Mitered square scrap blanket

I've been having a bit of a go at making a twin-sized blankets with odds and ends of worsted weight yarn. Maybe around 60 yards per square.

Using size 7 needles (I knit pretty loosely, so you may find you want to go up a bit in size).

For the first square, I cast on 48 stitches with a stitch marker placed in the middle.

Each row after - I slipped the very first stitch with yarn in front, then I knit to the stitch marker, slipped it, did an SSK, and then knit to the end of the row. Repeated until I only had two stitches left - and just did a P2Tog (though I imagine an SSK or K2Tog woutld work as well, it's just with the yarn in front after turning for that last row, it was just easier to P2Tog.

Subsequent squares in the same row - or starting a new row - I would pick up & knit 24 stitches off of an existing square, and cast-on the 24 needed to start another square. Subsequent squares in an existing row, I could pick up and knit 48 stitches from two existing squares.

I'm weaving ends in as I go ... and if a scrap of left over yarn doesn't make the whole square - I'd switch, or add a stripe... and have some fun with it.

I did do a 4-color square once (probably won't do that one again, it was more weaving in than I enjoyed. 

I did it by casting on/picking up 12 stitches in color 1; 24 stitches in color 2; 12 stitches in color 3... made sure in each row to wrap the color I was working in around the next color and worked the decreases until there was no more color 2. Then switched all stitches in the next row to color 4. It was an experiment ... and it was ok. And it did let me use ever decreasing amounts of yarn - say 15 yards -ish each. But, yeah... I think I'd rather just crack open another skein of yarn vs trying to use such tiny left overs. 

As you can see, it's not finished quite yet... Plan is to do 20+ rows of 10 squares each. It goes fast than one would think, but it's still one of those things that can get tiring after a bit. So four squares here, two squares here... bit by bit, it's growing.

Edited to Add:

Finished January 2023. Hit a bit of a bump there where I was getting a little tired of the project. Mind the mess, we're human not automation robots keeping the house spotless.

Mock Cable Scarf

Worked with Marble Chunky yarn

wyif = with yarn in front
psso = pass slipped stitch over
repeat directions between asterisks (*)

Repeat is of 5 stitches + 2
CO 37 stitches

Row 1 - slip first stitch wyif, move yarn to back *slip 1, knit 2, psso (over both knit stitches), purl 2* 7 times, knit 1  (30 stitches)
Row 2 - slip first stitch wyif, *knit 2, purl 1, yo, purl 1* 7 times, knit 1 (37 stitches)
Row 3 - slip first stitch wyif, *knit 3, purl 2* 7 times, knit 1
Row 4 - slip first stitch wyif, *knit 2, purl 3* 7 times, knit 1

Repeat these four rows for desired length ending with a Row 1; bind off loosely


Super fast, quick & easy - just the way I like it!

Free Pattern - Zebra hat

I used a 9" size 8 needle, but you could use a longer needle if you do magic loop, OR you can use double-point needles. I'd also recommend switching to double-point needles near the crown.

I also used a Clover Pom-pom maker  1-3/8" (35 mm) (though you can make your own pom-pom maker with cardboard... I just find the clover tool helps me make really full and fluffy pom-poms.

Sizes - preemie (medium preemie)

CO 36 (42) sts (or any multiple of 6) with black

Join in the round being careful not to twist
Knit 1 round with black
Purl 1 round with black
Knit 1 round with black
Purl 1 round with white
Knit 1 round with white
Purl 1 round with white

Stripes in body:
Knit 1 round with black
Knit 1 round with white
Repeat these last two rounds  until the hat is 3-3 1/2" tall

Decrease rounds

k4, k2tog repeat for the round

knit round

k3, k2tog repeat for the round

knit round

k2, k2tog repeat for the round

knit round

k1; k2tog repeat for the round

k2tog round

Break yarn and pull through all live stitches and pull tight

Ears (make 2)

CO 10 in black (leave a fairly long tail so you can seam the front of the ear & attach to hat)

(garter stitch)

Knit 5 rows

K1, KFB, K6, KFB, K1 (12 sts)

Knit 1 row

K1, KFB, K8, KFB, K1 (14 sts)

K6, K2tog, K6 (13 sts)

K6, K2tog, K5 (12 sts)

K5, k2tog, K5 (11 sts)

K4, slip 1, K2tog, pass slip stitch over, K4 (9 sts)

K3, slip 1, K2tog, pass slip stitch over, K3 (7 sts)

K2, slip 1, K2tog, pass slip stitch over, K2 (5 sts)

K2, K2tog, K1 (4 sts)

K1, K2tog, K1 (3 sts)

slip 1, K2tog, pass slip stitch over (1 st)

Cut yarn & pull through

Using the cast-on tail - fold the front of the ear together and seam up the front 5 rows together  - see photo

Then attach the ears securely to the top of the hat.

Hair

Make a black pom-pom and when trimming the ends, make each side a little flat.

Attach the 'hair' securely between the ears.

Weave in all ends

Free Pattern - Spook baby hat

Using approx. 30-60 yards of white yarn; and less than 10 yards of black yarn - worsted weight yarn

Small Baby pictured

Small Preemie (Larger Preemie, Small Baby, Medium baby)

CO 32 (40, 48, 56) join in the round being careful not to twist

(seed stitch for 4 rows)

K1, P1 - round 1

P1, K1 - round 2

K1, P1 - round 3

P1, K1 - round 4

Knit all stitches for subsequent rows until hat is 2" (3”, 3 1/2", 4") tall

Decreases (staggered)

k6, k2tog around for round 1

k4, k2tog once, then k5, k2tog  around for round 2

k5, k2tog; around for round 3

k6, k2tog once, then k4, k2tog around, then K remaining sts for round 4

K3, k2tog around for round 5

K2, k2tog around for round 6

K1, k2tog around for round 7

K2tog around for round 8

- continue any further decreases until you are reduced down to approx.

(5 sts)

K 3 rows  (swirl)

BO

Eyes - knit 2

CO 5 with black

P1, KFB, P1, KFB, P1(7 sts)

Slip 1, KFB, K3, KFB, K1 (9 sts)

P all sts

K all sts

Slip 1, P2tog, P3, P2tog, P1 (7 sts)

Slip 1, K2tog, K1, SSK, K1 (5 sts)

BO

Note - turn eyes sideways before securely stitching to hat

Use white thread to embroider pupils

Mouth -

CO3

K2, KFB (4 sts)

P all sts

K3, KFB (5 sts)

P all sts

K4, KFB (6 sts)

P all sts

K all sts

P2tog, P4 (5 sts)

K all sts

P2tog, P3 (4 sts)

K all sts

P2tog, P2 (3 sts)

BO

Stitch eyes & mouth to body very securely and weave in all ends.

Free Pattern - Striped Preemie Beanie

Super Simple pattern

Two sizes: Small Preemie and Large Preemie

I used scrap yarns to build these... but approximately 20-30 yards per color.

I used a 9" size 8 needle, but you could use a longer needle if you do magic loop, OR you can use double-point needles. I'd also recommend switching to double-point needles near the crown.

I also used a Clover Pom-pom maker  1-3/8" (35 mm) (though you can make your own pom-pom maker with cardboard... I just find the clover tool helps me make really full and fluffy pom-poms.

CO 40 (48) sts (or any multiple of 8) with main color (I used white)

Join in the round being careful not to twist
Knit 4 rounds with K1, P1 ribbing with the main color
Knit 2 rounds with just the Knit stitch with the main color
Knit 1 or 2 rounds with the contrasting color
Knit 2 rounds with the main color
Repeat these stripes 3 times (or you can continue the striping all the way through the decrease rounds).

Decrease round 1 - Knit 7 stitches, K2tog; repeat through end of round
Knit 1 round
Decrease round 2 - Knit 6, K2tog; repeat through end of round

Knit 1 round

Keep repeating the decrease rounds each time removing one knit stitch until you are down to 8 stitches in total in the round.

Cut the yarn for both colors, and use a darning needle to run through remaining stitches and tighten to close.

Using the clover tool and the contrast yarn - make a pom-pom leaving two ends. You want to feed both ends through the top of the crown on either side of the ring that was made when you finished the top of the hat and you want to knot this pom-pom exceptionally securely. You want the pom-pom to have NO GIVE (safety, right, not that most preemies will be grabbing the pom-pom, but you still want it to be safe.).

Weave in all ends.

Free Pattern - American flag Preemie Hat

I've been seeing a lot of super cute crochet baby hat patterns. Not so much knit patterns.

So, I guess, I feel like changing that a little bit.

Super simple pattern. I used scraps to make this, but would estimate around 20 to 30 yards of each color in worsted weight yarn. I used acrylic because the local hospital has requested that they be fully sanitize-able.

For the preemie size, I cast on 40 sts on a size 8 needle  9" circular needle (note: my gauge tends to run big, most knitters might want to start with a size 6).  I would also recommend having double-points for managing decreases at the crown.

CO 42 sts (or any multiple of 6) with red
Join in the round being careful not to twist
Knit 4 rounds in red
4 rounds in white
4 rounds in red
4 rounds in white
4 rounds in red (cut red yarn, leaving a long enough tail for weaving in later)
Knit 1 round in dark blue
Keeping your floats loose - use stranded knitting...
Star round 1 - Knit 1 white, knit 4 blue, repeat to end of round, knit remaining stitches in blue
Knit 2 rounds in blue
Star round 2 - decrease round 1 - Knit 2 stitches in blue, knit 1 white, knit 1 blue, K2tog blue, knit 1 blue; repeat through end of round; knit remaining stitches in blue.
Knit 2 rounds in blue
switch to double-points when necessary in the following rounds
Star 4 round 3 - decrease round 2 - Knit 1 white, K2tog blue, Knit 1 blue, repeat through end of round; knit any remaining stitches in blue (cut white yarn, leaving a long enough tail for weaving in later)
Decrease round 3 - Knit 2, K2tog, repeat through end of round
Decrease round 4 - Knit 1, K2tog, repeat through end of round

Cut blue yarn,  and use a darning needle to run through remaining stitches and tighten to close.

Weave in all ends.