North Star Hat

North Star Hat

Much to my dismay, I recently discovered that my local yarn store was discontinuing the Berroco Vintage Chunky. So I immediately bought these three skeins, with the idea that I would combine them into as many items as I could. And the first thing I came up with is this fairly awesome hat, which uses mostly the main color yarn, and a few scraps of the other two. But let's get to the pattern already!

Yarn: Berroco Vintage Chunky (50% Acrylic, 40% Wool, 10% Nylon; 130 yards [120 meters]/100 grams); #6185 Tide Pool - 1 skein, #6123 Blush - 1 skein, and #6167 Dewberry - 1 skein

The finishing

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size 9, one 16" circular needle in size 10, and one set of double-pointed needles (dpns), also in size 10

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 14 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

Using your size 9 circular needle and your main color yarn (which in our case is #6185 Tide Pool), cast on 84 stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Next, knit 4 rows in a k2, p2 ribbing, and then switch to your size 10 needles. Knit four rows around, and then it's time to begin the main pattern, which is the North Star Pattern from page 99 of Barbara G. Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. Please bear in mind that this is a slip stitch pattern, and yarn should be kept quite loose behind slipped stitches, especially when slipping multiple stitches together (this note goes double if you haven't knit many slip stitch patterns before - really, make it loose!). Oh, and before we get started, let's define the dip stitch as follows:

Black & White & Cabled-All-Over Cowl

Black & White & Cabled-All-Over Cowl

First, I apologize for the word play. It's genetic. And seems to get worse with age (sorry, mom, but it's true)... And second, let me introduce this cowl, which I think is one of my most versatile so far. After all, I knit it with a dk weight yarn, but on size 10 needles, to give it a little bit of extra loft. You could just as easily knit it with worsted, however, which would make it that much wider, or even a bulky yarn, if you wanted something super robust. Basically, you can play with this pattern as much as you want, and I think it will still be pretty. This design also changes widths, from a thicker band to be worn closer to the neck, to a thinner band that drapes further down. The sizes of both loops are adjustable, which adds yet another layer of versatility. And finally, the unique seaming method of this cowl means that you won't have any twisted loops to deal with!

Yarn: Rozetti Polaris (65% Dralon, 31% Wool, 4% Ripped Off By Tag Removal; 191 yards [175 meters]/50 grams); #92002 Zenith – two skeins

The first, wider, pattern.
Yes, those are eyelets in the middle of
those cables.

Needles: Straight needles in size 10, cable needle (cn)

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 21 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette on size 6 needles

We're going to begin this piece with the wider band, which, as you'll see, whittles down when you're about two feet in. To begin with, however, cast on 54 stitches, and then knit three set-up rows, which go as follows:

Set-up Rows 1 & 3 (wrong side): * p4, k4, p4, k2; rep from *, omitting final k2 in last repeat

Set-up Row 2: * k4, p4, k4, p2 *, omitting final p2 from last repeat

And now that that's done, let's pick up a little notation to complete the pattern:

Rustic Lace Cowl

Rustic Lace Cowl

My mom sent me a bunch of yarn for Christmas, and this one stood out to me mostly because it's so OPPOSITE the -45 degree with wind chill weather we're having right now. And yet, it's still nice and pepperminty, for the season. The only thing I should note before we get to it is that you'll probably have to block this cowl, as the scallops curl a bit. If you're as lazy as me, however, you may be able to stretch it into place instead...

Yarn: Kraemer Yarns Tatamy Tweed Worsted (40% Cotton, 60% Acrylic; 180 yards [165 meters]/100 grams); It's A Girl – one skein

The pattern. A feather lace and some
twisted stitches.

Needles: 24" circular needle in size 8

Notions: Tapestry needle, 3 stitch markers

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette 

Cast on 156 stitches loosely, place marker, and join in round. Then we'll knit a set-up row or two before we get to the main pattern, which you'll find below. Note that knitting the optional row is a pain in the butt, but creates a pretty design so it might be worth it.