More Embroidery

 Salt & Pepper Buddies! I made this as a "thank you" for a friend of mine:

We were invited to a summer wedding, so I wanted to make a more detailed towel that I could still finish within a week.

During this project, I discovered that I REALLY like using variegated embroidery floss. It made the project deadline easier since it was so interesting, and I like how it worked on the flowers.

Finally, this towel was for a small housewarming gift. I'm really happy with how classy the red turned out with the monogram.

Pattern: Baby Nolan's Hat

Baby Nolan’s Hat

By Erica Knudson

www.handmadebyerica.blogspot.com

This is just a quickly-knitted baby hat, made in-the-round, that’s easily personalized with stripes, a monogram, shape, or simpl

y with a favorite color. I believe it is a 3-6 month size.

Materials:

Worsted weight yarn (photo here in Vanna’s Choice) – Half a skein should be enough for this size
Size 6 DPNs
Tapestry Needle
Stitch marker, if desired, to mark the end of the round
Graph paper, if desired, to design monogram or shape for stranding
Yarn for monogram or design

Instructions (from the bottom up):

Cast on 60 sts. Join, without twisting, in the round.  If you prefer to use a stitch marker to mark the end of the round, place it here and move it up with each row.

Work k2, p2 ribbing for 8 rounds. – 60 sts

Next row, (k28, k2tog) twice. – 58 sts

Knit around. – 58 sts

Knit 15 rows in stockinette (knit around, every row), incorporating your monogram if desired. – 58 sts

I started my chart after 2 plain rows of stockinette. I simply completed one row of the chart and finished each row by knitting around in the main color.

Here is an example of a monogram, the chart I used for the letter “N”:

 

Next row: (k2tog, k13, k2tog, k12) twice. – 54 sts

Knit around. – 54 sts

(k7, k2tog) around. – 48 sts

Knit around. – 48 sts

(k2, k2tog) around. – 36 sts

Knit around. – 36 sts

(k2, k2tog) around. – 27 sts

Knit around. – 27 sts

(k1, k2tog) around. – 18 sts

(k1, k2tog) around. – 12 sts

(k2tog) around. – 6 sts

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Using a tapestry needle, pass tail of yarn through all remaining 6 sts and pull tight. I like to pass it through all the stitches a second time, too.

Finishing:

Weave in ends.  Block if desired.

Enjoy!

Key:
k = knit
k2tog = knit 2 together, a method of decreasing
St, sts = stitch, stitches

My finished product, unblocked and un-stretched, was 6 inches tall and about 12” circumference at the brim.

In Case it's a Girl... Attach a Flower

Making a gift for someone who doesn't know what they're having?  This is a spin-off of an idea I saw called, "In case of girl, attach bow." I can't seem to find that pattern again, but if I do, I'll come back and link it.

Anyway, the trick here is to make something that could work for a boy

...and then making a nice flower that the mom-to-be can attach easily if she finds she's had a girl.

This is a fun way to get out of the normal colors we sometimes feel stuck with when we don't know whether it's a boy or girl - not that I have anything against those colors.  It's just nice to have choices! It also makes the piece a little more unique because it is given in pieces and you can make a neat little card if you want (see pattern below).

In Case it’s a Girl… Attach a Flower
By Erica Knudson

Materials Used: The example flower in the photo was made with worsted weight yarn, size J crochet hook and a blunt needle.

Larger Flower:

1. Ch 4, sl st in first ch to make ring.

2. 12 sc in ring, sl st to join.

3. *Ch 3, skip one st, sl st in next st* around. At end, join with sl st.

4. Ch 1, *7 sc in ch-3 space* around. At end, join with sl st.

5. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Smaller Flower:

6. Ch 4, sl st in first ch to make ring.

7. 12 sc in ring, sl st to join.

8. *Ch 3, skip one st, sl st in next st* around. At end, join with sl st.

9. Fasten off and weave in ends

Finishing:

10. Fasten flowers together with coordinating yarn and blunt needle.

11. Attach 10-12 inch piece of coordinating yarn to back of flower piece.

12. Include a note or tag – “In Case it’s a Girl… Attach a Flower”

Key:
ch = chain
sc = single crochet
st = stitch
sl st = slip stitch
*…* = repeat

**Please don’t sell this pattern.

Baby Ripple Hat

Baby Ripple Hat

Baby Ripple Hat
Erica Knudson

By Erica Knudson

This pattern is a simple but textured hat for babies 0-6 months and 6-12 months (more sizes coming soon!). It can be made for a boy or girl by choosing one finishing row or the other (explained below).

Materials used: Size J hook, worsted weight yarn, and a stitch marker.

All sizes start the same and you will see instructions for varying sizes in the pattern.

Start with an adjustable ring.

1. Hdc 8 into loop. – 8

Place st marker and move up with each round.

2. In the front loops only, (2hdc) in each st across – 16

3. In the front loops only, (2hdc in next st, hdc in next st) repeat around – 24

4. In the front loops only, (2hdc in next st, hdc in next 2 sts) repeat around – 32

5. In the front loops only, (2hdc in next st, hdc in next 3 sts) repeat around – 40

6. In the front loops only, (2hdc in next st, hdc in next 4 sts) repeat around – 48
**For size 0-6 months, proceed to step 9. For larger size, continue with step 7.

7. In the front loops only, (2hdc in next st, hdc in next 5 sts) repeat around – 56

8. In the front loops only, hdc around.

9. In the front loops only, hdc around.

10. In the front loops only, hdc around.

11. In the front loops only, hdc around.

12. For 0-6 month size: In the front loops only, (hdc2tog, hdc in next 4) – 40

For 6-12 month size: In the front loops only, (hdc2tog, hdc in next 5) – 48

13. In both loops, hdc around.

14. In both loops, hdc around, sl st in last st.

“Finishing Row”(could be changed to a standard sc around for boys):

15. (Ch 2,sl st in next st) around. Sl st to end.

16. Fasten off and eave in ends.

**In the photo here, the pink and white hat was made using the Finishing Row.  The smaller multicolor hat was finished using a single crochet border only.

Key:

ch = chain
hdc = half double crochet
sl st = slip stitch
st = stitch
sc = single crochet

**Please do not sell this pattern.

CASUAL HAT & MITTIES



Casual Hat
By Erica Knudson



Casual Hat & Mitties

By Erica Knudson

This pattern includes a toddler-size (age 2) hat & fingerless mitties.  One could replace the picot edging with a simple single crochet border for a less-frilly look.

Materials Used for both hat & mitties: Size K Hook, Bulky Weight Yarn

Hat:

1.  Ch 5    Sl st in the first ch to make a ring.

2.  Ch 2 (counts as 1 here and throughout), 9 hdc in circle – 10    Sl st to join this row and each row after.

3.  Ch 2, hdc in same st    2 hdc in each st around – 20

4.  Ch 2, hdc in same st,  (2 hdc in next, hdc in next) around – 30

5.  Ch 2, hdc in same st,  (2 hdc in next, hdc in next 2) around – 40

6.  Ch 2, hdc in same st,  (2 hdc in next, hdc in next 3) around – 50

7.  Ch 2, hdc in same st,  (2 hdc in next, hdc in next 4) around – 60

8.  Ch 2, hdc in next and around – 60

9.  through 17. Repeat Row 8 – 60

10. Ch 2, sc in next, (ch 1, sc in next) around – 60

Casual Mitties
By Erica Knudson

11. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Mitties (each is made in one piece)

1.  Ch 12 (for base) + 2 = 14

2.  Hdc in 3^rd ch from hook and across – 12

3.  Ch 2, hdc in each st across – 12

4.  through 13. Repeat Row 3 – 12

5.  Without fastening off, Join long sides of rectangle and sl st across seam (makes a tube shape).

6.  Ch 1, (sc, ch1) around cuff until the last st.
    At the last st, ch 2 (loosely) and sl st to join across (making a toddler-sized thumb hole).

7.  Fasten off and weave in ends.
8.  Repeat for 2^nd mitt.

Key:

ch = chain

hdc = half double crochet

sl st = slip stitch

st = stitch

sc = single crochet

**Please do not sell this pattern.








Casual Hat & Mitties
By Erica Knudson