Free Pattern: Floopy Hat

It's floppy, it's goofy, and it's warm as hell. I love it ;-)


(The decreases look complicated, but really they're not bad. I just had to stagger them so the point wouldn't be shaped oddly.)


Elsebeth Lavold Baby Llama, Double stranded
2 balls slate, 1 ball linen
Size 7 mm needles (Addi's version of a 10 1/2)
Gauge: 3.5 stitches per inch in stockinette


CO 70 stitches in linen
Work in 1x1 rib for 5 rows
Place markers every 10 stitches (make sure round marker is distinguishable from all the others). You don't necessarily NEED these but they'll make counting and decreasing a bit easier.

Switch to slate and work in stockinette. Work 5.5 inches

Switch to linen and work as follows:
1. Knit around
2. k68, k2tog
3. k
4. k58, k2tog, knit rest of round
5. k
6. k48, k2tog, knit rest of round
7. k
8. k38, k2tog, knit rest of round
9. k
10. k28, k2tog, knit rest of round
11. k
12. k18, k2tog, knit rest of round
13. k
14. k8, k2tog, knit rest of round
15. k

Switch back to slate

16. k61, k2tog
17. k52, k2tog, knit rest of round
18. k43, k2tog, knit rest of round
19. k34, k2tog, knit rest of round
20. k25, k2tog, knit rest of round
21. k16, k2tog, knit rest of round
22. k7, k2tog, knit rest of round
23. k54, k2tog
24. k46, k2tog, knit rest of round
25. k38, k2tog, knit rest of round
26. k30, k2tog, knit rest of round
27. k22, k2tog, knit rest of round
28. k14, k2tog, knit rest of round
29. k6, k2tog, knit rest of round
30. k47, k2tog
31. k40, k2tog, knit rest of round
32. k33, k2tog, knit rest of round
33. k26, k2tog, knit rest of round
34. k19, k2tog, knit rest of round
35. k12, k2tog, knit rest of round
36. k5, k2tog, knit rest of round

Get rid of markers

37. k19, k2tog, repeat
38. k8, k2tog, k18, k2tog, k10
39. k17, k2tog, repeat
40. k7, k2tog, k16, k2tog, k9
41. k15, k2tog, repeat
42. k6, k2tog, k14, k2tog, k8
43. k13, k2tog, repeat
44. k5, k2tog, k12, k2tog, k7
45. k11, k2tog, repeat
46. k4, k2tog, k10, k2tog, k6
47. k9, k2tog, repeat
48. k3, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k5
49. k7, k2tog, repeat
50. k2, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k4
51. k5, k2tog, repeat
52. k1, k2tog, k4, k2tog, k3
53. k3, k2tog, repeat
54. k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2
55. k1, k2tog, repeat
56. k2tog, k2tog

Cut a several inch tail and draw through the remaining stitches. Pull tight, and weave in all ends.


(the fine print: Your use of this pattern constitutes your agreement to use this pattern only for personal, non-profit use without specific written permission from the designer (just email me!) Items made from this pattern may not be sold without permission, nor may the pattern itself be copied, sold, or distributed in any way. You may print one copy for personal use. Please do not reproduce the text of this document on other sites- just post a link :-) Thanks guys!)

If you need to contact me with questions, my email address is presentsknits@gmail.com - please email instead of commenting since it's much easier for me to reply that way! Thanks!

The yarns! They multiply!

It seems like no matter how good I am about not buying yarn, it finds its way to me. Not that I'm really complaining...I just end up spending my money on space bags instead so I can get the darn lovely stuff across the country ;-)

My friend Ty's mother does estate sales, and apparently has been saving up yarn, needles, and notions for me:



(please excuse the unattractive plastic bags...until they all have their moth-killing turn in the freezer, they've got to stay in quarantine.)


It's good stuff, too- lots of wool and alpaca, some silk blends, and so forth. Some of it's so old I can't even find info on it online (Berrocco Fleecy, anyone?) and some of it isn't labeled, but most is. The WIPs of the deceased that came with this haul were slightly eerie...I'm not sure if I should frog or what, you know? But hey, it's worth it.


HOLY CRAP A MILLION NEEDLES!

So awesome.


And while by comparison its contribution is meager, my mother also bought me this super lovely locally raised/spun/dyed yarn from a gallery just north of here:



Dig that funky orange. I like local yarns, they make me feel all special and elite :-P

In other news... I've got another free pattern coming your way, probably tomorrow. It won't be useful for another 6 months (unless you live in the southern hemisphere) but hey, that's never stopped me before.

Free Pattern: Ron the Friendly Stash Moth

EEEEK! THERE'S A GIANT MOTH IN MY STASH.

Oh wait. That's just Ron. Whew.



The other moths aren't too fond of Ron, because he'd rather to snuggle with wool than eat it- and he won't let anyone else eat it either. Maybe it's his attitude. Maybe it's his size. Or maybe it's the fact that his butt is full of moth-repellent herbs. Who knows? All I know is that Ron is welcome in my stash any day.




Every stash needs a Ron! Yes, I know it'd be way easier to toss your lavendar/cedar/clove/whatever into an old sock and call it a day, but Ron is way cuter (and a good way to use up some scraps.) And lucky for you, I've got your pattern right here:


Ingredients:
-Rowan Pure Wool DK- 1 ball white (013), 1 ball brown (017)
-Ironstone Harmony- Beige (16118)
-Paton's Merino - Black
-Size 6 dpns
-Size 8 dpns
-Size 6 straights
-Lavendar, cedar, or another moth-repellant herb
-The foot of a pair of pantyhose or a knee high
-Stuffing
-Handful of pipe cleaners (3 if they are 9 inches or longer, 6 if not)
-2 feathers, preferably with long "stem"

(basically, you need brown, white, and black worsted weight (or whatever color you want) and light brown bulky yarn. I didn't take gauge because it just wasn't terribly crucial- but don't worry if the bulky part comes out really tight.)



Abdomen

CO 30 with white Rowan on size 6 needles

1-8: Knit
9: (P4, p2tog) around
10-16:Knit
17: (p3, p2tog) around
18-22: knit
23: (p2, p2tog) around
24-26: knit
27: (p1, p2tog) around
27-28: knit
29: k2tog around

Cut yarn and draw through loops. Turn inside out (so that the primarily reverse stockinette side is out)

Thorax & Head

At the open end of the abdomen and using the Harmony on size 8 needles, pick up 30 stitches.
Work in stockinette for 7 rounds.
Switch back to the white Rowan yarn and size 6 needles
Work 6 rounds in stockinette

At this point, fill the pantyhose toe with 2 or 3 inches of lavendar or whatever herb you chose. Stuff this herb ball along with some stuffing into the body of the moth, filling it up as much as possible.

Work face as follows:

1. K18, turn
2. p5, p2tog, turn
3. k5, k2tog, turn
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until there are 16 stitches left total. Add more stuffing. 2
k2tog around until there are 6 stitches. Cut yarn and thread the tail through. Top off stuffing if necessary, then pull shut. Weave in end.


Small Wings (make one of each)

(Wing 1)
CO 15 using brown Rowan and size 6 needles.

1. k
2. k
3. k1, p to last stitch, k1
4. p1, ssk, k to last stitch, p1

Repeat 3 & 4 until 5 stitches remain. Bind off.

(Wing 2)
CO 15 using brown Rowan on size 6 needles.

1. k
2. k
3. k1, p to last stitch, k1
4. p1, k to the last 3 stitches, k2tog, p1

Repeat 3 & 4 until 5 stitches remain. Bind off.

Big Wings

Work as small wings, but CO 25 stitches and BO when you have 9 left.


Eyes (make 2)

Using black yarn and size 6 needles, co 12 and join in the round (leave a long tail)

1. k
2. k2tog around
3. k2tog around

Cut yarn and thread through stitches. Turn inside out.
Use the long tail to sew the eyes on near the "corners" where the short rows started on the face.


Legs

Cut 6 4.5 inch pipe cleaner pieces
For each leg:

Work 4 inches of 4 stitch icord around pipe cleaner (I recommend inserting the pipe cleaner after the first round or two and working around it, but you can also try and insert it into the middle of the icord afterwards.

Don't bind off, just cut a long tail, draw through the stitches, and use it to sew the leg onto the body, inserting the extra half inch of pipe cleaner into the body itself.




Assemble all the pieces, weave in all the ends, and stick some little feathers in for antennae :-) I just sort of wove mine in but you could also use a little glue or a few stitches with sewing thread to secure them.


I'm trying to figure out how to make the perfect curly little mouth-bit, but I haven't yet. Let me know if you guys come up with anything ;-)

*** I haven't test knitted this yet, so if you find an error, please let me know!***





Photogenic, innit he?



(the fine print: Your use of this pattern constitutes your agreement to use this pattern only for personal, non-profit use without specific written permission from the designer (just email me!) Items made from this pattern may not be sold without permission, nor may the pattern itself be copied, sold, or distributed in any way. You may print one copy for personal use. Please do not reproduce the text of this document on other sites- just post a link :-) Thanks guys!)

If you need to contact me with questions, my email address is presentsknits@gmail.com - please email instead of commenting since it's much easier for me to reply that way! Thanks!

So Pretty

I'm trying not to buy any more yarn for a while, since I'm moving soon and I'm going to have to ship it, but I accidently came across a picture of this stuff online and had to buy a little.



The sunlight made the contrast a little wonky but you get the idea- it's gorgeous. It's Malabrigo's new silk/wool blend, in Indiecita. And believe it or not, those are the same dyelot... but it's alright, I'm striping them. As long as color consistency isn't a huge issue, I absolutely recommend this yarn. It is freakin' awesome. I got mine from Sandra Singh, which I also recommend - I seriously had a tracking number within an hour of ordering.

It was a good day for mail. I also got some free moo cards (I already have a bunch, but hey, why not) for getting a paid flickr account. Speaking of which:


Look! Flickr!

Neato! Now I can do things like this:





Nice.