Operation Bottle Beanies!

Schnapps and I are very excited about our latest project, Operation Bottle Beanies!  This has been a dream for quite some time and now it's finally coming to fruition.  Fifer Orchards in Camden-Wyoming, Delaware is partnering with us in a brand new initiative to try to keep people warm this Winter. 

Sure, it's the end of June and temperatures are soaring.  But, before we know it, the cold weather will be back and so many people do not have the proper shelter or clothing to get through those chilly months.  We heard about The Big Knit in the UK - sponsored by Innocent Drinks a few years ago and the concept of Operation Bottle Beanie was born.  No one was willing to partner with me until I spoke to the great people at Fifer's! 

Operation Bottle Beanies is already underway! 

We are collecting tiny hats that will be placed on jars and bottles at Fifer's Farm Store in the Fall. From olive oil bottles up to quart size mason jars and all sizes in between! These hats will be sold for $1 each and 100% of that money will be donated to keep people in Delaware warm this winter.  Yes, it is just for Delaware right now, but Schnapps and I are dreaming big.......we hope that someday it reaches well beyond our tiny state.  

We need LOTS of tiny hats!  We need themed hats for Fall and Winter such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and more.  We need farm themed hats like bee hives, pumpkins, apples, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables.  We need adorable hats of any theme or type!  Sizes vary since there are many different items sold in the store; apple butter, local honey,  jams, oils, pickles and so many other yummy things.  

This is a great way to use up that scrap yarn! All yarn types are welcome.  And it's a great summer knitting project, since these tiny beanies aren't too hot to hold on a sweltering day.  

Schnapps has been working on some bottle beanies too and we will try to put together some patterns for those who want them.  However, any type of hat pattern will work.  Wine bottle hat patterns would work or you can use slightly larger needles and a thicker yarn.  Preemie size hat patterns work for quart size jars and any regular hat pattern can be scaled smaller to fit. 

This is a way to use my knitting to make a difference in other ways as well.  I grew up in NYC and frequently saw homeless people with no place to go in the bad weather.  Sometimes I brought in extra blankets or clothes.  Frequently I stopped and got an extra coffee.  It seems to me that a country that has billions of dollars to give to to other countries should never have anyone without a safe place to live.  However, in reality, we have many.  I still struggle with the fact that I am just one person and I can't fix everything.  But, I am hoping that little by little, Schnapps and I will manage to make some positive differences in our community.  Please consider helping, even if you only have time to make one tiny bottle beanie.

Mom and I want to help everyone stay warm this Winter!

Hats can be sent directly to:

DEHH

202 Acorn Forest Drive

Felton, DE 19943

Hats can also be dropped off at any of the library drop off sites for Delaware Head Huggers and Kozy Kovers for Kids.  The complete list of those may be found here.  

 If you're not a fan of Delaware Head Huggers yet, stop by and "Like" our Facebook page.  Help us name the patterns and see all the beautiful hats that are donated.  Stop by Kozy Kovers for Kids Facebook page too!  We welcome everyone to join us.  Stop by and say hello.  You can always reach Schnapps or me at robin@delawareheadhuggers.org too!

Patterns in Inspired Hope!

Our new e-book Inspired Hope is now for sale too.  The patterns and the e-book can be found in our Craftsy and Ravelry stores - the links are also on the right hand side of this page.  There is also a "buy now" button for Inspired Hope on the right hand side as well.  100% of the price goes right back into DEHH and KKforK.

 

Introducing Inspired Hope - the e-book!

Schnapps has been hard at work designing hats that were inspired by Spring!  What better time to release the patterns than on the first day of Summer!

This e-book contains 8 patterns.  Six are never before published patterns with information about all yarn weights and sizing changes.  Two are the latest patterns published here, but in PDF form.  The new patterns are also sold separately.  The book is $15, which is only $2.50 for each new pattern.  Individual patterns will sell for $4 each.  The PDFs of the two free patterns posted here will also be sold separately on Craftsy for $1.50 each. 

Many people ask us why we don't start a Go Fund Me page or pay to become a non-profit.  We do this because we love to do it and we are uncomfortable asking people to give us money for nothing in return.  I have a very few, special people who do donate regularly.  The Fabulous Lynn covers the cost of shipping at least 2 big boxes of hats each month.  Some others send a few dollars when they can.  ALL is appreciated.  However, Schnapps and I feel more comfortable offering some patterns for sale instead of starting a fund raising page.  

We hope you enjoy the patterns and are willing to support us.  Schnapps worked long and hard on these patterns and pushed his little paws to create fun, interesting hats.  Just think of all the color combinations that are possible!

"Happy Summer Everyone!"

The patterns and the e-book can be found in our Craftsy and Ravelry stores - the links are also on the right hand side of this page.  There is also a "buy now" button for Inspired Hope on the right hand side as well.

Here are the patterns included:

Hope & Love (one view)

Hope & Love (second view)

Daffodil Dreams

At the Lake

Sidewalk Chalk

Creamsicle Swirl

Italian Ice

Promise

Sea & Sand

If you're not a fan of Delaware Head Huggers yet, stop by and "Like" our Facebook page.  Help us name the patterns and see all the beautiful hats that are donated.  Stop by Kozy Kovers for Kids Facebook page too!  We welcome everyone to join us.  Stop by and say hello.  You can always reach Schnapps or me at robin@delawareheadhuggers.org too!

Introducing Sea & Sand!

We can not believe it is already June!  Do you realize there are less than 30 weeks until Christmas?!  2015 is flying by, but Schnapps is busy knitting all the time.  We had some gifts that had to be made and we just had work done on our home which kept us busy so we were not posting new patterns.  Things are calming down now and we are going through our cotton and cotton blend yarn stash and making new hats!  Schnapps made this one yesterday and it just reminded me of the sea and the sand.

He used 2 strands of Knit Picks CotLin yarn worked as one throughout.  We love that yarn - it's cool and crisp and soft.  There are instructions for how to adjust this pattern for other yarn weights below.  You could certainly knit this in just one color also and other color combinations would look great as well.

Schnapps is working on putting together an e-book with new pattern PDFs soon.  Here are a couple of his other latest hats:

If you're not a fan of Delaware Head Huggers yet, stop by and "Like" our Facebook page.  Help us name the patterns and see all the beautiful hats that are donated.  Stop by Kozy Kovers for Kids Facebook page too!  We welcome everyone to join us.  Stop by and say hello.  You can always reach Schnapps or me at robin@delawareheadhuggers.org too!

My happy boy! 

Schnapps and I made new house numbers recently and we have been working hard on our flower garden!  We both miss Winter though!  

Sea & Sand

 You will need 120 or so yards of a sport weight yarn and size 10.5 needles.  

Read below for information about 

 changing the sizing.

Abbreviations:
C2R:  next stitch to cable needle, held at back, slip 1 purlwise from LH needle (with yarn at back), then knit 1 from the cable needle
C2L: next stitch to cable needle at front, knit 1 from LH needle, the slip the stitch purwise from the cable needle (yarn at back)
k2tog:  knit 2 stitches together as one

Holding 2 strands of Color A together, cast on 65 stitches, place marker and join, taking care not to twist stitches.


Work Brim Using Color A:
Row 1:  knit all stitches
Repeat Row 1 until piece is 3 to 3.5 inches long.


Switch to Color B:

Foundation Row:  knit all stitches

Row 1:  *k1, C2R, k2, C2R, k1, C2L, K3*; repeat around
Row 2 and all even rows:  knit all stitches
Row 3:   *k4, C2R, k1, C2L, k2*; repeat around
Row 5:    *k3, C2R, k1, C2L, k2, C2L, k1*; repeat around
Row 7:    *k2, C2R, k3, C2L, k4*; repeat around
Row 9:    knit all stitches

Repeat Pattern Rows 1 - 8 if needed. 

Switch to Color A:
Row 1:  knit all stitches
Repeat Row 1 until piece is 6.5 to 7 inches long.


Decrease Crown:  use dpn’s when needed

Row 1: *k11,  k2tog*; repeat around
Row 2: *k10, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 3: *k9, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 4: *k8,  k2tog*; repeat around
Row 5: *k7, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 6: *k6, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 7: *k5, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 8:  *k4, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 9:   *k3, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 10: *k2, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 11: *k1, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 12:  *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 special!

This hat was worked using 2 strands of 3 weight yarn held together as one.  This could easily be changed to one strand of 5-weight yarn.

To use 6-weight yarn, use size 13 needles and cast on 52 stitches.  You might prefer to start your crown decrease at 7.5 to 8  inches and begin with decrease Row 10.

To use 4-weight yarn, use size 8 needles and cast on 78 stitches.  Repeat pattern rows if desired.

To use one strand of 3 weight yarn, use size 5 needles, cast on 104 stitches and repeat pattern rows if desired.

The pattern is worked over 13 stitches.