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.

This week, I found a zippered pouch that I'd stored away and decided to personalize it a little.  It's made of duffle bag material, but a regular sewing needle went through it easily. I used 3 strands of embroidery floss and decided on a monogram for the "design".

 

First, I measured out the center and drew my "K" on the front with a ball point pen.  (I knew I'd be embroidering over it, so it wasn't a big deal to me.

 

I did a main outline in a light brown (above) and follwed in the empty spaces with light silver.

I finished with another solid line of dark silver... Ta-dah!

 This will be a good, manly diaper pouch for when my man takes our little girl to the park...

First "Freehand" Dish Towel

For a long time, I've wanted to learn to embroider dish towels to give as gifts. I've practiced a little with transfers, but decided to try my hand at a custom design.



This is a housewarming gift for some friends of ours who just moved.  It started out as an experiment, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  This wonderful couple loves the outdoors - hence, the scrubby pines and "lake."

Monogrammed Jean Purse
Erica Knudson

Mid-project, I searched my stash of bags for something to keep my small embroidery projects in, and I found the perfect thing...a purse that I made in high school from a favorite pair of jeans.  I guess I've had embroidery on my mind for a while.