Birthday beanie hat {Knitting}

Baby MiH has a very busy social life, he has parties to attend and birthday cakes to eat (although he is more interested in twiglets). I have decided to see the very positive side to these parties - birthday parties for little ones are an opportunity for me to make some handmade presents and try out new patterns and new colour palettes. 

The birthday boy

This beanie hat is based on a pattern from the Phildar Catalogue Layette no 84. It is inFrench, without charts - not helpful, but you can see that it is not that hard to work out - and I did discuss the decrease they are using here. I changed the pattern a bit too, so it does not really look like the very cute picture.

The beanie hat as featured on the book; another colour palette I had in mind

Pattern: Beanie hat pattern found in Phildar catalogue

Yarn: Rowan Creative Focus Worsted in New Fern and Teal

Needles: circular 3.5 mm

Size: one year old, it fits the birthday boy better than Baby MiH. 

I would knit him a size bigger. 

Modifications: I knitted it in the round (cast on 94 stitches), I shorten the stockinette section so it was not as slouchy and no pompom (it did not really work with the style).  

Baby MiH 'forced' to wear the beanie hat for a picture

I am always amazed at how long it takes to knit a baby hat, but it is always fun. I am not sure whether it is the greatest present for a one-year old. Baby MiH would not leave it on his head for more than 20 seconds (hence the scary picture), but the birthday boy does leave it on... 

This is my entry for the knit 12 hats in 1 year challenge - whoohoo, I am back! 

PS: A bit of time ago, I made a how to Sunday on joining when knitting in the round that I found useful for this hat. 

A hat in July {Knitting} + Le Challenge GIVEAWAY

The 12 hats in a year challenge is proving every month more and more challenging. A knitted hat is the last thing I actually need in my wardrobe right now, but I know that not long from now it is all I will want to wear. So I decided to go for simple design - for a minimum time spent on knitting. 

Pattern: Mock Rib Watch Cap (free pattern on Ravelry)

Yarn: Cascade Eco-Cloud in Bunny (#1804) bought here

Needles: Circular and DPNs 5.5mm

I did not even change the yarn - or the colour! I am glad. I had never knitted with Cascade Eco Cloud, and the yarn is actually really different from any other yarn I had knitted with. I tried to capture it on the pictures, it is not twisted, it is sort of braided - and so stretchy! It is a merino and alcapa blend - and I don't seem to be allergic to it, result! It would be great for sweaters in the winter, and probably very forgiving for sizing. 

I have bought about a girl (Lindsey Kelk) on Ibooks recently - after seeing a lot of recommendations on twitter. I have yet failed to make it to Chapter 1, so cannot tell you a lot about it - but it seems to be the perfect chilling out book! 

Linking to Tamis and Ginny's today. 

So here is for the giveaway. As you may know the next le challenge theme is HEROES (entries due on September 15), and Kirsty at Quiet Play has shared her inspiration and given you a chance to win 3 of a paper pieced patterns!! To enter, go here. 

Starbust {Knitting}

It has been hard to motivate myself to knit a beanie hat this month (i.e. June) - even though I chose to make a baby hat. However the rain in the last couple of days have helped me finished it. It also means that Baby MiH is finally making an appearance on the blog. 

The starbust hat is a free pattern on ravelry, this is supposed to be pre-schooler size, but it may seems to be 6 months in Baby MiH's world... I just have to hope that it will still fit comes September/October.

 Pattern: Starbust Hat (free on Ravelry)

Yarn: Merino Silk DK - hand dyed

Needle size: 4.5mm DPNs
Size: smallest, hoping it would fit for this Autumn - not sure it will. I would make it deeper, as it happens it only just covers his ears. 
Result: A great pattern, well written and very easy to follow and quick.  

The hand-dyed yarn, with its white spots, works again very well for this type of hat. It adds a bit of texture and interest. 

I do love the top of the hat. I was worried it would look too much like the top of a pie, but it does not in the end. I will probably make more of this type for the winter. 

 You may be interested in a couple of related post:

- the hand-dying process is here.
- joining when knitting in the round is here. 

And this is my (late) June entry for 12 hats in one year. 

Steel Snow {Knitting}

Knitting a beanie hat in May may sound crazy, but looking outside right now (pictures from yesterday) and I may get to wear this little knit earlier than expected... I went through my wardrobe and I am not sure what to keep and what not to keep! Should I start knitting cardigans and jumpers? At least Baby MiH is getting full use of his cardigan. Who am I to complain, it is a knitter's weather! 

Back to the beanie, this is my second entry to knit '12 hats in one year' challenge - you can join here. 

This (free) pattern has been in my library for a long time now - and this challenge pushes me to actually go through my patterns, and knit them - I know crazy stuff! The colour is all Made in Home - I explained my first dying experiment here, including the white specks. I grew to love them in the end!

 Pattern: Houzuki Hat (free on Ravelry)

Yarn: Merino Silk DK - hand dyed

Needle size: 3.5 mm and 4mm 
Size: I followed the comments on Ravelry about the fact that the hat 
was a bit big - and I did 7 repeats rather than 8. 
It is very snug - but I think it was the right move for my head. 
Result: A great pattern, well written. It is quite easy to remember it - and makes it a perfect car project. I love the ribbing (knitting through the back loop) and the back. 
Next time I may make the decreases of the flowers 
on the side rather than in the middle - to avoid 
the 'stitching' effect in the middle of the flower. 

OK, better start thinking of my next beanie hat entry then!

Also you may have noticed my white T-shirt... More on this on Friday!