Ooo Baby Knits

Mindless Knitting

Yesterday was my Knitting for Children group's annual knitathon. As usual, the best laid plans.... I had a killer headache all night Saturday, better Sunday, but not gone. Between naps I did manage to get a little done, but figured I'd better stick to easy patterns.

The blanket is a simple dishcloth pattern in Homespun, and the bootie pattern is below. I did catch some of the Super Bowl, although I admit I also watched Monk and just tried to catch the commercials. My Broncos didn't play, so I was in mourning. The Bud commercials were funny, but my favorite were the monkeys. Who doesn't love a good monkey commercial?

Back to Plain Jane- she should be finished tonight, so I can start the Hand to Hand at long last. My expreriment with the Buttonhole Bag has gone awry. Hoping I can salvage that this week, too.

Easy Baby Booties

Yarn: worsted weight

Needles: Size 6 and 8 straight needles

Notions: Yarn needle, stitch marker

Directions:

With larger needles, CO 33 st. K 12 rows.

Begin decreases for instep:

Row 1: K 13, K2tog, K3, SSK, K across.

Row 2: P 12, P2tbl, P3, P2tog, P across.

Continue decrease pattern until 21 st remain.

Change to smaller needles. Work in K1, P1 rib for 12. Bind off loosely in rib. Sew back and bottom seams. Weave in ends.

Our Endless Summer…

…has now ended. After weeks of 70 degree weather, it’s now barely above freezing. But that’s OK- I finally get to wear my woolies. Hancock Fabrics had Chunky USA on sale for $.99, so I bought some to make hats and scarves for the homeless shelter. I finished a hat last weekend watching The Polar Express, did the scarf during the week, and we’re going to see The Incredibles later today so I’ll do another hat. Gotta love the cheep theater. I can afford popcorn with my movie.

Here's a picture:

Here's the pattern:

Bulky Rib Hat and Scarf

Materials:

2 skeins Lion Brand Chunky USA

#10 16" circular and dps, #11 straights

Yarn needle

Gauge:

14 stitches = 4 inches in 2x2 rib slightly stretched on #10 needles

Size:

Hat- fits up to 22" head

Scarf - 16"x65"

Directions:

HAT

Using circular needle, cast on 60. Join and work in K2P2 rib for 10 inches.

Begin decreases; switch to dps when needed:

Round 1: K2, P2 together around.

Rounds 2-4: K2 P1 around.

Round 5: K2 together, P1 around.

Rounds 6-8: K1 P1 around.

Rounds 9-10: K 2 together around.

Break yarn and thread on yarn needle. Run through remaining stitches twice. Weave in loose ends.

SCARF

(Uses remainder of yarn from hat and the remaining full skein.)

Using #11 straights, cast on 24 stitches. Work in K3 P3 rib until about 2 feet of yarn remains. Bind off. Weave in loose ends.

Knitting Tip: Beware of falling asleep on a waterbed while knitting.

Something Old...

I'm having blog withdrawal symptoms. I can't wait to show what I've been working on, but alas, I can't get a new camera for a few days. So for now, I'll share my old hat pattern. My goal is to make 50 for our homeless shelter by November (did I tell you that?). So far I've knit 7. Got to get busy, busy, busy!

Picture coming soon- the trusty ol' puter has decided the old one is no longer readable.

Basic Hat

Sizes: baby (child, adult)

Materials: worsted yarn, #8 16” circular needle, yarn needle

Directions:
Cast on 60 (70, 80) stitches (use smaller needle if desired- sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t). Work in k1p1 rib for 4 (5, 6) inches.

Work in St st for 2 (2 ½, 3) inches.

Begin decreases:
R 1: K2 tog, k8 around.
R 2: Knit.
R 3: K2 tog, k7 around.
R 4: Knit.
Continue decreases in above manner until K2 tog around. Cut yarn, pull though live loops twice. Weave in ends.

To make a beanie style cap, rib a few rows and knit in St st until 4 (5, 6) inches from beginning, then begin decreases. To make a roll brimmed hat, skip the rib and just knit. Play with colors and patterns, put pom-poms on top, make a fur cuff, whatever. Just try not to make any two the same. :)

Click here for more hat patterns. It's my old site (too slow and not enough room). There are a couple of bulky hat patterns under Nov. 2003 and another under Daily Log. You can also see my nephew's Worm Hat using the above pattern.

More new projects! I knit a sock yesterday and started a Rambling Rows Afghan. It's a 5 color afghan, but I just threw all my acrylic worsted-weight leftovers into a trash bag and I'm pulling it out at random.

Oh, and I started a striped dishcloth baby blanket for car knitting. We drove to Eden, about 30 minutes away, to eat at our favorite pizzeria- Kings Inn Pizza. As always, we plugged all our quarters in the jukebox. After we scarfed our pizza, DD#1 was jamming on her air guitar to the Eagles, DH was singing, and of course I was knitting. DD#2, claimed we were an embarrassment and entreated us to "act normal". When she realized we weren't, she stood up and declared, "Y’all are embarrassing. I'm going to the car to color!" And she did. We laughed.

Sick Days

Not much new knitting, though I do have the front of the Shapely Tank almost finished. My DD#1 and I were sideswiped by a case of strep throat. Of course it's my fault, and then I even gave it to the computer which now has a virus that AVG keeps telling me about but won't get rid of. Time to call my BIL- every family needs a computer guru to keep the rest of us out of perpetual debt to the local computer stores.

Thank you eveyone for your comments! I love getting feed back and I try to answer, but I'm afraid to send any email right now until my computer is well. Natalie asked what pattern I use for the booties. It's my own, adapted from several similar patterns. They're easy enough to crank out a bunch (especially the smaller sizes) for charity, and quick to knit for a last minute gift. I keep a small skein of baby yarn, 2 dps, and the directions on an index card in a baggie in my purse so I always have somethng to knit. At home, I knit 2 at a time on straights. You can knit them in the round, too, to avoid the back seam.

Here's a picture:

Here's the pattern:

BABY BOOTIES

Materials: Baby sport weight yarn

Size 5 needles

Sizes: Preemie small (medium, large, full term)

Cast on 25 (29, 35, 41).

K 8 (10, 12, 14) rows in garter stitch.

Begin decreases:

K 10 (12, 15, 18), K2 tog , K 1, K 2 tog, K 10 (12, 15, 18).

P 9(11, 14, 17), P2 tog P1, P2 tog, P9 (11, 14, 17).

Continue decrease pattern until 17 (19, 23, 27) stitches left.

Ribbed Cuff:

K1 P1 across each row for 4 (5, 6, 7) rows. Double the rows for a fold down cuff.

Bind off loosely.

Sew back and sole of bootie.

Happy Knitting!

PS Happy Birthday to you too Nanc! I ate more cake in your honor. :)

Baby Bootie Pattern

I live such an exciting life. Still no heat other than gas logs and space heaters- for which we are very grateful- but the heat men are outside working on it. I wish my gloves weren't too bulky to wear while I type. I spent most of the day yesterday out and about in warmer places, but there are too many things that need to be done around here today- like laundry. Why does everyone run out of clothes if I skip one day washing?

When I picked DD#1 up from school yesterday, we went by John's Antiques and I bought these cool glass thingies for my sister:

They're really a pretty blue, but I had a hard time getting a decent picture. Then we went next door to Dixie Bags. They're a mom and pop enterprise- the owners live over the store and make all the bags themselves. Very nice people. I got a huge bag for Christmas last year that I use for my main knitting bag. It's too big and heavy to tote around, so it sits in the living room looking lovely. It has oodles of pockets inside, but I wanted a little gadget bag to match so I got one. Also got DD a coin purse since it's almost her birthday and we decided we should celebrate our birthdays any day we want to. I want a Bible cover made from Noah's Ark print, but not today. Our pockets were empty so we went home to find some pale yellow wool that came in the mail. (Inspired by the blue glass thingies, it is now all sitting in various pots and pans soaking up lovely shades of raspberry, black cherry, and lime Kool-Aid. Pale yellow is too boring.)

THEN, I sat by the fire and finished the baby booties. Here's the picture:

Here's the pattern:

Baby Booties

These were made with Lion Brand Jiffy yarn and #10 dp needles.
Cast on 22 leaving a long tail to sew up the bottom.
Round 1: Knit
Round 2: K1, M1, K9, M1, K2, M1, K9, M1, K1 (26 stitches)
R 3-9: Work in pattern to match hat or st st.
R 10: K10, K2 tog, K2, SSK, K10
R 11: K9, K2 tog, K2, SSK, K9
R 12: K8, K2 tog, K2, SSK, K8
R 13: K7, K2 tog, K2, SSK, K7
Work in K1P1 rib for 10 rows. Bind off loosely and sew up bottom.

Now, back to folding laundry, and maybe I'll bake brownies. Being cold makes me hungry.

Mix 'n Match Baby Hat Pattern

Here's what I did this weekend!

The idea for the hat is from Sally Melville's book "The Purl Stitch" on page 124. Then I just went crazy making variations. I have more ideas, but only 1 more skein of yarn. Maybe I can sneak out for more while everyone's gone this week. They'll never notice a few more skeins- there's yarn in every closet anyway. Here's the pattern if anyone wants to try it. Let me know if something doesn't make sense.

Mix ‘n Match Baby Hat

Using bulky weight yarn (I used Lion Brand Jiffy- 1 skein made 2 hats) and #10 dp needles, cast on 54 stitches. Decide how you want to do the edge: 1) K1P1 for 4 rounds; 2) K3 rounds, P1 row; 3) P 4 rounds; 4) K3P3 rounds.

Pick a pattern for the main part of the hat and work for about 3”: 1) Rounds 1-3 K3P3 around, rounds 4-6 P3K3 around, repeat for pattern; 2) Round 1 K, round 2 K1P1 around, repeat for pattern; 3) K4P1 around and around and… the P1 bump will move over one stitch each round; 4) Round 1-2 K1P1, round 2-3 P1K1, repeat for pattern.

Now, P 1 round, K 1 round, and start decreases. K7 K2 tog around, K a round, K6 K2tog around, K around, continue decrease pattern until you K2 together around. K 2 tog around again and you’ll have 3 stitches.

Finish by: 1) Cut yarn and thread through stitches. 2) I-cord 3 rounds and finish off. 3) I-cord 3”, finish off and attach a tassel. 4) I-cord 3”, finish off and tie in a knot.

DD #1 and my husband have gone to pick up a platter of ribs to munch during the Super Bowl. I'm going to church, so chances are DD #2 and I will have to fend for ourselves when we get home- there won't be anything left. It's kinda messy to eat while I knit anyway.