New Freebie: Rialto Baby Beanie

Rialto Baby Beanie

Size

° preemie (newborn, baby, toddler)

° Head circumference: 11(12-13, 14-15, 16-17)” or 27.5(30-32.5, 35-37.5, 40-42.5)cm

Materials

° Debbie Bliss Rialto DK Print;50g/105m, 1 ball

° Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK; 50g/110m (or Debbie Bliss Rialto DK), 1 ball

° 4mm-16” circular needles

° 3.5mm-16” circular needles

° 4mm double pointed needles

° 1 stitch marker

° darning needle (preferably pointy & small)

Hat on the left:

Newborn size, Debbie Bliss CashmerinoDK colour 18 (navy), Debbie Bliss Rialto DK Print 05 (Ravenna)

Hat on the right:

Toddler size, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK colour 43 (beige), Debbie Bliss Rialto DK Print 01 (Florence)

Dowload the pattern Here

Fair Isle Fumbles

Above is Drips. I was hankering to make one since I first came across the pattern late last spring. I didn't really have it in me until this fall. I dove in, thinking it would be easy to learn how to do the colour-work. You know that saying, when you 'ASSUME" you make an "ASS" our of "U" and "ME"? Yeah, I forgot about that. Hubris got the best of me. But let me explain ... I don't want to put you off Fair Isle knitting, just please learn from my foibles.  

So I figured it should be easy, sure it's a new technique, but I've seen other people do it, it's 2 colours, and an easy chart to read. What could go wrong? My tension, that's what. There are many projects where tension in fair isle isn't a huge issue, and it's ok if it's a little off. But a hat needs to stretch to fit a head, so the tension has to be consistent. If it's too tight, the hat won't stretch. If it's too loose, you'll see gaps between the colours when it stretches. 

Of course, I really had not thought about any of this, I just said "Hey! Lets make a cool looking hat! Wheeee!" (I did not actually say any of that, inside or outside of my head, but it illustrates my reasoning, or absence thereof). 

I looked up some videos on youtube about Fair Isle knitting, and took it from there. I found that I was most comfortable holding a strand in each hand, so I used that technique. Now, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the tutorials I followed, they were great. I did not learn anything incorrect or bad from them. My problem stemmed from the fact that my tension knitting with my left hand (continental technique) is a lot tighter than my tension knitting with my right hand (english technique). It makes sense, I have knitted English all my life. 

After a few attempts, I threw in the towel. The yarn, Malabrigo Worsted, is a single ply and not resilient. If I kept ripping it out I'd also wreck the yarn. I made a compromise, decided to add the drips to my hat using duplicate stitch (embroidery), and resolved to tackle the fair isle issue again after consulting with a professional. 

I've since consulted with the intrepid Liane, who learned from the all knowing Mairi, that for me, the best way to get a consistent tension on a fair isle hat is to use the method where I hold both strands of yarn in my Right hand. The 2 handed method was comfortable for me, but I could not control the tension. Problem solved, I'll give it another shot later.   

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

day-dreaming about projects to come

this is what I am thinking about making

I know, toques (Canadian vernacular for basic winter hat with a pom-pom on top, pronounced  Two-k) are out of season, especially in lieu of the premature summer weather we've been having around here. But I love it sooo much! 

and this is what I'm thinking about making it with

Malabrigo Worsted in 606 Frost Grey and 37 Lettuce. I also want to make it in a real neon, but I'll have to wait until those come in. I know what you are thinking, I know you're dissing the neon. This will just have to be one of those time where you think I'm on crack and I'm right in the end. Neon is going to get under your skin, it is going to creep in and you'll wonder why you didn't notice before.

Here's the deal, neons need neutrals. Sure, neons can be migraine/seizure inducing in large quantities, but are cool paired with neutral colours like off white, grey, beige, and camel. The savy girls at the PurlBee know what I'm talking about, they've been down with neons and fluorescents for a little while now.  Still don't believe me? That's ok, just sit back, put some Duran Duran on your iPod, and see what happens after a while. ;-) 

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Lil' Devil Helmet

My hats for Lucy are finally back on track!  After all the knitting drama with the Pussy Cat hats, I took a break and made little L something to match her red jacket. It started as a Lil' Devil Baby Hat, but I made modifications. I added some length at the back, and turned the ties into a strap (the straps are super cute, but they are a choking hazard) which attached with a snap (a great big one that little hands can't open). 

I made my mods on the fly, and while I wrote them down they got complicated and I don't think they are worth reproducing in their present state. I'll have to knit it up again in an easier way and write that up to share. 

 I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, and it was perfect for the project and felt great!  

Oh, BTW, the reason kiddo is modelling in her jammies is because she had just dropped a great big smelly log and it smelled soooooo bad that we (aka. my sister-in-law) had to change her out of her clothes before her afternoon nap. Seriously, it was nasty, seriously nasty. That kid should not eat chickpeas.  

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

Holiday Knitting Parade

I was going to try and get a picture of everyone in their holiday gifts this year but .... yeah, that didn't happen. They weren't going to be good pics anyway since the gift opening took place at night or at day break. 


My family celebrates both Channukah and Christmas, but I don't have it in me to make everyone two gifts. Everyone gets one handknit on the holiday of the religion they were born into. The exception I'm willing to make is my niece Lucy, who is presently very, very cute, and technically was also born into two faiths.  But mostly because she's cute and I luuuuuuv her. :-)


So lets start the parade .....

Irving

Let's lead with the best, shall we?  This is Irving, a cabled hat pattern by Jared Flood/Brooklyn Tweed, made for my new beau.  Meeting someone new right before the holidays is a tricky thing. You don't really know them well, you want to show them you are into them, but you can't overdo the gift or they'll feel pressured. It's a balancing act, and I've gotta say, I'm really glad I'm a knitter because it makes choosing a gift much easier. I went straight to BT, I knew he would have a man hat with some masculine but knitterly detail.  

I used Abuelita Merino Worsted and it turned out smashingly!  I made a few mods, especially since my yarn was thinner than the pattern, so if you want to do the same check my project notes on Ravelry. 

The hat fit, it was well received, and I have been updated that it is being well used (the new beau hails from outside of TO, where they get snow and weather and stuff). 

Cabled Neckwarmer

I am not pleased with how this pic came out, but I was very satisfied how this Cabled Neckwarmer did. I made it for my dad (the man who wants hand knits, but never wears them). It was a great gift knit, super fast and easy! I especially recommend for a last minute/running out of time gig. I used the Abuelita Mysterious Blend Chunky (why do they call it that?! It's no mystery, it is 95% Merino and 5% Silk) and it knit up beautifully!  BTW, the Mysterious softens up substantially after winding and loosening up with handling/knitting.  Anyway, dad seemed to like it, I have no idea if he'll ever use it, but mom can. 

Cabled Neckwarmer

I actually was really pleased with this one, it's a Cabled Neckwarmer for my sister-in-law, Katie. Katie is a casual, athletic dresser, and has a small, active child. I thought a close fitting neckwarmer would be the kind of think that would come in really handy this winter. The yarn is Abuelita Thick & Thin, held double and LURV it!  It is sooooooo soft!  I made up the pattern on the fly, I'll publish it for you soon. I think the gift was well received. I don't know if it is being used - you send them off into the world and hope for the best. 

Pussy Cat Ballaclava 2.0

I made this for Lucy, it was a follow-up to the first version that was too big. I've already blogged about the ongoing saga of the ill fitting pussy cat hats, read it here. Suffice it to say, this one came out WAY too small. I didn't even give it to her. BTW, loved this colour and really enjoyed knitting the Cascade 220 Superwash Sport, especially the heathered for some reason.

Pussy Cat Ballaclava 2.1

This is the third incarnation, which I did give to Lucy, and which still did not fit properly. It was well received, regardless.  I'm taking a short break from these, but I'll get back to version 3.0, possibly in red. 

Brother Hat

This one was simple pattern, it's called A Hat Fit for a Boyfriend, but I made it for my brother (as per my sister-in-law's suggestion). I used Malbrigo Rios, which was lovely, in the colour Paris Night, which was also lovely. My brother is a little colour blind, he has a hard time distinguishing blues from purples, so I figured a bluey-greyey-purpley colour would be perfect for him - it can be anything he wants it to be. Plus it's dark and neutral enough a colour to be ok for men. It was well received, it fits (most important part), and he uses it when walking the dog. 

Bulky Mobius Cowl

I made this Bulky Mobius Cowl for my mom. I hate the way it looks in the picture and off in general, but it looks amazing on! It is made with a combination of a yarn I bought in Italy in 1995 that she frogged from a garment I made for her ages ago, held with dark blue mohair (she put in a request for something scarfy with the mystery yarn). I made the cowl to perk up a winter coat she bought last year that is the dullest shade of navy blue I've ever seen. It was extremely well received, which was not surprising because my mom always wears my hand knits. 

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

Little Samuel (Shmully) Hat

Many of the links posted here are from Ravelry.com, a free website for knitters and crocheters. If you don't have your own account you can use ours: login: knitomatic2, password: knitomatic. But you should get your own account fast, 'cause you're going to LOVE it!

I feel like this post is total filler, mostly because I don't think that this hat turned out to be particularly inspiring. Not that I don't like it, I made it to be VERY warm, and it is.  I've been calling it Shmully, which is the diminutive in Yiddish for the name Samuel. The pattern is of course, named Samuel, and i made it smaller to fit my little head. I also knit it in the round, instead of flat, on much smaller needles to make it dense to keep out the wind, and smaller to fit my head. At the end, it really doesn't resemble the original all that much, it doesn't really slouch properly, which is OK because I don't really look good in slouchy hats. I folded it over on the side and stuck a pin in it, and's it's all good!

In the end, it's a good hat and a achieve what I set out to do. I have a warm hat that doesn't make me look too ridiculous, that matches my cowl, and thus I have a warm matching set that I like. If I have the time and/or ambition, I might take out the crown of the hat, get rid of all the extra fabric, and just make it a beanie. Alternately, I`ll just make myself a new hat, maybe a Vintage Rib & Button hat,  in the same yarn and wear them interchangeably. Que sera, I have a sweater to make!

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

See my Sweater-Along Swatch!

Many of the links posted here are from Ravelry.com, a free website for knitters and crocheters. If you don't have your own account you can use ours: login: knitomatic2, password: knitomatic. But you should get your own account fast, 'cause you're going to LOVE it!

Finito!  I finished my Sweater-Along Swatch-Hat! You may recall, that because my sweater will be knit in the round, I had to make my swatch in the round too to get an accurate gauge. This is because people's tension while knitting flat is not always the same as when knitting in the round, either because their purl stitches are a different tension, of just because of the way they hold the needles. I know that my tension while knitting on smaller circular needles is a bit tighter than on larger ones, so I'll factor that into my math. For example, my measured tension after blocking was 22 sts & 27 rows = 4"/10cm, so I figure that the actual tension when I make the sweater will be closer to 21 sts = 4"/10cm. Also, the sweater will be heavier than the hat, and that extra weight pulls and stretches the garment in ways that the swatch/hat won't experience. If I was feeling ambitious I could hang the hat up for a few days with some weights attached to the bottom to pull it down, but I don't know how accurate a measurement that will give me, and I'd kinda like the hat to be wearable in the end. 

Anyway, I washed the hat in Eucalan, and lay it flat to dry on it's side, smoothing it out a bit. Then I measured the tension in several places on the hat to make sure that my numbers were accurate. Once I got the numbers I was after, i washed the hat again and blocked it flat with a dinner-plate, to get it's final, proper shape. I double blocked it because the beret shaping distorts the tension, especially right at the middle which is the easiest place to measure. 

As for swatch aesthetics, the yarn has worked up really nicely, it is definitely a sweater I'll want to wear! The only thing is that I'm not sure the needles are too small for a sweater. The yarn is worsted weight, but it knitted up pretty densely on a 4.5mm, and i don't know if it's too tight for a comfortable sweater. I've cast on for a little cowl/neck-warmer on 5mm-24" circular needles to get a better idea about density. If it's too loose, I'll just rip and go with the 4.5mm for the sweater, and if I like it I'll keep knitting to get a swatch. But I'll try to go fast so I can get to the sweater and won't keep you waiting!

One more suggestion, when washing add vinegar to the water and wash alone, the colour is concentrated. 

See why it's good to make a swatch before starting? You get all kinds of useful information from it, and a hat!  This might actually be a really good way to get holiday and gift knitting done. 

Oh, and as for the actual hat (poor, neglected, back-of-the-bus hat!), I'm not in love with the style, but it's not awful either. I'm not crazy about the rolled brim, wouldn't do that again, but it fits and is comfortable, and the general shape is very good. I ended up switching over to another pattern by the same designer, the free Rollin' Beret pattern, for the decrease instructions.  Basically, this is what I did:

• Cast on 88 sts. Work Rollin' Beret pattern as written for largest size.
• After increases I had 132 sts. Continue to follow pattern until decrease instructions.
• 1st decrease round: *K20, k2tog; repeat from * to end of round.
• The next round will be (*K19, K2tog), the following round will be (*K18, K2tog), the fourth will be (*K17, K2tog) .... and so on, until 6 sts are left. 
• Follow pattern for I-cord nubby on top. 

One caveat about the pattern - the size knitted up accurately, but the sizes offered are SMALL!  I'd say the largest size fits about a medium head, so if you are using Berroco Ultra Alpaca and 4mm & 4.5mm needles, and have a 21(22, 23, 24)" head, I suggest the following:

• Cast on 84(88, 92, 96) sts
• After increases, you'll have 126(132, 138,144) sts
• Work 4.25 (4.5, 5, 5.5)" from increase round
• Start decreases as [K19, K2tog] ([K20, K2tog], [K21, K2tog], [K22, K2tog])

I think the size I made is a Medium/22". It is a bit big on me, but I don't look like Mushmouth in it. 

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com! 

Sweater-Along Swatching

Many of the links posted here are from Ravelry.com, a free website for knitters and crocheters. If you don't have your own account you can use ours: login: knitomatic2, password: knitomatic. But you should get your own account fast, 'cause you're going to LOVE it!

My Sweater-Along Swatch has started, and actually should be all done in a few days. I'm making Propello (available in store), a beret, as a swatch, since the sweater is knit in the round.  I don't really know how the hat will turn out or if I will even like it, but that doesn't really matter. I'm making the largest size, since the sizing for the pattern is a bit small. I'll let you know if it ends up small or large, i guess it'll depend on the drape after washing/blocking. 

Regardless, the yarn is knitting up beautifully and easily, the colour is stunning, and I think the slight fuzz factor will be agreeable. Won't really know until the sweater is finished and I'm wearing it, so I forge forward, no looking back or second guessing. 

Oh, by the way, I'm leaving off the 'propellers' from the pattern because the 'swatch' needs to have the same consistency as the finished sweater for the gauge to be accurate. 

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

Blackstone Tweed Toque

Brim Down

Brim Up

Finally, I have a finished object to offer you, although not a big one. I made this toque in blackstone tweed for dear boyfriend's birthday, but he didn't take to it.  Actually, he absconded with it before his birthday, and then he rejected it.  So it has bee re-appropriated for his father's x-mas gift, who will hopefully be a bit more open minded.  

A wash in Eucalan significantly softened up the fabric, it is so soft now!

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com!

Marsan Watchcap

Many of the links posted here are from Ravelry.com, a free website for knitters and crocheters. If you don't have your own account or are waiting for it to go live, you can use ours: login: knitomatic2, password: knitomatic.

Another store sample finished, a Marsan Watchcap in Cascade Eco Duo!  I look dopey with the brim rolled up, but it's a man hat and is designed with a folded brim (like this other version in another shade of Eco Duo). Anyway, it makes a great man hat - it's classic, soft, and neutral. 

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com.

Finished Owlie Hat!

I'm sorry it took a week to get this up, it was caught in photography. So here is our Owlie Hat! I bet if you made it in white you could call it Hedwig, or if you made it in Grey it could be called Errol. Anyway, if you hadn't already figured it out, the cables are owls!  I only gave one a pair of eyes (poor, blind owlies). We used Manos Merino Worsted, and I can't explain how soft & comfortable it is!  It's kind of like a cross between cuddling with a baby and slipping into jeans that fit you perfectly. Anyway, the Malabrigo is clearly a fantastic yarn for hats, scarves, mitts, gloves, and anything else that comes in contact with skin. 

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com

Finished - Aviatrix Baby Hats

Finito!  I made these two little Aviatrix Baby Hats with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran for my cousin`s new twins. Luckily, the babies are fraternal, so I got to use the pink and the blue!  The Cashmerino was really nice to work with and I think it will be especially well received (the palette is right on and the texture can`t be beat). The pattern was pretty straight-forward. It took a bit more time than I expected, but it looks great and is more interesting than a plain, old hat.  

I think the pattern would work especially well with a slightly textured yarn, which would disguise the short-row wraps. On the blue I tried unwrapping the wraps and knitting them in, but it didn`t make a difference in appearance, so just knit right over your wraps like Jussi directs. I was also a big confused bu the yarn suggestion - they used a DK, but knit it on a 4.5mm needle and got a gauge of 4.5 sts per inch. I wen`t with the suggested gauge and used a yarn thant knits up at 18 sts & 24 rows over 4 inches. 

As always, find us at www.knitomatic.com!

Maximum Beret - New FREE Pattern!

Maximum Beret

Maximum Beret

Maximum Beret - inside-out

Maximum Beret - inside-out

Yay! Finally finished, here`s our new Free pattern for the Maximum Beret!  It is made in reverse stocking stitch (purled) to make the most of the stunning variegated yarn, Manos del Uruguay Maxima, and create texture in the easiest way possible.  1 skein makes a fast, easy, sensational looking hat! You can download the pattern through our website, knitomatic.com.

Sarah, the Leafy, Slouchy Hat

This is a pretty good representation of the colour.

This is not an accurate representation of the true colour.

This is not what the colour looks like, but you can see the leafy stitch.

I finished my Leafy Hat!  I don't know why, but I'm really into the idea of leaf motifs in mottled green yarns.  The pattern was very good with they yarn - I advise using the yarn with a tight type of stitch. 

I made some pattern modifications - nothing exciting or dangerous. The girl in the pattern pic must have a big head, because I had to downside the pattern substantially. If you have a larger head, just go with the original pattern cast-on.

1. I used 3.25mm needles for the ribbing
2. I cast on 80 sts. After the increase round the stitch count is 96 sts.
3. For initial increase row I used twisted M1 increases, but for the pattern section I changed the increases to M1L, M1R, M1L, M1R (per section) to make sure my leaves branched out.

The hat fits me snugly, but the style doesn't really suit me since the slouch isn't slouching enough for my head. If I was so inclined, I could rip out one pattern repeat (1 round of leaves) and it would be a beanie/toque. 

Anyway, the Berroco Blackstone Tweed is really nice and feels nice and looks great. I just need to find the right pattern for my little keppie (the diminutive of yiddish word for head), but this hat will look AMAZING on someone who doesn't have an undersized head. 

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com.

Maximum Beret

   Maximum Beret - Outside/Right Side 

(click on the photos and you can get a closer looks at the    stunningness!)

    Maximum Beret - Inside/Wrong Side

I'm supposed to be working on the last sample for the Seedy Slouch Beret, but I'm taking a detour through the Manos Maxima.  This colourway (M9097) is so stunning I had to make a sample with it, just to show off. I don't know how the shaping is going to work out. I started out using my Basic Button Beret pattern, but the colour started to pool  after the second set of increases, so I skipped them and just worked straight for 10cm after the first increase. My only concern is that it may not be long/tall enough. I'm also working it in reverse stocking stitch (purl) because the yarn is so stunning on the wrong side and it gives the hat a bit of easy texture.

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com

More Design Process: Sea Creature Beret

Another hat design that's bogged down due to technical difficulties, the Sea Creature Beret, size Small. I'm just going to work up a size Medium and then I'll publish the pattern (freebie). :-)

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com

Finished Object: Star Crossed Eco Beret

This is a good picture, but the focus is very soft. By the way, my head is a Small and the hat is a Medium.

This is a better picture of the hat, but not a good picture (no chin). 

This is the hat flat. I enhanced the picture a bit so you can see the cables - they are not actually that distinct to the human eye - at least in this yarn. 

This was a very satisfying finished object - I'm very happy. It is the Star Crossed Beret (free pattern on Ravelry) made with 1 skein of Cascade Eco Duo.  First things first - the yarn is like knitting with BABIES!  You know how cute & soft & squishy & cuddly babies are? Well that's what this yarn feels like. and wearing it feels like cuddling with a baby. 

Next, the pattern is pretty simple. I went down a needle size (5mm & 7mm) because the yarn they used has more loft to it. One part of the pattern instruction was vague, and I interpreted as follows:

• 1 x 1 rib for 1 inch
• worked R1 to 12
• increase round
• worked R2-12
• worked R1-6
• worked decreases

The finished size feels like about a Medium/22". If you have a really big head you can work R1 to 12 one more time after increase round.

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com

It GREW!

Well, I made up a hat with the Coliumo, thinking the size was good and might even fit my little head, but some yarns just don't behave as expected.  After washing it GREW.  Back to the drawing board/calculator.  This one turned out big, but I expect it will fit a big head with big hair. I made another one before it in seed stitch, washed it today, and it was HUMUNGUS. I ripped that one and will re-knit it when the yarn dries.  This is why I like designing small things.  ;-)  


As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com

Finished Object Alert! Gnarled Cable Beret

Finished object alert!  Liane just finished whipping up this cool cabled beret, the Gnarled Cable Beret (free pattern on Ravelry.com). We managed to eke it out with just one skein on Dream in Color Groovy (colour is visual purple). The cables are really cool, I love wonky looking things.  :-)  I think it would also look good in the Cascade 128, Malabrigo or Merino Chunky. Maybe even Cascade Eco Heathers, but I can't be sure about that one. Anyway, nice cabled beret that looks a bit different. :-)

As always, you can find us at knitomatic.com

An Unoriginal But Good Hat

A recent FO - an Unorignal Hat made with Araucania Coliumo Multy. The colours i this yarn keep surprising me! I never know how beautifully they are going to work out, which is why I keep trying them. I'm working on a couple of hat patterns in other colourways, but I did publish a Long Mobius Cowl freebie pattern this week that employs the yarn.


Anyway, the pattern was fast & easy. The yarn also made it possible to cable without a cable hook - a technique not for the faint of heart, but the truly lazy.  ;-)