OMG! Heart

This simple slouchy hat is basically done in 2×2 Rib Stitch and Knit Stitch. A great way to practice Circular Knitting, changing needles, and using Circular Needles and Double Pointed Needles (DPNs).

Here is the Slouchy Hat worn folded up for less slouch! I made this for my darling BF who wasn’t 100% in love with the slouchy hat! He did not want to look like Ashton Kutcher, Brad Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, etc… A.k.a. the Japanese Hipster look circa 2005… Le sigh. Fair enough.

I think the slouchy look is classic enough these days so I still like it for both girls and guys. Perhaps next time I will reduce the sag. Or use a different yarn or color scheme to downplay the slouch look.

Materials:
1-2 Balls Knit Picks Stroll Multi in Lily Pad Multi, Fingering Weight, 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon, 231 yards, $5.99
Stitch Markers, Darning Needle

Needles:
US 3 [3.25mm] in 16″ Circular Knitting Needles
US 5 [3.75mm] in 16″ Circular Knitting Needles
US 5 [3.75mm] Double Pointed Knitting Needles, Set of 4

Measurements:
11 inches (W) x 14 inches (H)
Circumference: 22 inches

Gauge:
26 sts and 34 rows = 4″ with larger needles in stocking st

Skill Level: Easy Intermediate

Pattern:
Free from Patons – Patons Kroy Socks Basic Beanie. The pattern below is a modified version of the Men’s Size Hat in the Slouchy Fit. I decreased the brim height and increased the body height of the hat. [pdf]

Brim:
Begin with smaller circular needle. Cast on 136 sts.
Place stitch marker. Join for working in round.
[K2, P2] every round until brim measures about 4″ tall.
Total: 27 rows, 3.5 inches.

Body:
Change to larger circular needle.
Knit (K) every round until Body measures about 7″ tall.
Total: 51 rows, 7 inches.

Finish:
Round 1: *K2tog. K30. ssk. Rep from * around. 128 sts.
2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th and 14th Rounds: Knit.
Round 3: *K2tog. K28. ssk. Rep from * around. 120 sts.
Round 5: *K2tog. K26. ssk. Rep from * around. 112 sts.
Round 7: *K2tog. K24. ssk. Rep from * around. 104 sts.
Round 9: *K2tog. K22. ssk. Rep from * around. 96 sts.
Round 11: *K2tog. K20. ssk. Rep from * around. 88 sts.
Round 13: *K2tog. K18. ssk. Rep from * around. 80 sts.

Begin decrease in every round:
Round 15: *K2tog. K16. ssk. Rep from * around. 72 sts.
Round 16: *K2tog. K14. ssk. Rep from * around. 64 sts.
Round 17: *K2tog. K12. ssk. Rep from * around. 56 sts.
Round 18: *K2tog. K10. ssk. Rep from * around. 48 sts.
Round 19: *K2tog. K8. ssk. Rep from * around. 40 sts.
Round 20: *K2tog. K6. ssk. Rep from * around. 32 sts.
Round 21: *K2tog. K4. ssk. Rep from * around. 24 sts.
Round 22: *K2tog. K2. ssk. Rep from * around. 16 sts.
Total: 22 rows, 3.5 inches.

Break yarn. Thread through remaining stitches. Draw up tightly and fasten securely. Weave in ends.

Notes:
The Knit Picks Stroll Sock Yarn striped up really neat. Depending on the needle size you use and the size of your project, you will get delightfully unique and irregular striping! I only used about 1.25 balls.

For my needles, I used 20″ circular needles which also fit. I used my fave ones – Addi Turbos! They are metal needles so creamy and zippy. If you like natural materials, Clover Takumi Velvets are my fave! They are bamboo and a close second to the Addi Turbos for me. The hat can also be knit using Double Pointed Needles only. You can save yourself from needing a third set of needles this way.

I used this hat to practice my Continental Knitting. It’s a straight shot and you’re doing primarily Knit Stitch, so it’s a great way to practice a different type of knitting hold. I’m an English Knitter, so I hold the yarn from the ball in my right hand and throw the yarn over my working needle. Continental Knitters hold the yarn steady in their left hands and pick the yarn. It’s a slightly different way of knitting. It all creates the same stitches, just in a different way.

The pattern comes in 2 sizes and 2 versions – Men’s or Women’s Size and Regular or Slouchy Fit.
<== Left: Slouchy Fit Hat; Right: Regular Fit Hat

Sizing and Gauge:
Width: 11 inches
Height: 14 inches
Brim Circumference: About 22 inches

The above measurements were taken before the hat was worn! I made this hat with the intention of it fitting very large sized heads. Hence the extra height in the body. But it still turned out too wide in the brim. As the day wore on the hat got looser and looser.

The number of stitches were correct. I double checked the gauge and it seemed right. I tried on the hat as I went, since the brim is knitted up first, and it fit fine too. Some factors could have been: I’m a loose knitter and I knitted even looser because I was knitting to fit a large-sized head; the rib knit in the brim will stretch and loosen up as the day goes on; I also noticed that after I blocked the piece it stretched out and got floppier.

Next time I will make the Womens Size Hat and also shorten the body by at least 1-2 inches.

I was looking for some baby patterns for this year’s holiday presents and found some more holiday gems. Most of these are Intermediate Level patterns but can be surely tackled by an Advanced Beginner looking for a challenge. From Caron Yarns.

Elf Slippers
Love these elf slippers. Makes a great gift as some cozy foot warmers but with a twist!
[pdf]

Christmas Stocking
One of these days I will make my own christmas stockings for some home deco. This is a nice free basic pattern.
[pdf]

Aztec Shawl
Love the aztec design. Switch up the colors to something monochrome and perhaps the order of the motif and you get an updated look without re-doing any pattern instructions.
[pdf]

Ribbed Toddler Pullover
A very easy Beginner Level toddler sweater.
[pdf]

Cabled Toddler Pullover
Great chance to try Cables.
[pdf]

Cabled Tunic
Make a nice cabled sweater for yourself.
[pdf]

Rainbow Pooch Pullover
This little knit pullover is simple and easily customized.
[pdf]

Swiss Miss Toddler Cardi
I liked this pattern because it’s a Beginner Level pattern but looks much more advanced!
[pdf]

Irish Eyes Baby Blanket
I liked the pattern on this blanket for an adult-sized blanket!
[pdf]

Baby Hoodie
This makes a cute play coat!
[pdf]

Toddler Vest
This vest is done in boucle but I’d substitute with a different yarn.
[pdf]

Sheep Toy
I’ve been looking for a sheep pattern and love this darling one. I’d make the entire sheep white (no black!).
[pdf]

Portal Sweater by Aaren

For all you knitting fiends slash Portal fans by the makers of such games as Half-Life and Counterstrike, some quintessential First Person Shooter games (one of my fave genres of gaming), check this out!

The full pattern is available for free from monday.tumblr.com and also on her Ravelry! Check out the detail on the elbows, heart patches! For the record, Quake 3 Arena is still and will always be the FPS that sparked it all for me. 1 FRAG LEFT!

Get Portal 2 by Valve for PS3 or Xbox 360.

Would you like to win this lovely free knitting book, Teach Yourself Visually Circular Knitting? Melissa Morgan Oakes, who wrote the book, was kind enough to send me a couple of copies to review and giveaway! You can learn more about the book in my full review ! See below on how to enter!

Contest Rules
* Comment on any one of the posts on this blog between now and August 15, 2011 and you will automatically be entered to win. (Required)

* Retweet my tweet for a bonus entry. Make sure to include your twitter name in the comment!

* Follow me on twitter for yet another bonus entry. Make sure to include your twitter name in the comment!

* Do something (anything), include my website link – OmgHeart.com, and tell me what you did for yet another bonus entry! Please include a photo and/or link and any other relevant information like your Ravelry or blog and send it to omgheartcrafts@gmail.com.

For Example: Facebook like this page by hitting the link at the bottom of this page. Join my website with Google Friend Connect. Knit, sew, or crochet a little something with a heart on it! Find something knit, sewn, or crochet with a heart on it! It will be posted on my site!

* Enter by Sunday, August 15, 2011, 11:59PM!
* Open to all entrants from all countries!

Prize
* One signed copy of Teach Yourself Visually Circular Knitting
* A nice note from OMG! Heart all the way from New York City!
* Drawing will be held on August 31, 2011. Powered by Random.org.
* Winner will be announced that same day! I will find you :)

** CONTEST IS CLOSED **

~+~ ~+~ ~+~

WE HAVE A WINNER!
Congratulations, Rosrin W. from Stafford, TX! Your prize will be sent out shortly!
And thanks to all those (12) knitting fans who entered the contest!

Happy Graduation to my brother, Yale SOM Class of 2011!

Hi fellow knitting, crochet, and sewing fanatics! I made my dress for my brother’s graduation! Otherwise known as my Schoolhouse Rock Dress. That day turned out cold and rainy which I wasn’t entirely prepared for :( But it all worked out. We met so many lovely fellow grads from all over the world and their families. Clever, witty, unique, and of course, off to save the world each in their own way. Architecture, Finance, Forestry/Eco, Medicine, Law, Drama, and Healthcare to name a few! Impressive and inspiring all around! We were also treated to a sea of creatively decorated graduation hats, heard some wonderful class speakers that stole the show from Tom Hanks, ate delicious, albeit soggy, sandwiches in makeshift classrooms, and above all helped some graduates celebrate the completion of years of hard work. So congratulations to my brother and his 216 classmates! We heart you, De!

Schoolhouse Rock Dress is a dressier version of the Summer Shift Dress I made. It’s just in a different color and long! I am also wearing my Tri-Strand Cowl over it. I wouldn’t normally pair them both together but had to out of necessity! If you’d like to make this simple yet satisfying knit dress see below for the pattern.

Materials:
3 Balls Lang Yarns Sol Dégradé, Spirit, 100% Combed Cotton, 220 yards. $20 per ball
US Size 13 [9.00mm] Circular Knitting Needles, 24″ Clover Takumi Velvets, $15

Measurements & Sizing:
Flat Measurements – Width: Approx. 21 inches. Height: Approx. 53 inches. When worn, the dress has a lot of give and drape given the loose knit. So this will fit anywhere from petite sizes to big/tall sizes depending on the look you’d like. I wanted the dress super long past my ankles when belted. I’m 5′ 4” and about 145 pounds. The dress is really roomy and hangs down to my ankles and a few inches off the floor if I’m wearing heels. So it was on the short side. But as the day wore on, it lengthened! So the dress will settle and lengthen to its proper length after a few wears. Hang overnight on a dress form or hanger to help it along!

Pattern:
The full pattern for Summer Shift Dress is here.

Notes:
The only difference between this dress pattern and the Summer Shift Dress is 2 things –
      1. It uses 3 balls of Lang Yarn instead of 2 balls
      2. I used US Size 13 [9.00mm] circular needles instead of the US Size 15.

This pattern uses 3 full balls of the Lang Yarn. There were a few scraps to spare but I basically split the 2 pieces, front and back, into 1.5 balls each with a little left over to whipstitch the pieces together. For taller people it might be a good idea to get a 4th ball to add more rows. When Loopy Mango made this dress they added contrasting yarn to the train for some added detail and length!

Unbelted it looks/wears like a giant muumuu or dashiki!

Additional Clothing & Accessories On This Page
Bag – Miss Lonelyhearts
Hat – Stetson
Belt – UNIQLO, 2006
Slip Black – H & M, 2011
Mom’s Dress – Vintage Adolfo – It’s all Machine Knit!
Indian Cuff Shoes – Vintage, Brazil

I love working with multiple strands of yarn. Not sure why, but I do! I saw this piece at Loopy Mango down in Soho and decided to make it! It was a simple and freeform piece that knitted up in a jiffy. It was made by Waejong of Loopy Mango. Anna, the other half of the Loopy Mango, helped me figure out what the pattern was! It’s great for summer-weight yarns. It is knitted using Circular Knitting while holding 3 strands of yarn together. This is a quick and easy pattern. About 8 hours. Great for a travelin’ knit. Perfect for a Beginner knitter who’d also like to try Circular Knitting.

I used an Ella Rae Lace Merino, a fingering weight yarn made in Italy. But the beautiful super-fine yarns over at Habu Textiles would be a perfect substitution! Try one of their exotic handcrafted fibers for an extra special finish.

Pattern #2 of my Beaches, Bikes, & Babes Collection for Spring/Summer 2011. 4 more to come! Twist it up for a double thick cowl or wear it as a hood!

Materials:
1 Hanks Ella Rae Lace Merino Color #21 – Deep Purple, 100% Superwash Merino Wool, 460 yards. $20 per hank
2 Hanks Ella Rae Lace Merino Color #118 – Maroon, Grey, Charcoal, 100% Superwash Merino Wool, 460 yards. $23 per hank
US Size 13 [9mm] Circular Knitting Needles, 24″. Clover Takumi Velvets, $15

Skill Level: Beginner

Measurements & Sizing*:
Width: Approx. 20 inches
Height: Approx. 19 inches
One Size Fits All

Pattern:
Body:
Cast on 108 stitches. I used the Long Tail Cast On.
Mark the end of the row with a stitch marker. Join row.
Rows 1- 10: Knit stitch until end of round
Rows 11- 20: Purl stitch until end of round
Repeat [Rows 1-20] 3 more times!
You will have 4 sets each of Stockinette Stitch and Garter Stitch. A total of 80 rows in all!

Finish:
Rows 1-7: Knit until end of round
Row 8: Knit 2 together (K2tog), Yarn Over (yo). Repeat until end of round.
Row 9: Knit until end of round.
Row 10: Cast off.
Weave in ends.

Drawstring Cord:
Using Crochet: Chain Stitch about 2-3 feet of cord. I used a Crochet Hook Size I [6.00mm]
Weave in through Finish Row #8.
Make some tassels for the cord if you like!

Notes:
It turned out way too floppy and saggy for me. A bit too bulky. Since it’s already an oversized knit, I would definitely suggest knitting on the tight side.

I’m also a loose knitter, so I stopped at 7 sections (70 rows) and then began the Finishing. So I had a total of 8 sections (80 rows) instead of 9 (90 rows) when I was finished. Going back I would have either gone down one needle size to make it less floppy or knitted tighter!

To join in the round and begin circular knitting, it’s simple! Cast on as normal. Then when beginning your next row, knit into the first stitch of your cast on row! That’s really all there is to it.

You are basically connecting the last stitch you just made to the first stitch you made (the one with the slip knot in it). Since the last stitch is the one with the working yarn hanging from it, you will be making a ring out of your cast on row when you knit into the first stitch!

Place your stitch marker right in between the 2 stitches to mark the end of the round. From there you just knit around and around until you’re done with your pattern. Never having to turn your work. Just make sure to check your cast on row for twisted stitches before joining AND that you are always knitting with the “right side” facing you. The side that will be showing when your work is done!

Knitting Tips by Judy has a good video on YouTube illustrating circular knitting nicely.

*Measurements and Sizing: The measurements were taken with the piece laid flat, when it looks almost like a square. But the piece has a lot of drape. So when worn, it will stretch and sag to much more than the measurements given. The measurements given are a good minimum size. It is a one size fits all but it may be too big or too small for some. So I would say take some time to swatch it if you are very particular about fit and drape!

Summer Shift Dress by OMG! Heart

So easy and breezy. Inspired by this dress made by Waejong and Anna from Loopy Mango. Super simple satisfying knit. Knit 2 giant rectangles in Garter Stitch all the way around. That’s it! It’s also a very efficient use of yarn. 2 balls was all it took for either a long tunic or shirt dress length top!

Anna helped me figure out this pattern. My version is slightly sportier but can be dressed up or down as you like! I also discovered a new yarn I fell in love with, Lang Yarns Sol Dégradé Collection in Autumn Paint. It. Is. Gorgeous. The colors are amazing and the texture is a curious silk/suede sheen. It is a fine ribbon or tape yarn in the Novelty or Fancy category. Lang Yarns is from Germany.

If you’d like to try the long dress version, it will take a total of 3 balls of Lang Sol Dégradé! Feel free to mix and match yarns. Again, Habu would be a great substitute for a slightly different look/feel and a nice showcase for their exquisite yarns. See here for my post on the Long Summer Shift Dress.

Pattern #1 of my Beaches, Bikes, & Babes Collection to celebrate Spring/Summer 2011. 5 more patterns coming soon!

Materials:
2 Balls Lang Yarns Sol Dégradé, Autumn Paint, 100% Combed Cotton, 220 yards. $20 per ball
US Size 15 [10.00mm] Circular Knitting Needles, 24″ Clover Takumi Velvets, $15

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner

Measurements & Sizing*:
Width: Approx. 21 inches
Height: Approx. 30 inches
One Size Fits All

Pattern:
Body:
Cast on 50 stitches. I used the Long Tail Cast On.
Rows 1-36: Knit stitch until end of round (You will be knitting very loosely)
Row 37: Cast off. Leave a long tail, about 6-8 inches.
Make 2.

Finish:
Now you will have 2 rectangles. Join the 2 rectangles at the sides from the bottom corner to about 6-8 inches from the top. *If your pieces are not the same length, it may be safer to join from the 6-8 inches from top down instead. This may leave the piece different lengths but that’s ok too!

For the Armholes: Do not join all the way to to the top. Leave about 6-8 inches from the top for the armholes.

For the Neckline: Join the tops of the 2 pieces from the outer corners in to the middle. About 6-8 inches in. This will leave you with a boatneck style neckline.

Weave in ends.

Optional:
Finish with an additional border at the bottom with a different yarn. A nice heavy yarn would be perfect to help stabilize the knit and give the piece some body. Simply crochet it on, freeform.

Notes:
Cast on tight. Or at least at a normal tension. This will define how wide (and floppy) your piece will be.

Also, knit the first row pretty tight. Or at least at normal tension. Mix in some tighter rows if you’d like to also help stabilize the piece.

When knitting, use an extremely loose knit. Each loop actually hangs down over an inch from my needles. Varying the stitch “height” makes for a nice texture.

This loose knit stitch is easy but hard to wrangle since the loops are extremely loose. They will slide off the needles if not careful. I did a lot of stitch picking up!

Joining the piece was tough too, the stitches were so loose it was hard to pick out where to join.

Going back I would have chosen a US Size 13 Needle [9.00mm] instead for longer, narrower stitches. But the 15′s were just fine too depending on the look you’d like to have.

Each rectangle takes about 1 ball with more than enough left over to join seams.

The piece will look super short when knitting. It will almost look like a short wide shirt. When you’re done, the looseness and the weight of the yarn will drag it down making it almost knee-length! So don’t worry if it looks too short when complete. Just hang overnight on a dress form or from a hanger.

It’s both flimsy and filmy so choose a nice bikini top, tank, or slip to go underneath. Lovely belted too, which is how I wear it.

*Measurements & Sizing: The measurements for this piece were taken when laid flat. The piece is airy and lightweight but has a good amount of drape due to the very loose knit. So it will stretch and sag indefinitely. The measurements given are a minimum size and will fit most average body-types from very petite to big/tall. I’m 5′ 4″ and about 145 pounds. It fits very loosely on me and hangs down almost to my knees!

OMG! Heart this herringbone stitch from Purl Bee’s Big Herringbone Cowl. The pattern is offered for free on their website! And it comes with excellent photos of how to do the Herringbone Stitch.

They also have a huge collection of lovely free knit and crochet patterns. A bonus is each pattern features really nice tools like these Blue Sky Double Pointed Needles (they’re made of dark rosewood from Vietnam!) and lovely photos. Drawback is they’re hard to wade through. The “Whit’s Knits” patterns are usually my fave. A post about my fave picks coming soon.

Materials
5 skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca’s Worsted in Ecru #2003, Alpaca/Merino Blend $20.60 per skein
Needle: US #17, 32 inch circular needle.
Jumbo Stitch Markers

Gauge
15 stitches = 4 inches in herringbone stitch

Finished Size
14 inches wide and 58 inches around

(more…)

Here’s DROPS Design based in Oslo, Norway. I discovered these guys awhile ago on Ravelry. I loved their patterns!! Too many to list. Below is a random sampling. Norwegians know their knits! I heart their style. Modern, sophisticated, casual. Just beautiful stuff. And guess what? They offer over 36,000 FREE patterns. In 14 different languages no less. And they’re good! They’re site also has a great way of filtering for just the patterns you’re looking for. Hooray! The have a cute tutorial page too full of video how-tos.

One *slight* drawback is that sometimes their patterns are hard to decipher. I suspect it’s because they are translated from Norwegian into English. From reading through a few patterns, the knitting techniques are occasionally unusual and not something I’m accustomed to. But they do come with video tutorials! Projects featuring some DROPS Designs coming soon! They’re big faves among the Ravelry crowd so they should be decent.

They also carry their own line of yarns, DROPS Yarn. All their patterns are designed to feature their yarns (or vice versa). I’ve never tried their yarns but I do love their patterns. Their yarn fibers feature blends like Mohair Superkid and Silk, Baby Alpaca and Mulberry Silk, Merino Superwashes, and Egyptian Cotton. From what I can tell from the pics, they knit up gorgeous. I’ll have to somehow get my hands on some so that I can try them at some point. For now they are only offered online and in Wisconsin and California… Why?! See their site for more details.

www.garnstudio.com
www.ravelry.com/designers/drops-design

One of my next projects. I just discovered this nice little cache of just socks! from Wendy Knits. Her page includes her original sock patterns along with some from The Loopy Ewe and great tips on sock knitting too. Free! She’s also got quite a few books out on Sock Knitting!! Check out Amazon for a list of all her books. A co-worker of mine who loves knitting socks (!) turned me on to trying a sock pattern and suggested this site for some patterns. I don’t normally knit with fingering/sock weight yarn so I wanted to try it out. She’s tried a pattern or two from Wendy Knits and they turned out great! You can find some here on her Ravelry, WinterPlease, along with her other projects! Here are the Wendy Knits patterns I’d like to try:

L-R: Catnip Socks
Swan Song Socks

L-R: A Rivulet Socks
Finer Peace Socks

L-R: Mallow Socks
Diagonal Lace Socks