button pondering

I'm working on a neckwarmer which was too small to go over the head so I'm adding buttons on. I havent quite figured out how I'm going to make the holes strong enough.

Checked Knit Hat

When I started the hat, I had over estimated the size of the person's head. 88st is an extra large hat, 68 still knitted a little long for my small head, so I hope it fits the intended head better.
Materials:
Size 9 US (5.5 mm)16" circular kneedles
Size 9 US double points
1 ball Medium-Worsted Weight Yarn(Loops & Thread: Impeccable)
Crochet hook for finishing

Gauge:
16 sts = 4 inches

Size
Adult Med (adjust for size)

Instructions
CO 68 stitches (add multiples of 4 for sizing).
Join, mark beg of round.<I used a small piece of contrasting yarn since it was around and my stitch markers were not>
*k2, p2* around for 6 rows


Checker Pattern
Set A: *p2, k2* for 3 rows
Set B: *k2, p2* for 3 rows
Work pattern until about 5 inches, or 5.25-5.5" for larger head sizes before you begin the decreasing.
End after completing either set.

Dec #1
*k2,p2* for set-up row placing markers after 18, 16, 18, 16
Decrease at the beginning of each grouping by either k2tog or p2tog
K the  K and P the P
complete alternating set


Dec #2
Begin alternating set. Decrease on 2 & 3 st together either k2tog or p2tog
K the k and P the p for 1 row


Continual decs
Maintaining 3 row pattern Dec the following groupings st together
complete an pattern row
Repeat last 2 rows 4 times
The 5th repeat decrease the extra set as well making all singular K or P sets (34 remaining)
<in my pattern I will knit the 2nd row in pattern set B>
*k2tog, k1, p2tog, p1* until last 4 st, k2tog, p2tog
*k2tog, p2* until last 2 st, k2tog
*k2tog, p2tog*


Using crochet hook, pull yarn through remaining 8st and BO.
Tie in ends. 

cable break

After knitting 5 cabled hats I'm tired of cables. I find them challenging and beautiful. Finally, I purchased a 16" No. 9  bamboo circular needles. Now, I'm knitting up a hat in the check st. How I'm going to decrease while maintaining the pattern will be a challenge.

Slightly Slouchy Cabled Hat

About the Slight Slouchy Cabled Hat:

I tried to make this a slouchy hat, but it didn't quite turn out as slouchy as I anticipated.

Materials I used:
-LB Jiffy yarn (color: 181 Country Green); less than 1 ball/135 yards
-US size 10 dpn

Instructions:

CO 60 stitches
row 1-6: *K2,P2*
row 7: *K1, KFB, P2* [75 st total]
row 8: *KFB, K2, P2* [90 st total]

row 9-10: *K4, P2*
row 11: *C4B, P2*

Set 1
row 1-4: *K4, P2*                  row 5: *C4B, P2*
Set 2

row 1-4: *K4, P2*                  row 5: *C4B, P2*

Set 3

row 1-4: *K4, P2*                  row 5: *C4B, P2*

Set4

row 1-4: *K4, P2*                  row 5: *C4B, P2*

Set 5
row 1-4: *K4, P2*                  row 5: *C4B, P2*

Then start decreasing:
row 1: *K1, SKP (left slant decrease), K1, P2*
row 2: *SKP, K1, P2*
row 3: *K2, P2tog*
row 4: *K2, P1*
row 5: *C2B, P1*
row 6: *K2, P1*

Row 7: *K2tog, P1*
row 8-9: *K2tog*

Draw yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight.

Knot it up and weave in any loose ends. All done!

Abbreviations used in this pattern:
C4B= slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at front of work, knit next 2 sts from left-hand needle, then knit sts from cable needle
C2B= slip next stitch onto cable needle and hold at front of work, knit next stitch from left-hand needle, then knit stitch from cable needle.

SKP=Slip as if to knit, knit, pass slipped stitch over

1st Rosette Ever Pattern (C&K)

I made an ear-warmer/headband and wanted to add a rosette to it. Lucky for me, my grandmother is an amazing woman and resource for all things crochet. She won winner's choice at the Evergreen State Fair for a crocheted flower & lace bed cover a few years back. She taught me how to crochet when I was young. Now I was to make a variety of flowers.

Photo by me & my phone

Materials:
Bulky Yarn
Size J Crochet Hook
Size 10 dpn Knitting Needles


<Note> Leave CO & BO ends long. You will be using these to tie the flower together and to your piece. 


5 Petal Flower (C)
Foundation: chain 12 & join
Round 1: *ch 3 & sc into ring* make 5
Round 2: into loop *1hdc, 1dc, 2trc 1dc, 1hdc, join into sc of prior round* for each loop
BO


3 Petal Flower (C)
Foundation: chain 5 & join
Round 1: *ch 3 & sc into ring* make 3
Round 2: into loop *1sc, 3
dc, 1sc, join into sc of prior round* for each loop
BO


Center Bobble (K)
CO 1
KFB x2 for 4st
Purl row, Knit row
Sl st, P2tog, Slip 1 st over, sl lat st over
BO


Finishing
Tie 3-petal flower to opposite side of 5-petal ties. This will anchor the flower equally and prevent twisting. Now attach to piece. Attach bobble through the center of both & onto piece.

Pumpkin Hat Pattern

Permission to post from KJS Design & Photography

Photo courtesy of kjsdesign.smugmug.com


Intro
The day before the baby's family photos I decided to make him this hat knowing we were going to the pumpkin farm. He came with sweater for family pictures and other cute hats I aspire to make.


Pumpkin Hat Pattern
Pattern adapted from Knittingonthenet.com



Materials:
Size 9 US (5.5 mm) double points
1 ball  Medium-Worsted Weight Yarn(Vanna's Choice Terracotta)
Small amount Med-Worsted Weight (VC Olive) to achieve stem & leaves

Gauge:
16 sts = 4 inches

Size
Baby (adjust for size)

Instructions
CO 63 stitches or add multiple of 7.
Join, mark beg of round.

<I used a small piece of the Olive yarn since it was around and my stitch markers were not>
*k8, p1* around.
Work until about 5 inches for a baby, or 5.5-6" for a toddler size. [.75"-1" is lost in the rolled brim] 

<If a larger size is wanted, work until 6-6.6" inches before you begin the decreasing. The original patterns suggested adding another panel (8 knits and 1 purl) or you could add more to the current ones (9k, 1p) or (8k, 2p [more defined rib]).

Decreasing:
Row 1: *K6, k2tog, p1*
Row 2: Knit the k, and purl the p.
Row 3: *K2tog, k5, p1*

<Methods: Through the Back Loop (TBL) or slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped st over (SKP)>

<<Notice you decreased on each end. This gives a much more uniform decrease. I tried to only K2tog at the end and it looked funny>
Row 4: Rep Row 2
Row 5: *K4, k2tog, p1*
Row 6: Rep Row 2
Row 7: *K2tog tbl, k3, p1*
Row 8: *K2, k2tog, p1*
Row 9: *K2tog tbl, k1, p1*
Now use green or olive yarn for the stem. <You can use it earlier if you want more green around the base>
Row 10: *K2tog, k1*
Row 11: K2tog around
Decrease by K2tog every row until 3 remain.
Work I-cord until desired length, BO.

<I curled and attached to stem base for effect. You can leave long.>
Fasten off the end of orange yarn also.

Leaf Instructions

When playing with leaves I found adding a stitch (M1-Knit in front and back of st) in the middle of a row shapes it round and the end allows it lay flat. I combined the two in order to round the top and flatten the decrease. This pattern is written for a uniform leaf while mine were improvised so that each half was not equal giving personality. (Stockinette stitch can be used for effect-K the P)

CO 3 stitches leaving end long

P row

M1, K, M1 (5)

Purl

K 1, M1, K1, M1, K1 (7)

P row

M1, K7, M1 (9)

Lengthen: P row, K row, Purl Row

Begin Decrease: K2tog (tbl), K7, K2tog (7)

P row, K row

P2tog, K5, P2tog (5)

P row, K row

K2tog (tbl), K, K2tog (3)

P

BO creating point

Attach to stem by pulling tail into stem and securing with whipstich.

Are blog the new thing like Toms?

I've been following a few blog for a while now. Two of these have helped inspire me to creating my own.

My dear friend confesses the joys and frustrations of being a step-mom. She takes taking back the Disney stigma of being evil. 

http://jmejohns.wordpress.com/

The second blog is a raw heart of a woman my age fighting breast cancer. All grit, pain, and hope making mine seem incomparable.

http://lumpsandlipstick.blogspot.com/

My blog is in no way similar to these writing of the heart. This will be a place to share my creations and hope to inspire others as I've been inspired by these women.

Let the Creativity Begin

...and now I cant sleep. I'm thinking of the design & photos I will be adding. There will be patterns and growth/learning moments too.

I'll post who's blog(s) inspired me to start when I finally wake. They weren't craft blogs, rather trials of the heart.