Handspun Star Hat

 Unisex hat in a simple cable pattern shows off the beautiful colours in handspun yarn. This was the first time I had bought handpainted fibre to spin, and watching the colours change as I knitted this up was fascinating. The decreases at the top make a star shape and I added a few tiny star-shaped buttons as a cute detail. The buttons could be omitted (and perhaps more sober yarn used) for a manly version. I also include instructions to avoid the “scalloped” look at the edge. The hat is very stretchy, and will fit more or less any head. While the yarn in the picture is my own handspun yarn, I have suggested several commercially available alternatives.

Yarn: Handspun yarn from handpainted fibre or for example: Malabrigo merino worsted, Cascade yarns sierra, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. You need 120m in total.

Needles: 5 mm/US 8 dpns

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4” in stocking stitch.

Size: Stretches to fit most heads.

Extras: One 5mm / US 8 cable needle, and some buttons and embroidery thread if desired.

Notation:

CO = cast on

k = knit

p = purl

dpn = double pointed needle.

pm = place marker

slm = slip marker

ssk = slip two stitches knitwise, then knit them together with left hand needle.

K2tog = knit two stitches together

C6F = slip 3 stitches onto cable needle and hold to the front of your work, knit the next 3 stitches from left-hand needle, then the three stitches from the cable needle.

Cable Pattern

Round 1: *k6 p2* to end of round.

Round 2: As round 1.

Round 3: *C6F p2* to end of round.

Round 4: As round 1.

Directions

CO 120 stitches over 3 dpns and join in the round. Work in Cable Pattern until hat measures 6.5”. You might want to make it a little shorter/longer if you have a particularly small/large head. Also, if you want to avoid the scalloped look at the edge of the hat, work in k6 p2 rib for 4 rounds before starting the cable pattern. After 6.5”, ending on round 3, work decreases as follows:

Decrease set up row: k3 pm *k3 (p2 k6) twice p2 k3 pm* to last 21 stitches, k3 (p2 k6) twice p2.

It's easier to give instructions if the start of the round is the first marker, so k3 and we'll start rounds at the marker from now on .

Decrease round 1: *slm k2tog k1 (p2 k6) twice, p2 k1 ssk* to end of round (110 stitches).

Decrease round 2: *slm k2 (p2 k6) twice, p2 k2* to end of round.

Decrease round 3: *slm k2tog (p2 C6F) twice p2 ssk* to end of round (100 stitches).

Decrease round 4: *slm k1 (p2 k6) twice p2 k1* to end of round.

Decrease round 5: *slm k2tog p1 k6 p2 k6 p1 ssk* to end of round (90 stitches).

Decrease round 6: *slm k1 p1 k6 p2 k6 p1 k1* to end of round.

Decrease round 7: *slm k2tog C6F p2 C6F ssk* to end of round (80 stitches).

Decrease round 8: *slm k7 p2 k7* to end of round.

Decrease round 9: *slm k2tog k5 p2 k5 ssk* to end of round (70 stitches).

Decrease round 10: *slm k2tog k4 p2 k4 ssk* to end of round (60 stitches).

Decrease round 11: *slm k2tog k3 p2 k3 ssk* to end of round (50 stitches).

Decrease round 12: *slm k2tog k2 p2 k2 ssk* to end of round (40 stitches).

Decrease round 13: *slm k2tog k1 p2 k1 ssk* to end of round (30 stitches).

Decrease round 14: *slm k2tog p2 ssk* to end of round (20 stitches).

Decrease round 15: *slm k2tog ssk* to end of round (10 stitches).

Cut the yarn leaving a 10'' tail. Thread this through the remaining stitches and pull tight. Sew over the hole a couple of times and weave in any loose ends.

Beaded Rib Headband

Please note: this pattern is now available to download as a pdf from Craftsy for $2. It will still be freely available on this blog, but I thought people might want the opportunity to download a pdf version.

Unisex headband in an interesting textured rib pattern. The pictured headband was knitted with my handspun yarn, but I suggest a commercially available alternative. Instructions are given for two sizes: ladies' and men's. Instructions for smaller size are given first, followed by instructions for larger size in brackets. 

Yarn: Handspun Icelandic yarn OR Solitude Yarns Icelandic, 1 skein. Approx 75 (90) metres of yarn required.

Needles: 4 mm/US 6 dpns

Gauge: 22 stitches = 4” in stocking stitch.

Dimensions: Small: stretches to fit 22” head. Large: stretches to fit 24” head

Notation:

CO = cast on

k = knit

p = purl

dpn = double pointed needle.

 

Directions

Beaded Rib Pattern:

Round 1: *k3, p2* to end of round.

Round 2: *k1, p1, k1, p2* to end of round.

CO 100 (120) stitches over 3 dpns and join in the round.

Work in beaded rib pattern until headband measures 3.5 (4)”

Bind off all stitches and weave in any loose ends and you’re done!

 

Beaded Rib Mitts

Unisex mitts in an interesting textured rib pattern. Instructions are given for two sizes: ladies' and men's. Instructions for smaller size are given first, followed by instructions for larger size in brackets. These mittens are knitted in one piece, in the round. The pictured mittens were knitted with my handspun yarn, but I suggest a commercially available alternative.

Yarn: Solitude Yarns Icelandic, 2 skeins. Approx 150 (200) metres of yarn required per pair.

Needles: 4 mm/US 6 dpns

Gauge: 22 stitches = 4” in stocking stitch.

Dimensions: Ladies': 6” around, 10” long, Men's: 8” around 12” long.

Extras: Three stitch markers, a needle and some scrap yarn.

Notation:

CO = cast on

k = knit

p = purl

k1fb = knit one stitch into the front of the next stitch, and one stitch into the back (one stitch increased).

k1fbf = knit one stitch into the front of the next stitch, one stitch into the back, then one more stitch into the front (two stitches increased).

pm = place marker

sl m = slip marker

Pattern:

Beaded Rib Pattern:

Round 1: *k3 p2* to end of row.

Round 2: *k1 p1 k1 p2* to end of row.

Mitt Directions (make 2):

CO 40 (55) stitches over 3 dpns and join in the round. Work in Beaded Rib pattern until mitt measures 5½” (6½)”, ending on Round 1 of pattern.

Thumb Gusset:

Next row: k1 pm k1fbf pm k1 p2, work in Beaded Rib pattern to end of row (you should be on Round 2 of the pattern).

You will continue working as before, but increasing stitches between the two markers as follows:

Row 1: k1, slm, knit to next marker, slm, k1 p2, continue in Beaded Rib to the end of the round.

Row 2: k1, slm, k1fb, knit to one stitch before next marker, k1fb, slm, k1 p2, continue in Beaded Rib to the end of the round.

Repeat these two rows until you have 13 (17) stitches between the thumb gusset markers.

Thread a needle with about 6” of scrap yarn. Next row: k1; slip the stitches between the markers onto the scrap yarn and tie it in a loop to secure the stitches; k1fb, p2, continue working in Beaded Rib pattern to the end of the round (you should be on Round 1 of the pattern).

Now continue working Beaded Rib pattern until the mitt measures 10” (12”) from CO edge. Bind off all stitches.

Thumb: Pick up the 13 (17) thumb stitches on scrap yarn. Knit all stitches and join in the round. (Tip: On the first round, I like to work a k1fb on the last stitch in the round, slip this extra stitch onto the beginning of the first needle, and knit it together with the first stitch on the next round.) Work in stocking stitch (i.e. knit every stitch) until the thumb measures 3” (4”) from the base (or as long as you want it).

Next round: *k1p1* to last stitch, k1. Now bind off all stitches.

Weave in any loose ends and you’re done!

Green Lace

Here's a wee pattern update: two new "for sale" patterns up on Etsy and Ravelry. First up is my Garden Party Cardigan. It's a light and floaty laceweight cardigan with a floral edging.

I made this to wear for a friend's wedding, it knits up surprisingly quickly given that it's laceweight. The yarn is Dyeforyarn's Lace / Tussah Silk, available on Etsy. This is a really special laceweight yarn available in a huge range of colours. You can buy this pattern on Ravelry or on Etsy.

The second pattern is a lacy hat pattern, perfect for Autumn.

The hat pictured is made with my own handspun, handdyed Bluefaced Leicester yarn, but I’ve suggested two commercially available yarns that would be fine too: Knit Picks Palette and Rowan Pure Wool 4-ply. If you want me to spin you up some yarn for this pattern though, just let me know! Again you can buy this pattern on Ravelry and Etsy. Thanks for looking!

Summer Hols & Handyed Yarn

That's me just back from my Summer Holidays, camping in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland. Climbed some hills (see above), ate good food, spun some yarn and generally had a good time. And while I was away, some hand dyed gems were drying out in the flat...

Just up in my Etsy shop, is this beautiful skein of handdyed, handspun Dorset horn yarn. 

This is a gorgeous bright, bright blue skein of Dorset Horn yarn, handspun and handdyed by me! Dorset Horn wool is pretty similar to merino, definitely "next to skin soft", and it's from a rare breed bit so you'll be doing your part to help preserve this endangered sheep. It's dyed a beautiful shade of blue using professional quality acid dyes, varying from an almost creamy sky blue through to deepest indigo. As you can perhaps see from the pictures, it's a wee bit thick and thin, a little fluffy and somewhere between a heavy worsted and chunky weight. Delicious. 

This skein weighs around 75g and is just over 100m in length. It'd knit up beautifully on 6mm/US10 needles, and is enough for a hat or pair of mittens.