Knitting Goals for 2012

I know that I have not posted in a while, but I have been knitting.  I wanted to share my knitting goal for 2012 and say "Hello" to all my new followers.  I also wanted to say that I have been so happy with all the feedback, comments, and questions I have been getting on older posts. 

My knitting goal is to complete 52 projects for 2012.  I did this for 2011 and you can see a list of all my projects here . So far I have made 3 projects.  I only have a picture of one, but hopefully I will get a chance to post pictures of the other two soon.  

 What are your knitting goals this year?  As always I love hearing from my readers and would love to answer any questions or if you want more info about anything you have seen on my blog please leave a comment.  If you haven't already please feel free to like my facebook page.  I have a lot of pictures there and had a follower share her pictures of a hat she made using my Lace Hat pattern.  :)

The Perfect Fit Beanie Pattern

In November I posted a hat that I made using a new technique for adding an extra stitch.  I was trying to make a slouchy hat, but I did not add enough extra stitches.  Instead my hat came out with a nice design and in my opinion a perfect fit.  I have been asked for this pattern a couple of times now, so I decided to post it here for others to enjoy.   

 The Perfect Fit Beanie

Supplies needed:  a loom with an even number of pegs, knitting hook, yarn of your choice, and a yarn needle.  



I made my hat using Patons Classic Wool yarn in Taupe  and the round purple loom with 48 pegs.

Skills needed: you will need to know how to e-wrap, flat knit, purl, and how to add the extra stitch.  This video will show you the technique needed to add the extra stitch.  





1.  To start the hat using two strands of yarn held as one cast on all the pegs using the e-wrap stitch.

2 - 13.  To make the brim you will knit 2, purl 2 all the way around the loom.  I did this for a total of 12 rows.  

14. Knit this row. 

15. This is the row where you will add your stitch.  *purl 2, knit, add stitch on 3rd peg (knit)* You will do this all the way around the loom.  

Notes:   Purl 2 and then on the 3rd peg you will knit, move the stitch to peg 2.  Bring up the stitch from the row before and place it on the 3rd peg.  Knit over.  Take the stitch that you moved to peg 2 and bring it back to peg 3.  You will now have 2 stitches on the 3rd peg.   


16.  *Purl 2 and Knit the stitches on peg 3* all the way around the loom.


Notes:  Purl 2 and then on the 3rd peg with two stitches knit over the TOP stitch only.  Then move the new stitch to peg 2.  Knit the stitch on peg 3 and then move the stitch that is on peg 2 back to peg 3.  Again, peg 3 will now have 2 stitches on it.  


Continue knitting the hat using the instructions from row 16 until hat reaches your desired length.  I made my hat around 8 1/2 inches.  


17.  On the row before you gather your hat you will purl 2 and then on the 3rd peg just knit the two loops over.  This will leave you with one stitch on your 3rd peg.  


18. You will now decrease your hat by 1/2.  Take the stitches on peg 1 and move to peg 2.  Bring the bottom stitch over the top stitch, so that one stitch remains.  Continue doing this around the loom.


19.  Gather your hat and you are finished and ready to wear your Perfect Fit Beanie.  :)


I hope that you like this pattern.  A very special thank you to Jeannie at A Place for my Cards for allowing me to include her video.  She is an amazing loom knitter who has come up with some amazing and beautiful projects.  





 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

Cable Hat Pictures

I have been wanting to make a cable hat for over a year now, but have never had any luck.  I was never able to "stretch" the stitches enough to make the cables.  I decided to give it another try and was finally able to figure it out.  I am so pleased with the results.  The yarn I used was Paton's Wool in Heather Jade.  When I put the hat on to take the pictures I fell in love with this hat.  The wool has the perfect amount of stretch.  The hat is so very warm and a gorgeous color.  Now that I have figured out the cables I have some ideas in my head of different ways to use them in hats or fingerless gloves.  I need more time in the day for all my ideas! 

This was a very easy hat to make and I did not even need to use a cable needle.  I used the round purple loom and didn't even need a whole skein of yarn.  I will be able to make a headband/ear-warmer with what is left over.  

Wool yarn is obviously more expensive, but I have used it for my last two hats and have been so happy with the results.  I need to try and stock up when it is on sale, because I would love to make more projects with wool yarn.  

Pictures from Weekend Projects

Autumn Red Infinity Scarf

Autumn Red Ridged Lace Hat

Purple Mix Reversible Headband/Ear-Warmer

Purple Mix Headband/Ear-Warmer in Stockinette Stitch

I Love...

Obviously I love when I finish a project and I am happy with the way it turns out.  The other thing I love is when I finish a skein of yarn.  There is just something satisfying about finishing the whole skein without any left-overs.  

Over the weekend I worked on finishing up the headband/neck warmer that I was working on with needles.  I used Vanna's Choice yarn in Beige.  I doubled up my yarn, so mine is definitely more like a neck warmer.  I like the way it turned out.  I think I am going to have to block it though and I have never blocked anything before, so this will be a first.  I need to add a button and then take a picture of it.

I also started working on a Red Ridged Lace Hat for my cousin.  The pattern can be found in the book "I Can't Believe I'm Loom Knitting ".  This is one of my favorite patterns, but I always end up with very sore fingers.  I had enough yarn left over and wanted to finish up the skein.  I decided to work on an infinity scarf.  I used the stockinette stitch using the diagonal wrap method.  You can see more info on it here at this site.  I just kept knitting until I used all the yarn. Then finished the ends like I do on the reversible headbands.  I am really pleased with the way it turned out.  I used Simply Soft Caron brand yarn in Autumn Red.  I need to get pictures of this too.  


In other news, the hat that is on my Martha Stewart Loom has turned into a problem.  :(  I was concerned when I started the hat that it would be hard to finish the hat with there being so many pegs.  When I finally got to the end of the hat, I figured I could just decrease by half and then decrease by half again.  Unfortunately, this did not work.  I got the hat off and not only was the hat too small, but the top where I gathered it was a wreck.  I had to figure out a way to get it back on the loom and this also turned into a problem. I was having a hard time finding all the stitches to put back on the pegs and then sometimes would drop the stitch before I could get it back on.  After about 45 minutes, I did manage to get the hat back on the loom, but had to frog a bunch to get it ready to be worked on again.  I am a little discouraged.   Should I just gather the top with 80 stitches?  That seems like it would be way to bulky!  Is there a way to decrease and have a nice finished top like I do when I use the round purple Knifty Knitter ?  Any advice would be appreciated. 
 

Pictures of Finished Projects

Last post I said I was working on 4 projects.  I was finally able to complete two of them over the weekend.  I finished the cowl.  I used Lion Brand Homespun  the color is called Barley and worked in garter stitch on the round yellow loom.  The finished cowl is 20 inches long, so it is very bulky and very warm.  

 My second project was supposed to be a slouchy hat, but there was just not enough "slouch" to it.  I am still really happy with the way it turned out.  The hat is 100% wool and a great color.  I may add a coconut button, but I am not sure.  Still trying to decide. 

Still working on the headband on needles and the very slow going hat on the Martha Stewart Loom.  I finished another one of my  Reversible Headbands .  After finishing the one headband, I immediately cast on again, but this time working in the stockinette stitch for another headband. 


What is everyone else working on? 

Knitting with Needles

It has been over a year since I have knit with needles.  I learned how to do the basic knit and purl stitches on needles in the winter of 2009.  I made a couple scarves for Christmas gifts for family members.  On Christmas my husband bought me my first looms and I put the needles away.  I liked the looms because I was able to knit in the round and could make hats in just a couple of hours.  

I did not knit with needles again until the winter of 2010 and I only used the knit stitch.  I used them for one project.  I made a great scarf that I love and it is the only thing I have made that I have actually kept that doesn't have any errors.  I have been saying for over a year that I need to make myself a hat, but have yet to do it. 

A couple of weeks ago I found this great headband on Pinterest.  You can see the pattern here.  I tried to figure out a way to make it work on the loom and there was nothing I could do to make it work.  If anyone does figure it out that would be great and I would love to know how you did it.  

I decided that I would need to just try out the pattern on needles.  I tried and tried to make the headband and could not for the life of me remember how to purl.  I looked on-line to find pictures to try and jog my memory, but I just could not figure it out.  I finally found this site with great pictures and was able to make a purl stitch again.  I am loving the way the headband/ear-warmer is turning out.  I am about half-way done and will post pictures once it is complete.

I am also working on 3 other projects.  The hat that I started on the Martha Stewart Loom is slow going, but I am still loving the way it looks.  I also have a cowl that I have been working on for way too long on my yellow loom.  It is just the basic garter stitch, but my plan is to make it long enough that it can be pulled up like a hood if the person likes.  I am using Homespun yarn, so it is really soft and cozy.  The other project that I started last night is a slouch hat on the purple looms.  I am using 100% wool that is gorgeous and so very soft.  I have only just started, so I can't really tell how it is going to turn out.  

I have 9 more projects to complete my 52 Projects for 2011.  I don't think this will be a problem and am looking forward to being able to say that I stuck with it.  Pictures soon (hopefully) as my projects are completed.