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

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!