Tag Archives: hat

Memory Lane with Some New Patterns

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photo courtesy of Annie’s

ScannedImageI have to admit, I really enjoy these designs. They can be found in the current issue of Crochet! Magazine (Winter 2015).

Waves Hat

Wavy Hat Photo courtesy of Annie’s

The Wavy Hat was actually one of my first patterns, at least one of the first patterns that I worked out and actually wrote down. I wrote it up for a friend of mine that wanted a hat that had a chevron appearance, so I play around and came up with my interpretation, and inspiration of that idea with this hat. I have made some changes to the original pattern, making it more streamlined and easier to understand, but I am still happy with the results.

All-Round Rug

All Round Rug photo courtesy of Annie’s

The All Round Rug was inspired by bubble in the bath. I was watching the bubbles in a bath (a bubble bath is a rare thing in my home, so enjoying them as long as possible means the water is usually going cold), and while relaxing my mind began to drift and looking at the shapes that were being created. The way they stacked upon each other made me wonder if I could recreate the pattern in yarn. So a little playing around and this rug was born.

These two designs are one that I have found memories of, and I hope that you enjoy working them up for yourself.

Designs In Movement…Some of My Latest Thoughts

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ScannedImageSo the long days of summer are now shortening, children or headed back to school, and that can really only mean one thing…Autumn is almost here. M01220_CWOct14_CVR

I have a couple of new designs out, that I think ring true for fall. In the October 2014 Issue of Crochet World Magazine (available digitally now, and on newsstands September 2, 2014) I have a hat, Birds Eye Border, and a Scarf, Hourglass Cables.

Hourglass Cables Scarf 1

Hourglass Cables Scarf Photo courtesy of Annie’s

I enjoy both of these designs so let me tell you a little about them. The Hourglass Cable Scarf is one that is not you simple rectangle, I was playing with movement and enjoyed how this technique created an in and out effect to the edge of the fabric. I added the cables and was astonished at how fun it was, yet simple to keep track of. So the increase/decrease effect gives visual interest while the cables give great texture (while actually highlighting the curves). But using a variegated or striping yarn the details are even more highlighted, as the color shift gives an additional element of focus.

I even enjoyed this technique enough to offer a video of it through Annie’s (you can find it here).

Bird's Eye Border Hat

Bird’s Eye Border Hat Photo courtesy of Annie’s

The next design is the Birds Eye Border Hat. In this design I was once again inspired by movement, I was attempting to create an open circle in the middle of a fabric, and found that I enjoyed how it edged, and though a highlight of this around the face might be nice, thus the hat was created. It has a slight air of whimsy, and can be personalized by weaving a scarf through the openings or adding bead work. It has a lot of possibilities, and yet is simple to put together.

I hope you enjoy the designs and that they encourage you to play with movement in your own work.

Glove and Hat Set from 1 Skein! -Rice Paper Weave Thoughts

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ScannedImageSpring is on its way, but winter is still holding on….

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Rice Paper Weave Gloves
-I made the hand-to cuff a little longer to keep a little warmer-

I was thinking of family that I have that moved to the Chicago area this year, and how they may need to find ways to keep warm, so for the holidays I made them some gloves. They came out well enough I decided to share them in a pattern.

The stitch pattern is worked in a spiral, upon a base of ribbing that makes up the cuff. Instead of making the new popular option of fingerless gloves, I went ahead and added fingers. I admit fingers seem tedious and intimidating, but I found them much easier then I first thought. They worked up quickly in the same stitch pattern and add the practicality of warmth to the project. I also left the option of having a texting glove, by not completing the thumb, but having it long enough to cover the tip.

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Rice Paper Weave Hat
-Matches to gloves, and are available in the same pattern-

Then the most amazing part…I still had enough yarn left in the skein to make a matching hat! I worked this design up on an alpaca yarn from Lisa Souza Dyeworks, so it feels yummy and  makes a very nice cold weather glove and hat set (at least for Chicago weather, it might be fall and spring).

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Optional “Texting Thumb”

This design is sized for both men and women, in the gloves and the hat, ensuring that with 1 skein you can get an entire set of matching gloves and a hat!

So far it appears that my family members are enjoying them and keeping warm. If you would like to check out this pattern it is available for sale on Ravelry and Crochetville for $5. I call the “Rice Paper Weave Glove & Hat Set”, the name comes to me from the stitch pattern, and to me it reminds me of the placemats I have found at some Asian restaurants, which are woven but have great texture. The mats are probably made with bamboo but my mind keeps thinking of rice…for some reason it just seems a little more fluid.

Anyway, I hope you want to attempt to keep your fingers warm and will check out my latest design.

Thoughts on Grace in the Garden Sun Hat

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ScannedImageI enjoyed this project, Grace in the Garden Sun Hat (found in the new special issue of Crochet! Magazine Crochet in a Snap, currently available on newsstands); I had fun putting it together. It has a classic sun hat feel, but a not so classic crochet approach.

Grace in the Garden Sun Hat 1

photo courtesy of Annie’s

I usually always have a crochet hook close at hand, heck usually I have one holding up my hair, but that does not mean I always have yarn flowing through my fingers; this is a project that highlights that.

Originally I was looking to create this hat out of jute, I liked the natural woody color and stiff feels, but after some discussion with the editor it was decided to use household twine (as the jute has an abrasive quality, it was probably a good choice). As chaining and joining can be a bit more obvious with this material, it is worked as a continuous spiral, so it has a very clean look. I was really please with how it came out.

The scarf woven through it is just a simple silk scarf that I found at my local Kmart. As it was near the end of the summer season when I was working this up, I found it on a discount rack, and for only a couple of dollars it really dresses up the hat.

Grace in the Garden Sun Hat 2

photo courtesy of Annie’s

However the twine does lend itself to be a little flimsier in the brim, it likes to bend and fold more than the stiffer material of jute, but this can easily be corrected with some spray starch or other stiffening techniques. But sometimes the floppy looker can be charming as well.

This hat reminds me of ladies lounging poolside, wearing large sunglasses and reading magazines, like some old Hollywood movie, maybe I will have to give that a try with this hat…but I’ll let the weather warm up just a little first.

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photo courtesy of Annie’s….check out newsstands for the latest special issue!

 

Thoughts on Points of Diamonds

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Crochet World Winter 2013- Photo courtesy of Annie’s

ScannedImageI usually like to find ways to avoid straight lines. I enjoy curves and blending of colors. That is one of the reasons I came to design Points of Diamond Beret, available in the Winter 2013 issue of Crochet! Magazine.

The colors of the yarn (Noro Silk Garden) lent itself so well to the blending of colors. The art has such a diverse array of colors in one skein that it looks like you were painting with a brush, it is really fun.

Points of Diamonds Beret

Photo courtesy of Annie’s

This Beret came into being, once again, from my daughter. She always enjoys asking me to create new things for her (even if she only wears them once and puts them aside). She wanted a circular hat, and I loved the thought of placing a straight line design within the circle, hence the diamond points were introduced.

Once I had it designed for a child, I loved it enough that I wanted one too, so it grew into an adult size as well. I hope you enjoy the ways the colors come together and the texture that the stitches create as much as I do.