Hats Off!

Here's to you Winter!  As you make your adieu, I will show off my favorite winter beautifuls.

This hat was made for a small head, not a child, just a tiny adult.  But I'm sure the pattern would work well for a child.  I found the flower pattern on ravelry and loved it immediately.  It's simple and quick and I can adjust the size hook and yarn to make various sizes.  I love the accenting pinks and I think they stand out against the black exquisitely.

This hat was made using my own pattern as well, but for a normal size head.  I used the same flower pattern as the previous hat.  When my customer asked for these three colours I didn't know if I would have the right shades to mix together, but I think it turned out quite nicely.  I like the clustering of the flowers.  Maybe three different pinks next time???

This hat was made as a gift for one of my residents.  She went through chemo and beat her cancer--yeah!!--but lost all her hair in the process.  Winter was especially chilly for her so she always wore a hat.  One day I told her she needed a girly hat since all her hats were brown, orange or navy blue.  So I got to work that night and made this for her.  The yarn is so fun and colourful that I simply loved how it turned out.  And so did she!!!  She wore it for the rest of the winter and got lots of complements.

This pattern I found in a library book.  I can't recall which one, but I have made several hats using this pattern and love every one.  The open weave is stunning when placed on the head.  The colour of this yarn also off-sets the pattern quite nicely.

Well there you have it!  Those are some of my favorite hats from this last winter.

Baby Blues

Vacation is a wonderful time.  Endless hours to create whatever you would like.  This week I worked on several different projects but I only have one completed.  It's a baby set that a customer ordered.  Although I have a pattern for all the parts, I had to adjust the patterns for worsted weight yarn.  I used an H hook--my favorite--and some expert ripping skills--of course!--to make the set.

The hat was relatively simple and quick.  I used a double crochet stitch so the hat would stretch and adjust to the baby's head.  I worked in the round using a slip stitch and chain 3 to connect and start the next round.  Personally, I never work in a continuous round because it leaves an uneven edge when finished.  Because the set is for a boy, I didn't add any embellishments--a flower or ribbon--but left it simple.

The mittens were a little more tricky.  Originally, the pattern called for a baby yarn and a small hook, but I wanted to use the same yarn for everything so...I changed the pattern.  Not having a newborn baby on hand to test the mittens on, they may still be on the large size but--here's the good news!--baby's grow fast.  I know that having ribbon isn't exactly masculine but I needed something to tighten the mittens around the wrist.  I figured plain black was the least of the evils that I had.  For this pattern, I used mostly a double crochet except for the row where the ribbon is threaded.  There I used a single, chain sequence and then put two doubles in the chain in the next row.  It gives it some nice patterning and by not connecting the last two rows you get an open cuff to fit the arm better.

Personally, I think the booties are the cutest part of the set.  Once again, I adjusted the pattern for this.  When I originally made these booties for my niece I found that the ankle part was quite small, so small that it was difficult to pull over the heel.  But once on, the foot was so big it flopped around on her foot.  So I made the ankle bigger and the foot portion smaller.  I'm hoping that this works a little better.  For the booties, I used a single crochet in the round.  After four rounds I attached a separate strand of yarn to make the top of the foot which I work in a row.  Then I continued the first strand around the side of the foot and the back of the ankle, decreasing after four more rows.  Then I slip stitched the bottom together and tied off.  Waa-laa!

Because baby's are so small, all the pieces came together much faster than an adult set.  Which is nice for a change.  I think the set is adorable and I hope my customer does too.