Snowmen

A semi-non-knitting project, for a change.

At the crafting store and a little bit of inspiration hit. Originally, I was going to put each of these inside of the clear plastic ornaments... and make them into mini-snowballs ... but the bottom bead is too big to fit. I might re-try again with smaller beads... but these turned out pretty adorable as they are, don't you think?

Here's a close up, they are about 2" x 3/4":

I could probably use a little practice with the glue gun, but eh, clear glue & white snowmen. I'm good with this as my first try.

Supplies needed:
3/4" bead
1/2" bead
1/4" bead
sparkly and/or white pipecleaners
1-2 yards of sparkly yarn
Glue gun

Optional:
Heart-shaped bead, or what-ever type of bead you'd like them to hold

Here are the steps I used to make these.

FWIW - Steps 1 & 2 can be skipped if you can find white beads (sadly, I couldn't)
1. I created a jig by putting nails through the bottom of the box - pointing inward into the box, then using wrap so that paint wouldn't stick to the box
2. Spray-paint the beads white (I used 3 coats)

3. hot glue the beads
a. ensure that the hole for the biggest bead is vertical, and the top hidden by the middle bead
b. ensure that the hole for the middle bead runs horizontal (arms will go through it
c. ensure that the hole for the top bead is vertical, and the bottom of it is hidden by the middle bead... and the top can be hidden by the hat

4. I folded each pipe cleaner twice (made them the length I wanted and the thickness to hold well into the middle bead) - and push them through the middle bead & shape them into the position you'd like

5. Hot glue the heart (or other bead you'd like them to hold) to one arm

6. I crocheted an itty-bitty scarf & tie it around the neck of the snowman
Scarf pattern:
a. Chain 20 sts
(no really, that's it - other than the cut yarn & weave through the ends bit)

7. I knit a tiny hat & hot glued it to his head
Hat pattern:
CO 10 stitches (leave a 4-6" tail)
Using double points, I joined in the round & knit two rows
K2tog 5 times
Using double points, I switched to I-cord knitting  & knit two rows.
Cut yarn 4-6" away, and run through all live stitches & pull tight
Take the yarn from the tail and weave it through the inside of a couple of stitches - heading towards the top of the hat....
Tie the ends of the two yarn ends to use them for helping hang it to the tree

8. Took a black & orange fine point sharpies and drew in the face & belly buttons

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.

C2C Baby Blanket

I have been totally digging Bernat Blanket ... especially when making quick baby blankets.

Mom's & Dad's tend to love using these - they are SO soft and snuggly and while I've been told multiple times that you 'ought not' to do double crochet or half double crochet for baby blankets??? I'm pretty sure the people who are worried about baby fingers getting caught aren't aware of how super chunky the Bernat Blanket yarn is.

Add that it's fully machine washer safe (just lay flat to dry) and it's a great go-to for babies and those who do their laundry.

I've been playing with different, yet very simple patterns... but I'm really enjoying this pattern I just tried out.

Quick and Easy Baby Blanket is exactly what it states it is. I finished this blanket in under 6 hours. I used about 2 1/2 of the large balls of the yarn (had some scraps) and I have always liked using 2 colors or 3 for baby blankets. I'm not a huge fan of pink, but at least it's not a pale one...

Gotta love quick, easy, and snuggly. I will probably make several more of these for the other babies coming along!

First FO for September

A baby hat... made in my 2-color brioche pattern with a cute pom-pom.

I'm working on fine-tuning the pattern directions to make them easier for new-to-brioche knitters. (still have a ways to go... everything is simplified until you get to the decreases, then all kinds of confusion ensues).

I started this Friday evening after work, knit on it a bit this morning and during the football game and finished it after supper. It's completely reversible right up and until you add the pom-pom, but it's just the finishing touch that was needed.

Scraps of yarn were used, just random balls of yarn I pulled out of the scrap bin. I'm planning to make several more of these so that I can finalize the pattern directions and get them posted.