The ladies get another lady and the men draw another man's name. This is done in the hopes to cut down Christmas expense and gives the ladies a chance to make a handmade gift. It also allows the men to purchase a gift rather than having to make one :). As we have not drawn names yet I don't know who I am knitting this for, but I hope they like it. The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmereno.
Lastly is the yarn I am going to use to make a scarf for my niece Kaitlyn. I have hopes of using yarn I have previously purchased to make most of my gifts, but as with all good intentions, I am finding I keep wanting to buy more. Thank goodness I had left over yarn from the baby sweater and a ball of white cotton to work with. Pink is a much loved colour by the little girls in our family and this is a great way to use it up. Since her family lives in Dallas I want to make an accessory she can wear throughout the year.
I am wanting to make a long hat for my oldest son and have not yet purchased the needed items. So much knitting, time to get back to it so I don't fally behind.

Completed Sweater 2

Here is the finished sweater for my niece Keziah. The colour is more of a raspberry shade then the one shown in the following photos. The buttons are small turtles, an animal her mother loves. The size knit is 9-12 months, I made the body a little longer so she could wear it for a greater period of time. The yarn is by Casscade and made from 80% cotton 20% wool.

Here is the sweater before I seemed up the sides. I did a much better job seaming this sweater then the previous one. I did some research and found a wonderful article on knitting daily that clearly illustrates how to do the mattress seam.
Just look at the outside you can hardly tell where the actual seam is, I was very excited about the whole sewing process an it has given me courage to knit clothing for myself and older children.
Here is a lovely photo of the inside seam. So much tidier than my previous try. It is great to see success when overcoming silly worries and fears about learning a new technique.

Completed!!

The buttons have been added and the sweater is now officially complete.




The sweater is being modeled by my youngest's stuffed animal (thanks oma and paka!). First I attached the elephants on the outside flap and then added on snap button on the interior. Easy off and on, plus it save me from having to create button holes.

baby sweater

I had to post pictures of a baby sweater that I have knit. I am very excited as this is the first article of clothing I have ever knit. All that is missing is attaching the snaps and buttons.







This sweater is intended for my new nephew and another one is almost complete for my newish niece. All that is needed is for this sweater is the sewing on the snaps and the buttons. I have another one planned for my own little one. :)

The pattern is free by Debbi Bliss found at this craft site. Very easy and quick to knit up.

Branching Out

Just recently I enjoyed a wonderful visit from my sister-in-law Michaela. During that time she was working on a scarf from Knitty called Branching Out. I was smitten and had to start one of my own.

I am still working away on my lace shawl but this was great instant gratification. On my shawl I am currently at the tedious middle section that feels like it is going nowhere fast. This on the other hand was an easy lace scarf that I could see unfolding every row I knit. It took me about a total of 5 days of knitting off and on, I used a large yarn then what was called for but that is the great thing about lace, gauge doesn't matter. It was so much fun to knit I might have to make more for gifts. Pictures to come eventually.

WIP

Sadly the hat has made no progress. In fact I have ripped it all the way back to the beginning. It is the first project I have done any cabling on; everything was fine and sailing along until I actually looked at the hat and realized I had messed up somewhere. I had failed to move a stitch over or cabled a stitch too early but after several more failed attempts I had to put it away. I am still determined to finish it, I love the hat.

However, I am currently working on my first lace project. It is the Juno Regina and can be found on Knitty. I had to restart several times since I had never read or worked on a lace pattern before. I finally decided to do two shawls, one in worsted weight for practice and one in lace weight for myself. Thank goodness I went that route even though it means more yarn used (ran out of the stash yarn I was using in worsted had to buy more lol) and more time spent but I am very happy with the results. Photos to follow whenever I get around to posting them.

Edit to add photos: I have completed the worsted weight shawl and still working on the lace weight.

Koolhaas Hat

A few posts back I had talked about this hat. After several restarts I am finally getting into the pattern. I really like how it looks and am hoping I am reading my gauge correctly, I really want this hat to fit. I am only on the second repeat of the pattern so it doesn't fit very far down. Keeping my fingers crossed and I will post pictures once it is completed.

I did change the needle sizes from 6 and 8 to 5 and 7 since I tend to knit loose. I am also using a yarn in cranberry from Berroco. Other than those changes I am following the pattern and love the look.

Baby Hat: Complete

Sorry for the lack of posts for awhile. I have been very busy with real life. :) I had family over for a week and it was great. Good to see everyone again. I also spent the weekend in Las Vegas on my anniversary with my husband. He had a work conference there but I was able to tag along. It was so much fun! Below are the latest knitting projects.

Cotton blanket I made for my niece Lydia. She's only one and I wanted to make something that was easier care than wool.

Baby hat in progress. My calculations from my previous post worked! Very proud of my mathematical skills, lol.


The completed item. I am very happy with how it turned out. My mom helped me figure out how to add the decal. I tried ironing it on but the glue wouldn't melt and I was too scared to heat up the iron more. It has been hand sewn onto the hat and I really like it.

Success

Well, so far so good. As you can see ( hard with black I know) in the below photo the dreaded ladder has disappeared.
Doing an actual swatch and using smaller needles and maybe even adding the extra dpn into the mix has really helped. I like the way the hat is turning out and the lack of ladders is great.
Initially adding another needle to the mix was awkward but as time went by it became easier. I found that the more rows you add the easier it is using dpn. The first row or so I always feel like I am going to stab myself with a needle pointing right at me. Now back to more knitting and hopefully this project will be completed before next week.

Bags and New Stitches

So the bag that everyone is working on, well let's just say it is not working for me. :) Of course after consulting with Ana on the Purl Stitch, I realized that I was doing it completely wrong. :) I am happy that Ana is getting so good at knitting because now I can consult with her about things. You can also go to Knitting Help, they have some good videos on all this kind of stuff.
Because I started getting so frustrated with that bag, I started a new bag. It has cables in it. I did not want to use cable needles so I found some videos on You Tube explaining how to do that. On the next video I found, the begginning is just explaining the different kind of needles and what not, but once you get into a minute of the video it gives some clear illustration on how to knit without the cables. It was fairly easy. I am on row 8, but I have had to put it on the back burner for a few days since I am getting ready for VBS!
So the new bag I am working on is free pattern. With this pattern, I recommend using a lighter yarn. I am using black and having a hard time seeing. Maybe I just need to get my eyes checked. :) Once I finish a few more rows I will post some pictures of it. I have several more patterns that I want to try and I have lots of yarn to use up!

~Heidi~

Fresh Start

Ok, I have been very frustrated with the way this baby hat is going. I am using a pattern from an easy baby knits book (I can't remember the source). The pattern calls for the use of size 7 needles, casting on 62 stitches (for ages 0-6m) and I should get 5 stitches to the inch. Do I bother knitting a gauge swatch? Of course not! This is a simple hat knit in the round who cares if the gauge is not perfect. Besides, I despise math why spend time giving myself a headache.

Well I have had an epiphany sitting here not working on the hat. What if my gauge is off. What if the needles are too big and one of the reasons the ladders are so huge is because the stitches themselves are too big and I am only making the matter worse. So what do I do? I knit a gauge swatch with a needle size 2 sizes smaller. I don't have the right gauge, I actually have 6 stitches to the inch, but I like the way the yarn looks on these smaller needles. Using the handy calculations numberless knitting books have given me regarding gauge and swatching I was able to deduced that I needed 12.8 inches diameter for this hat size. I rounded it up to 13 inches and multiplied it by the 6 stitches per inch (spi) and came up with needing to cast on 78 stitches.

I will now go forth and see if my calculations will work or if this hat will be a crazy size in either extreme.

Baby Hat Cnt.

Well, so far the baby hat is not going well. I have recast and ripped it back several times. How many I am not sure it keeps getting bigger in my mind the more I think about it. I am doing the hat on dpn and am getting horrible ladders between the needles. I have read a bit on the internet trying to figure out how to prevent this. The main thing is tension and to hold your yarn tight on the first and second stitches of each needle. So far despite how tight I pull the yarn I am still getting big ladders, I sometimes wonder if I am knitting too tight with the rest of the stitches. I will have to do more research on the internet as I want to get this hat done this week. Any suggestions are welcome.