Knitting with Schnapps

Kozy Kovers for Kids

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Introducing Fear Knot!

Schnapps' latest hat is done and ready to be shared. Thank you Annie for the name!

It's been so hot here that Schnapps thought maybe, just maybe, if he made a warm hat it would get cooler. Unfortunately, it didn't.

He hopes you like this one!

He's been busy though. After finishing Fear Knot he knit our older pattern, The Edge and realized that it would look great in team colors or school colors or any color combination at all! I think he's on to something!

He's now decided that a nice nap is called for and he's headed to one of his favorite spots! The air conditioning vent!

Fear Knot

You will need 6-weight yarn and size US 13 circular needles or another combination listed below.

Abbreviations:
p2tog: purl 2 stitches together as one
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as one

Cast on 48 stitches, place marker and join, taking care not to twist stitches.

Work Pattern:
Row 1: *p2, (p1, k1) twice in the next stitch then one at a time pass the first, second and third stitches over the last stitch, p2, k3*; repeat around
Rows 2, 3 & 4: *p2, k1, p2, k3*; repeat around
Repeat Rows 1 - 4 until piece is about 7 - 7.5 inches in length.

Decrease Crown:
Row 1: *p2tog, k1, p2tog, k1, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 2: *p2tog, p1, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 3: *p2tog, k1*; repeat around
Row 4: *k2tog*; repeat around

Finish: Cut working yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail. Draw the tail through the remaining stitches, cinch closed and secure. Weave in ends and enjoy!

The pattern is worked over 8 stitches.

To knit this using 5-weight yarn, use size 10.5 needles and cast on 72 stitches.

To knit this using worsted weight yarn, use size 8 needles and cast on 88 stitches.

To make it child size, use worsted yarn, size 8 needles and cast on 64 stitches. Adjust in increments of 8 stitches for individual sizes.

To knit this using sport weight yarn, use size 5 needles and cast on 120 stitches.

If using a different weight, you might have to add more rows to the crown decrease. Feel free to use dpns if you prefer!

Delaware Head Huggers

Kozy Kovers for Kids

Monday, July 15, 2013

Introducing Good Everlasting!

Schnapps was asked to knit a hat that could be named "Good Everlasting". It was also requested that the model be knit in a hot pink color. This is what he came up with and we hope that Tracey, who has sent us LOTS of yarn likes it.

This model was knit with Lion Brand Hometown USA, a super-bulky, 6-weight yarn, but the pattern includes details for all yarn weights.

Here at Delaware Head Huggers, we are up to 10,702 chemo caps and 480 Finn Hats! Kozy Kovers for Kids just tagged blanket number 1,082. I am amazed at how talented and generous everyone is and how supportive they are of these causes. THANK YOU!

Schnapps is wishing for cooler weather!

Good Everlasting

You will need super bulky yarn and size US 13 circulars or some combination of yarn and needles listed below.

Abbreviations:
C2f: Cross 2 front: knit the second stitch, then the first stitch, dropping them both off the LH needle together
k2tog: holding working yarn as if to knit, knit 2 stitches together as one

Cast on 48 stitches, place marker and join, taking care not to twist stitches.

Work Pattern:
Row 1: *C2f three times, k2*; repeat around
Rows 2 & 4: knit all stitches
Row 3: *knit third, then second, then first stitch, dropping them off the LH needle together twice, k2*; repeat around
Repeat Rows 1 - 4 until piece is about 7 inches in length.

Decrease Crown:
Row 1: *k2, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 2: *k1, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 3: *k2tog*; repeat around

Finish: Cut working yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail. Draw the tail through the remaining stitches, cinch closed and secure. Weave in ends and enjoy!

The pattern is worked over 8 stitches.

To knit this using 5-weight yarn, use size 10.5 needles and cast on 72 stitches.

To knit this using worsted weight yarn, use size 8 needles and cast on 88 stitches.

To make it child size, use worsted yarn, size 8 needles and cast on 64 stitches. Adjust in increments of 8 stitches for individual sizes.

To knit this using sport weight yarn, use size 5 needles and cast on 120 stitches.

If using a different weight, you might have to add more rows to the crown decrease. Feel free to use dpns if you prefer!

Delaware Head Huggers

Kozy Kovers for Kids

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Introducing Popsicle!

Schnapps knit this patriotic hat for the 4th of July. He used Sugar n' Cream Stripes and one ball makes a hat!

Then he knit it again in a different colorway to show just how very different the same pattern can look when knit with a different yarn. This too though is Sugar n' Cream Stripes, although I'm sure it would look nice in a solid color also. I did notice that Schnapps cheated a bit and cut the yarn for the very top in order to have the color he wanted at the tip, but it would be fine to just use the yarn as is.

The red, white and blue one reminded me of the rocket shaped ice pops and the peach colored one brought to mind a creamsicle to me, so I got Schnapps' permission to name this one myself and I went with Popsicle.

It's hot and humid in Delaware these days and Schnapps isn't venturing out of the house much at all. We've been busy working on MEGSTRONG items and tagging all the gorgeous hats and blankets that come in from all of you.


Some hair clips, eyeglass chains and an octopus for MEGSTRONG!

Even with this super hot weather, I'm making hats for the cold weather too. I'm starting to stock up on heavy weight hats to have ready to ship out in September (which will be here before you know it!). There are a LOT of sites depending on us to send hats to get their patients through the winter. Remember, we collect ALL hats, ALL the time so that we are ready to help anyone who needs them.


Schnapps is a patriotic Schnauzer for certain!

Popsicle

You will need worsted weight yarn and size 8 circular needles and dpns or another combination listed below.

Abbreviations:
yo: yarn over
sk2psso: slip one stitch knitwise, knit the next 2 stitches, then pass the slipped stitch over both knit stitches
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as one

Cast on 81 stitches, place marker and join, taking care not to twist stitches.

Work Stockinette:
Row 1: knit all stitches
Repeat Row 1 until piece measures about 2.5 inches in length.

Work Pattern:
Row 1: *yo, sk2psso*; repeat around
Row 2 : knit all stitches
Row 3 : *sk2psso, yo*; repeat around
Row 4: knit all stitches

Repeat Rows 1 - 4 until piece is about 5 inches in length.
Work Stockinette:
Row 1: knit all stitches
Repeat Row 1 until piece measures about 6.5 inches in length

Decrease Crown: use dpns when needed
Row 1: *k7, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 2: *k6, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 3: *k5, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 4: *k4, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 5: *k3, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 6: *k2, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 7: *k1, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 8: *k2tog*; repeat around

Finish: Cut working yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail. Draw the tail through the remaining stitches, cinch closed and secure. Weave in ends and give it to someone who could use a sweet treat!

he pattern is worked over 3 stitches. The crown decrease is worked over 9 stitches.

To knit this using 6-weight yarn, use size 13 needles and cast on 45 stitches.

To knit this using 5-weight yarn, use size 10.5 needles and cast on 63 stitches.

To make it child size, use worsted yarn, size 8 needles and cast on 63 stitches. Adjust in increments of 9 stitches for individual sizes.

To knit this using sport weight yarn, use size 5 needles and cast on 108 stitches.

Delaware Head Huggers

Kozy Kovers for Kids

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Introducing Balmy Breezes!

It's been hot and rainy here in Delaware and Schnapps is keeping busy knitting hats. This is his latest design - thank you C.A. for the name! The model was knit using Vanna's Choice and used well less than one skein. The pattern includes directions for all yarn weights though, so you can make it using whatever yarn you have in your stash at the moment.

Don't forget that we are still collecting Finn Hats for Kidshealth and the A.I DuPont Hospital for Children. These hats are really making a difference for pre-K children and their families. Click here for more information and for the free pattern.

A few people have asked me recently how much our chemo caps cost. I just wanted to share here what I also posted on our Facebook page:

Just to remind everyone - ALL hats from Delaware Head Huggers, whether they are ones that Schnapps and I make or ones you donate to us, are given to those who need them 100% free of charge. We ship to individuals or to treatment centers throughout the United States. All postage costs are paid by us (with help from many of your generous donations!) and no hats are sold, ever. If you know a person, center or hospital that needs hats, please let me know and I will send some out.

He couldn't resist modeling this one!

Balmy Breezes

You will need worsted weight yarn and size 9 circular needles and dpns or some other combination of needles and yarn listed below.

Abbreviations:
yo: yarn over
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together as one
p2tog: purl 2 stitches together as one

Cast on 72 stitches, place marker and join, taking care not to twist stitches.

Work Brim:
Row 1: *k2, p2*; repeat around
Repeat Row 1 until piece measures about 1.5 inches in length. Make brim longer or shorter if you prefer

Work Pattern:
Row 1: *k3, yo, k1, yo twice, k1, yo twice, k1, yo, k2*; repeat around
Rows 2 & 6: purl all stitches, dropping extra loops
Rows 3 & 7: knit all stitches
Rows 4 & 8: purl all stitches
Row 5: *k1, yo twice, k1, yo, k5, yo, k1, yo twice*; repeat around
Repeat Rows 1 - 8 until piece is about 7.5 inches in length or longer if you want a slouchy hat.

Decrease Crown: use dpns when needed
Row 1: *k6, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 2: *p5, p2tog*; repeat around
Row 3: *k4, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 4: *p3, p2tog*; repeat around
Row 5: *k2, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 6: *p1, p2tog*; repeat around
Row 7: *k2tog*; repeat around

Finish: Cut working yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail. Draw the tail through the remaining stitches, cinch closed and secure. Weave in ends and give it to someone who could use some extra love!

The pattern is worked over 8 stitches.

To knit this using 6-weight yarn, use size 13 needles and cast on 48 stitches.

To knit this using 5-weight yarn, use size 10.5 needles and cast on 64 stitches.

To make it child size, use worsted yarn, size 8 needles and cast on 64 stitches. Adjust in increments of 8 stitches for individual sizes.

To knit this using sport weight yarn, use size 5 needles and cast on 112 stitches.

Delaware Head Huggers

Kozy Kovers for Kids