40 hats in 40 days week 6

I ran out of my blue yarn this week!  That is over 1000 yards of yarn in hats for boys or about 6/10 of a mile.  Had to do some quick changes on my pattern choices as a result.  Here are this weeks hats:

Day 29 - The Shadow Stripes Hat designed by Patti Pierce Stone.  I love how the purl stitches create the swirl stripe pattern in this hat and the ribbing pattern is unique.  The PDF can be downloaded for free here.  

Day 30 - Little Bittie Noggin Cap designed by Andee Graves.  A quick little hat designed specifically for the Save the Children hat campaign.  You can find the free pattern on Andee's blog, and an adorable pic of her little one wearing it, by clicking here.

Day 31 - The Three Textured Baby Hat designed by Heather Tucker.  While the basic hat pattern is the same, Heather has designed three different textures for you to choose from for your hat.  I chose the King Charles Brocade design, but you can choose the Little Checks or the English Diamond blocks.  You can get the pattern for all three on her blog here.

Day 32 - The Half Double Crochet Preemie Hat from Handcrafting with Love.  I didn't work my rows in the back loops as the pattern calls for cuz I just noticed that the pattern calls for it when I was verifying links for this post (oops!) which is probably why I felt the pattern worked out to be a bit small and I worked extra rows to compensate.  Once completed but before joining I worked a pom pom at the top by chaining 15 and then slip stitching to the next row all across the top.  Then join the sides and gather the top.  You can find the free pattern in sizes extra small to extra large here.

Day 33 - The Preemie Beanie designed by Lyn Rowley for her grandson who was born at 30 weeks.  It is easily adjustable but as written it will fit a small newborn.  You can find the pattern over at Rowley Poly Bird here. This was worked up in Simply Soft yarn.

Day 34 - the Aston designed by Maxcine DeGouttes and featured on Stitch Therapy Brooklyn as the June 2009 hat of the month.  It uses the Barley Sugar stitch.  The direct link to the PDF pattern is here.  This pattern is no longer available for Free (as of 2/2015).  You can purchase it from Ravelry here for $2 USD I worked this using Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn.

I can't believe there are only 6 hats left!  Have a great week.


Until next time,

40 Hats in 40 Days week 5

This is going to be a quick post.  Been a pretty busy week this week and I haven't really had time to update much of anything.  The weather has been crazy (i think our friend Phil the groundhog played a joke on us) with snow flurries, rain, 65 degree days followed by 40 degree days.  It has been difficult to get decent pictures of the hats so please keep that in mind when you are looking at the pictures.  That being said, here are last weeks hats:

Day 23 - the Summer Shells Baby hat designed by Beverly Button.  I used a G hook to get more of a newborn sized hat.  You can find the link to the PDF pattern for this hat as well as many others on her page here.

Day 24 - The Granny Hat designed by The Quiet Koala.  I really love the look of a granny hat but this one turned out rather large when following the directions so I took the time to modify this to get a true newborn size.  I used an F hook and had to omit the last round of hdc. Only worked 6 rounds of the granny pattern before working 3 rounds of sc. I ended up with a newborn size beanie with a circumference of 11-12 inches and a height of 4.5 - 5 inches.  I think it turned out pretty well.  You can find her pattern here.  

Day 25 - This one is called Smooches and was designed by Kristen Jancuk.  I love the X O pattern around the edge of the hat.  You can download the free PDF for this pattern from Ravelry here.  

Day 26 - is the Newborn Crochet Beanie Pattern designed by Dear Baby G.  There is an alternate boy style edging on the pattern as well.  While I am not overly fond of Dear Baby G's blog subtitle, the pattern makes it worth overlooking.  You can find the direct link to the pattern on her blog here.  

Day 27 - I think this is my favorite hat so far.  It is the Knitted Baby Bow hat designed by Twenty Something Granny.  Super simple and quick to knit up but it is adorable (the picture doesn't do it justice!).  I love that she created the pattern because of a picture she saw on Pinterest.  You can find her free pattern (and see the original Pinterest pic) here.  

Day 28 - Little Petals Baby Crocodile Stitch Hat designed by Laura Tegg.  I had been curious about the crocodile stitch so when I saw this pattern I decided to give it a try.  It isn't a difficult stitch, but it is a yarn eater!  You can find this hat in 3 different sized as a PDF download on Ravelry here.  

So those are my hats from last week.  Hard to believe that there are only 12 hats left!  

Until next time,

40 hats in 40 days week 4

This week was for the boys again.  I also got a little behind this week and found myself having to do some work on Sunday to catch up.  I have got to remember that some of these knitting projects take longer to complete than crochet!   Here are the hats I made:

Day 17 - The Gooseberry Hat designed by Suvi Simola.  You can download the PDF pattern available on Ravelry here.  I cast on 72 stitches to get a smaller, newborn size.  The pattern is easily adjustable.

Day 18 - The Ribbed Crochet Preemie Hat designed by Donetta Johnson and available on her blog One Day at a Time.  The direct link is here.  This one is super stretchy and easily adjustable!

Day 19 - The Basketweave Baby Hat designed by Carole Barenys.  I had to make some adjustments to get a newborn size.  I cast on 68, only worked 6 rows of ribbing and worked the pattern for 4.5 inches before beginning decreases.  I have always liked a basketweave pattern!  You can find this pattern on Carole's sight, Carole's Baby Knits or by clicking here.

  Day 20 - Owl hat designed by yours truly. Sorry about the picture quality, so not a photographer here.  You can find my pattern here.

Day 21 - Preemie Hat #4584 by Bernat Design Studios.  This hat took FOREVER to complete.  It is basically an 8 inch single crochet tube.  Not my favorite pattern and one I probably won't make again.  You do have to join the Bernat site to get access to this pattern but membership is free and you will have TONS of free patterns at your fingertips once you join.  You can find the pattern here.

Day 22 - Crochet Cables Baby Hat designed by Emma Duffy.  This one works up super quick and I really like the cable look.  You can find the pattern on her blog, Crafty Corner, or go directly to the pattern by clicking here.

It's back to the girls next week and I have a couple of patterns I can't wait to try.  If you have a free pattern you think would be perfect for this, please share it with me!  It is about this point in my personal challenge that I begin to start panicking about finding cute, free patterns.  You can leave them in the comments section or send me an email.

Until next time,

Let. It. Go. week 4

"Changing our circumstances rarely changes us.  What transforms our outlook and us is an attitude shift.  It's God's job to determine our circumstances.  It's our job to cooperate with him in the midst of them, adjusting and realigning our attitudes with the truth of Scripture."

I spent years trying to change the circumstances to make me happy.  I had a bad home life growing up, so I got out as soon as I could.  I still wasn't happy.  I was lonely so I started dating early, that didn't make me happy.  My first relationship was rocky, so I got pregnant (not on purpose, but we weren't trying to prevent it either).  That didn't help anything. Changing circumstances won't change us, and I was what needed to change.  I couldn't find happiness because I was looking to the world to make me happy, when only God could fill that hole in my heart.   I had to shift my attitude.

The issues in my life were orchestrated to show me that He was the key to heart.  Once I accepted that and began to cooperate with Him, I found happiness.  But I still have to remember Scriptural truths.  My flesh is weak and more often than I like it wants to revert back to the person who blames everything around her for how she feels rather than dig deep into God's truths and look to Him for my joy.  This is why it is so important for us to stay grounded in His word.

Karen made an analogy in a past chapter using sweet tea.  What comes out of our cup is what we put into our cup.  Put in some sweet, refreshing tea and that is what comes out when life gets jostled.  Put in some bitter coffee and let it sit and grow cold and that is what comes out when life is jostled.  Sweet readers, God's word is our sweet tea!  You quite often can't change your circumstances, but you can change what gets jostled out of you by changing what you put in.  When we consciously choose to put in God's sweet words we begin to push out the old bitter coffee that had been in there previously, things like anger, resentment, unforgiveness, foul language, gossip, etc.  Instead we are filling it with the fruits of the spirit (flavored tea anyone?) love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control.

So to this end I am going to be bringing back my weekly Scripture cards. I pray that they bless you and will help you to fill up on some sweet tea.  But don't stop there, even sweet tea will go bad if you leave it sit untouched for to long!

Until next time,


This post was written as a response to Melissa Taylor's Online Bible Study of Karen Ehman's book Let. It. Go.: How to Stop Running the Show and Start Walking in Faith.

Owl Hat

Okay, I promised you on Saturday that I would share my new hat pattern.  First let me tell you about it.

I have been saving pictures of inspiration pieces for some time now, sticking them in a folder with the thought that I would one day sit down and work out a pattern for it.  That is how this one came about.  The picture was of an adult hat, and to be honest I don't even know where I found the original picture, which is why I am not sharing it.

Well, with all the baby hats I have been making I wanted to design one of my own.  So I flipped through my inspiration album and chose this one.  It should fit a newborn, but can easily be resized to fit just about anyone by adding multiples of 4 stitches.  If you find a problem with the pattern, please let me know as it hasn't been tested.

That being said, here is the hat:

and here is the pattern:

Owl Newborn Hat

You will need:

size 6 dpn

sports weight yarn.  example worked using Bernat Baby Sport in colorway denim marl

cable needle

stitch guide:

C4B = Cable Four Back; Worked over 4 sts. Place the first 2 sts on cable needle, hold in back of work, K2, then K2 from the cable needle.

C4F = Cable Four Front: Worked over 4 sts. Place the first 2 sts on cable needle, hold in front of work, K2, then K2 from the cable needle.

p2tog = purl next two stitches together

pattern begins here

co 58

r 1-2:  k2, p2, k8, *p2, k2 repeat from * around ending with p2

r3:  k2, p2, C4b, C4F, *p2, k2 repeat from * around

r4-5:  repeat  r1 and r2

r6: p in the front and back of next stitch, p3, k8, p in next 15, p in front and back of next stitch, p in remaining stitches (60 stitches)

r7-10: p in 5, k8, p in remaining

r11:  p5, C4B, C4F, p in remaining

r12: repeat r7

r13-14:  p5, K1, P2, K2, P2, K1, p in remaining

r15-16:  repeat r7

r17:  p5, place 2 stitches in the cable needle and hold to back, k2, p the two stitches on the cable needle, place 2 stitches on the cable needle and hold to front, p2, k the two stitches on the cable needle, p remaining stitches

r18: p5, k2, p4, k2, p remaining

r 19: p around

repeat r19 until hat measures 4 inches from beginning

begin decreases

r1: *p8, p2tog repeat from * around

r2: p around and every even round

r3: *p7, p2tog  repeat from * around

r5: *p6, p2tog  repeat

r7: *p5, p2tog repeat

r9:  *p4, p2tog  repeat

r11: *p3, p2tog  repeat

r13:  *p2, p2tog repeat

r15: *p1, p2tog repeat

r17 * p2tog repeat   break off leaving a long tail.  weave tail into live stitches and pull tight.

I would love for you to share pictures of your completed hats on my Facebook page.  And if you have some extra yarn, please consider making an extra hat to donate to a charitable organization such as God's Tiny Angels

Until next time,


If you have enjoyed this pattern, would you consider donating a small amount to Sunflowers at Home?

40 Hats in 40 Days week 3

It was girl's week again last week.  Here are the hats I finished.  My box is full so I will be mailing out to God's Tiny Angels this week.  Here are the hats I made and the links to the free patterns.  All hats were made with Bernat Baby Sport yarn in colorway Candy Baby.

This pattern is called Cap 2 Match and was designed by Suzetta Williams.  It was designed to match a collared sleep sack (also available on her site).  Although the pattern was written for worsted weight yarn, I was able to modify it by casting on 80 stitches and then doing a k1 p1 ribbing pattern for an inch before beginning rows 5-8.  You can find the pattern here.  

This is the Simple Newborn Hat with a Touch of Lace designed by Ginny Sheller.  You can't really see the lace pattern unless it is on a baby's head, but it's there.  I think this would look much better in a cotton yarn rather than this acrylic blend.  You can find the pattern on her blog here.  

This one works up SUPER quick.  It's the Picot and Lace Baby Cloche designed by Annaliese.  I finally decided to look up the definition of cloche since I had no idea what it meant.  It is simply a bell shaped hat.  You can find the pattern over on her blog Aesthetic Nest or by clicking here.  She has several other cute patterns available on her site also.  

Do you remember the gnome hat I made last week with the mock cable that took me forever?  This hat uses the mock cable also and I was right.  The first one took so long because it was a  new stitch for me.  This one worked up in a day!  Of course the first 2 1/2 inches are a k1 p1 ribbing which does make it go lots faster.  This hat is designed by Lenore English and can be found on her blog, tatt3r's knittingstuff, or by clicking here.  

This is one of my patterns, the Shells and Vines baby hat.  I have a sweater pattern to match it.  Both are available free on my site.  This is the direct link to the hat pattern.

The last hat of the week was designed by "Wormie".  It's called the Crazy Cute & Easy Baby Hat and the pattern can be found here.  I used to make blankets using this stitch pattern.  Never thought to use it for a hat.

Got a special surprise coming for you Monday.  I designed a new hat.  This one is knit and I am going to share the pattern with you!

Until next time,