Knitting with Schnapps

Kozy Kovers for Kids

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Crossed Comfort Cap

This time when I knit the hat, I wrote down what I was doing, so that I can share the pattern here! I've decided on the Crossed Comfort Cap since it uses the crossed stitch pattern and it is a comfy, cozy cap! I love the visual texture of the stitch - it gives it a little something extra. Both fit adults - the navy is knit on size 10 needles and fits more snugly. The turquoise is worked on size 11 needles and is a bit roomier. Either will work nicely as chemo caps or as winter caps for a loved one.

I spend a lot of my time trying to make a difference and do some good. I love to hear from people who read this blog and view the patterns. By all means, if you find a mistake, point it out! I'm more than capable of making mistakes and I need help finding them. I always offer to email the patterns to anyone who has trouble printing them and I have done so literally hundreds of times.......and I have met some amazing people too. I've met people who need caps sent to friends, people who are making a difference in their communities, in other countries and just wonderful people who say "hi". I've answered all sorts of questions and I will always answer an email. It makes my world a happier place to know that so many people are out there doing good things!

But, I've decided something too.......the rare few who post negative comments......will be deleted. This blog is about bringing cheer and happiness to people......about making the world a better place in a tiny way. If you have trouble printing the pattern email me. If you have a question or find a mistake, comment here or email me - I'm grateful to hear from everyone and I will answer and correct any errors found. But, if you're just cranky, irritated, lazy or rude and you comment here, I've given myself permission to delete your comments so that you don't taint the wonderful feeling that I want everyone to get when they read this. There - off my soapbox now and on to the new pattern!

If you have any trouble printing this pattern it can be found as a PDF here.

Crossed Comfort Hat

5-weight yarn: (dark blue was Premier Serenity Chunky Tweed and the turquoise was Loops & Threads Charisma )

Size 10 or 11 circular knitting needles: (the dark blue model was stitched with size 10 circular needles. Size 11 circulars were used for the turquoise model)

Explanations:

Slip 1 purlwise: Holding the working yarn as if you were going to purl the stitch, just slip the stitch from the left needle onto the right needle, without purling the stitch.

YO: yarn over – wrap the working yarn around the needle, creating another stitch.

K2tog: knit two stitches together, decreasing the total number of stitches.

Cast on 56 stitches

Work in K2, P2 rib for 2 inches:

Row 1: K2, P2 across row

Repeat Row 1 until piece is desired length

Work in Crossed Stitch Pattern until piece is 8 inches in length:

Row 1: * slip 1 purlwise, K1, yo, pass slipped stitch over both stitches*; repeat from * to * across row

Row 2: Knit all stitches

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece is desired length

Decrease the crown:

Row 1: * slip 1 purlwise, K1, yo, pass slipped stitch over both stitches*; repeat from * to * across row

Row 2: *K5, K2tog* ; repeat from * to * across row (this row will then have 48 stitches)

Row 3: * slip 1 purlwise, K1, yo, pass slipped stitch over both stitches*; repeat from * to * across row

Row 4: *K4, K2tog* ; repeat from * to * across row (this row will then have 40 stitches)

Row 5: * slip 1 purlwise, K1, yo, pass slipped stitch over both stitches*; repeat from * to * across row

Row 6: *K3, K2tog* ; repeat from * to * across row (this row will then have 32 stitches)

Row 7: K2tog across row

Finish:

Cut working yarn leaving a 6-inch tail. Draw the end through the stitches left on your needle and cinch closed.

Weave in ends.

Enjoy your hat or better yet, give it to someone undergoing chemo to help them get through their treatment.

Delaware Head Huggers

Kozy Kovers for Kids

Goal Met - Week 12

Once again, I met my goal of 2 hats for Delaware Head Huggers this week. I really hope to be more productive as the year goes by, but at least I'm getting a couple done each week. The red and gray hat is a loom knit and the navy blue one is a new pattern that I will be posting separately.

I've had hats and blankets come in this week, as always and I am simply amazed at the lovely things that everyone makes in an attempt to help others. More items came in this morning from the library and many more are on the way. I absolutely love sitting and looking at all these beautiful items and realizing just how many people truly care!

I finally finished the blanket I've been working on for a while now. It's a gift, but I loved the pattern: Red Heart Playful Blanket, so I will be making another one for Kozy Kovers for Kids in the near future.

I've got so many ideas for different hats and blankets and I've got a shawl pattern floating around in my head. Hopefully I will find time to get everything I want to knit accomplished. I'll be working on more hats as always next week. I'm not sure if I will cast on another blanket or if I'll play around with some smaller projects, but whatever it is, I'll share it here too.

Delaware Head Huggers

Kozy Kovers for Kids

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Goal Met - Week 11!

Just made it this week, finishing hat number 2 at about 9 PM on Saturday night. But, I did it! The Springtime Slouch was hat number 1 this week. The pattern is in the previous blog post - it's a lightweight, slouchy hat that knits up great in a cotton yarn.

I'm not sure what I'll be naming hat number 2 yet.......... I was concentrating so much on finishing it by my self imposed deadline that I wasn't paying attention to writing the pattern down. So, right now, I'm knitting another one, so my first hat for Week 12 will be done soon and then I will post the pattern. This one was knit using Charisma yarn, which I really love. It's very soft and I'm a big fan of bulky weight yarn anyway. This color is an eye catcher too. The one I'm working on now is a darker blue, knit in Serenity instead. I thought the contrast in yarns would be nice. Then I'll decide on a name too!

It's been a busy week and a busy weekend, but I'm happy I met my goal for Delaware Head Huggers!

Delaware Head Huggers

Kozy Kovers for Kids

HAPPY KNITTING!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

The Springtime Slouch!

The Springtime Slouch

Well, it’s interesting to see how ideas can turn into something completely different! I started this hat using the “bed-jacket stitch” a variation of the stockinette stitch using 2 different size needles. I’m not sure the stitch even shows up very well, although, when the hat is stretched, you can see the difference in size of the stitches. This hat is rather large – it will definitely fit a person with a “larger than usual” (like my Mom) head. It will also be fine for someone with a smaller head, it will just slouch more.

I think that when I make this again, I’ll cast on 76 stitches instead of 88 and make it just a little smaller.

It was so unseasonably warm here this week that I just had to knit with cotton……..this is made with Sugar n’ Cream, but any worsted weight yarn would work fine. An acrylic or a wool blend will add a bit more stretch to the hat and will also make it a bit warmer. Use whatever yarn type will work best for the moment and try variations to see which you like best too!

I think a contrasting flower added to the side would be a nice touch…….I’ll be experimenting.

This is an easy knit, working up quickly. It’s knit flat and seamed up the back. And no, I don’t have a pattern for it in the round yet……..if I play around with it and get one together I will post it as well.

This pattern is free and I hope you enjoy it. If you have a minute, please check out our facebook pages or websites to learn about the2 charities I run. All the info is at the bottom of this post. We love support and good wishes………so stop by and join us……no donations or contributions are necessary – we like moral support too!

The pattern can also be found here as a PDF.

The Springtime Slouch

Worsted weight yarn (I used one skein of Lily’s Sugar n’ Cream)

Size 7 knitting needles

Size 13 knitting needles

Cast on 88 stitches, using size 7 needles. (Cast on 76 for a snugger fit)

Work in K2, P2 ribbing for one and a half to two inches. K2, P2 across each row.

Work Bed-jacket pattern: (This is easy to do. Just work Row 1 as usual and then switch your right hand needle to a size 13. From then on, just work with the unmatched pair. All odd rows will be worked with the size 7 needle in your right hand, while the even, purl rows will be worked with the size 13 in your right hand.)

Row 1: Using size 7 needles, knit across the row, increasing one stitch so that you are now working with 77 stitches.

Row 2: Switch to size 13 needle and purl across the row.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the piece is 8 inches long or longer if you want more of a slouch to your hat.

Decrease the crown: Skip Rows 1 and 2 if you began by casting on 76 stitches.

Row 1: *K6, K2tog*; repeat from * to * across row

Row 2: Purl across

Row 3: *K5, K2tog*; repeat from * to * across row

Row 4: Purl across

Row 5: *K4, K2tog*; repeat from * to * across row

Row 6: Purl across

Row 7: *K3, K2tog*; repeat from * to * across row

Row 8: Purl across

Row 9: *K2, K2tog*; repeat from * to * across row

Row 10: Purl across

Row 11: *K1, K2tog*; repeat from * to * across row

Row 12: Purl across

Row 13: K2tog across

Cut working yarn leaving a long tail. Draw yarn through live stitches still on needle and cinch top of hat closed. Sew seam up the back and enjoy. Embellish as you wish.

Delaware Head Huggers

Kozy Kovers for Kids

Saturday, March 10, 2012

2 Hats and a Blanket - Week 10 of 2012

Busy week, full of good things. Thank goodness I managed to get my two hats knit. They are just simple, comfy hats. I managed to finish a couple of skeins of yarn from my stash while I was at it.

This was an amazing week for Delaware Head Huggers! More than 200 hats came in to be tagged and shipped out, bringing our running total to 6,233! I also dropped 100 hats off at Kent General Hospital and shipped out 3 boxes to various centers, delivering 285 hats this week. :)

Kozy Kovers for Kids has been having a fun week also. I'm trying to get people from all 50 states and as many other countries as possible to "like" us on Facebook. Lots of new people have stopped in to say hello and I hope they will consider making a blanket for a child in need. I dropped about 40 blankets off at Kent General's Emergency Department to have on hand to give to children brought in suffering from abuse or neglect. Sad to say, they won't last long, so we need more blankets! We're also working with Kind to Kids (www.kindtokids.org) on their Blue Duffel Campaign. We'd love to be able to put a blanket in each duffel bag. So far, they have about 100 and they need about 700 more! I'm sure they won't all be from us, but we will do what we can.

I finished my first blanket of the year for Kozy Kovers too! I love this pattern. It's a Lion Brand free pattern - Child's Knitted Blanket - Jiffy Pattern #690. The eyelet design gives it a beautiful look, but the pattern is super simple and knits up quickly. I didn't have any Jiffy on hand, so I used some stash yarn - but I love the finished look of this. I'm sure I will be making others using the same pattern.

Now I'm working on another baby blanket, but this one is for a gift. Then I'll get started on the next Kozy Kover.

Remember, all are welcome to join us in some way - we love to see new people and are grateful when more people hear about us. So, spread the word! Like us on Facebook, stop by the website, email me to just say HI. And, as always, if you or anyone you know is in need of chemo caps, please feel free to contact me directly at robin@delawareheadhuggers.org and I will be happy to ship some out.

Delaware Head Huggers

Kozy Kovers for Kids