A Free Pattern!

I posted the first hat that I made on Facebook, and got a few messages asking for the pattern.  I didn't really have one, since I made it up as I went along.  So, I decided to go ahead and jot down notes and make at least another one.  By the time I got to the brown and pink one, I think I finally nailed it.  So here's the pattern:

Materials:
Medium Weight Yarn ( I used leftovers here, so I'm not sure exactly how much, less than 1/2 a 3.5 oz skein)
Size H Crochet Hook

I used the Magic crochet loop to start. The single crochet rounds are continuous. I used a stitch marker for the first stitch of each round.

Round 1: Chain 1, work 6 sc in ring – 6 sts.
Round 2: Work 2 sc in each st around – 12 sts.
Round 3: (2 sc in next st, sc in next st) – 18 sts.
Round 4: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts) – 24 sts.
Round 5: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 3 sts)– 30 sts.
Round 6: Sc in each st around.
Round 7: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 4 sts) – 36 sts.
Round 8: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts) – 42 sts.
Round 9: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 6 sts) – 48 sts.
Round 10: Ch 2, dc in each st around, join with slip st to
top of ch 2 – 48 sts.
Round 11: (2 sc in next st, sc in next 7 sts) – 54 sts.
Round 12: Repeat Round 10.
Round 13-14: Repeat Round 6.
Round 15: Repeat Round 10.
Round 16-17: Repeat Round 6.
Fasten off.

With right side facing you, slip stitch contrasting color to the sc before the join. Ch 1, sc in same stitch and single crochet around the entire hat.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

The Heart

I tried both the magic loop and the chain/form loop method to start the heart.  I like the way the chain/form loop hat looks.

ch 4, slip st in first ch to form ring.

Round 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc), work 12 dc in ring – 13 sts.
Round 2: Sc in each st; turn.
Round 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, 2 dc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, 3 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in next st, 2 dc in next 3 sts; turn – 21 sts.
Round 4: Ch 1, skip first st, 2 sc in next 4 sts, sc in next 5 sts, 3 sc in next st, sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in next 4 sts, slip st 6 sts across the top of the heart – 36 sts.
Fasten off

Whip stitch the heart to the front of the hat.  I did them off center and tilted, you can do it anyway you want.  I might add a button or other embellishment next time.  

So, there you have it.  My finished hats were 16 inches in circumference, so about a 3-6 month size.

Please let me know if you have any difficulties with the pattern, and feel free to post pictures!

JKS

Size Matters!

Well, at least when it comes to knitting needles.

When I started knitting, back when Adam West was Batman, I used metal, 14 inch needles.  I was a child, so as you can imagine, it was a whole lot of needle for me.

Now a trip to the yarn shop yields a plethora of choices.  Needles are aluminum, plastic, bamboo, rosewood, and some incredibly beautiful hard woods.  They still come in pretty standard lengths, 14 inches or 9-1/2/ 10 inches. So, where do you begin to choose?

When I teach knitting lessons, I advise my students to purchase bamboo needles, no longer than 10 inches.  I have several reasons why I make that choice.  First of all, we begin on smaller projects, and 10 inches is perfect.  With 14 inch needles, before long your arms are getting involved in the knitting and you start looking like a bird in flight.  For larger projects, such as afghans, sweaters, and shawls, I advise students to use circular needles.  So, I can't think of any time in the last 10 years that I've actually used a 14 inch needle. Secondly, I prefer bamboo.  Aluminum and plastic needles are too slippery for me.  I hate to put down my work and my stitches are sliding off the needle.  Bamboo has a little bit of "teeth" to it, so your stitches aren't so likely to slip.

My students often tell me that the price on bamboo seems to be prohibitive.  I advise them to use their coupons for those purchases.  I know in our area Michaels and Joann Fabrics will take competitors coupons, so with a 40%-50% coupon, the price is about the same as aluminum or plastic.  I have also purchased needles online from eknittingneedles.com.  I like their site, the needles are inexpensive and you get free shipping if you spend $15 or more.  I've even been known to purchase needles on E-bay, if the price is right.

The bottom line, is to find needles that you're comfortable with.  Personally, I never use single point needles any more.  However, that's a whole different post.

JKS

Just Taking a Leap

I've battled with how to begin this Blog for about two weeks.  I finally decided I was giving it way too much thought, and should "just take a leap".

This Blog is about knitting and crocheting.  Its about what I've learned, practiced, done, found out, hated and loved about knitting and crocheting for almost 50 years.

If you follow me on this journey, you'll get lot's of tips, some reviews of yarn and patterns.  You'll get to see what inspires me, how I put things together and what I do when I totally hate the results.

My hope is that this Blog will be a quick reference for beginners, intermediates and yes, even some of you experts.

You can follow my little company on Facebook (I'd appreciate the Like), or purchase finished items and patterns at my shop on Craft Cafe. I'll add these as gadgets as soon as I figure it out.  I'm great at stitching, not so much at technology

https://www.facebook.com/pages/From-The-Heart/448978455147420

http://craftcafe.co/shop/fromtheheart/

JKS
(Just Keep Stitching)