Princess Crown

Almost 2 years ago I created this cute little tiara designed by Sarah of Sarah Sweethearts as a last minute gift for my princess when she turned 4.

This year, when a family friend's daughter had her princess birthday party, I knew just what to make!  I love that it works with any headband, allowing me to pick one that doesn't SQUEEZE the head to tightly.  I also like that it is flexible.  My princess has a habit of being a bit rough on her tiaras and they inevitably end up in pieces.  Short of taking scissors to this one or pulling it off of the headband, this one lasts for a LONG time.  Using size 3 thread gives it just the right amount of stiffness.  I decided to give this tiara a little glitter by adding Enchant Yarn in King's Crown.

The best part.....it takes less than 30 minutes to create!  You can get the pattern from Sarah's Ravelry store here.

Until next time,

40 in 40 (2014) week 3

Lot's of cute patterns this week, including one that I created accidentally in an attempt to modify another.  Let's get started!

First is this cutie from Alice and the Mock Turtle called the Itty Bitty Bow Beanie.  I love the cute little bow on it.  This example worked in grey and purple Simply Soft yarn  looks so sophisticated in my opinion. Super simple to work up.

Next is the Sweet Striped Crochet Hat from Tamara Kelley.  It is available in sizes infant to adult.  It can easily be made for a boy or a girl and since it uses a size I hook and worsted weight yarn it is a quick project.  It has an interesting pattern as you can see:

But the joins make that part look a bit sloppy.  Of course, that could just be me.....

Then there is the Newborn Baby Girl Hat designed by Tanya Lapatsina available as a free Ravelry download.  

As you can see, this is a bit small for a newborn hat, but would probably fit a preemie.  I really like the leaf design on the hat, but stretched like this to fit a newborn head it just seems to be oddly sized.  If I make it again I would add another 6-8 stitches to the foundation row and a few more rounds to add some height.  

Then I tried to work a pattern in the round that was written to be worked flat.  Had some trouble with it and ended up just doing my own thing, which led to the Unisex Reversible Baby Hat pattern.  I'll give the original pattern another try next week....

It's available in multiple sizes from small preemie to 12 months.

Then I made the Camilla Babe Hat designed by Cathy Payson.  I cast on 51 stitches to give me a newborn size and adjusted the pattern repeats.  I worked in the pattern until the hat was about 4.25 inches and then began the decreases.  I love the Patons Beehive Baby Sport yarn I used in this pattern.  It is so and light!

And the final hat this week, the Textured Baby Hat from Sarah Al-Amri.  Also available as a free Ravelry Download.  I chose to work it in 2 colors.  This one is my husband's favorite hat so far.  

And that's it for this week.  Still looking for some cute boy patterns....

 Until next time,

Unisex, reversible baby hat

This pattern was the happy accident of my attempt to modify one of the patterns I was making for this years "40 in 40" challenge.  I was using Marianna's Premature Unisex baby hat pattern and decided to work it in the round rather than on straight needles.  It wasn't until I began the decreases that I realized the difference between what I was making and the original pattern.  So this isn't so much an original creation, more a modification.  Still, I thought I would share with you in case you might like it too.

Yarn - Caron Simply Soft
Needles - Size 6, 4.0 mm

Guage    22sts = 4” (10cm)
 
Small Preemie Baby  –  7″ circumference, 3 ½“ high

 Brim (can be worked in a contrasting color) ~  cast on 35

Rnd 1 - knit to end of row

Rnd 2 - knit to end

Rnd 3:  knit to end of row

Rnd 4: * k2, p3   repeat from * to end

Repeat the last row until work measures 2“, 

Shape Top ~
rnd 1:   * k2tog, p3, repeat from *   

         
rnd 2-4:  * k1, p3   repeat from * to end

rnd 5:   *k1, p2tog, p1   repeat from * to end

rnd 6: * k1, p2   repeat from * to end

rnd 7: * k1, p2tog   repeat from * to end

rnd 8: * k1, p1   repeat from * to end

rnd 9:   * p2tog to end

cut yarn and run it through remaining live stitches.  Pull tight and weave in all ends

 
 
Medium Preemie Baby  –  9″ circumference, 4 ½“ high
 

Brim (can be worked in a contrasting color) ~  cast on 45

Rnd 1 - knit to end of row

Rnd 2 - knit to end

Rnd 3:  knit to end of row

Rnd 4: * k2, p3   repeat from * to end

Repeat the last row until work measures 3“, 

Shape Top ~
rnd 1:   * k2tog, p3, repeat from *   

         
rnd 2-4:  * k1, p3   repeat from * to end

rnd 5:   *k1, p2tog, p1   repeat from * to end

rnd 6: * k1, p2   repeat from * to end

rnd 7: * k1, p2tog   repeat from * to end

rnd 8: * k1, p1   repeat from * to end

rnd 9:   * p2tog to end

cut yarn and run it through remaining live stitches.  Pull tight and weave in all ends

 
 
Large Preemie / Small Newborn  –  11″ circumference, 5 ½ “ high

Brim (can be worked in a contrasting color) ~  cast on 55

Rnd 1 - knit to end of row

Rnd 2 - knit to end

Rnd 3:  knit to end of row

Rnd 4: * k2, p3   repeat from * to end

Repeat the last row until work measures 4“, 

Shape Top ~
rnd 1:   * k2tog, p3, repeat from *   

         
rnd 2-4:  * k1, p3   repeat from * to end

rnd 5:   *k1, p2tog, p1   repeat from * to end

rnd 6: * k1, p2   repeat from * to end

rnd 7: * k1, p2tog   repeat from * to end

rnd 8: * k1, p1   repeat from * to end

rnd 9:   * p2tog to end

cut yarn and run it through remaining live stitches.  Pull tight and weave in all ends

 
 
Newborn Baby  – 13″ circumference, 6″ high
 

Brim (can be worked in a contrasting color) ~  cast on 65

Rnd 1 - knit to end of row

Rnd 2 - knit to end

Rnd 3:  knit to end of row

Rnd 4: * k2, p3   repeat from * to end

Repeat the last row until work measures 4.5“, 

Shape Top ~
rnd 1:   * k2tog, p3, repeat from *   

         
rnd 2-4:  * k1, p3   repeat from * to end

rnd 5:   *k1, p2tog, p1   repeat from * to end

rnd 6: * k1, p2   repeat from * to end

rnd 7: * k1, p2tog   repeat from * to end

rnd 8: * k1, p1   repeat from * to end

rnd 9:   * p2tog to end

cut yarn and run it through remaining live stitches.  Pull tight and weave in all ends

 
9 – 12 month Baby  – 15″ circumference, 7“ high
 

Brim (can be worked in a contrasting color) ~  cast on 75

Rnd 1 - knit to end of row

Rnd 2 - knit to end

Rnd 3:  knit to end of row

Rnd 4: * k2, p3   repeat from * to end

Repeat the last row until work measures 5.5“, 

Shape Top ~
rnd 1:   * k2tog, p3, repeat from *   

         
rnd 2-4:  * k1, p3   repeat from * to end

rnd 5:   *k1, p2tog, p1   repeat from * to end

rnd 6: * k1, p2   repeat from * to end

rnd 7: * k1, p2tog   repeat from * to end

rnd 8: * k1, p1   repeat from * to end

rnd 9:   * p2tog to end

cut yarn and run it through remaining live stitches.  Pull tight and weave in all ends

Until next time,

40 in 40 (2014) week 2

Here are this week's hats and pattern links.  I'm having a hard time finding hats for boys that don't all look the same.  I'd like to do some that are unique in which the pattern and design are interesting without looking girly.  I can easily take a basic beanie and use blue yarns, but where is the fun in that?  If you have an idea, please share!

On with the show.....

Saturday's hat was the Cuddles DK Cabled Knotted Hat by Cathy Campbell.  It was the first time I have ever attempted at 3 needle bind off.  I think it would have gone better had I put the stitches on straight needles rather than trying to use the short double ended needles I used to work the hat in the round.  Still, a cute hat that can easily be made for a boy or a girl depending upon your yarn choice.

Monday's hat was the The Baby Scale by Cathy Woods.  It looks a lot like the Crocodile stitch that seems to be so popular now, but it is simply a shell pattern with some fpdc's to make them pop out.  If you grab this pattern from Ravelry, note that it says to use an E hook.  I found that to be WAY to small for even a preemie and switched to the 4.0 hook called for in the pattern.  I also had to omit rounds 12-15 to get a newborn height.

The one thing I didn't like about this pattern is the shift from the crown to the pattern stitches.  There is a definate "bump" transition.  I may play with the pattern in the future to see if I can figure out a way to start the shell pattern from the center out to avoid this.

Tuesday's hat was the Madison by Becca Sheffler.  This is another hat that can be made for either a boy or a girl depending upon your yarn choice.  The 2 stitch cables worked throughout the hat give it an interesting texture and yet it is still a very simple hat.  I used size 7 needles, only CO 72 stitches and only worked 15 rounds before beginning the decreases and still ended up with more of a 3-6 month size rather than newborn.

Wednesday's hat was the Hat in a Hurry by Thomasina Cummings.  I used Naturally Caron Country yarn in coral for this one.  I LOVE this yarn as it is soft and the color is vibrant.  The pattern offers both a boys and girls edging making this yet another unisex hat.  I loved the picot edge for the girl.

Thursday's pattern was one of my own, the Shells and Vines hat.  You can find it here.  I designed this one to match one of my sweater patterns available here.

Friday's pattern was the Wrapped Stitch Baby Hat for Straight Needles designed by Heather Tucker.  I don't like to seam, so I omitted one stitch on each row and worked in on my double pointed needles.  Again, the hat turned out a bit large for a newborn.  Still, this was my first time working a pattern with wrapped stitches.  It is an interesting design feature, if a bit time consuming.

 I liked the crown shaping on this one too.

And the final hat this week, the Emery Beanie by Stephanie MacDerment.  Although the pattern says it was for newborns, I ended up with a preemie size.  I used the flower pattern suggested and worked two petal rounds.  It yields a really stiff flower.

Until next time,

40 in 40 (2014) week 1

The first hat this week is the Hurricane Hat designed by Andrea Guldin

I used stash yarn, but I believe it is a Red Heart Super Saver.  The finished hat fits newborn size babies using size 7 needles.  I had to make a few modifications to the pattern to get the correct size.  Here are my notes:

Cast on 52 stitches and work a k2p2 ribbing for about an inch.  Then begin working the pattern.  For the first purl stitch I p2tog to bring it down to 51 stitches.  Continue working the pattern until the hat measures 3.5 inches from the bottom edge.  At that point I began the decreases.  However I kept getting a "cone head" hat so I eventually left out rounds 8, 10, 12, and 14 of the decrease pattern.

I really liked the star pattern that forms at the crown with this pattern!  Super quick to knit up a really easy pattern once you get the hang of it.

Hat number 2 is the Sunday Evening Beanie designed by Julie Barber.  You can find that pattern on Ravelry here.  I love the girly, lacy look.

 I chose to embellish it with a flower.  You can find that pattern here.

And the final hat for today's post is the Gnarly Hat, also available as a free Ravelry download.  Click here for the pattern designed by Diana Troldahl.  I made a few modifications to get a newborn size.  I cast on 56 and then worked the pattern as written for rounds 1-16.  Rather than just make a long tube and gather the top I opted to work the decreases after round 16.  This is what I ended up with:

And here is the top with the decreases:

I will say, I have really missed making things for the babies.  Lately I have been really busy and this is one of the things that I let go of to work in other ministry areas.  I'm glad to be back at it.

Until next time,

40 hats in 40 days 2014

Today begins this year's 40 hats in 40 days project.  It's something I started a few years ago as a way to honor God by using the abilities He has given me to bless others.  I wanted to take a minute as we begin to tell you about the organization I donate my items to, God's Tiny Angels.

God's Tiny Angels, or GTA as I refer to it, grew out of the desire of one woman's heart to bless the families with children staying in the local NICU hospital.  Danette LeMaster began making and donating items in the Fall of 2009.  Since then the ministry has grown to include 34 hospitals in 19 states and hundreds of volunteers!  GTA is not a non-profit organization, it is not registered with any government agency, it is simply people across the country seeing a need and sharing their talents to meet it.  The cost of all materials and shipping is shared by those who donate, which often means that Danette uses her own money to ship the donated items to hospitals.  I have had the pleasure of meeting her a couple of times and I can tell you, she is genuine in her love for the children and families she assists.

If you are interested in donating items to God's Tiny Angels, please visit the website at www.GodsTinyAngels.com.  There is also a Yahoo Group here where they share the current needs.  And, as most organizations, they are on Facebook here.

It is my hope that over the next 40 days you are inspired to donate to an organization that reaches out to others, to share your talents and bless others with them.  It doesn't have to be GTA.  Pray about it and ask God to lead you to where your skills are needed.

Come back on Friday to see the first set of hats, and for the free patterns!

Until next time,