i like lemons

Happy Groundhog Day! Whether or not the lovable marmot (woodchuck, land beaver, whistlepig) saw his shadow or not, the calendar says that there are six more weeks of winter. Plenty of time to knit a warm, cozy hat.

This hat is based on Amy King’s Fake Isle Hat, but I’ve modified it to use a classic fair isle snowflake pattern. Or is it a flower? A snowflaker? A snowflower!

The crown pattern and overall gauge have been modified a bit as well.

Snowflower Hat

Do not reproduce this pattern elsewhere. This pattern is for personal use only. In other words, don’t try to make money off of it.

Materials
Size US 7 circular needle (16 inches)
Size US 7 set of double pointed needles
Main color (MC), worsted weight yarn
Contrast color (CC), worsted weight yarn
Stitch marker
Yarn needle, for weaving in ends

Pattern
With MC and circular needles, cast on 98 stitches. Place marker and join round.

Rounds 1-6: *k4, p3; repeat from *
Rounds 7 & 8: k all sts
Rounds 9 & 10: Switch to CC and k all sts
Rounds 11 & 12: Switch to MC and k all sts

Rounds 13-26: Using MC and CC, knit the pattern from the following chart. Note: pattern begins at lower, right-hand corner. MC = white, CC = black

Rounds 27 & 28: k all sts with MC
Rounds 29 & 30: k all sts with CC
Rounds 31 & 32: k all sts with MC

Rounds 33-52: Using MC and CC, knit the pattern from the following chart. Note: pattern begins at lower, right-hand corner. MC = white, CC = black. Switch to double pointed needles when there are too few stitches on the circular to knit comfortably.

Round 53: k all sts with CC

Cut yarn leaving a 12-inch tail. Thread tail through remaining sts, gather and fasten tightly. Weave in ends. Hat is approximately 20-inches around and 8.5-inches high, unstretched.

*****Switch up the ribbing of the brim rounds to give a different look. For example, the grey hat used 5×2 ribbing to give it a slightly curled edge.

For the child-sized pink hat, using US size 5 needles, cast on in CC and then beginning with round 1, switch to MC and knit hat as instructed. Child-sized hat is approximately 17-inches around and 7-inches high, unstretched.

Pattern now available for download as a pdf file.

More pictures at Flickr

After seeing a similar hat on the Banana Republic website this past autumn/winter, I decided I wanted to come up with my own button-tab hat. The hat is easily modifiable by just changing the stitch pattern of the brim and it’s a good way to use up some of those spare buttons in your button jar.clockwise from top left: white tweed - seed stitch brim; green - mistake rib stitch brim; natural - 2×2 rib stitch brim; black - garter stitch brim

Button-Tab Knit Hat

Do not reproduce this pattern elsewhere. This pattern is for personal use only. In other words, don’t try to make money off of it.

Materials
Size US 7 straight needles (optional)
Size US 7 circular needle (16 inches)
Size US 7 set of double pointed needles
Your choice of worsted weight yarn
Stitch marker
Yarn needle
Button (size suitable for width of brim)

Pattern
Brim of hat will be worked flat. With straight (or circular needles), cast on 98 stitches.

Row 1 of brim: knit
Row 2 (and other even rows): *k2, p2; repeat from *
Row 3 (and other odd rows): *p2, k2; repeat from *
Row 14: purl
Row 15: Bind off first 10 stitches purlwise; purl to end of row. 88 stitches remain.

Transfer work to circular needles, place marker at beginning of round and work in the round in stockinette until hat measures 5 - 5.5 inches from cast on edge.

Begin decreases, switching to double pointed needles when there are too few stitches to work comfortably on the circulars.

*k9, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k8, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k7, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k6, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k5, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k4, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k3, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k2, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k1, k2tog; repeat from *
knit
*k2tog; repeat from *

Cut yarn and, with yarn needle, thread tail through remaining stitches, gather and fasten tightly. Weave in ends. Sew button to flap and base of hat.

*****Knitting the above pattern will produce a hat with the 2×2 rib brim. The brim can also be worked in other types of ribbing, or in seed or garter stitch, if preferred.You can make the brim as wide as you like; just try to do the bind off on an odd numbered row.

The brim tab can have a rounded edge by doing a one stitch increase at the beginning of rows 2, 4 and 6 and then doing a corresponding one stitch decrease on rows 8, 10 and 12.

Pattern now available for download as a pdf file.

More pictures at Flickr

It started out innocently enough back in early November. I wanted to use up the odd skeins of yarn, left over from scarf knitting, and practice my fledgling dpn skills. By the end of December I somehow had managed to knit 22 hats.

Here are my notes on some of the patterns that were worked during those 2 months.

*****

Inga - The Inga hat was my first foray into stranded knitting. The pattern is so beautiful and intricate looking. I felt proud of myself upon finishing, but I don’t think I would knit this hat again unless I was making it for someone else. I’m a beanie girl and the shape of the hat isn’t my style. I do like that the hat taught me new techniques: the braided edge and stranding.

*****

Odessa - I was excited to knit the Odessa hat from MagKnits, as it looked like such a simple, yet elegant design. I used size 5 and 7 needles for the cream version and only size 5 needles for the grey one. Oh, and no beads for me.

*****

Snowflower - After knitting the Fake Isle hat at MagKnits, I tried my hand at modifying a stranded knitting pattern. I switched out the lower pattern and made some changes to the upper pattern. The grey one is knit on size 7 needles and the pink one is knit on size 5s. I’ll post my modified pattern in the next few weeks. (Pattern now available)

*****

Santa Cruz - Yup, another pattern from MagKnits. Santa Cruz is a cute pattern that involves lace and cables, similar in look to those lacy crocheted skull caps. I knit mine on size 10.5 needles and followed the directions for the worsted weight yarn, giving it even more of an “open” lace look.

*****

Baby Cables - Using the pattern at KnitList for the Baby Cable Ribbed Cap as a base, I switched things up to turn it into a beanie. Basically, knit in 2×2 rib for 1 inch and then continue with the baby cable pattern until work measures 5-5.5 inches from cast on, then follow instructions for the decrease. Knit on size 10 needles. Baby cables look more impressive than a simple ribbed hat, but are really easy, and quick, since you don’t need to slip stitches onto a cable needle or dpn.

*****

Shedir - The Shedir hat (pdf link) from Knitty is the most involved pattern I think I have knit thus far. It was certainly worth it though. I ended up knitting four hats, two black and two natural, since the first two had some flaws and I wanted something as gorgeous as Shedir to be perfect. Well, the second natural colored one does have a small flaw (one small section in the crown went stockinette on me), but it isn’t too bad. I would certainly knit this pattern again, especially since my dpn skills have improved since I completed these. I used size 5 needles, cast on 112 sts and only did two repeats of the lower “pretzel” pattern. The top looks a bit pointy when laid flat, but it fits, and looks, perfect when worn.

*****

Button-Tabs - After seeing a similar hat on the Banana Republic website, I decided I wanted to come up with my own Button-Tab hat. The hat is easily modifiable by just changing the stitch pattern of the brim and it’s a good way to use up some of those spare buttons in your button jar. Pattern will be posted within the week. (Pattern now available)

*****

More pictures at Flickr