Valentine Round up 2023

I love making handmade gifts for friends and family (and I hope they like receiving them too!). I think that there is nothing more special than a gift in which someone puts effort, time and thought into, especially when you can just click a few buttons and have a gift sent to someone that you never even physically saw or touched.  

Valentine's day is next week, so I thought I would round up a few patterns that can completed quickly (meaning this weekend!!) and yet are beautiful.  As a bonus, all of them are free (other than materials).

Friday Features

Hooray for Friday! Or at least I THINK it is Friday. Who knows anymore as one day bleeds into the next.... So to break up the monotony I thought I would share some cute Covid patterns from around the web with you.  I do realize that this is a serious virus and that many people have been affected by it.  I am in no way attempting to minimize the virus.  But I do think that finding something to smile about helps lift the spirits, and who couldn't use a bit of that?  So here we go...

Toilet Paper roll from Next Stitch

Remember when you could walk in any store and find toilet paper?  Anymore I almost want to shoot streamers in the air when my local stores have any on the shelf.  If you aren't there within an hour of the store opening you are pretty much out of luck.  Mimi over at Next Stitch decided to commemorate this tp shortage with a cute amigurumi roll so that you never have to be without. Find the complete pattern for free here, or visit her Etsy shop for an ad free PDF version.

Joyce Overheul over at The Flying Dutchman Crochet Designs created this adorable little virus to "encourage people to stay home". Her pattern is available for free on her website here.

Then there is this quick adult size crochet mask.  The site says that the "team designed this mask following the CDC's recommendation that homemade masks can be used to effectively help stop the spread of COVID-19."  It is lined, although it does not appear to have a pocket for additional filter material.  That is easily remedied by only stitching the lining to the crochet portion at the top and bottom, leaving the sides open to slide the filter material in.  You can find this pattern here. You will need to download it from the site by selecting the download button, but it is a free download.

And the last thing I want to leave you with is the cute video that Matthew West created, Quarantine Life:

Stay safe!

Ear Saver pattern

Like the rest of the country I have been quarantined, 36 days and counting here, and trying to stay busy.  Homeschooling of the littles has continued, despite our state public schools now being canceled for the remaining portion of the year.  The house still needs cleaned and the yard still needs work.  One good thing to come of this is that I have picked up my hook and begun to work on some projects again in between sewing masks for our local hospitals and working up some ear savers.

I have also reopened up my Etsy shop.  Recently I made a few of these cute little Peanut the Pups to donate to our American Heritage Girls troop.  Theywill be added to the HUGS bags we make and donate to local foster organizations.  My 2 year old son absolutely loves them and carries them all over the house.  I may have to make him one of his own once things open back up and these actually make it to our AHG group!  You can find Peanut in my Etsy shop if you want one of your own.  Here are a few pics:

 

Most of what I have been working on, though, are these little ear savers to be worn with the masks that so many are wearing to protect themselves from the Covid-19 virus.  Prolonged use of the masks is causing their ears to become sore.  This little device allows you to hook the ear loops of the mask over the buttons behind your head, thus relieving the pressure on the sensitive skin behind your ears.  They are super quick and simple to work up.  Here is how I make mine....

You will need:

Cotton worsted weight yarn, or yarn of your choice.  

3.75 mm hook (size F)

yarn needle
2 buttons

chain 15 stitches.  Work dc in 3rd stitch from hook and each stitch across to last stitch.  In last stitch work 3 dc.  Turn your work and dc in each stitch on the opposite side.  Your last stitch should be in the same chain as the beginning stitch.  join to top of chain. Weave in ends.  Sew button to each end. 

See?  Super simple!  Stay safe!

Doing the Twist for Hat not Hate

I was going through a few of my Facebook creating groups recently and stumbled across someone sharing one of their works in progress, a beautiful blue hat with the hastag #HatNotHate.  That of course sparked my interest so I went investigating...

Last year Lion Brand yarn began a new project to raise awareness of bullying, Hat not Hate.  They chose to do so by collecting handmade hats and using those as a way to reach children in schools during national anti-bullying month in October.  The hats open a door to discuss the topic and give children a visual reminder of what they have learned.

Although I homeschool my children, my now adult children did attend public school and had at times been on the receiving end of bullying.  In addition there are so many families in the homeschool community as a result of school bullying.  It's a good cause and a great project.  After all, a hat is a small project that can be as simple or complex as you desire, making it a good project for both beginners and experienced crafters.

So I decided to create a new pattern just for the movement, the Mock Twist.  You can find it below, or visit Ravelry for an ad free PDF copy with adjustments for various sizes..  If you chose to make a hat, please consider donating to the #HatnotHate project.  You can find more information at  hatnothate.org.

You will need:
4.5 mm (US 7) double pointed needles
4.5 mm (US7) circular needles
worsted weight yarn that yields the correct gauge (sample project knit with Red Heart Super Saver in Soft Navy)
yarn needle


Stitches used:
k = knit stitch
p = purl stitch
LT = left twist: skip next stitch on left needle, knit in the back loop of the second stitch, leaving the stitch on the needle.  Then bring the right needle to the front of the left needle and knit into the skipped stitch.  Lastly, pull both loops off of the left needle
LTdec = left twist decrease: skip the next stitch on the left needle,  knit in the back loop of the second and third stitch together to decrease leaving the single new stitch on the needle.  Then bring the right needle to the front of the left needle and knit into the skipped stitch.  Lastly pull both loops of the left needle.

Gauge swatch - measures 3 inches by 3 inches once completed using pattern below

Guage pattern:

cast on 16 stitches
R1  and all wrong side rounds:  k3, p5, k2, p5, k3
R2 : p3, LT, k3, p2, LT, k3, p3
R4 : p3, k1, LT, k2, p2, k1, LT, k2, p3
R6 : p3, k2, LT, k1, p2, k2, LT, k1, p3
R8 : p3, k3, LT, p2, k3, LT, p3

repeat row 1-8.  Take off needles and measure for gauge.

Pattern:

CO 105 stitches, join to form a loop being careful not to twist your stitches.  Place stitch marker to mark start of each round

R1 (and all wrong side rounds): *k5, p2   repeat from * to end

R2: * LT, k3, p2  repeat from * to end

R4: *k1, LT, k2, p2  repeat from * to end

R6: *k2, LT, k1, p2  repeat from * to end

R8: *k3, LT, p2  repeat from * to end


repeat R1-8 for a total of 5 repeats or until piece measures 6 1/2 inches



decreases:

R1: *k5, p2  repeat from * to end

R2: *LTdec, k2, p2  repeat from * to end ( 90 stitches)

R3: * k4, p2 repeat from * to end

R4: * k1, LT, k2, p2  repeat from * to end

R5: *k4, p2  repeat from * to end

R6: * k2, LT, p2tog  repeat from * to end ( 75 stitches)

R7: *k4, p1  repeat from * to end

R8: *LTdec, k1, p1  repeat from * to end ( 60 stitches)

R9: *k3, p1  repeat from * to end

R10: *LTdec, p1  repeat from * to end (45 stitches)

R11: *k2, p1  repeat from * to end

R12: *k2tbl, p1 repeat from * to end (30 stitches)

R13: p2tog, *k1, p1 repeat from * around to last 2 stitches, k2tbl (28 stitches)

R14: *p1, LTdec  repeat from * around (21 stitches)

R15: *p1, k2  repeat from * around

R16: *p1, k2tbl  repeat from * around (14 stitches)

R17: k2tog around (7 stitches)

cut yarn and use a needle to thread end through stitches on needle.  pull tight and weave in ends.

The Nickis Mossa Adventure

I found this pattern on Ravelry after I finished the 2016 40 in 40 challenge, so I saved it, planning to make it for 2017.  If you aren't familiar with Ravelry, think of it as Pinterest for knit and crochet patterns with a community aspect.  Anyway, I didn't do more than look at the picture when I saved it, not bothering to check out the pattern....

So this year, when I pulled up the pattern to make it, I was disappointed to discover that it was no longer available online.  Then I remembered an awesome tool called "The WayBack Machine".  It's not Mr. Peabody's machine.

Instead of traveling through time and meeting historical figures, this wayback machine

takes you through time to view websites as they were in the past.  It doesn't always work.  The page has to have been "crawled" while still active and stored.  But if it was, you can view pages that are no longer available.  Fortunately for me, I was able to locate the pattern this way, but........

It was in SWEDISH!  I can't speak or read Swedish.  So another dead end, or so I thought.  You see, Google has this awesome translating tool in which you can input a URL and Google will translate the page for you.  I didn't know if it would work on a archived page, but I was willing to give it a go.....and it worked!  Sort of.....

This is what I got:

Lap 8:3 ch (first pillar), 1 DC, CH 1, 2 DC around first luftmaskebågen, 1 SC around next ch-bow. * 2 DC, CH 1, 2 DC around the same lm-arch, 1 SC around next ch-bow * repeat from * when you crochet around the yard and going up to the first shell and should make last fm so take with first pole in first the cochlea also when fm is done = it gets 12 shells

Closer, but not quite it.  But this is as far as technology was going to get me.  From this point on I was on my own, and I was determined to MAKE. THIS. HAT.!

I pulled out my D hook, a mystery skein of fingering yarn and started working the pattern out.  Below is my adaptation of the original pattern for  Nickis mössa by Linda Forsberg.  It may not be exact, but I feel like the spirit of the pattern has been captured. 

Row 1: make a magic circle, crochet 6 sc

Row 2: Crochet 2 dc  in each stitch = 12 poles

Row 3: Crochet 2 dc  in each stitch = 24 posts

Lap 4: Crochet 1 dc  in the first stitch, and two the next, continue around = 36 posts

Rev 5: Crochet 1 dc  in the first two stitches and then two in the same stitch, continue around  = 48 posts

Lap 6: Crochet 1 dc  in the first three stitches and then two in the same stitch, continue around = 60 posts  turn

Lap 7: ch1, *sc, ch 2, skip 1, sc, ch 2, skip 2 sc  repeat from * around, join to top of 1^st sc.  24 ch 2 spaces  turn

Lap 8: 3 ch (counts as a dc), 1 DC, CH 1, 2 DC in first chain space,, 1 SC around next ch-space. * 2 DC, CH 1, 2 DC around the next chain space, 1 SC in next chain space * repeat from * when you crochet around join to top of chain 3 =   12 shells  Turn

Lap 9:4 ch (counts as first dc + 1 ch), 1 DC in first sc, * ch 3, skip the shell, DC, CH 1, DC (a V) in next sc * repeat from *. Sl st to 3^rd chain of starting ch 4 = 12 V-stitch and 12 ch 3 spaces.  Turn

Lap 10: sl stitch to chain space at center of the V-stitch, ch 3 (counts as dc), 1 DC, CH 1, 2DC in center V-stitch, sc in chain space of shell from round 8, * 2DC, ch 1, 2DC in center of next V-stitch, sc in chain space of shell from round 8.  Repeat from * around, sl stitch to top of ch 3  = 12 shells  turn

Lap 11:CH 4 (counts as DC + 1 ch), 1 DC in first stitch, *4 ch, skip the shell, in next sc work a V-stitch (dc, ch1, dc_ crochet 1st, CH 1, * repeat from *. Sl st to 3^rd chain of beginning ch 4.  12 V-stitches, 12 ch4 spaces.  Turn

Lap 12: sc in chain space of shell from round 10,* 3 DC, CH 1, 3 DC in ch space of V-stitch  from row 11, 1 SC in center of next shell from round 10. * repeat from * end with 3 DC, ch 1, 3 DC in chain space of last V-Stitch, , sl stitch to top of first sc.  12 shells  Turn

Lap 13:4 ch (counts as first pole + 1 ch), 1 DC in first stitch, *5 ch, skip the next shell, DC, CH 1, DC (a V-stitch) in next sc * repeat from *. Sl stitch to 3^rd chain of beginning ch 4 = 12 V-stitches, 12 ch 5 spaces  Turn

Lap 14: same as lap 12

Lap 15:4 ch (counts as first pole + 1 ch), 1 DC in first stitch, *6 ch, skip the next shell, DC, CH 1, DC (a V-stitch) in next sc * repeat from *. Sl stitch to 3^rd chain of beginning ch 4 = 12 V-stitches, 12 ch 5 spaces  Turn

Lap 16: same as lap 12

Lap 17: same as lap 15

Lap 18: same as lap 12

Lap 19: same as lap 15

Lap 20: : sc in chain space of shell from round 10,* 4 DC, CH 1, 4 DC in ch space of V-stitch  from row 11, 1 SC in center of next shell from round 10. * repeat from * end with 3 DC, ch 1, 3 DC in chain space of last V-Stitch, , sl stitch to top of first sc.  12 shells  Turn

Lap 21: same as lap 15

Lap 22: same as lap 20

Lap 23: same as lap 15

Lap 24: same as lap 20

Lap 25: same as lap 15

Lap 26: same as lap 20

Lap 27: same as lap 15

Lap 28: same as lap 20

Lap 29: same as lap 15

Lap 30: same as lap 20

For the newborn size I only completed the pattern through Lap 22.  And I left each round as "lap", which is the way Google translated the pattern, don't let it confuse you. 

(This was offered as a free pattern online, and is not my own design.  I have simply outlined the steps I took to discover, and translate the pattern and shared my notes based upon that translation.)

Until next time,

Week 3 of the 40 in 40 challenge 2017

My family is going stir crazy this week.  Our family vehicle broke down on us March 4th making us a 1 car family again.  That means spur of the moment trips to the park because the weather is nice couldn't happen this week.  It means running out of milk went from being a 20 minute trip to the grocery store to an hour long walk on a curvy road without sidewalks.  Although I must admit that not being able to go anywhere was nice to begin with, forcing us to slow down and take a break from everything.  At this point though, we were all relieved to pick up our new to us SUV over the weekend.  Especially since it meant a brief visit with family from Georgia.

One of the good things about not being able to go out as much, I had some extra time after homeschooling to work on the challenge.  That prompted me to work on a couple of lace hat patterns this week.

First up is this simple knit hat called the

Beanie to Match Carole Barenys’ Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater.  I love this with the variegated yarn that has a slow transition.  The slip stitches add interest to what is otherwise a very basic pattern.  As you can see it works up a bit long for a newborn, but you can easily fold up the brim and the extra length means it can be worn for several months.  And the detail on it easily lends itself to being made for boys and girls.  And if you are interested in making the Seamless Yoked Baby Sweater, you can find it here.

The next one is a super quick crochet project that for some reason reminds me of the 20's.  It's called the Charmed Cloche.  You can download the add free PDF on Ravelry here or you can visit the designer's website and grab the pattern for free here.  The pattern is available in newborn to adult sizes and includes an optional flower embellishment.

Next up is a two for one pattern, it is actually called Two Lace Baby Hats.  Each hat has a coordinating blanket that the designer linked to on the pattern page.Both call for a DK weight yarn and size 6 needles.  They are also available in sizes up to toddler.

I worked the first one, the Tiffany Lace pattern, using Simply Soft yarn which obviously isn't a DK weight but still allowed the lace pattern to come through but gave it some thickness.

The second, Fan Lace, I worked using Bernat Baby Sport which gave the hat a much more open lace design.  Directions for both were easy to follow and written very well.  They do involve some more advanced techniques such as knitting through the back looks, and 4 different decrease stitches but don't let that intimidate you.  Take your time and pay attention to the directions and you will do great!

This one was chosen because it was the day I knew I was going to be in a car all day long traveling to pick up our new to us SUV.  I wanted something quick and simple since I needed to be available for a 2 year old that had never been on a trip this long before and because I would be driving for at least half of the trip.  This is the Scallop Hat pattern and you can find it on beginner-crochet-patterns.com That alone told me that this would be a relatively quick pattern with little difficulty....and it was.  Yet that lovely scalloped edge gives it some flair making this a great project for last minute gifts!

I have to say that so far, this is my favorite hat using this yarn.  The yarn is Bernat Baby Sport in Citrus Sorbet .  The hat pattern is the Georgia Baby Hat and it is available in both a large preemie and a newborn size.  In addition you can also grab the matching sweater pattern for free as well.  I chose to work this pattern in the round rather than flat because I hate seaming.  

So that is it for me this week.  Next week we'll reach the half way point. 

Until next time,

Week 2 of the 40 in 40 challenge 2017

 This week I tried a few patterns that I have never done before.  Tried to mix it up with some crochet, knit, beanies and bonnets.  So here is what I accomplished:

 First up is the Preemie Crochet Hat from Britney Wolfe.  I stumbled across her pattern on Pinterest and was tickled to find she is a home school graduate.  This hat is a simple design that would be great for newer crocheters.  I did make a few changes to the pattern because the one I worked up seemed a bit larger than I wanted for a newborn. 

First I eliminated round 4 of the pattern.  I think Wolfe was creating an oversize hat based upon the decreases around the brim.  I couldn't get mine to look right and it

just seemed huge, so I cut out the last round of increases.  Then I added two extra rounds of the ch 2, 1 dc in each stitch to end (round 5-6 in pattern which became rounds 4-7 for me).  I then worked round 7 of pattern next but rather than dc2tog I did a back post dc for that stitch.  Round 8 of pattern became my round 9.  This allowed me to keep the spirit of the pattern while obtaining a size that I was after.

 Next up is this Precious Hearts Preemie Bonnet. I used Bernat Softee for this one because it is supposed to be a DK weight yarn, which is what the pattern calls for (the weight, not this specific yarn).  The doll I used to model this hat is the size of about a 32 week preemie and as you can see it is a little short from crown to front.  I would have to say that this is due to my yarn choice, and my distaste for gauge swatches and not the fault of the pattern.  After completing the hat I checked the wraps per inch and it wasn't 11 (which is DK weight) even though many sites list is

as such.  The good news is that babies come in all shapes and sizes.  The bad news is that because this yarn is thinner than the pattern calls for the hearts don't stand out as much as they should.  Instead they simply look like a blob without definition.....  I plan to try this one again with a different yarn. 

I have to say that this one is my favorite this week, although I do wish I had used a solid color of yarn so that the lace pattern on the sides would have come through a bit better.  As you can see, this is a bit big for newborn, the the designer lists it as 0-6 months so that is to be expected.  It isn't so big that it dwarfs the newborn head though.  This is called the Mori Hikari Baby Bonnet and you can find it over at the Little Precious Stitch.  Despite having been on Ravelry for over a year there were only 2 projects for this pattern, which really surprised me.  It was an interesting pattern and available in sizes all the way up to 24 months.  The back of the bonnet was a bit different than I was used to but not hard to figure out.  It was my first time attaching i-cord as an edging and I love the look of it.

This one is the Sedge Stitch Newborn Beanie by Kerri Stinson.  The original pattern calls for a DK weight yarn but the PDF download also includes suggestions for WW yarn.  I used those, which meant a G hook for me.  I modified this pattern as well.   I skipped rd 6 as including it yielded a circumference that was too large. I repeated rd 8 until the hat measured 4.5 inches long before beginning the brim.  I bet this would look cute with a crochet flower on it too. A few of the examples of Ravelry included a pom pom on the top which looked adorable as well.

 This one was gorgeous also, and would have been my favorite except for one thing, while it is available free you have to give personal information to obtain the pattern.  Designer Julie Grimmet has made this, the Vintage Baby Bonnet, available on her blog.  Place it in your shopping cart and you don't need a code or anything special.  However, to check out you will need to include your name, address and phone number to download the pattern.  I realize you can easily type in fake info, but it aggravates me to have those as required fields for an instant download.

That being said, the pattern is well written and since it uses a "medium weight" yarn it works up quickly in only 11 rounds.  What really drew me to this pattern though is the crown of the bonnet.  Just look at how pretty that is!  Reminds me of a little flower.  I can just picture this as part of a Christening layette.

And the final hat for the week is the Baby Amanda Hat.  As you can see this is a bit large for a newborn, it is advertised as being "infant" sized, more 3 months and larger.  The front has a beautiful, textured design and it is really fun to knit up.  My only complaint about this hat is the back.  You can see where the pattern for each row begins and ends because it creates a weird line that runs up the back.  I think with a little work that can be eliminated by moving a few stitches around each row.

So which is your favorite this week? 
Until next time,

Week 1, 2017

Week 1 is always a short week in my 40 in 40 challenge, as it starts on Wednesday and therefore only 4 projects need to be made.  This year I am attempting to only use stash yarn for my projects. While I have a large stash, this still makes choosing patterns a bit difficult for me.

I tend to bookmark patterns all year that I come across for baby hats.  Then, every week I select my patterns for the week, and lastly I check to see if I have the right yarn.....In the past, if I didn't then I got had to make a trip to purchase some new yarn.  This year I will have to select a different pattern.....sigh.....

But that wasn't a problem this week.  All 4 hats use worsted weight yarn.  So let me show you what I chose.

My first two hats come from the same pattern, the 2 Hearts Newborn Hat designed by Kelly Forster.  You can find the pattern free on Ravelry.  The first is made using knit and purl stitches to cause the heart to "pop out" of the hat.  The pattern calls for an i-cord at the top of the hat that I chose to leave off.  I worked this in Hobby Lobby's Crafter's Secret yarn in Nosegay. 

The second is my first ever attempt at fair isle knitting.  I have to admit that my go around I left LOOOOONNNNNGGGGG threads between the heart patterns (floats) without tacking them which looked really sloppy and messy on the inside.  So I frogged (rip-it,  rip-it, rip-it  go ahead and say it out loud and you will understand why I call it that!)  it and started over.  In hind sight, I might have done better to simply do this in intarsia (which I have never done before either!).  Still I really like the finished project.  This was worked in the Crafter's Secret yarn in Nosegay and in Red Heart Super Savers in Amythest.


I changed the decreases on the second hat from the written instructions.  The hat I worked in Nosegay had a k2tog at the beginning and end of each dpn.  On my second hat I worked a k2tog at the beginning of each dpn and a ssk at the end of each needle.  You can see the difference below:

k2tog at the begiining and end

k2tog at the beginning and ssk at the end

 

Ella Bonnet

My third hat for the week was the preemie size Ella bonnet designed by Allison Booker, also available on Ravelry as a free download.  Unfortunately, I misread the materials needed and mine came out a bit different than the designer intended.  The pattern calls for 8 mm needles, which I mistakenly read as size 8 needles, which yielded a much different fabric!  Still I like the outcome, even if it is a bit more open.  And in my defense, I had spent the day shopping and setting up for an American Heritage Girls lock in and was actually working on this hat in the dark while the girls were watching a movie!  I used Simply Soft yarn in off white for this project.  I then worked a 2 stitch i-cord for about 10 inches, attached it to one side of the bonnet and used a G hook to sc around to the other side.  I worked a 2nd 2 stitch i-cord, attached it to this side and the sc around the remaining portion of the hat.

My final hat for week 1 I wanted something quick with a simple, repeating pattern to follow since I hadn't slept much the night before.  Myshelle Cole's pattern, Noah, to the rescue!

Also worked with Simply Soft, this pattern uses a technique I had never done before.  The 2nd hdc is worked around the post of the previous hdc - not the hdc of the previous row, but the one one just worked on the same row.  It gives a unique open weave design.  The entire hat is worked in sc and hdc.  And if you decide to give the pattern a try, be sure to look around her website as she has many other preemie patterns available as well.

So that is what was on my hook and needles this week.  What was on yours?

Until next time,

40 in 40 2015 week 6

I have to say I have been really inspired by the completed hats that have been posted on the Facebook event page!  You are some seriously talented fans!  It was so neat to see that this challenge has benefited people all over the world, including Nova Scotia!

I can't believe there is only one week left.  While I look forward to being able to create in a more relaxed atmosphere, and to tackle some bigger projects, I have to say that I really love the intentional aspect of this challenge each year.  Praying over each item and knowing that I have been able to use the gifts God has given me to help someone else makes this period of Lent really meaningful to me - even when it gets hard to get it all done.

That being said, let me share with you my projects from this past week:

First up is the Aimee Baby Hat.  This is the second time I have made this hat.  The first I used Simply Soft yarn.  This time I used Bernat Baby Sport, a thinner yarn.  Both times the hat turned out to big for a newborn, despite the pattern saying it is sized for newborn to 3 months.  I love the heart pattern that goes completely around the babies head, but I definitely need to spend some time fiddling with my yarn and needles to make it smaller.  14 inches is to big for a newborn.

Next was the Divine hat.  This is available in preemie, newborn and adult sizes - all in the same pattern.  The ridges gently twirl around the babies scalp to come together at the crown.  A quick hat to crochet with beautiful results!

This is the Dania Beanie, available in newborn to toddler sizes.  I admit I am a sucker for the hats with bows!  I would recommend making the starting chain for the bow smaller, as you can see it dwarfs the hat.  Another super simple and quick crochet project.

  My 4th hat for the week is the Sideways Shell Baby hat.  Another quick crochet project.  The designer based the pattern on a Project Linus blanket pattern.  Wouldn't it be cute to make a matched set?

 And then I got on a knit leaves kick!  First up is the Baby Leaves II, which worked up a bit short for me.  So I continued the leaf pattern until after the first decrease on the leaf before beginning the ribbing.  I think I should have used a thicker yarn so that the leaves stood out a bit more.  Since I wasn't completely happy with this one, I tried a different pattern.

This one is the Embossed leaves pattern.  Instructions are given for baby to extra-large adult sizes.  I have to say I was much more satisfied with the way this one turned out.













So that is it for this week.  Only 6 hats to go before this year's challenge is over

Until next time,