Introducing A Textured Path and A Break in the Clouds!

It's December!  It's almost Christmas!  There is so much to be done that Schnapps and I are going full speed just about all day, every day.  Those of you who subscribe to the newsletter got the pattern for Textured Path a couple of weeks ago.  We just realized that we never shared it with everyone, so it's going up today.

We are also putting a new cowl pattern, A Break in the Clouds, up for sale.  You can purchase it directly here.  It is just $4 and all the proceeds go to Delaware Head Huggers!  It will be available in our Craftsy and Ravelry stores.  Directions include information for different yarn weights as well as instructions for modifying the size.  The model was knit using one skein of Lion Brand's Wool Ease Thick and Quick......just about 106 yards and an hour or so and you have a great gift!

Close up of the stitch detail.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving - we are thankful always for your help and support.  As of November 23, we have collected and distributed 18,835 chemo caps and 1,969 blankets.  Operation Bottle Beanies is still running and we collected many items for Code Purple as well.  We did a project for Bayhealth making tiny preemie items and in February we will again be participating in Red Hats for Heart Month with A.I. duPont Children's Hospital.  It takes many, many hands and hearts to make all these projects successful and we thank each of you who help in any way.

 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!

 

Textured Path

You will need about 70 yards of 6-weight yarn and size US 13 needles or some combination listed below.

 

 Abbreviations:

k1bbk: knit through the back of the stitch below, then knit the stitch above.

k2tog:  knit 2 stitches together

Cast on 49 stitches, place marker and join, taking care not to twist stitches.

Work Brim:
Row 1:  knit all stitches
Row 1:  purl all stitches
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 for 2  to 2.5 inches

Work Pattern:

Rows 1 & 3:  knit all stitches
Row 2:  *k2tog, k2, k1bbk,k2* ; repeat around
Row 4:   *k2, k1bbk, k2, k2tog*; repeat around
Repeat Rows 1 - 4 until piece measures 7.5 to 8  inches in length.

Decrease Crown:  use dpn’s when needed
Row 1:  *k5, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 2:  *k4, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 3:  *k3, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 4:  *k2, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 5:  *k1, k2tog*; repeat around
Row 6:   *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!

 

 If using 5-weight yarn, use size 11 needles and cast on 70.

If using 4-weight yarn, use size 8 needles and cast on 84.

If using 3-weight yarn, use size 5 needles and cast on 112 stitches.

The pattern is worked over 7 stitches.  

A Cowl for My Puppy (or yours…)

Schnapps loves to have a cowl on in the cold weather……he started with scarves (he was the only one willing to wear my first knitting attempt!)...... but the ends would unravel and drag on the ground, so I decided to try out a cowl.  He loves them and I can switch them out for different occasions without spending a ton of money on holiday collars.  This one takes about 30 – 45 minutes to make and can be adjusted for dogs of any size.  You MUST knit this loosely!!!  Especially when binding off……..you want it to have enough stretch to go comfortably over the dog’s head.

To be sure you are making the correct size, take your dog’s collar and hold it to a circle loom.  The collar should be the same size or slightly smaller than the inside of the loom.  I use the blue “preemie hat” loom for Schnapps. Larger dogs would need larger looms. But I think, using the Knifty Knitter set you could make a cowl even for a Saint Bernard!

Use two strands of worsted weight or bulky yarn held together as one.  You could also just use one strand of super bulky yarn. I like to use colors that are seasonal......this one is in fall shades, but he has an orange and black one for Halloween, a Christmas one, a red and white one for Valentine's Day, a green one for St. Patrick's Day and a blue one for 'everyday' use. 

Make a slipknot and attach it to your anchor peg.

E-wrap the entire loom.  Start with Peg 1 by bringing the yarn towards the inside of the loom and wrapping it around the peg in a counterclockwise direction.  Repeat for each peg.  There should be one loop on each peg when you are finished.

E-wrap the entire loom again, being sure that there are 2 loops on every peg when you are finished. 

Knit off each stitch by bringing the bottom loop up and over the top loop, taking the bottom loop off the loom.  When finished, there will be one loop on each peg again.

Repeat the above two rows, e-wrapping and knitting off until your piece is about 5 inches long.  Make this longer for larger dogs.

Bind off very loosely, using the basic bond off, as follows:

1.  Knit the first 2 stitches.

2.  Move the loop from peg 2 over to peg 1.  Knit off. 

3.  Move the loop from peg 1 over to the now empty peg 2. 

4. Knit the next peg

Repeat steps 2 through 4 until you have only one stitch left on the last peg. 

Cut your working yarn, leaving about 6 inches and e-wrap the last peg.  Knit off and pull the tail through the stitch.

Your cowl is complete!  

And yes, you could use the same pattern to make a cowl for a person - but I have not done so yet.

Since in the past some people have had trouble printing things from here, you can always email me at robin@delawareheadhuggers.org and I will send you the pattern.  You might want to try copying it and pasting it into a Word document also - that works for some people.

Visit www.delawareheadhuggers.org and www.kozykoversforkids.org to learn about the 2 charities I run from my home.  

Find us on Facebook too - 

Delaware Head Huggers:   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Delaware-Head-Huggers/250229674280   

Kozy Kovers for Kids  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kozy-Kovers-for-Kids/253991638070

Happy Knitting!!