Two weeks ago we got a new color of Plymouth Encore in the store. I couldn’t figure out what to make to see how the pattern worked out–it looked like it would have stripes and maybe some “fair isle”-type colorwork. I decided a baby hat was fast and big enough to suit my needs.

Worsted weight yarn–Encore worsted is perfect; washable and warm–much less than one skein (I may make some baby mitts to go with it)
Size 7 needles–double points and 16″ circulars
Note: this project can be done with the double point needles alone, I find that the circulars are faster and I don’t mind switching.
Stitch marker

Gauge 5 st/inch

k2tog = knit two stitches together

CO 72 st on circular needles, join in round being careful to not twist stitches

K1, P1 ribbing for 1 inch

K around for a total of 4 inches from edge

Decrease as follows, switching to DP when necessary:
row 1 *K7, k2tog*
row 2 K around
row 3 *K6, k2tog*
row 4 K around
row 5 *K5, k2tog*
row 6 K around
row 7 *K4, k2tog*
row 8 K around
row 9 *K3, k2tog*
row 10 K around
row 11 *K2, k2tog*
row 12 *K1, k2tog*
row 13 *k2tog*

Cut 12″ tail and draw tight through stitches. Do NOT weave in at this time.

Make three curly-ques:
CO 25
row 1 knit in front, in back, and in front again in each stitch (total of 75 stitches)
Cast off loosely

CO 20
row 1 knit in front, in back, and in front again in each stitch (total of 60 stitches)
Cast off loosely

CO 15
row 1 knit in front, in back,a nd in front again in each stitch (total of 45 stitches)
Cast off loosely

Weave in cast on tails. Use Cast off tail to attach curly-ques to top of hat. Tie curly-que tails and hat finishing tail together. Weave in all ends.

Take a look at the right column! There’s a new completed item (the cowl out of handpainted alpaca). I’ll take some pictures of it at work tomorrow. There are new listings for “Free Patterns”–Ram’s Wool and Southwest Trading. I added a friend to my list: the Schooner Isaac Evans. She sails out of Rockland, Maine and is captained (and blogged) by Brenda Walker. You can see the Evans and her sailing schedule here.

Whew. But, a good whew.

I found a size 17, 29″ circular needle at Reny’s for $4.99. If you aren’t from Maine, you’ve probably never heard of Reny’s. It’s the store that means we don’t miss Target or K-mart; and the prices are better. For those of you local, the large needles are at the Camden store near the Poppycock (nuts only).

My family and I went to see Odiako New England Saturday night. Loud, lovely drumming based on Japanese drumming, taiko. The kids and I really loved the traditional songs; the contemporary ones were less thrilling. The concert was a fundraiser for the Japan exchange program at Camden Rockport Middle School, so it really was a win-win evening. Go see O.N.E. if you get the chance. It was entertaining and educational (but not TOO educational).

Today is Easter, though with over a foot of snow on the ground it’s a bit difficult for me to believe. I was raised in a place where they’ve been mowing their lawns for over a month already. We hunted for (plastic) eggs in the living room and ate the candy around the kitchen table. Because we didn’t make plans for dinner (hey, no family in town means that sometimes you just don’t think like that), we went out for Thai food at Tamarind in Rockland. The food was amazing. Each dish had its own special flavors. It was spicy and tasty. I got to see my kids devour green beans and ask for more (it helps when the green beans crunch and make your mouth tingle). Go eat there when you have the chance. Say hi to Mel, the owner and a woman I just taught to knit. She’s already on her second vest (a man’s small) and she just started knitting the middle of February!

I spend a lot of time on-line.  Probably too much time.  I often come across cool patterns and references that I’d like to share with you–and keep for myself.  Since the demise of my last computer, it’s very clear to me that keeping links/bookmarks on my own machine does nothing in the event that the hard drive dies and doesn’t let any one else know what I’ve got squirreled away.

So, now I’ve got a del.icio.us page.  When I find something I want to keep track of, a pattern I want to find again, or a reference I don’t want to lose, I’ll post it there.  Drop by and see what I’ve found so far. I’ll probably make a link to it as well.

In other news, please check out the new issue of Wild Fibers Magazine. (Subscriptions here). I’ve got a dyeing article published there, but the reason why you should read this magazine is the incredible photos and layouts.  This issue is fantastic and well worth tracking down if you don’t have a subscription.  The editor loves to travel and this time she’s off with the camels in the Gobi desert and weaving in the Andes.  The pictures are well worth your time.

I’m writing from my new computer, so feel free to click on the Google ads on the page to help pay for it ;-).

Tomorrow I’ll have pictures from another project I completed (my knitting machine sweater), and I’ll add some more pictures in my WIP album.

It’s winter in Maine, so I spend my evenings curled up on the couch, knitting (actually, I’ve been spending a lot of time working on my blog, but the shrug works with the laptop in my lap, too).  Sitting still, but needing my hands, I can’t stay totally wrapped up in a blanket, so my neck and shoulders get cold.  To remedy that, I designed and knit this snug shrug that covers up just those muscles that get cold when it’s -10 outside.

It’s made out of alpaca because alpaca is extraordinarily warm. It’s often going to be up against my bare neck and it needs to be butter soft as well and Misti Alpaca Chunky is so soft that when a box of it comes into the shop I want to roll around in it (for the record, I do not roll around in yarn unless I’ve bought it and it’s safely home).  Other options would be chunky cashmere like Classic Elite’s Sinful (for both softness and warmth) or bulky fun like Berroco’s Plush (for softness, but not as much warmth).

Size: One size fits most adult women

Materials: Misti Alpaca Chunky, 3 skeins (I used Lipstick)
100% baby alpaca
108 yards, 100 grams per hank, 2 ply
When I made this I used every little bit of yarn I could, so if you want a longer shrug or buy a different yarn, please make sure you buy enough.

Needles: 16" size 13 circular needles

Gauge: Honestly, not that important, but 3 st/inches is what I got. This is not a fitted item.

Notions: four stitch markers (circles of yarn will work)

Notes used:
PM–Place marker
INC–Increase by knitting into the front and back of the stitch

Cast on 60 using a long tail cast-on or your favorite stretchy cast-on method.

Join in a circle, carefully checking to make sure you have not twisted your stitches.  The best way to do this is to set your knitting down on a table, making sure that all the stitches are on the inside of your needle when curved into a circle.

Place marker at beginning of round. Knit 7 inches of K2, P2 ribbing, slipping marker as you pass.

Now you will switch to stockinette stitch and start increasing.

On the next round: k1, PM, INC, k26, INC, PM, k2, PM, INC, k26, INC, k1.

k next round, slipping markers as you pass them.

Row 1: k1, move marker, INC, knit to one st before marker, INC, move marker, k2, move marker, INC, knit to one st before marker, INC, move marker, k1.

Row 2: K, slipping markers as you pass them.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 for 9 inches.

Switch to K2, P2 ribbing, dropping markers as you get to them and decreasing if you don’t have the right number of stitches. Continue in ribbing for 2 inches.  Bind off loosely.

Weave in your ends.

© Tracy Lee Murphy 2007

(a hat with earflaps in colors that make your eyes hurt)

This was first published on Beth’s blog, as I was Tragically Blogless.

For the premier of Joss Whedon’s Serenity I designed this hat, based on a hat worn by Jayne (pic of Jayne with hat on) on the show Firefly. 

Here is the Unique One gang at the movies:

I’m the one on the left. Someday I’ll get a closeup of the hat, though it’s much more worn now!

Jayne Cobb’s mom made him this cunnin’ hat. It’s not beautiful, but it does say something about the wearer! This pattern closely matches the original hat as seen in Firefly episode "The Message."

Lambs Pride Bulky in A. Autumn Harvest, B. Sunburst Gold, and C. Rust

Size 10.5 needles–16" circulars and double points

Basic hat is knit first, then stitches are picked up around the edge for the earflaps. This fits a 22" head and would easily stretch to a 23" head.

CO 60 loosely in A. Autumn Harvest on circular needles; join, being careful not to twist.

Place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round, k 20 stitches, place a second marker, *k1, p1* rib for the rest of the round. Repeat this pattern for five rounds.

The 20 K stitches will be the forehead of the hat.

Change to K each round and continue with A. Autumn Harvest for a total of four inches (edge to end, including the ribbed section).

Cut A. Autumn Harvest and join B. Sunburst Gold. K around for four inches (total hat length, 8")

K2tog around (you will go from 60 st to 30 st in the first round and 30 st to 15 st in the second) for two rounds, switching to dp when there are not enough stitches to go around the circular needles. Cut 12" tail, pull through the stitches and weave in on the inside of the hat.

Earflap:

Hold hat open side up. Pick up 16 stitches with C. Rust starting at the edge of the K stitches (pick up in the ribbing).

St st for three inches (k one row, p one row); end after a P row.

Do short row: K 13, sl 1, TURN WORK AROUND, bring yarn forward, p 13, sl 1, TURN WORK AROUND, k to end of row.

St st for two inches; end after a P row.

Decreases:

K until there are 3 st left, k2tog, k 1

P until there are 3 st left, p2tog, p 1

Repeat these two rows until you have six stitches left on the needles. Bind off. Leave 6" tail.

Pick up 16 stitches on the other side of the hat, this time ending at the K area. Make earflap again.

Finishing:

Make pompom out of C. Rust, do not trim for evenness. Attach to top of hat. Cut a few 6" pieces of C. Rust and dangle from ends of earflaps. Flip earflaps up; the short row will help make the flaps flip up.

Roll in straw and wear perched high on your forehead.

© Tracy Lee Murphy 2005