Category Archives: Knitting

21 Color Hat

Just this last week it has finally gotten cold enough for hat weather! And I have a nice cheerful, colorful new hat. This hat came a a kit from Blue Sky Fibers that contains 21 mini skeins of yarn and instructions for a slouchy beanie. The yarn is very nice, pretty colors and not scratchy. I bought the kit this summer, and broke my hand about a week later, before I had a chance to begin knitting it. It was about a month before I was able to knit or crochet again. At first it was slow going, but I’m convinced that knitting helped me to rehabilitate my hand more quickly.

I love the inside too, so much that I considered wearing the hat inside out.

Dreams Collection and Fingerless Mitts, and Yoga on the Beach

Dreamy pinks, blues, black and white, pretty skies, foggy rocks, mysterious forests. Check out my Dreams Collection found on Society6.Working on a pair of fingerless mitts, Six Degrees of Separation

I started this pretty pair of mitts this week, even though I have several projects going (always!). I just wanted something quick, and is a great pretty little project.

I go through phases where I knit or crochet alot, and then not at all. I feel like over the year I was going through my yoga teacher training everything else got moved to the back burner. It was alot of work, but mostly I just felt like it was hanging over my head to get it done. And I did, I think it actually took me 7 or 8 months, but when I started I thought it would only take 2. But I finished in February, and received my certification about a month later.

Speaking of yoga, starting on Thursday, June 28, I will be teaching Yoga on the Beach on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, so if you are in the Atlantic Beach, NC area, this is a great way to start your day.

Autumn Dreams Cowl: Free Pattern

This is a project I designed about a month ago, when I was dreaming of cooler weather in the middle of a heat wave. The colors of the yarn just screamed “fall” to me. I actually don’t have too many scarfs, which is unusual for a knitter, and no drapey cowls. So, I thought this would fit in perfectly with my wardrobe for fall, and would elevate a simple outfit of an oversized top and yoga pants (Yes, I am one of those people who thinks leggings are pants). I’ll try to add some pictures of the scarf on me, when the weather is finally cool enough to wear a scarf.

It is a great travel project because it only requires 1 ball of yarn and is a pretty easy pattern, but the color changes in the yarn and the bias knitting and dropped stitches keep it interesting. It would also be a good pattern for a relative beginner, looking to venture beyond basic the knit stitch. Or for Christmas gifts because the drop stitch knits up so quickly.

One size, 10.5 inches wide, and 76 inches in circumference, which is long enough to loom around the neck twice.

1 ball “Shawl in a Ball” yarn by Lion Brand, I used the “Calming Desert” color way, and either 5.5 mm (US size 9, UK size I) straight or circular knitting needles.

Special Techniques: Drop Stitch

If you’ve never worked in drop stitch, here is a tutorial video I found on YouTube. This tutorial uses 3 wraps per stitch, and my patten only uses two wraps per stitch.

Co 51 sts

Knit

Knit, kfb, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, knit

Knit, wrapping yarn twice in each st

Knit, working the first wrap in each stitch and dropping the second

Repeat this 4 row pattern until your scarf is 76 inches long, or whatever your desired length is.

Cast off, and loosely sew the two ends together. I didn’t block my scarf, I like the drapey, scrunchy look of it.

Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/autumn-dreams-cowl

As always, I’d love to see pictures if you make this scarf, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Cable and Lace Candle Cozy

I know Christmas is a long ways away, but I’ve already started making gifts. Actually, I made this for myself, but I’m planning on making a few more for Christmas presents. I might add them to my Etsy shop also, what do you think?

I get these jar candles at Michaels, I think they are $5.99 at full price, but they are frequently on sale or you can use your 40% off coupon. Way cheaper than yankee candle, and I think they are just as nice, they last a long time too. I get them for everyone for Christmas, my mother (she agrees that they are just as nice as Yankee Candle too), my grandmother and aunts, my sisters in law, and a few to keep on hand for emergency gifts. The only drawback is that the scents are seasonal, so right now there are fall scents, my favorites are “Cranberry Compote” and “Harvest,” but if you are set on giving someone a pine tree scented candle, it won’t be in stores until later in the year.

To dress them up a little I’ve started making candle cozys for them. Mostly because they look cute, but they are actually useful too, as they will keep the heat from the candle from damaging any wood they are sitting on.

I used the now discontinued Designer Sport by Red Heart, but any sport weight acrylic or wool yarn would work. I would avoid anything with too much cotton, as it wouldn’t stretch as well to fit around the candle. I was able to make 3 cozys from one ball of yarn. I believe that Yankee Candle and other brands are wider, so you could easily make this pattern larger by sizing up a needle, or adding an additional 10 stitch repeat, as well as making it shorter or taller to fit.

Sportweight Yarn, 4.0 Double Pointed Needles

CO 60 sts, over 3 DPNs (20 sts per needle) to begin working in the round

work K1tbl, P1 ribbing for 3 rnds

Begin 12 round cable and lace pattern

[P, K2, P, K6 ] repeat 6 times
[P, K2tog, YO, P, C4F, K2] repeat 6 times
[P, K2, P, K6 ] repeat 6 times
[P, YO, SSK, P, K6 ] repeat 6 times
[P, K2, P, K2, C4B ] repeat 6 times
[P, K2tog YO, P, K6 ] repeat 6 times
[P, K2, P, K6 ] repeat 6 times
[P, YO, SSK, P, C4F, K2] repeat 6 times
[P, K2, P, K6 ] repeat 6 times
[P, K2tog, YO, P, K6 ] repeat 6 times
[P, K2, P, K2, C4B ] repeat 6 times
[P, YO, SSK, P, K6 ] repeat 6 times

Repeat the cable and lace pattern 3 times

Begin Decreasing
[K8, K2tog] 6 times
[K7, K2tog] 6 times
[K6, K2tog] 6 times
[K5, K2tog] 6 times
[K4, K2tog] 6 times
[K3, K2tog] 6 times
[K2, K2tog] 6 times
[K1, K2tog] 6 times
[K2tog] 6 times

Cut yarn, and thread through the remaining 6 sts, pull tight and weave in ends.

If you make this I’d love to see it, so be sure to post a comment with a link to your photo of the finished project. Also, if you make this for a different brand candle, let me know if it was necessary to alter the pattern.

Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cable-and-lace-candle-cozy

New Hats in my Scarlett Made Etsy Shop

Warning: shameless self promotion ahead!

I have to admit, I’m surprised by how well these mens beanies have done in my easy shop, because, to me, it feels like such a simple design. Knitters are always having trouble making things for their husbands and boyfriends, mostly because they want what we think of as “boring.” Unfussy designs and a limited color palette. Soft yarn is important too, men won’t tolerate anything scratchy. But my simple hat has been fairly popular in my shop, and I’ve even had several custom item orders, so I’m adding 4 new colors. What do you think? Do you like these colors, or are there other colors or designs you would like to see?

Maroon with a grey stripe

Black

Forest green with a brown stripe

Navy blue with a cadet blue stripe

Watchcap Beanie

I’ve been knitting lots of beanies this week for my Scarlett Made shop on Etsy, replenishing stock before the Christmas and cold weather seasons, and adding some new colors. I should be ready to share the new one next week, but until then, here is a repost of a pattern I designed and put on my old blog a few years ago.
This is a great basic hat I designed for my boyfriend. He likes lighter weight hats with a folded brim to keep his ears warm.

Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/watchcap-beanie

Yarn: Light Fingering Weight, the yarn shown here is Lion Brand Sock Ease in the color Rock Candy. Red Heart Heart and Sole and many other sock yarn would also work. I was able to make two hats with one 100g skein of Sock Ease.

Needles: 3.25 mm dpns

Sizes: Medium 18″ (will stretch to comfortably fit most women) Large 19″ (will comfortably stretch to fit most men)

Cast on: Using the cast on method of your choice, I used the long tail, cast on 120 (128) sts
This hat is worked in the round. At the end of the cast on, join by knitting into the first stitch, being careful not to twist.
rnd 1: *K2, P2, repeat from * to end of rnd.
Continue working in K2P2 rib for 2 inches.

From here knit every row until the hat measures 8.5 inches total (6.5 inches from the ribbed brim).

Shape crown
Decrease Rnd: *K6, K2tog, repeat from * to the end of rnd. 105 (112) sts
Knit 1 rnd
Decrease Rnd: *K5, K2tog, repeat from * to the end of rnd. 90 (96) sts
Knit 1 rnd
Decrease Rnd: *K4, K2tog, repeat from * to the end of rnd. 75 (80) sts
Knit 1 rnd
Decrease Rnd: *K3, K2tog, repeat from * to the end of rnd. 60 (64) sts
Knit 1 rnd
Decrease Rnd: *K2, K2tog, repeat from * to the end of rnd. 45 (48) sts
Knit 1 rnd
Decrease Rnd: *K1, K2tog, repeat from * to the end of rnd. 30 (32) sts
Knit 1 rnd
Decrease Rnd: *K2tog, repeat from * to the end of rnd. 15 (16) sts
Decrease Rnd: *K2tog, repeat from * to the end of rnd (for medium size there will be one leftover st, knit last st). 8 (8) sts
Cut yarn, leaving a 4″ tail, and thread it through all 8 sts, pull in tight and weave in ends on the wrong side.