Introducing Contiguous Color!

 This latest hat pattern is fun to knit, works up quickly and can be customized to whatever yarn you have on hand in your stash!  Chemo caps are in high demand.  They always are!  Please consider making some for your local cancer center even if you are using this pattern for another purpose.

When All Free Knitting approached me about helping them celebrate their 10th birthday with a new pattern, I was excited!  Contiguous Color appears, in full, on their website as well as here. Be sure to drop by All Free Knitting and wish them a Happy Birthday!

I worked up three new patterns and a vote put to our Facebook members had this design winning.  Join us on FB to see all new patterns as soon as they come off the needles!  This model was knit using chunky 5-weight yarn, but, of course, the pattern includes instructions for all yarn weights!  Imagine all the color combinations you could use for this one!

We are still accepting and shipping out hats to those undergoing chemotherapy.  Recently boxes have been shipped to Montana, Delaware, Florida and more!  All hats are shipped completely free of charge.  If you are able to help us out, please do!

Postage costs keep rising! (A typical box to a center with about 70 -100 hats in it runs between $28 - $50 depending on where it is going) The website renewal is this month (many people who need hats find us through that, so I don't want to cancel it at this time) and I will be ordering more tags and shipping supplies in the next couple of weeks.  

Most of my patterns are posted free for everyone to use so that everyone can make hats to help others. Periodically I put some patterns into e-books or paperbacks for sale to help raise funds to defray operating costs. Every pattern purchase helps me keep shipping hats to those who need them. 

I will be putting together a new ebook soon and I will be working on more notecards too. Hopefully a nature calendar for 2022 also!

For those interested in donating: We always needs hats, moral support, encouragement and funds!

There is a donate button on the Delaware Head Huggers website and right here on this page. Anyone who wishes to donate by check can send a check to Robin Agar, 202 Acorn Forest Dr., Felton, DE 19943 - I don't have a business account, so I can't cash checks made out to DEHH.

Together we are making a difference, one hat at a time, with hugs, hope and love! Thank you! 

Contiguous Color

You will need size 10, 16 inch circular needles and 2 colors of 5-weight yarn or another combination below.

Abbreviations:

sl:  slip one stitch, knit wise

k2tog:  knit 2 stitches together

Using Color B, cast on 72 stitches, place marker and join, taking care not to twist stitches.

Work Brim:  Using Color B

Row 1:   knit all stitches

Row 2:   purl all stitches

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

Work Body of Hat:

Set Up Row:   Color A:  knit all

Rows 1 & 2:   Color B:  *k2, s1, k3, s2* repeat around

Rows 3 & 4:   Color A:  *(k1, s1)x3, k2*; repeat around

Rows 5 & 6:   Color B:  *s1, k3, s1, k2, s1* repeat around

Rows 7 & 8:   Color A:  *k2, s1, k3, s1, k1*; repeat around

Rows 9 & 10:  Color B:  *s1, k2, s2, k3* repeat around

Rows 11 & 12:  Color A:  *k1, s1, k3, s1, k1, s1*; repeat around

Rows 13 & 14:  Color B:  *k2, s2, k2, s1, k1* repeat around

Rows 15 & 16:  Color A:  *(s1, k3)x2*; repeat around

Repeat Rows 1 - 16 until piece is about 7 to 7.5 inches in length.

Work Crown:  Color B  

Row 1:    knit all stitches 

Repeat Row 1  until your work measures about 8 inches in length, or longer if you prefer.

Crown Decrease:  Color B :  use dons when needed

Row 1:   *k6, k2tog *; repeat around

Row 2:   *k5, k2tog*; repeat around

Row 3:   *k4, k2tog *; repeat around

Row 4:   *k3, k2tog*; repeat around

Row 5:   *k2, k2tog*; repeat around

Row 6:   *k1, k2tog *; 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 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 8 stitches.  

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.   

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.

Introducing Geometric Inlay!

 It's almost May already!  2021 is flying by.  The world is still a mess and there are so many things that are different than ever before.  However, the need for chemo caps continues and so I have come up with a few new patterns lately.  The colors for this one said Spring to me, but imagine all the possible color combinations!

This hat was designed with Knit Picks Brava bulky yarn, but instructions are included for all yarn weights so you can use your stash and make beautiful hats.  All stitches are knit stitches and this is a fun pattern that works up quickly.

Geometric Inlay

You will need 5 weight yarn in 3 colors and size 10 needles or another combination listed below:

Abbreviations:

k2tog:  knit 2 stitches together

Using Color A, cast on 72 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 your work measures 2.5 to  3 inches in length.   If using lighter weight yarn you might want to make the brim 4 - 5 inches so that your band is centered nicely.

Work Band of Hat  Using Colors A, B & C:

all stitches are knit stitches.  Numbers and letter refer to color.  A is white.  B is yellow.  C is teal

Row 1:   *3A, 1B, 2A*; repeat around

Row 2:   *2A, 3B, 1A*; repeat around

Row 3:   *1A, 5B*; repeat around

Row 4:   *1C, 5B*; repeat around

Row 5:   *2C, 3B, 1C*; repeat around

Row 6:   *3C, 1B, 2C*; repeat around

Row 7:   *1B, 5C*; repeat around

Row 8:   *2B, 3C, 1B*; repeat around

Row 9:   *3B, 1C, 2B*; repeat around

Row 10:   *3B, 1A, 2B*; repeat around

Row 11:   *2B, 3A, 1B*; repeat around

Row 12:   *1B, 5A*; repeat around

Work Crown:  Using Color A

Row 1:   knit all stitches

Repeat Row 1 until your work measures about 7.5 - 8 inches in length.

Decrease Crown:  use dpn’s when needed

Row 1:   *k4, k2tog* repeat around

Row 2:   *k3, k2tog *; repeat around

Row 3:   *k2, k2tog* repeat around

Row 4:   *k1, k2tog *; repeat around

Row 5:   *k2tog*; repeat around

Finish:  Cut working yarn, leaving a 6-inch tail.  Draw the tail through the remaining stitches, cinch closed 

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 84.  

If using 3-weight yarn, use size 5 needles and cast on 102 stitches.   

The pattern is worked over 6 stitches.  

Experiment and enjoy!

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.   

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.

Introducing Placid Eddy

 It's Spring.  The world is still a mess.  People need kindness more than ever.  Let's all do our part!

This latest pattern was worked using 5-weight, KnitPicks Brava Bulky yarn.  I liked the contrast between the 2 colors, but you could knit this using just one color. Color combinations are endless, so use your imagination and create beautiful hats to help others!  Instructions are included for all yarn weights, so you can use whatever yarn you have available in your stash!

This is an 8 row pattern with 6 of those rows being all knit stitches, so it works up quickly.  There are cables in this, but they are very simple, so this would be a great first project if you've never attempted cables before.  

This little guy is Thaddeus - my resident wild bunny who has decided that he quite likes us and stops by for a nose rub and a banana chip or fig bar most days.  He is one of the things that makes me smile every day.  Our Facebook page posts nature photos and asks what made you smile today everyday.  Join us and spread happiness too!  We've all got to take extra care to look around us and find the good things.  

Placid Eddy

You will need 5-weight yarn in two colors and size 10 needles or another combination of supplies listed below.

Abbreviations:

C4B: 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to back.  Knit next 2 stitches from LH needle, then knit 2 from cable needle

C4F: 2 stitches to cable needle and hold to front.  Knit next 2 stitches from LH needle, then knit 2 from cable needle

k2tog:  knit 2 stitches together

Using Color A, cast on 72 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 your work measures 1.5 to  2 inches in length, or longer if you prefer.

Work Body of Hat Using Color B:

Rows 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 & 8:   knit all stitches

Row 3:   *C4B, k4, C4F*; repeat around

Row 7:   *k2, C4F, C4B, k2*; repeat around 

Repeat Rows 1 and 8 until piece is about 6 to 6.5 inches in length.

Work Crown:  Using Color A

Row 1:   knit all stitches

Repeat Row 1 until your work measures 7 to 7.5 inches

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

Row 1:   *k10, k2tog*; repeat around

Row 2:   *k9, k2tog *; repeat around

Row 3:   *k8, k2tog*; repeat around

Row 4:   *k7, k2tog*; repeat around

Row 5:   *k6, k2tog *; repeat around

Row 6:   *k5, k2tog*; repeat around

Row 7:   *k4, k2tog*; repeat around

Row 8:   *k3, k2tog *; repeat around

Row 9:   *k2, k2tog*; repeat around

Row 10:   *k1, k2tog*; repeat around

Row 11:   *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 84.  

If using 3-weight yarn, use size 5 needles and cast on 108 stitches.   

The pattern is worked over 12 stitches.  

Feel free to use just 1 color.  

Experiment and enjoy!

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.   

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.

Introducing Pinball!

All of us, all over the world are still battling COVID-19.  So many lives have been lost since I posted the last pattern on April 1, 2020.  I hope that all of you are safe and healthy and that your families are too.  Delaware Head Hugger operations are still suspended for the foreseeable future.  Hopefully, someday, we will be able to get back to normal.  Stay safe and be well!

To navigate through scary times, I find distractions are helpful.  I've been spending a lot of time in my yard watching the birds and bees and butterflies and some time knitting as well.  This is a hat pattern that I originally made a year or so ago and then promptly lost my pattern notes.  So, I decided to work it out again and share it with everyone.  To show how if at first you don't succeed, this pattern was worked out 3 different times before I got it the way I wanted it to look.  To me, it looks like a pinball machine a bit and I know I feel like life has become a pinball machine, so I thought the name fit.

The first try, I wasn't paying attention and had a partial pattern repeat on the bottom of the hat.

On the second try I had a partial pattern repeat on the bottom and at the top of the hat!  Now, neither of these ruins the hat, so if you want to knit it this way, it works fine.  But, it wasn't what I had planned - I just wasn't paying attention.

Finally, I did it the way I had envisioned!  This used 5-weight yarn and size 11 needles, because that's what I had ready to go in my stash.  Instructions for all yarn weights are included.

Pinball

You will need 5-weight yarn in 2 colors and size 11 needles.

Abbreviations:

k2tog:  knit 2 stitches together

Using Color A, cast on 63 stitches, place marker and join, taking care not to twist stitches.

Work Brim:  Using Color A

Row 1:  knit all stitches

Row 2:  purl all stitches 

Repeat Rows 1-2  until your work measures about 2.5 inches, or longer if you prefer, in length.  

Work Pattern:  all stitches are knit stitches.  The numbers and letter refer to color:  In the models Color A is gray and B is turquoise.   Color A is seafoam and B is pink.  Color A is brown and B is cream.

First Repeat Only IF you want to prevent the start of the partial pattern as seen on the seafoam/pink hat and the brown/cream hat.

Row 1:  *1B, 8A*; repeat around

Row 2:  *1B, 1A, 1B, 6A*; repeat around

Then work rows 3-6 and repeat 1-6, as below, as needed.

Row 1:  *1B, 4A, 3B, 1A*; repeat around 

Row 2:  *1B ,1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2A; repeat around 

Row 3:   *1B, 1A, 2B, 5A*; repeat around

Row 4:   *1B, 1A, 3B, 4A*; repeat around

Row 5:   *1B, 2A, 2B, 2A, 1B, 1A*; repeat around

Row 6:   *1B, 5A, 2B, 1A*; repeat around 

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

End with a Row 4 and work Rows 5 & 6 as below.

Last Repeat Only IF you want to avoid the partial pattern at the top of the seafoam/pink version.  If not, just work the last 2 rows as written.

Row 5:  *1B, 2A, 2B, 4A*; repeat around

Row 6:  *1B, 8A*; repeat around

Work Crown:  Using Color A:  

Row 1:    knit all stitches

Repeat Row 1 until piece is 7.5 - 8 inches in length.

Work Decrease in Color A:  use dpn’s 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 share.

If using 6-weight yarn, use size 15 needles and cast on 45.

If using 4-weight yarn, use size 8 needles and cast on 81. 

  

If using 3-weight yarn, use size 6 needles and cast on 108.   

If using 2-weight yarn, use size 4 needles and cast on 144.  

This  pattern is worked over 9 stitches.  

Adjust accordingly for size differences.

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!