Introducing Acclivity!

It's almost Thanksgiving!  We are in prime chemo cap weather right now and hats are flying in and out to cancer centers weekly!  Please remember your local cancer center when crafting gifts this holiday season.  Just one hat really can make a big difference to someone battling cancer.

This latest hat was knit using KnitPicks Brava Bulky and it's a fast and easy knit that you can make in any combination of colors!  You could even make it more of a stash buster and use a third color for the brim and crown.  Have fun with it.  I knit it once using size 11 needles and once on size 10.5's and they both are nice sized, adult hats.  Use what you have in and make a great hat!

Many people still ask me how to best adjust patterns for the yarn they have at home.  Stash Hats is a great reference to help you make a terrific hat using the yarn already in your stash.  Pick your brim, body and crown and learn how to adapt patterns from circular to straight needles and vice versa as well as how to adjust a pattern for different yarn weights.  Stash Hats is available as a paperback or Kindle e-book on Amazon and in my Ravelry store and on Etsy too!

Photo notecards are slowly being added to my Etsy store.  Check them out if you have some time.  Join us on Facebook to see all the latest hats and blankets that come in and see new patterns as soon as they are released.  

Acclivity

 Knit Using 2 colors of 5-weight yarn and size 10.5 or 11 circular needles, or some other combination listed below.  For the model, Color A is gray, Color B is teal.

Abbreviations:

k2tog:  knit 2 stitches together

Using Color A, cast on 64 stitches, place marker and join, taking care not to twist stitches.

Work Brim:  Using Color A

Row 1:  *k2, p2*; repeat around

Repeat Row 1 until your work measures 1.5 to  2 inches in length, or longer if you prefer.

Work Body of Hat Using Colors A & B:  all stitches are knit

Set Up Row:  Using Color A, knit all stitches

Start Pattern:

Row 1:  *2A, 2B*; repeat around

Row 2:   *1B, 2A, 1B*; repeat around

Rows 3, 4 & 5:  *2B, 2A*; repeat around 

Row 6:   *1A, 2B, 1A*; repeat around 

Repeat Rows 1 - 6 until piece is about 7 to 7.5 inches in length.

Decrease Crown:  use dpn’s when needed:  Color A

Row 1:    knit all stitches

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 share.

If using 6-weight yarn, use size 13 needles and cast on 48.  

If using 4-weight yarn, use size 7 needles and cast on 88.  

If using 3-weight yarn, use size 5 needles and cast on 104 stitches.   

The pattern is worked over 4 stitches.  Adjust in multiples of 8 to keep the crown decrease the same.

Model:  Color A is gray and Color B is teal

Alternate Model:  Color A is pink and Color B is black

Learn more about Delaware Head Huggers by visiting www.delawareheadhuggers.org

 Follow us on Pinterest or visit our  Ravelry store.  

We also have patterns available as paperbacks or a Kindle e-books from Amazon.  They can be purchased here. 

Remember to join us on our Facebook page - you can see all the beautiful hats that are donated and shipped out.   

Follow along on Twitter and Instagram too!  

Stop by Kozy Kovers for Kids Facebook page too and see all the gorgeous handmade blankets that are going to help children in crisis throughout our area.  We welcome everyone to join us.  Stop by and say hello.  

You can always reach me at robin@delawareheadhuggers.org too!

If you want to donate to Delaware Head Huggers, you can use the donate button on the right hand side of the page.  Every dollar helps us get hats out to those who need them most.

Introducing Slips & Knits!

It's already November!  I can hardly believe how fast time is flying by.  We are in the midst of making and shipping out lots of chemo caps and getting ready to gear up for the holiday season too!

A while ago, I knit this hat in gray, teal and pink and then promptly lost my pattern notes.  But, I really liked the way the super simple pattern had texture and pops of color, so I knit it again, being sure to write it all down.  Slips and Knits is just that.......all slip or knit stitches.  It knits up quickly and you can make it in just 2 colors or 10 or more colors if you wish.  

The model was knit in 5-weight KnitPicks Brava Bulky, but there are instructions for all yarn weights below too!  Have fun with it.  Customize it with your favorite colors!  Make one for a local cancer center too!  

I love the subtle texture of this pattern!

I am starting another adventure too, selling notecards made with my photos.  They will soon be up for sale on Etsy, but for now, those of you on Facebook or who follow us here are the only ones who can order.  

Pre-sale pricing is $32 for a box of 10 cards, shipped. 

These come 10 cards and 10 envelopes in a box. Each card is hand assembled by me, using an actual print of one of my photographs. The cards are handmade in the USA, 5x7, made of high quality card stock, printed on recycled paper using environmentally friendly soybean-based ink. Cards are blank inside.

If you want to purchase a set, please email (Robin@delawareheadhuggers.org) me first. Please tell me which ones you want, so I know what photos to have printed. I will accept payment via PayPal or you can send me a personal check. Please do not send any money until I respond to your request.

I have the photos labeled as to which set they are.......if you have any special requests, please email me and ask! I will do my best to accommodate you. If you'd like 10 cards of one particular photo, I can do that too.

These will be made to order for you, so it could take about 2 weeks for delivery. I will try my best to have them ready quickly, but it does take some time to make sure they are put together nicely.

 Nature Set 1 

  Nature Set 2

  Birds & Butterflies

  Bees & Flowers

Slips & Knits

   Knit Using 3 colors of 5-weight yarn and size 11 circular needles, or some other combination listed below.  For the model, Color A is cream, Color B is orange and Color C is brown.

Abbreviations:

s1:   slip 1 stitch

k2tog:  knit 2 stitches together

Using Color A, cast on 64 stitches, place marker and join, taking care not to twist stitches.

Work Brim:  Using Color A

Row 1:   purl all stitches

Row 2:   knit all stitches

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until your work measures 1.5 to  2 inches in length, or longer if you prefer.  Be sure to end with a Row 2.

Work Body of Hat Using Color B:

Row 1:  *s1, k1*; repeat around

Row 2:   knit all

Switch to Color C:

Row 3:  *s1, k1*; repeat around

Row 4:   knit all

Switch to Color A:

Row 5:  *s1, k1*; repeat around

Row 6:   knit all

Repeat Rows 1 through 6, until piece is about 7 to 7.5 inches in length.  End with Row 6 and Color A.

Decrease Crown:  use dpn’s when needed

Row 1:    knit all stitches

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 share.  

If using 6-weight yarn, use size 10.5 needles and cast on 48.  

If using 4-weight yarn, use size 7 needles and cast on 80.  

If using 3-weight yarn, use size 5 needles and cast on 104 stitches.   

The pattern is worked over 8 stitches.  

Feel free to use just 2 colors, working Rows 1 - 4 throughout or use more colors, changing colors after every second (knit all) row.  

Learn more about Delaware Head Huggers by visiting www.delawareheadhuggers.org

 Follow us on Pinterest or to find our  Ravelry store.  

We also have patterns available as paperbacks or a Kindle e-books from Amazon.  They can be purchased here. 

Remember to join us on our Facebook page - you can see all the beautiful hats that are donated and shipped out.   

Follow along on Twitter and Instagram too!  

Stop by Kozy Kovers for Kids Facebook page too and see all the gorgeous handmade blankets that are going to help children in crisis throughout our area.  We welcome everyone to join us.  Stop by and say hello.  

You can always reach me at robin@delawareheadhuggers.org too!

If you want to donate to Delaware Head Huggers, you can use the donate button on the right hand side of the page.  Every dollar truly does help us get hats out to those who need them most.

#OperationBottleBeanies Kick Off is Soon!

Operation Bottle Beanies is kicking off for 2019 September 19 – 21!  Once again, Fifer’s Orchard will be selling adorable, handmade little hats for jar and bottles, as well as handmade wash cloths to support Code Purple!  Please have your first round of items to me by September 15 and this will continue until almost Christmas, when Fifer’s closes for the Winter.


These are some from Kathy in CA from a previous year!

Those of you who know me know that I tend to steer clear of “official” non-profits because too often, the money donated goes towards advertising and marketing costs and to paying salaries instead of helping those in need.  Code Purple operates shelters when the temperatures drop below freezing.  Code Purple is run entirely by volunteers and through their unwavering, dedicated work, they help hundreds, if not thousands of people in Delaware stay warm throughout the Winter months. 
#OperationBottleBeanies is community service at is best.  We donate the hats and wash cloths and Fifer’s donates the room in their store and their staff time to sell them and the Code Purple volunteers use that money to purchase whatever supplies are needed to operate the shelters.  We all do a little and those who need it can be helped.  We are all doing this out of love and a shared concern for our community.

We need LOTS of hats!  From olive oil bottles to mason jars, Fifer’s has many different size containers that can wear hats!  They sell apple butter, honey, peanut butter, jams, pickles and so much more.  Themed hats for Fall and Winter and holidays are great, as are any that include bees, produce, animals…….the possibilities are almost endless!

Preemie size hats are about the size for quart jars.  There are lots of patterns for tiny hats online……….wine bottle hats, The Innocent Drink Big Knit project in the UK (which is our inspiration!) and most yarn companies have free patterns online.  We have some free patterns on this blog too.  These hats can be used to decorate the items, put on dolls, hung as ornaments….again, the possibilities are vast!  They make adorable tie-ons for packages!  AND they are helping people!




Washcloth patterns are very easy to come by and they are great ways to try out new stitch patterns too!  Again, the cuter the better……eye catching ones sell first.  Seasonal colors and designs are great!  Washcloths are big sellers too!  Everyone can use some new washcloths and they make great gifts too!

Join our Facebook page and see new ideas as we find them and all the beautiful things people create as they come in.

Of course, we are still collecting chemo caps in all sizes for people undergoing chemotherapy and blankets for children in foster care and those in crisis.  I know it’s asking a lot of people to support all these things at once, but however you can help, it will be greatly appreciated.  Make what you like to make.  Do whatever you can do without stressing yourself.  Every single item helps someone.  And if you can make hats, blankets and bottle beanies, then have it and we will get them where they need to go to help the most!

All items can be sent to DEHH at 202 Acorn Forest Drive, Felton, DE 19943.  If you usually donate by using a Library drop off, please just add your new items to that and I will get them!

#OperationBottleBeanies has been a dream of mine for years………..I’m very happy that it is back and I hope we can see it grow and help more people in the future years. 
If we each do a little bit, in our community, we truly do make a big difference.  Imagine if everyone helped…………..


Here's a list of some sites with free washcloth patterns:

Washcloth patterns from RedHeart

Washcloth patterns from LionBrand

Washcloth patterns from KnitPicks

Crochet washcloth patterns from Yarnspirations

Knit washcloth patterns from Yarnspirations