Swirly Hat Pattern for Your Knitting Pleasure!

I have been dreaming of a hat like this for a while now.  I wanted the swirly feeling of a soft serve ice cream cone, in a hat.  I think I've gotten pretty close with this little number!

My friend Kathleen ordered this and it's knit with Spud and Chloe worsted, washable, wool and organic cotton.  I LOVED working with this yarn!!!  It has a lovely weight and doesn't have that wierd stretchy, rubbery feeling that some of the washable wools I've used have had.  Maybe it's the cotton?  I don't know, but I really like it and have added it to my list of favorite go-to yarns!

Kathleen had specified orange, blue, and green but "no wimpy pastels" and I think these hues did the trick perfectly.  Spud and Chloe have some lovely colors to play with!  I used their "Moonlight," "Turtle," and "Firecracker," and other than the rollup brim which was knit in "Moonlight," I used all three yarns for every row.  This was not easy and I had my fabulous husband video tape me showing you how I handled all that craziness so that if you've not done much colorwork (like me) it might get you started with less frustration than I experienced (I started this over, twice).  You can find that video here.

Here's a few more shots of the hat (which is sized approximately for a 6 month old who isn't born yet so no pictures on that baby's sweet noggin yet).

Oh my goodness!!  I love the stripeys!

Without further ado, here's your pattern!  Have fun, and as always, feel free to ask for help or clarification!

Fiber Arts Friday!!!

I'm a stay-at-home mom, but Fridays are still super special.  I get to go work at Mr. Food in the evening (all by myself!), and it means that tomorrow is family time, and the next day is family time!!!  It's nice to anticipate.

I also love Fridays these days because it gives me an excuse to focus in on my fiber projects and think about them, and touch them, and love them up as I play with all the artists who participate in Fiber Arts Friday (Which you can find over at Wisdom Begins in Wonder).  This is particularly enjoyable when I have not a motivation filled week or have been focusing on other projects!  Today is one of those days so I am fully prepared to love up my knitting projects with a gentle love filled vengeance!

So, Dave helped me wake up this morning to a grey, wet day:

But, look!  Warm cozy fire blazing away...

...and the projects awaiting!  Note: this is my semi-nonfunctional storage system in the living room.  I like to have my projects handy but have to keep them IN things to discourage boys and dogs from exploring.  This is what I've been driven to :).  Oh, and that gorgeous painting?  My friend Amye Austin did that when we were in college.  She's amazing huh?  You can find her invitation and stationary design website here.  It's under construction, but promises to be lovely!

Ok, back to Fibers!  Now, I've set the scene, but we need to take one more thing into account before I toddle off to play!  Where is Oliver???

Sweet boy.  I love him.  But, I'm also glad he's sleeping!  So off to choose a snuggle up on the couch project to share my morning coffee with...And the winner is....

The little baby hat I'm having so much fun designing!!  This is for my friend Kathleen who ordered it for a friend of hers who is having a baby.  Her shower is in a few weeks and I need to have this done by next weekend when I will see Ms. Kathleen (hooray).  I'm attempting to do three colors in vertical stripes wrapping around bebe's head into a little teeny tassel.  We'll see how it goes.  Carrying all that yarn around might be too bulky as I get more into the project.  No Problem though!  Starting over is quite common in my world and when I'm designing it's all good.  I get to learn from each of my attempts and my planning gets better and better with each project.  MMMMMMmmm.  I love knitting.

Happy Fibering everyone!!

January's Knitting Pattern for Your Knitting Pleasure

I just dropped off my latest hat to it's lucky recipient.  A sweet little beret in a lovely burgandy red.  I'll have to post the pictures later, as it was too dark to take them tonight.  However, I really wanted to post this pattern quickly as it was January's pattern!  So, here's the first beret I made so you can get a general idea, although this one was knit in a cotton:

I am supremely pleased to present the first of this year's patterns!

January: Slouchy Beret

Materials:

One skein Cascade 220 (worsted weight), or if you like the hat pictured in the greyish tone, use Lion Brand Organic Cotton

Size 7 Double Pointed Needles

Size 7 circular needles 16 inch

Size 6 circular needles 16 inch

darning needle

stitch marker

Gauge:

18 stitches and 24 rows equals 4 inches square

Instructions:

- Using your size 6 circulars, cast on 88 stitches.

- Place stitch marker and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the work.

- K2, P2 rib for one inch.

- Switch to Size 7 circular needles

- Next Row: *K2, M1 by lifting the running thread onto the left needle and knitting through the back loop,  Repeat from star to end of round.  End with 132 stitches.

- Knit next 5 rounds

- Purl 4 rounds

- Knit 6 rounds

- Purl 4 rounds

- Knit 6 rounds

Begin Decreasing as follows:

Next round: *P9, slip next two stitches as if to knit and then slide them back onto the left needle and purl them together (ssp), P2tog, P9.  Repeat from star for a total of 12 decreases and ending with 120 stitches

- Purl around

Next round: *P8, ssp, P2tog, P8. Repeat from star to end of round and end with 108 stitches

- Purl around

Next round: *K7, slip next two stitches as if to knit and then slide them back onto the left needle and knit them together (ssk), K2tog, K7. Repeat from star to end of round and end with 96 stitches

- Knit around

Next round: *K6, ssk, K2tog, K6. Repeat from star to end of round and end with 84 stitches

- Knit around

Next round: *K5,ssk,K2tog, K5.  Repeat from star to end of round and end with 72 stitches

- Knit around

Next round: *P4, ssp, P2tog, P4.  Repeat from star to end of round and end with 60 stitches.

Next round: *P3, ssp, P2tog, P3.  repeat from star to end of round and end with 48 stitches.

Next round: *P2, ssp, P2tog, P2.  Repeat from star to end of round and end with 36 stitches.

Next round: *P1, ssp, P2tog, P1.  Repeat from star to end of round and end with 24 stitches.

Next round: *ssp, P2tog.  Repeat from star to end of round and end with 12 stitches.

Next round: *P2tog.  Repeat from star to end of round and end with 6 stitches.

cut yarn and thread through remaining stitches.

Weave in ends and then enjoy your new hat!!  And please, please, please, send pictures if you make this!!