4 posts tagged “hat”
In the past, I knitted a hat with the large gauge yellow Knifty Knitter loom, but it turned out too big. The yarn was an acrylic mix that didn't have much stretch, and so the hat was droopy. However, I feel the green loom is a little too small, so I tried the yellow loom again, this time using Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick. I decided to make a very long brim so I could fold it up. I did a K2, P2 brim, but because the yellow loom has an uneven number of pegs, I had to do a K3 on the final three pegs to keep the ribbing even. I knit about 4" (or 20 rows) for a brim, and then switched to the regular e-wrap stitch.
On the Yahoo Knifty Knitter group, I had read about finishing off a hat without doing the typical gather and I wanted to try it, so when I got near the top, I divided the loom into four sections with stitch markers (10 pegs, 10 pegs, 10 pegs, and 11 pegs), and decreased one peg as I knitted back and forth. For example, I knitted Peg 1 through Peg 10. On the way back I decreased one loop, and then knitted Peg 9 through Peg 1. Then I decreased another loop and knitted Peg 2 through Peg 9. When I got down to the final peg, I wrapped it with the working yarn, cut the yarn to about 12", and knitted the peg off, pulling the yarn through the final loop. Decreasing in this manner creates a triangle. I then did the final three sections (on the fourth section, I decreased two pegs on the first row because it has 11 pegs, not 10 like the others.) I turned the hat inside out and stitched the triangles together on the seams using the mattress stitch.
I really like my new hat. It's warm, fits just right, and looks great on a pumpkin.
I finished this hat a few weeks ago--on election night, in fact. Since this was my first finished Weave-it (Weavette, Wonder Weave) pattern, I'm going to cut myself some slack. Also, I was listening to election results while I sewed it up, so that may help explain why I misjudged the need to stitch the rim of the hat correctly. I was so excited about the election! Plus, stitching all those little squares together is very tiring.
As a result, the rim/hem of this hat isn't matched up very well. It's a little bit crooked.
Nonetheless, this is a very cool retro hat. It looks good on people who wear cool, retro hairstyles, like a Louise Brooks bob.
It doesn't look very good on me, but that's beside the point. Who cares! I made my first real Weave-it pattern!
These thirteen squares practically flew off my Wonder Weave loom. Good thing I had cats around to point out when I almost missed a row...
...and it's a real good thing the cats were there to keep the squares on the table. Those little squares have a way of flying off the table at the oddest times. But not with these cats on duty.
It always bothered me that the hat I made never fit quite right. This was one of the first things I made with my KK set. It was too short and a little tight, so this morning I frogged it and made a new one. I wanted to do a knitted pattern for a long time, and this was my chance. I used a single strand of Lion Thick & Quick on the green loom and created this spiral-ribbed hat. I used the non-loopy cast-on method, and then made a ribbed brim by alternating K2, P2 for four rows. I then started the spiral ribbing. This is super easy to do. The green loom has an even number of pegs, so I chose an odd number in my pattern so that it wouldn't end and start at the same spot each time around. I did K3, P2 for about 25 rows. I cast off a little differently, too, because I'm not fond of the lumpy top that results in gathering 36 loops into one bunch. The final row of knitting consisted of pulling the loops from the odd numbered-pegs, and putting them on the even-numbered pegs. Then, knit off the loops. At this point there's just one loop on each even-numbered peg, and you simply use the same removal method that's in the KK directions. (Thread each loop through the tail of the yarn and pull tightly.) It's still a little bunchy on the top, but it's better than before.
I like the look of this hat, plus it fits! And with -20 degree windchills today, I'm happy to have it.
This week, I also finished my bag. Alas, I fear I'll never actually make the bag I set out to make, but I do like it. It's more like a purse, and it's got a retro-1970's feel. To make this, I used the green loom and three strands of yarn (yes, three!). I chose three different weights and colors. One strand was Lion Brand Jiffy (I think) in an olive green color, the second was a flecked beige from Red Heart, and the final was Cotton Twist in a metallic orange. I made a flat bottom (Crystal describes how to do this in her blog). After I finished the bottom, I knitted around until it reached the right height. (I can't remember how many rows--maybe 40?) I wanted the top to curl over like a brim so I didn't do any special stitches. I then made a strap by knitting three pegs into an i-cord with two of the colors. I also braided three strands of the green yarn, and wove it in and out near the top to make a pull string. I had some wooden beads, so I tied them on all the ends for a final, groovy touch.
I wasn't happy with this bag for many days and I almost frogged it, but at some point I realized I liked it. I'm not sure why. Maybe I just got used to the idea I hadn't made a bag--I made a purse, although I think it's big enough to carry around the blue KK and some yarn. So there's a little lesson--don't frog something right away, because it just may grow on you. I would still like to put a fabric lining in this little purse. I think it'd make a good gift for a girl who's into wearing bell bottoms.
I've been a little bit proud of the fact that I don't really have a yarn stash. When I want to make something, I head out and buy the yarn for the project, only giving into temptation once in awhile. So, what happened to me last night? My head is still swimming. I ventured into Goodwill, wondering if I could find a sweater I could salvage, when I happened to notice this Moda-Dea yarn for $1 each. I have no idea what came over me, but I walked out of the store ten minutes later with nine skeins! Okay, it's only nine dollars, but still... What am I going to do with all this?
EDITED TO ADD PATTERN LINK (4/26/09):
I love this thing! Knitting with the KK looms is really, really fast. I decided to make a hat this weekend, so I bought a skein of Lion Brand Thick and Quick yarn and in record time made this hat--and I had enough left over for a headband.
I've learned yarn thickness is really important with the KKs. Thick yarn is best, or two strands of regular worsted weight. I've become fond of the Thick and Quick yarn, and I like this "natural" color. I used the green loom and followed the instructions that came with the looms. I cast on and e-wrapped ten rows, brought the bottom row up and made the brim, and then knit approx. 20 rows before drawing the yarn through to pull into the top of the hat. Quick! I then made the headband by knitting about 30 rows and casting off with a crochet hook. I'm new to this and crocheted too tight, but it makes the headband fit like a charm--nice and snug on top.
What to make next? I'm interested in wool and B is asking for a French Press cozy. A French Press is basically a glass beaker, and coffee gets cold fast, especially in the winter. I have NO idea how to make one, so we'll see...
