Tag Archives: Hand knitting patterns

A great cast on when starting at the top

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I love to knit mittens and hats from the top down! Starting at the top provides me the opportunity to keep trying it on as I go. . . and my projects always turn out the right length.

Here is a video of a really nice cast on that I have started using to get a sweet flower at the top of my hats and mittens.

I used this method for this hat –

I’m a big fan of fulling and felting too. These mitts are knit using two strands of Galway wool and US 17 circular needles, then fulled to fit.

I’m working on a pattern that explains how I knit mittens from the top down. . it will include directions for this fulled mitten, which by the way is super warm and great to wear in MN winters while waiting for the bus! This could also be used as an oven mitt.

Earflap hat with Twined Knitting

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A while back a friend mentioned she wanted a classy, black, earflap hat to wear with her “good” coat. She showed my the ecru 1940s art deco style silk scarf that she wears with this coat. A lovely design is woven into the scarf and I decided to try to match it on the brim of the hat. I wanted something that would be warm and with a nice firm brim and earflaps.

Result – twined knitting – with raised stitches.

    

I fell in love with twined knitting about a year ago, and my family chipped in and bought me Twined Knitting, A Swedish Folkcraft Technique by Birgitta Dandanell & Ulla Danielsson. (an out of print 96$ purchase!!).

So I read the book and figured out how to make raised stitch designs and the black hat pictured here was the result. I don’t remember what yarn I used for that hat.

After knitting several hats I’ve decided a nice spungey, springy yarn, with lots of body works best when knit on a smaller size needle than recommended on the label.

    

I’m happy to knit you one in the color of your choice! 50 colors to choose from in Harrisiville Shetland! Shoot me a comment for more details.

I am writing the pattern using the wavy raised stitch design for publication seen on the other hats pictured here.

Pattern coming soon!

Charlotte’s Tam

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I’m so excited about this pattern!!
I have knit two of these tams now and I must say they are quite fun and the pattern is easy to memorize.

charlottes_tam01Start knitting in the round at the top and increase out to the brim. . . the top is 8 pattern repeats of small two stitch cables and twisted stitches.

The brim is ribbed and then finished with an I-cord. The diameter of the top is 11.5″ and the brim is 18″ around, unstreteched.

charlottes_tam02

At the very edge of the top – I never realized how hard it is to photograph patterns in white – is a diamond pattern that weaves in the middle.

charlottes_tam03

I knit this tam in yarn from Gale Woods Farm on size 6 needles. I used about 225 yards of a dk weight yarn. The crispier the yarn the better.

I knit another one in 136 Merino Superwash from Mission Falls, 100% Merino. That one turned out great too! The softness of the merino make that tam floppier resulting in a different style hat. . .just as cute!

The pattern is getting edited right now. . . and as soon as it it done you’ll be able to find it on Ravelry and Etsy. I plan on knitting another one in worsted weight yarn, just to see what happens.