Not Just a Neck Warmer

The beauty of this neck gaiter is its simplicity and versatility.



Worn as designed, it's long enough to pull up over your mouth and nose if needed. You can, of course, knit it to any length you want. The pattern suggests 8". Mine is 8.5".



Fold it in half for an extra thick neck warmer. I wore it this way for fishing on Friday night and it kept me toasty warm.



Doubled up like this, it can also be a headband/ear warmer. Two layers of wool did a excellent job of blocking the cool breeze on Saturday.



If you want more coverage, wear it as an open-topped hat.


I may have to knit another one, so I can wear two at once.

Free Pattern: Ribbed Neck Gaiter
Yarn: Araucanaia Nature Wool
Color: Am 0320
Needles: US 7, 16" circular

Heads Up

I have another hat drive to tell you about. It's in progress at The Scottish Lamb. Jean is collecting hats for the homeless of New York City. Details are here. Be sure to contact her if you have a hat to donate and she'll send you the mailing address.

Jean and I connected through our blogs when I first began mine and we've been friends ever since. A scheduled meeting in person fell through this summer, but one day when she moves back to Texas we will get together. I'm looking forward to that! Through the years, I've been on the receiving end of her generous spirit and I'm thrilled to be able to support her in this worthy effort.

I have two hats to donate.

Seaman's Cap and Turn a Square

Seaman's Cap

Free Pattern
Yarn: Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool
Color: Nature's Brown
Needles: US 6 & 7 - 16" circulars and US 7 dpns

This is a great basic hat. It is knit in the round and features a wide ribbed brim with a turning row of knit stitches to insure a neat fold. The pattern is written in three sizes. I made the medium size and it fits John well. The small would be better for me.

Turn a Square


Free Pattern
Yarn: Cascade 220 in Charcoal Grey and Mountain Colors (unmarked)
Needles: US 6 & 7, 16" circulars and US 7 dpns

Another great hat. Raglan decreases transform circular stripes into interesting squares. A self-striping yarn is recommended for the contrasting color, but I used what I had on hand: an unmarked variegated wool from Mountain Colors that I bought as a mill end. This pattern is written in one size, which is a good fit for an adult man. I'd have to go down a needle size or reduce the number of stitches if I made one for me.

Knit a Warm Hat for Charity

Kathy at Irisheyes Knitting Blog is asking knitters to make warm hats for adults and children. She requests that they also be beautiful. I interpret this to mean something nicer than just a plain hat. These hats will be donated to shelters in her area and should be mailed in by January 5, 2009. As a thank-you for helping, Kathy is offering several gorgeous skeins of yarn as prizes, courtesy of Anne at Wooly Wonka Fibers. Please read this post for all the details.

I really enjoy knitting hats, so I'm happy to help. I'm going to send her the Fiber Trends Swirls Hat I made a few weeks ago that ended up too small for me. It should fit a child nicely. Also, I've worked up a couple of adult hats to donate and will be knitting more as I find the time. Perhaps you'll join me.

Honeycomb Hat
Source: The Knitter's Book of Yarn by Clara Parkes
Yarn: Reynolds Lopi (100% Wool)
Needles: US 10, 16" Circular and DPNs

This hat is very warm with its double thick folded brim in a pretty honeycomb stitch pattern. I'd like one for myself, though I found out from knitting this one, that I'd have to go down a needle size or make some other adjustment, because it's just a tad too big for my head.


Foliage
by Emilee Mooney
Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun (100% Wool)
Color: Salmon
Needles: US 7, 16" circular and DPNs; US 5, 16" circular

The pattern instructions for this top-down hat are written for two weights of yarn, either chunky or worsted. This worsted weight version fits me well and I really like the pretty lace leaf stitch. I don't know if a lace hat qualifies as warm, but I couldn't resist trying this pattern.

Fishing Hat

A cool, damp breeze blew across the bay Friday night as we fished under the lights on the First Street Pier in Palacios. I was glad I had brought along my new hat I knitted especially for this occasion. It didn't help me catch fish, but it kept my ears from aching.

Free Pattern: Ardelle
Yarn: El Coyote Ranch (62% Wool, 24% Mohair, 14% Llama)
Color: Natural Gray
Needles: US 8

This hat is similar in style to the one I made John. It begins with a cabled band, knitted flat on two needles. Stitches are then picked up around the edge of the band and the rest of the hat is knitted in stockinette stitch in the round.


The yarn is bulky and knitted at a tight gauge for extra warmth.


The result is a heavy duty head warmer that I've deemed the perfect fishing hat.

Knit and Learn

I set aside the socks I was working on to knit a hat for me.


Pattern: Swirls Hat by Fiber Trends
Yarn: Classic Elite Inca Alpaca
Colors: Navy (1124), Gray (1103), Black (1113)
Needles: US 5 & 6 16" circular, US 6 DPNs

What I learned from this project:

1. I learned I like doing color work, though I could use more practice. The stitches I made with the yarn held in my left hand aren't very consistent in tension and I didn't leave enough slack in some of the floats. This is only the second project where I've used color work throughout. The first, a simple pattern with no floats, was in 2005. I don't plan on waiting as long to start the next project.

2. I learned how to knit a braid. It's turns out that it's really easy to do. It's a three round process. I'm glad the pattern explained that the yarns would twist on round two, but untwist on round three. It saved my sanity.


3. I learned to trust the pattern, especially if you're knitting to gauge. I started this hat with the recommended 120 stitches and after knitting the rolled brim and the first braid, I began to think it was too big. I tried it on to check. Sure enough, the ring I had knitted was huge! It fell around my neck like a cowl. I reduced the number of stitches by one pattern repeat and started over. It fit just right...until I finished the lower band of color work.

4. I learned that a mistake in knitting isn't necessarily a bad thing. This hat, though too small for me, will be a perfect fit for someone. A child somewhere will be a little warmer now, because I messed up. And, I'm happy about that.

Kayak Fishing

I had a chance to take a picture of John modeling his hat.

It's going to be a while before the weather is cold enough for him to wear it for real, but it will come in handy for late night fishing from the pier or early mornings in the kayak this winter. It is yet to be seen whether I will be joining him on his famous extreme weather fishing trips. I'm not sure I'm that obsessed with fishing yet, though I might be. For now I'm happy to keep the wool packed away and enjoy the gorgeous, warm (but not hot) weather we've been blessed with lately.

Saturday we spent most of the day kayak fishing in the marsh.

It can be a bit tricky to manage the boat in the wind and current and fish at the same time, but I'm getting much better at it. Even though the wind was blowing steadily, I was able to maneuver the boat and hold it where I wanted it most of the time. The fish weren't very active, but were biting just enough to keep it interesting. When we broke for lunch at Spoonbills, we didn't have any keepers to brag about...yet.

We returned to the marsh later in the afternoon and paddled down a different channel that brought us to a small lake we had not been to before. I had a good feeling about this place and sure enough, a few casts later I was rewarded with a pretty one.

"Pretty one" is my name for speckled trout. I call it that because it's such an elegant looking fish, so wonderfully designed. Its colors are gorgeous: iridescent green, silver and gold freckled with dark spots. Not only is it pretty, but it's a feisty fish on the hook and exciting to catch.

The day ended with a beautiful sunset and a fish on the stringer. What could be better than that?

How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is a sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number--living things both large and small. ~ Psalm 104:24-25

Cooking Up a Hat

A couple of weeks ago I showed you some yarn I had John pick out for a hat and asked you for pattern ideas.


There were some good suggestions:

• Turn A Square - interesting decreases
  
• Koolhas - lattice cable motif
  
• Habitat - great cables
• Fisherman's Watch Cap - perfect name for John, classic styling
  
• Soaring Eagles - really cool!
• Mountain Man Hat - rugged, good looking
  

I liked them all, but it was really more what John wanted that mattered. I had him look through patterns one afternoon and Ascutney Mountain Hat from Green Mountain Spinnery was the winner. I was all set to order it until I realized the shipping would cost more than the pattern. Nope, I couldn't do it. I'd have to see if I could come up with something similar on my own.

This is what I cooked up.


Pattern:
I started with the Cabled Headband from The Knitter's Book of Yarn, picked up stitches around one edge, knit until it seemed right and then finished with decreases inspired by Knit A Square.

Needles: US 7
Yarn: El Coyote Ranch 60% Wool, 40% Mohair
Color: Dark Gray

John tried the hat on last night and said with a smile, "It's just what I wanted."

Since I didn't use any of the light gray yarn, I have a little more "cooking" to do. Maybe something for me...

Modified

In my search for new hat patterns, I came across an adorable baby hat that I modified to fit a 3-5 pound preemie.


Pattern: Cupcake Hat (Ravelry link)
Yarn: Worsted Weight Cotton/Acrylic
Needles: US 7

The yellow hat was worked per pattern, top-down through round 10. I then knit 4 rounds, worked the moss stitch band for 6 rounds and the ribbing section for about 2 1/4 inches. I'm not a huge fan of knitting a hat from the top down, so I reversed the instructions and made the pink one from the bottom up, casting on 54 stitches and using K2tog for the decreases. The original hat is embellished with several flowers, but I decided a single blossom with a button center was enough.


The next cute hat pattern I found is one of several free patterns from 20 Hats Project.


Pattern: Conehead Baby Hat
Yarn: Worsted Weight Cotton and Cotton/Acrylic
Needles: US 7

This pattern is great just as written, but I decided to make the top more pointy by knitting 5 rounds after the last decrease. I then added a sprout topper like the one Susan B. Anderson demonstrates here.

The pointy top and little sprout add a bit of whimsy to this hat. I get a grin on my face every time I imagine it on the head of a tiny baby.

Red, White and Blue

You've probably already figured out that knitting for preemies is a passion of mine. I never get tired of it. There is nothing more rewarding than using your talents to serve others. Try it and see what I mean.


Made in America

Yarn: Worsted weight in red, white and blue (I used Bernat Satin).
Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) DPNs
Gauge: 5 sts/inch
Size: Preemie

Cast on 48 sts. Divide stitches on three needles. Join in the round, being careful not to twist.

1-5: K1, p1 (red)
6-10: K (white)
11: K (blue)
12: K (alternate 1 st. blue, 1 st white, beginning with blue)
13: K (blue)
14: K (alternate blue and white, beginning with white)
15-17: Repeat rnds 11-13
18-22: K (white)

Decreases (red):
*K6, K2tog, repeat from *
*K5, K2tog, repeat from *
*K4, K2tog, repeat from *
*K3, K2tog, repeat from *
*K2, K2tog, repeat from *
*K1, K2tog, repeat from *
*K2tog, repeat from *
6 stitches remain.

Cut yarn, leaving tail, and pull through remaining stitches.
Pull tail to the inside and weave in all ends.

I hope the hats and patterns I've shared this week will inspire you to knit your own red, white and blue creations. Start with this basic recipe and plug in a design of your own.


I'd love to see what you come up with.

Flag Hats

The United States flag was the inspiration for this hat.


Stars and Stripes Preemie Hat

Yarn: Worsted weight in red, white and blue (I used Bernat Satin).
Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) DPNs
Gauge: 5 sts/inch
Size: Preemie

Cast on 48 sts. Divide stitches on three needles. Join in the round, being careful not to twist.

1-5: K1, p1 (blue)
6: K (blue)
7: K (alternate 1 st. blue, 1 st white, beginning with blue)
8: K (blue)
9: K (alternate blue and white, beginning with white)
10-12: Repeat rnds 6-8
13-14: K (red)
15-16: K (white)
17-18: K (red)
19-20: K (white)
21-22: K (red)

Decreases (blue):
*K6, K2tog, repeat from *
*K5, K2tog, repeat from *
*K4, K2tog, repeat from *
*K3, K2tog, repeat from *
*K2, K2tog, repeat from *
*K1, K2tog, repeat from *
*K2tog, repeat from *
6 stitches remain.

Cut yarn, leaving tail, and pull through remaining stitches.
Pull tail to the inside and weave in all ends.

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Yesterday I had another idea for a flag hat.


Flag Pin Preemie Hat

Knit a preemie hat in the color of your choice using this pattern or one of your favorites.
Embellish it with a knitted Flag Pin, a free pattern from Vogue Knitting.

Yarn: Bernat Satin Worsted Weight (hat), Omega Sinfonia Sportweight (flag)
Needles: US 7 (hat), US 1 (flag)

Patriotic Preemie Hats

The fireworks were flashing this weekend.


And the needles were flying. While visiting with my parents, I was able to knit up several patriotic preemie hats. A few of the patterns are worth sharing. I'll be posting them one at a time this week.


Today's free pattern:

Born in the USA

Yarn: Worsted weight in red, white and blue (I used Bernat Satin).
Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) DPNs
Gauge: 5 sts/inch
Size: Preemie

Cast on 48 sts. Divide stitches on three needles. Join in the round, being careful not to twist.
K1, p1 for 5 rnds (red)
K for 3 rnds (red)
K for 2 rnds (white)
K for 9 rnds (blue)
K for 2 rnds (white)
K for 3 rnds (red)

Decreases (red):
*K6, K2tog, repeat from *
*K5, K2tog, repeat from *
*K4, K2tog, repeat from *
*K3, K2tog, repeat from *
*K2, K2tog, repeat from *
*K1, K2tog, repeat from *
*K2tog, repeat from *
6 stitches remain.

Cut yarn, leaving tail, and pull through remaining stitches.
Pull tail to the inside and weave in all ends.

Using white yarn and duplicate stitch, embroider USA on the front of the hat, centered in the blue section. Letters should be 5 sts high and 3 sts wide, with one stitch separating each letter.

Made in America

Happy Fourth of July! I've been celebrating our national holiday by knitting patriotic preemie hats in red, white and blue.


Normally I think of hats like this only for July, but with the Summer Olympics and the presidential election coming up, I think patriotic colors will be in fashion for the rest of the year.

Later when I have more time, I'll write out the patterns and share them with everyone. Right now, we're off to Louisiana to visit family.

Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend!

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. ~Abraham Lincoln

Snippets

Optic Waves Shawl is progressing nicely. I've added seven pattern repeats. No new picture to show though, because it looks the same as this, only longer.

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I was the lucky winner of the random prize drawing for the Fashionably Late in '08 Clapotis KAL. I chose this gorgeous skein of Hand Maiden Sea Silk (70% Silk, 30% Seacell) in a color called Rose Garden.

The next project for Fashionably Late is Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark. This yarn would be perfect for it, so I may have to knit along. Care to join us?

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I'm still working on striped preemie hats.


I've been donating my hats to Hannah's Knitsters. It's a group at John's office that gets together at lunch to knit for charity. I was able to meet with them last month. I knew a few of the ladies already, but many I met for the first time. Here are some of the early comers posing in front of an impressive display of finished blanket squares, chemo caps and preemie hats.


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Knitting for charity is very rewarding. If you've been thinking of doing some knitting for others, now is a good time to get started.

Michelle is running a contest for the next ten weeks. For every preemie hat, bunting or blanket you knit and donate, your name will be added to a drawing. Details here.

Looking for a place to donate these baby items? Emmazing Grace Foundation is in the midst of their third annual donation drive.

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This week I'm traveling with John to Salt Lake City on a business trip, but first we're stopping in Estes Park, Colorado for a mini vacation that will include hiking and fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park...


...and shopping at the Estes Park Wool Market!

Foolproof

All I have today is one tiny hat, but it's a new pattern for me and has never been featured on Wool Windings before.

Pattern: Foolproof Baby Hat by Clara Parkes
Source: The Knitter's Book of Yarn
Needles: US 7 straight
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease
Color: Pistachio (discontinued)
Size: Preemie 3-5 lbs

The stitch pattern in this hat is mistake rib--a simple stitch with plenty of texture and a fair amount of stretch which works well for a hat.

The original hat has a folded brim, but I decided I didn't need the extra bulk for my preemie version. I also went down one needle size to reduce the circumference.


This hat is knitted flat and seamed, though the stitch pattern can be adjusted to work in the round. Find out how here (Ravelry link) and see a two-color version of this hat being worn by the cutest model ever. I promise it will put a smile on your face...and you might just have to knit your own Foolproof Baby Hat.

Hannah's Hats

I knit three hats for preemies this week.



One in two shades of blue-green.



A very bright one in hot pink and white with a few rows of orange.



And one that is mostly soft yellow with blue accents.


On Wednesday, I'm meeting with Hannah's Knitsters for lunch and knitting and to deliver these hats and others I've recently made. I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone in the group and sharing some knitting time together.