Apples and Oranges

I'm currently homeless.

Well, that isn't exactly true. We still own our house, but we're renting it out while our new home is being built... and in the meantime, I'm living with my in-laws. So in a way, I nearly have three places, but none of them are "Home". Not saying my in-laws place is bad, because really, I can't complain. But there is something to be said for having your own place/space.

I decided it would be best to keep our two older kids in their schools since our new home will be in the same neighborhood/school boundaries. But their schools have different start and end times and the in-laws live 30 minutes away, so I'm spending a lot of time behind the wheel and nearly of all the rest of my time and energy are spent keeping my 2 year old from destroying my in-law's non-childproof-home. Whew!

What does any of this have to do with knitting? Not much. But if you ask me how much knitting I've been able to do because of all of this, I'd give you the same answer.

I have been able to eke out a few small projects:

I made me some Bella's Mittens (by Marielle Henault) I had no idea these mittens had anything to do with Twilight when I started them. (sorry, not a fan) I just thought they were really cute.
I gotta say... I. Love. These. Mittens.

AND

I made a few Silly Apple Cozies (by: Casey Newman) for my girls to give their teachers for Christmas. I didn't have the right size apple to model the cozies, so I used oranges.
I think it's kind of cute that way, with Christmas Oranges being a tradition as well as the whole apple/teacher thing.

Hats for Carrie

A good friend of mine recently underwent brain surgery. Carrie is the kind of person who would do anything in the world for someone else, but won't let people do things for her. I kept asking what I could do to help out. Cooking... no. Cleaning... no. Child care... no. But when I asked if she's let me knit her a hat... yes! She had to have part of her head shaved, so she agreed and was actually excited for me to knit her a hat.

I quickly knit up a Koolhaas for her.

Then I thought I should knit up another option, in case she didn't like the Koolhaas.
So I knit up a Lace-leaf hat next.

Unsure of which one she would want, I knit up an adult version of my "Totem" pattern.

Can you tell I'm indecisive? So now I'm off to give her all three!

"Totem" Cabled Hat Pattern

By: Amy Andersen



Materials Used:
Approximately 110 yards worsted weight yarn of choice
1- US #6 circular or DPNs as desired
1- US #7 circular or DPNs as desired, or size needed to obtain gauge
1- Cable needle (CN)
1- Stitch marker
1- Tapestry needle

Size:
Toddler, approx. size 16-19'' head.

Gauge:
20 sts. and 26 rows per 4 square inches, in stockinette stitch with size 7 needle

Abbreviations:
C2F = slip 1 st. to CN, hold to front, K1, K st. from CN
C4F = slip 2 sts. to CN, hold to front, K2, K sts. from CN
C6F = slip 3 sts. to CN, hold to front, K3, K sts. from CN
C8F = slip 4 sts. to CN, hold to front, K4, K sts. from CN
C2B = slip 1 st. to CN, hold to back, K1, K st. from CN
C4B = slip 2 sts. to CN, hold to back, K2, K sts. from CN
C6B = slip 3 sts. to CN, hold to back, K3, K sts. from CN
C8B = slip 4 sts. to CN, hold to back, K4, K sts. from CN
P2tog = purl two sts. together
K2tog = knit two sts. together
SSK = slip 1 st., slip 1 st. p-wise, knit slipped sts. together
SL2togP1psso = slip 2 sts. as if to k2tog, P1, then pass the 2 slipped sts. over the st. just purled
Sl2togK1psso = slip 2 sts. as if to k2tog, K1, then pass the 2 slipped sts. over the st. just knit


Pattern:
Using smaller circular needle, CO 88 sts. Place marker and join in round.

Rounds 1-6: K2, P2

Change to larger circular needle


Round 7&8: K2, P3, K4, P3, K8, P3, K8, P2, K2, P2, K16, P2, K2, P2, K8, P3, K8, P3, K4, P3

Rounds 9, 10, 11: Same as rounds 7&8

Round 12: K2, P3, C4F, P3, C8F, P3, C4F, C4B, P2, K2, P2, C8B, C8F, P2, K2, P2, C4F, C4B, P3, C8B, P3, C4B, P3

Rounds 13, 14, 15: Same as rounds 7&8

Round 16: K2, P3, C4B, P3, K8, P3, C4B, C4F, P2, K2, P2, K16, P2, K2, P2, C4B, C4F, P3, K8, P3, C4F, P3

Repeat rounds 9-16 three more times

Repeat rounds 9-12 then begin decreasing

Decreases:
(Piece should measure approx. 6 inches)

Round 1: K2, P2tog, P1, K4, P1, P2tog, K8, P1, P2tog, K8, P2, K2, P2, SSK, K12, K2tog, P2, K2, P2, K8, P2tog, P1, K8, P2tog, P1, K4, P1, P2tog (80 sts, remaining)

Round 2: K2, P2, K4, P2, K8, P2, K8, P2, K2, P2, K14, P2, K2, P2, K8, P2, K8, P2, K4, P2

Round 3: K2, P2, K4, P2tog, K8, P2tog, K8, P2tog, K2, P2tog, K14, P2tog, K2, P2tog, K8, P2tog. K8, P2tog, K4, P2 (72 sts. remaining)

Round 4: K2, P2, C4B, P1, K8, P1, C4B, C4F, P1, K2, P1, K14, P1, K2, P1, C4B, C4F, P1, K8, P1, C4F, P2

Round 5: K2, P2tog, K4, P1, SSK, K4, K2tog, P1, K8, P1, K2, P1, K5, K2tog, SSK, K5, P1, K2, P1, K8, P1, SSK, K4, K2tog, P1, K4, P2tog (64 sts. remaining)

Round 6: K2, P1, K4, P1, K6, P1, K8, P1, K2, P1, K12, P1, K2, P1, K8, P1, K6, P1, K4, P1

Round 7: K2, P1, SSK, K2tog, P1, K6, P1, SSK, K2tog, SSK, K2tog, P1, K2, P1, K12, P1, K2, P1, SSK, K2tog, SSK, K2tog, P1, K6, P1, SSK, K2tog, P1 (52 sts. remaining)

Round 8: K2, P1, C2F, P1, C6F, P1, C2F, C2B, P1, K2, P1, C6B, C6F, P1, K2, P1, C2F, C2B, P1, C6B, P1, C2B, P1

Round 9: K2tog, P1, K2, P1, K6, P1, K4, P1, K2tog, P1, SSK, K2, K2tog, SSK, K2, K2tog, P1, K2tog, P1, K4, P1, K6, P1, K2, P1 (45 sts. remaining)

Round 10: Remove stitch marker, unpurl the last stitch of the last round, place stitch marker. Sl2togP1psso. K2, P1, SSK, K2, K2tog, P1, K4, Sl2togP1psso, K8, Sl2togP1psso, K4, P1, SSK, K2, K2tog, P1, K2 (35 sts. remaining)

Round 11: K1, K2tog, P1, K4, P1, SSK, K2tog, P1, K8, P1, SSK, K2tog, P1, K4, P1, K2tog (29 sts. remaining)

Round 12: K2, P1, SSK, K2tog, P1, K2tog, P1, C4B, C4F, P1, K2tog, P1, SSK, K2tog, P1, K1, (23 sts. remaining)

Round 13: Remove stitch marker, unknit the last stitch of the last round, place stitch marker. Sl2togK1psso, P1, K2tog, Sl2togP1psso, SSK, K2tog, SSK, K2tog, Sl2togP1psso, K2tog, P1 (11 sts. remaining)

Cut yarn leaving a tail. With tapestry needle, draw yarn through remaining 11 sts. Pull tight, knot. Weave in ends.


I'm working on several sizes and charts for this pattern. Once I have all of those, this may no longer be a free pattern, so enjoy it for now!

I'm Back... Kind Of.

This adorable little guy is the main reason I haven't done much knitting or blogging lately. Baby Mason was born June 13. Another contributing factor is the fact that we put our house up for sale this summer. No rest for the weary! I'd like to say life will slow down soon so I can pull out the knitting needles again sometime soon, but it might not happen until our house sells. (hopefully soon!) In the meantime, here are a few of my more recent projects.

Here's my newborn version of Nottingham by Melissa Mall

And a Cabled Baby Hat by Julie Hentz.

My go-to baby gift hat. Very quick and easy!

And a Cable Vest by Sarah Hoadley
for my friend's baby, born the day after Mason.

Legwarmies

I'm at the point in life where nearly everyone I know is having babies. So, I'm always looking for baby gift ideas. I've been excited to try out Legwarmies by Alana Dakos. I finally did and I love them!

I used some of the extra yarn to make a "Spring" Baby Headband to match...

...and still had enough yarn to make a pair for my 6 year old's Birthday. She was so excited to have a pair in time for crazy sock day at school.
(I might even have enough yarn left over for one more pair!)

"Mason" Cabled Baby Blanket

Whew, I’m glad to be done with this blanket. It’s been an extremely frustrating project. (but I did learn a lot!)
First of all, I ordered the yarn online for the first time. I didn’t love it. Even after researching a lot of projects made with this color, it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. You can tell by the pictures that it looks very different in different light settings. But I was making it for a baby due in June and I didn’t want to go through the hassle of returning and re-ordering and knitting a gift last minute… so I stuck with it. I really didn’t love knitting with this yarn either. It was splitty and I didn’t like the way it knit up. I choose the yarn based on other comments, and for washability, but I wish I’d used a blend or a washable wool.
I really wanted to make a simple stockinette blanket with cables down the sides but the curse of the stockinette curl haunted me. After several swatches I thought I’d be safe with a small garter stitch boarder that I could attach an I cord boarder to. At first it seemed to be working, but after I was a substantial way though the blanket, it became clear to me that the edges were going to curl… border or not.
I kept knitting anyway, hoping it would be fixable in the end. When I finished, I pretty much hated the blanket and told my husband to throw it out while I was at work. He asked, “Can’t you block it or something?” (Bless his heart, he's learning knitting terms!) I decided to give it a try, but I know acrylic doesn’t really block in the traditional sense, so I used an iron on steam setting and placed a cloth between the blanket and the iron and killed the border until it stayed flat. I've never killed anything before, but I have to say, I kind of liked it.
Done. And Done.

Selling My First Pattern!

The pattern for my "June" Reversible Cables Baby Blanket can be purchased through Ravelry. Just click HERE.

"Totem" Cabled Hat

I recently wrote up the pattern for this little newborn hat. I think I'll eventually make an adult sized one. I had fun playing around with several different cables. I. Love. Cables. In the end, the cables made me think of totem poles, hence the name.

Back view

Hats for the Nieces

I just finished making hats for my nieces, Abby and Lexie. I adjusted Grumperina's Odessa hat pattern to fit a 5 year old:

I love the look of this hat!

I adjusted Sofiya Cremin's Butterfly Hat pattern to fit a 7 year old.

I also added a few of the left over beads from the Odessa, because Maddie said that Abby would be sad if her hat wasn't as "pretty" as Lexie's. Apparently when you're a little girl, beads = pretty.

"Oliver" Jogless Stipes Hat

By: Amy Andersen

Never done jogless stripes before? Don’t worry, they are easy to do and written into the pattern for you.

Free Pattern

Materials Used:

3 different colored skeins (approximately 60 yards of each) of Plymouth Encore worsted weight yarn or worsted weight yarn of choice

1- 16 inch US #2 circular needle

1- 16 inch US #4 circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge.

1- 24 inch (or longer) US #4 needle, for decreases done using magic loop method, or US #4 double point needles

1- Stitch marker

1- Tapestry needle

Size: Mens, approx. size 22-23'' head.

Gauge: 5.75 sts. per inch or 23 sts. and 33 rows per 4 square inches in stockinette stitch with size 4 needle.

Abbreviations:

K2tog = Knit two stitches together

SL1p= Slip one stitch purl-wise

Note: This hat is designed to covers ears completely, if you prefer a shorter hat, you could modify by doing one fewer repeat of rounds 9-14.

Pattern:

Using size 2 needle, CO: 114 in color #1, place marker and join in round

Rounds 1-8: K2, P1

Change to size 4 needle and color #2

Round 9: Knit round

Round 10: SL1p, knit remaining round

Rounds 11-14: Knit round

Change to color #3, Repeat rounds 9-14

Change to color #1, Repeat rounds 9-14

Change to color #2, Repeat rounds 9-14

Change to color #3, Repeat rounds 9-14

Change to color #1, Repeat rounds 9-13

Decreases: (Piece should measure approx. 5 ½ inches)

Round 1: K6, *K2tog, K10* (105 sts. remaining)

Round 2: Change to color #2, knit round

Round 3: SL1p, knit remainder of round

Round 4: K3, *K2tog, K9* K2tog, K1 (95 sts. remaining)

Rounds 5-6: Knit round

Round 7: K6, *K2tog, K8* K2tog, K7 (86 sts. remaining)

Round 8: Change to color #3 then knit round

Round 9: SL1p, knit remainder of round

Round 10: K4, *K2tog, K7* K1 (77 sts. remaining)

Round 11: Knit round

Round 12: K2, *K2tog, K6* K2tog, K1 (67 sts. remaining)

Round 13: Knit round

Round 14: Change to color #1, *K2tog, K5*, K2tog, K2 (57 sts. remaining)

Round 15: SL1p, knit remainder of round

Round 16: K2, *K2tog, K4*, K1 (48 sts. remaining)

Round 17: Knit round

Round 18: K1, *K2tog, K3* K2tog (38 sts. remaining)

Round 19: Knit round

Round 20: *K2tog* (19 sts. remaining)

Round 21: *K2tog*, knit last stitch of round together with first stitch of next round.

Round 22: *K2tog* until 6 sts. remain. Cut yarn leaving a tail. With tapestry needle, draw yarn through remaining 6 sts. Pull tight, knot. Weave in ends.

After knitting my husband some mittens (seen below), I had some yarn left over and he requested a hat to match, so this is what I came up with. On a side-note, his name isn’t Oliver, but the colors he chose reminded me of olives.

Used "Warmest Mittens" pattern by Kris Percival.

"June" Reversible Cables Baby Blanket

By: Amy Andersen


I designed this blanket because I love cables, but I don’t like there to be a “wrong side” of a blanket. So I made a reversible cables baby blanket.

It's currently in the testing phase, but I hope to have it up for sale soon!

"Spring" Baby Headband

by: Amy Andersen


Free Pattern

Materials Used:
2 colors of Plymouth Encore Worsted Weight (used very little of two skeins of yarn)
1- US #5/3.75mm circular needle
1- Tapestry needle



Sizes:
New Baby
12 month +



Notes: In order to make the cast on and bind off match, I used long tail cast on and Elizabeth Zimmerman’s “cast off”. You can find more information on this cast off HERE.















New Baby:
CO: 68 sts in contrast color. Join to work in the round. Knit a few stitches and place stitch marker. (The stripes won’t match up exactly, but this will be covered up by the flower.)
Rows 1-6: K3, P1 in main color
Row 7: K3, P1 in contrast color
Bind off. Weave in ends.
Top with Flower of your choice.
*Flower Pattern recommendations: Pacifier Clips: Flower, by Susan B. Anderson (knit) or Slinky Crochet Flower by Teresa Richardson (crochet)



12 month+:
CO: 84 sts in contrast color. Join to work in the round. Knit a few stitches and place stitch marker. (The stripes won’t match up exactly, but this
will be covered up by the flower.)
Rows 1-8: K3, P1 in main color
Row 9: K3, P1 in contrast color
Bind off. Weave in ends.
Top with Flower of your choice.
*Flower Pattern recommendations: Pacifier Clips: Flower, by Susan B. Anderson (knit) or Slinky Crochet Flower by Teresa Richardson (crochet)