Knitted warm baby hats (and mittens)

Knitted baby hats

A new year has already begun and I missed all the opportunities for posts with Christmas ideas, (and St.Valentines tips as a matter of fact) and not that I don't have any ideas, I simply lack time...., or decent organizational skills as a mother of two kids (these are really hard to get - the decent organizational skills, as motherhood is filled with unexpected turns of events. Just this morning, when I thought that we have steady waking up routine around 8:00, my younger daughter woke up at 5:20).  Veeery nice! 

I've always prided myself on being good at organizing others, but parenthood proves me wrong. It is such a overwhelming duty, you either want to spend all your time with your little ones or you  just want to escape from them with Alice in "No Kids Ever Again Wonderland".  Well, no regrets have ever been shedded, but it is true that life is so much simpler without kids. You just have time for whatever you want, and oh, the simplicity to enjoy time.... But also it is true that when you have kids, you realize you have never before been happier. :)

'Children are not things to be moulded, but people to be unfolded' Jess Lair

Well aaaaanyway, this was supposed to be a post about knitted baby hats, not about my misconception of time. It is true however that with the scares bit of time I have, I craft more than blog. Knitting has been very relaxing lately and I have managed to complete few projects. And proud to say my first own design of (baby) hats.  Well, here it is:

Knitted baby hats pattern:

Free pattern for knitted baby/toddler and kids hats 

Needed materials:

• Yarn - Novita Isoveli (75 % wool and 25 % polyamide) - main color A and a bit extra color B
• Socks needles - size 5   
• Time: around 4 hours/ hat for a slow knitter like myself :) 

Pattern:

Before I start writing, I need to warn you that I have not mastered the secret Morse code of writing knitting patterns :) and if something seems a bit confusing, don't hesitate to ask in the comments.

Here it comes:

Baby Hat for 3-9 months old (the burgundy hat in the picture)

Cast off 60 stitches and distribute over to the socks needles - 4 x 15 stitches (or 15 stitches per needle). Start with the main color A.

1. K3, P2, rep to end of rnd, 6 rnds  for making the ribbing of the hat
7. YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st and transfer the neighboring sts over the knitted middle one, follow the same pattern when transferring, first the left st, then the right), YO, 2K, *to end of rnd
8. K all * to end of rnd
9. (Change color B) YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
10.  K all * to end of rnd
11. (Change to color A)  YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
12.  K all * to end of rnd
13. ( still Color A) YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
14.  K all * to end of rnd
15. (Change color B) YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
16.  K all * to end of rnd
17. (Change to color A)  YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
18.  K all * to end of rnd
19. (still Color A) YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
20.  K all * to end of rnd
21. (Change color B) YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
22.  K all * to end of rnd
23. K13, K2Tog, rep to end of rnd.
24. K12, K2Tog, rep to end of rnd.
25. K11, K2Tog, rep to end of rnd.
26. K10, K2Tog, rep to end of rnd.
27. K9, K2Tog, rep to end of rnd.
28. K8, K2Tog, rep to end of rnd.

Cut yarn. Weave through remaining sts and tie off. Weave in ends. And you are done!


Baby Hat 9-24 months old (the white hat in the picture) 

Cast off 65 stitches and distribute over the needles or 3 x 16 stitches and 1 x 17 stitches. Start with the main color A.

1. K3, P2, rep to end of rnd, 9 rnds  for making the ribbing of the hat
10. YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st and transfer the neighboring sts over the knitted middle one, follow the same pattern when transferring, first the left st, then the right), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
11. K all * to end of rnd
12. (Change color B) YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
13.  K all * to end of rnd
14. (Change to color A)  YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
15.  K all * to end of rnd
16. ( still Color A) YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
17.  K all * to end of rnd
18. (Change color B) YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
19.  K all * to end of rnd
20. (Change to color A)  YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
21.  K all * to end of rnd
21. (still Color A) YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
23.  K all * to end of rnd
24. (Change color B) YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
25.  K all * to end of rnd
26. (Change to color A)  YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
27.  K all * to end of rnd
28. (still Color A) YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
29.  K all * to end of rnd
30. (Change color B) YO, 3x1 (by K only the middle st), YO, 2K, rep to end of rnd
31.  K all * to end of rnd
32. K14 (on one of the needle you have to K15), K2Tog, rep to end of rnd.
33. K13, K2Tog, rep to end of rnd.
34. K12, K2Tog, rep to end of rnd.
35. K11, K2Tog, rep to end of rnd.
36. K10, K2Tog, rep to end of rnd.
37. K9, K2Tog, rep to end of rnd.
38. K8, K2Tog, rep to end of rnd.

Cut yarn. Weave through remaining sts and tie off. Weave in ends. And you are done with the bigger hat too!

Or in other words, in order to make the hat's diameter longer, I increased it with 5 stitches, because that is how many stitches contain one pattern of the ribbing (or K3+P2 = 5 Sts).  And in order to make the hat bigger, I increased the hat with one more repetition of the color A and B (or with 6 rnds = 4 rnds color A and 2 rnds color B). With the same logic you can make this pattern from a pattern for a baby/ toddler hat to a pattern for an adult by increasing the diameter and the length of the hat. 

I also made baby mittens to match the burgundy hat, which design I copied from another pair of mittens and I will share with you in another post. The mittens and the hat were the initial a gift for a Naming Ceremony of a friend's daughter, but my friend loved the hat so much, so I received an order for a bigger hat (sounds funny, she just asked for another). Nice isn't it? A recognition of my first very own design of knitted baby hat :).

Knitted mittens for a baby

And this would be the gift bag for the hat and the mittens. I love simplicity in gift wrapping. Don't you? 

Simple gift wrapping idea

Easy decoration for kids' clothing

It has been awhile, I have had time to post. And no wonder! Our family grew up in size with another member :) - our second daughter. It actually has been awhile and this month she turned eight months (ah, time flies!), but life with a toddler and a baby has been so hectic, so I haven't had any time to write in here.

Our family's latest member 

Even though the new addition to the family, the busy days and restless lifestyle with two small kids (our older daughter just turned three) I still found, once in while, time to craft. Most projects have been small and always late for the planned deadline, but it did not matter, at the end of the day, they were precious stolen flakes of personal time. 

So here it is, one of the easiest DYI project, of course in the spirit of the events taken place at home.

Two easy decorations for kids' clothing:

'

I. Decoration with buttons 

Easy decoration for kids clothing

Needed materials:

• T-shirt, that needs reviving :), my older daughter has been avoiding plain T-shirts this summer, and I decided to give them the opportunity to get back in the game
• Buttons
• Needle
• Threads, that match the buttons colors 
• imagination :) 

Easy decoration for kids clothing with buttons by steps

It is very, very easy to get it right. The only thing you actually need to pay attention to is the place, where you will sew the buttons. I gave a try with my model, my older daughter (she was very happy to help and eagerly put the T-shirt on) and measured the place on the right hand side. Then you simply sew the buttons up. And pretty much, that was it.  And the result was impressive, my kid could not literally take her hands of her "new" T-shirt. 

Tip: I collect all buttons from old pieces of clothing before I throw them away, but you might be able to find some very nice buttons ridiculously inexpensive at the local fabric shops. All shops have a collection of buttons that are left only one or two of a kind and they are giving them away for peanuts.

II. Decoration with adhesive patches for clothing

Easy decoration for kids clothing with adhesive patches

We all have plain T-shirts or shirts that simply beg for extra decoration, especially kids' pieces of clothing. So again an easy project that will make your kids happy with their plain T-shirts. 

Needed materials:

• fun adhesive patches
• plain T-shirts
• iron
• thread and needles (optional) 

Well, this is rather self-explanatory project :). All you need to do, again is measure the place you will place the patches, iron the patches and enjoy the result.

Tip: For better endurance, usually I add extra layer of iron-on glue. You can buy iron-on glue tape from any shop that sells sewing supplies, or in my case from IKEA. Make sure you use the ironing program without steam when you iron the patch. 

 

Optionally, you can sew the edges of the patch. This way the patch really stays on.

Good Luck! 

Tallinn after the rain

Tallinn, Estonia, is one of the most famous abroad destinations for Finns and expats living in Finland. "Abroad", as I should probably write in quotation marks, because almost any one from Helsinki has been to Tallinn at least few times in his life. 

Tallinn with its proximity to Helsinki makes the perfect destination for a short family weekend, a nice party trip with friends or just a place you would like to visit for literary a delicious lunch.  The trip to Tallinn takes in worst case 2,5 hours one direction with a ferry, and during the summer you can reach the city from Helsinki in a bit over an hour.

The trip with the ferry complements a nice walk you will most probably have in the Old Town Tallinn, no matter of the weather. In general, Tallinn offers you the opportunity to enjoy its authentic atmosphere, with medieval pubs, taverns, crafts shops and markets, old protestants temples and shiny orthodox churches together with new and lustrous architecture and shopping malls accompanied with the sound of the old trams and a hint of remembrance of the Soviet Union's cultural heritage along with the country's constant thrive to wash away its historical existence. But to my humble opinion all of this has already weaved in the city's atmosphere and any part of it has nicely found its place amusing tourists and visitors. And because of it, you can visit Tallinn hundreds of times, and you will still find something new or something unexplored. And all of this in a small capital city with less than half a million population, Tallinn definitely worth visiting.

Our family had wonderful time in the city, and although it was a rainy day and occasionally rained cats and dogs, it could not ruin our lovey family walk. Supplied with rain coats, rubber boots and a rain cover for the push chair, we still enjoyed both rainy and post rainy Tallinn, with the charming glimmers of the rain drops and the water puddles on the cobble streets. And oh, the smell of the rain... 

I am loquacious, as you notice and can go on writing about Tallinn, but instead I'll let you have a look at some of the pictures made there. And I hope that next time you consider a destination to travel to, my random ramblings about the beauty of a city charmingly combining the cultural sensibility of the North and East, will help you remember Tallinn.  

I am sure Tallin will welcome you warmly.

Tere tulemast or "Welcome" in Estonian! 

The crafts market in Old Town Tallinn

Pubs, taverns, and protestants temples in Old Town Tallinn

The view above in Old Town Tallinn

The square in Old Town Tallinn - perfect tourists' destination

Pub in Old Town Tallinn

Charming café waiting for its customers in the labyrinth of cobble streets of Old Town Tallinn

Souvenirs shop in Old Town Tallinn 

Our family walk in Old Town Tallinn 

Crocheted basket from tricot yarn

Few months have passed since my last post. Summer is usually a busy season for us, as we travel outside Finland in July or August, and while in Finland we would like to collect as much sun as possible, so our family stays outside quite a lot. And all this unfortunately means no time for posting, but luckily enough it still means time for crafting.

This June I managed to complete a late birthday gift to a friend - a crocheted tricot yarn basket. Although two months late (oops!), the basket turned out quite nice and it was a good compensation (according to her reaction) for the time she had to wait for her birthday gift. Well, it's one of a kind :), so compensatory enough, I think :))... (oh, modest me!).  

But enough about me, more about this lovely basket by Me. :)))) 

You'll be curious to know that this basket even though its huge size, stitches wise, it's not a lot bigger than another basket project of mine - the Paper Straw Yarn Crocheted Basket. The inspiration for this basket came from Liz's wonderful blog - Crochet in color, although I used different yarn (tricot yarn) I did use her technique for the bottom of the basket. And one more difference, the bottom of the basket I made was single crochet stitches only. As a matter of fact the whole basket is single crochet stitches only. 

So pretty much the basics: 

The size of the tricot yarn crocheted basket

Needed: 

• around a kilogram of thick tricot yarn (I had a little left over). And mind the thickness of the tricot yarn, as this way the basket will stay firm and erected. Also before buying tricot yarn, check its flexibility and stretchability, the less it stretches, the firmer the basket will be. 
• a crochet hook size 11.5 (American size 16)
• around two weeks of an hour a day crocheting 

and the pattern: 

Bottom: 

Rnd 1: 6 sc in a circle. Join with sl st.

Rnd 2: Ch 2 sc in each st. Join with sl st. (12 hdc)

Rnd 3: Ch 2 sc in same st, sc in next st * around (or 2 sc in every second st). Join with sl st. (18 sc)

Rnd 4: Ch 2 sc in same st, sc in next 2 sts, complete *times around (or 2 sc in every third st). Join with sl st. 

Rnd 5: Ch 2 sc in same st, sc in next 3 sts, complete *times (or 2 sc in every fourth st). Join with sl st. 

Rnd 6: Ch 2, sc in same st, sc in next 4 sts, complete *times (or 2 sc in every fifth st). Join with sl st. 

Rnd 7: Ch 2, sc in same st, sc in next 5 sts, complete *times (or 2 sc in every sixth st). Join with sl st. 

The process of crocheting a tricot yarn basket

Rnd 8: Ch 2, sc in same st, sc in next 6 sts, complete *times (or 2 sc in every seventh st). Join with sl st. (64 hdc)

Rnd 9: Ch 2, sc in same st, sc in next 7 sts, complete *times (or 2 sc in every eight st). Join with sl st. (72 hdc)

The bottom of the tricot yarn crocheted basket

Rnd 10: For completing the bottom, as mentioned I've used Liz's technique, and I would recommend her explanations, for many reasons, but mainly that I could not possibly explain them clearer. 

Basket: 

Rnd 11- 20: Ch 1 sc in the same st  all around. Join with sl st. Repeat *.  

Rnd 21: Ch 1 sc in the same st  in 11 st around, ch 12 chs over the basket and join over with sc in the 10th sc on the edge of the basket (this will make the handles of the basket. If this explanations if not clear enough, I apologize).  Ch 1 sc in the same st in the next 21 st around and then ch 12 chs and join over with sc in the 10th sc on the basket. Ch 1 sc in the same st  in 11 st around. Join with sl st. 

Rnd 22: Ch 1 sc in the same st *times around (over the handles as well). Join with sl st and complete. Cut the yarn. 

A tricot yarn crocheted basket can be very handy used for storing pretty much anything

And this was it. The basket turned out quite nice and spacious. I am actually planing to make a bit bigger one for my daughter's toys, and may be next time try a square one. I hope all instructions were comprehensible (if not please ask), as I have said before, I am still learning. Good Luck to all!

Spring project: Knitted pots from recycled tin cans

It is spring! Although in Finland we might need to wait a bit more to actually feel it. Spring is usually late in Finland, but this year particularly very veeeeery late. So, while waiting for it, I decided to encourage its appearance at least at our home. 

And how? By adding extra green and colors in my kitchen and balcony always helps me feel like spring might be coming soon. So this is what I did - extra green and colors or in other words spring flowers (usually we buy narcissus but this year I got as a gift  very nice dark pink flowers, that make me smile a lot too) and grass. Yes grass! While waiting for spring with its flowering appearance people in Finland sow grass in pots in inside - quite traditional around Easter, mainly to celebrate Spring. I like that tradition, although it took me few years to adopt that habit, but now I am quite frequent. 

This spring, I decided to do something different - to plant my grass in recycled tin cans and knit nice covers for the pots. 

Transforming a tin can into a lovely knitted pot

I am huge fan of recycling (even fanatic I may say) and when I saw this idea on Etsy, I had to do it too. 

To my opinion tin cans are just perfect for almost any crafting, knitting, painting, baking....project. And this looked like an excellent way to practice five needles knitting, so basically my initial reaction was: 'Oh! what am I waiting for?'. 

So I got the tin cans, the yarn - Kelo by Novita - a very popular brand in Finland, number 7 bamboo needles by Hemtex, the patterns and there was I - knitting the tin cans some socks :).  

I would like to come back to the bamboo needles topic, because as a beginner hobby knitter I have heard quite a bit about bamboo needles and decided to try myself. Those that I bought, were cheap, I admit but they worked perfect for me. Smooth service, easy to handle, in general quite nice. As a complete beginner, I can recommend them. I kind of liked the nice 'warm' touch they have compared to metal knitting needles. But that could be just me. :)))) 

Knitted pots for tin cans

For both pots I cast on 28 stitches. One of the patterns was a simple exercise of cable knitting. The other one, I got from a blog called "Watch Knitting" by Fariba Zahed. As a beginner I do watch a lot of instructions and videos about knitting and her blog and Drops Desing's videos are one of the best. Definitely worth looking at them - it's knitting made easy for any one :).  So the pattern I used for the other one of the tin can socks is called: Hexagonal pattern and even though it might look difficult it's rather easy to make. 

Here are the instructions from Fariba's site, with an tiny addition - point 9, by me: 

Row 1)  2 knits, 2 purls,… up to the end

Row 2)  knit and purl as they appear,…up to the end

Row 3)  2 knits, 2 purls,…up to the end

Row 4)  2 knits, 2 purls, * then insert right needle between 6th and 7th stitches in the left needle from front side,while the yarn is behind the work, and turn yarn around the right needle and pull it out .Now knit the pulled yarn with the first stitch in the left needle and continue with one more knit, then 2 purls, 2 knits. here the first line is complete. Then purl 2 more stitches and repeat from *

NOTE: no matter of how many stitches you have and with which stitch you have started , the pulled yarn will cover (2knits+2purls+2knits )

Row 5,6,7 ) knit and purl as they appear,…up to the end

Row 8 ) (2 knits, 2 purls) twice, then repeat from *

Row 9) Start from row 1 again on every ninth row. This way the pulled yarn will advanced in in chess-board order.

You can watch the video in You Tube too.

 Hexagonal pattern on the left, cable knitting on the right 

Knitted pots close-up

Recycle, knit, grow..... 

This is really a great project to bring spring to your home, it takes around two weeks to see the grass coming out, but it definitely worth to wait. Of course, instead of grass you can plant herbs, some blossoming plans, or anything that requires a small pot. And the 'tin can socks' can be various colors or patterns. I happen to like white quite a lot. 

Good Luck! 

Paper Straw Yarn Crocheted Basket

Crocheted basket from paper straw yarn

Every day I learn something new. This time is was a surprisingly easy and lovely way to crochet baskets. My neighbour had this great tricot yarn crocheted baskets so I just asked her once where she bought them from.  "I made them. It's very easy. I'll show you if you want." was her answer. So one day, here she was at our home with a crochet hook and tricot yarn. Took few repetitions of the beginning, but here was - I crocheting  a basket. 

A week later, while looking for a suitable yarn for another basket, I saw the paper straw yarn and had this image in my head of a hand-made crocheted basket. So, I bought yarn and the result of my efforts was simply lovely.  

Lovely hand-made paper straw yarn crocheted basket

The pattern I used is the only one I can crochet :) so far, and because I am just starting with the abbreviations in crocheting, I did a little search to find one, if some one is interested to make a basket of his/ her own. 

All in all needed materials:

• Size 3 crochet hook
• Paper straw yarn
• 5 hours of your time :) 

Paper straw yarn crocheted basket - bottom in and out 

The patterns can be seen here - but for this basket I advanced the bottom only until round 10 from the instructions and the basket is around 10 cm tall. It took me around 5 hours to make it, as I needed to take some breaks. The paper straw yarn is very hard and it harms your fingers if you keep crocheting longer.

As this was a gift, I made a little crocheted daisy for a decoration (again within my abilities skills). Here you can find instructions from you tube, how you can crochet a daisy yourself. 

Paper yearn crocheted basket and daisy

I tied the daisy to the basket and it made a lovely gift. 

DYI paper straw yarn crocheted basket - an excellent way to store anything that can't find a place for.

Enjoy!

Vintage Stories Photos Makeover

I have been planning this post for over a month, and I realized I am not ready with it. There is so much to do for it so I thought that I might need to make few small post. 

What it is all about you might wonder? Well, lately I have been having these ideas for vintage decoration in my head, so I have been trying to let my ideas crystallize before they make an appearance. 

I don't know why, but this spring has brought me ideas in black and white, wrapped with fine and transparent laces.... 

I spent some time looking for ideas and materials for vintage decoration in thrift shops. To my opinion thrift shops provide great opportunities to find necessary old and vintage supplies that help your imagination let go. Once I was happy with the hunt, then it was a little bit of cutting, sewing and assembling. The project was done in no time, with the taking of the pictures but then, I again let my imagination go with the images. Took a bit to get what I wanted from the first images, which you can see down, but I realized that it will take too much time to publish the whole post. 

So here they come the first "Vintage Stories" images. I tried to achieve a vintage and old look of the images. Whether I have succeeded or not it is you to judge.  I know I am far from professional, but I sure enjoyed the process. And this was achieved without using Photoshop software! Wait till I master that one :))))). 

Vintage look Photo Makeover - lace box and a vase with dried "lily of the valley" flowers

For the written quotation in this image, I used Marilyn Monroe's quote about life, love and companionship. I find it quite suitable, true and inspirational. 

“This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And baby, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soulmate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.”  ― Marilyn Monroe

Vintage Photo look - roses and lace

Vintage Makeover Shots - roses and lace in two colors 

Vintage Makeover - a vase and a lace box  -BW and color  (stress on the orange)

Photography Vintage Colorful Makeover - roses and lace in orange and red

Vintage Makeover Photo - a dried flowers vase and a lace box - color

This will be the end of part one of the spring "Vintage Stories". I will be back soon with the second one. If any reader has some comments about the images, please do not hesitate to share them. 

Thank you! With wishes for a Vintage Spring Story :) on your way!