Team hats for favorite sports, knitting and selling

copyright S. Watterson/knitnscribble

Designing a knitting pattern for sports team caps is tricky, whether for hockey, football, or swimming. But once written down, the basic stocking hat pattern can be used for other favorite teams: NFL, NBA, NHL, etc. team hats, too. Some can even be knit for resale, if logos are not infringed upon.  A grandchild's request is very often the "mother of invention." Such is the case for this Sharks swim team hat knitnscribble designed and knit for Oliver, our 8-year-old grandson, who's a very excited member of the Wyckoff, NJ, Sharks swim team at the "Y."  Read on how this was designed and knit in one long day....

Knit and crochet quick baby gifts

copyright Hinke

Last week, knitnscribble profiled a super quick free baby blanket pattern by Kay Mather. Looking through my favorite baby patterns, came across this little baby hoodie jacket sideways pattern called "Snug," from the plethora of free knitting patterns on Ravelry. With a crochet cast-on, the sweater is knit all in garter stitch, one size, 6 months, using US 10 (6mm) needles and is sure to be a very quick project.

Easy baby blanket pattern in washable yarn

photo courtesy Rare Purls/Cascade Yarns

A moss stitch baby blanket pattern from Cascade Yarns. It's a four-stitch knitting pattern, which can easily be enlarged for a throw or afghan project. A free pattern and quickly worked up in Cascade 220 Superwash, Lion Brand's organic cotton or Plymouth Yarn's Encore machine washable on a US 8 (5 mm) needle, suitable for babies year round. All the yarns are available in many different colors. The double moss stitch (K2, P2) baby blanket takes about 3-4 balls of which ever yarn you choose. A welcomed baby shower gift or holiday present for new moms, this pattern by Kay Mather.

A felted purse for Fall

copyright 2012, s. watterson/ knitnscribble

On this sticky July day, how about some more 'hot and steamy' ideas for this fall? Free patterns for felted purses abound on the web, are fun to knit or crochet, and can save you quite a bit of money when it comes to handbag shopping. Large market bags can fit so much all year round.

Picot-edged slouch hat knitting pattern

courtesy Plymouth Yarns/Jan Wise

In between projects and waiting for yarn to arrive, this little picot-edged slouch hat pattern is just the portable project for sitting at the beach or riding on the bus or train to work. It's a free pattern from Plymouth Yarns, using 2 skeins of their Royal Llama Silk yarn, which comes in a plethora of delicious colors. The pattern is designed by Jan Wise and looks fairly easy, a great little hat for fall to pair with Susie's Reading Mitts, a free fingerless gloves knitting pattern with a picot edge.

You will find the free hat pattern on Plymouth Yarns site, along with a color chart for the Royal Llama Silk Yarn.  And more free hat patterns from Louisa Harding. 

courtesy Himalayan Hats Project/Louisa Harding

Fitted sweater patterns

Jumpers or sweaters that fit through the waist and fall just above the hips are very stylish among the young. Pullover patterns with 3/4 sleeves or longer and fitted waists for those who still have them. Knitnscribble has almost finished 'Stilwell' by Jared Flood, a two-color-stranded knitting pattern, which fulfills the fitted sweater design requirements and will keep you on your toes as an intermediate knitter.

courtesy Jared Flood/Brooklyn Tweed

Stilwell is knit with two different size needles to prevent the bunching, sometimes associated with stranded knitting. Knitnscribble chose a size 7 (4.5 mm) for the smaller needle and worked the color work on a size 9 (5.5 mm), using yarn.com's Valley Yarns 'Cold Spring' in a purplish colorway purchased on sale,

copyright knitnscribble 2012

 and for the medium size, two skeins of Elsebeth Lavold's Chunky AL for the coordinating off-white color. The pullover pattern calls for US 8 (5 mm) and 10 (6 mm), depending on correct yarn gauge. After swatching, the 7 and 9 circular needles were selected.

There's little or no sewing up, as the entire jumper is knit in the round, bottom up, including the sleeves. Short rows are used in the back on the shoulders and also in the collar. The pattern directions read expertly until the colorwork is finished for the yoke. It says "break yarn," and  reads "Starting with WS of fabric facing you, join yarn to Left front and purl 1 row." Problem is, what does one do with the unworked stitches? After looking on the Ravelry forum and finding other knitters had the same problem with no answer from the powers that be, Knitnscribble searched for Stilwell errata across the web and found no correction or clearer wording. At a loss, decided to strike out. Pattern should read, "Work to placket shaping w/o decreases, then begin the back and forth, purling the next row at left front on WS." Do not break yarn as directions read.

copyright knitnscribble 2012

There is also an error in the sleeve color cuff chart. You'll notice in the photo, the left sleeve doesn't yet have the embroidered dot in the middle of the design on the last row, as the after-knitting right one does. All in all, Stilwell is a lovely knitting pattern and very enjoyable. Available on Ravelry or Jared Flood's Brooklyn Tweed site for $6.25 USD.

There are two other knitting patterns planned for this summer's knitting. Both are fitted sweaters for daughter and granddaughter.

For the Swans Island 'Katherine' Pullover pattern design by Michael Rose Orne, Knitnscribble is using Cascade Pure Alpaca yarn in the ginger colorway, available on sale at Little Knits.com.

courtesy Swans Island Blankets

The Valley Yarns Cranberry Boatneck fitted sweater pattern was only $2.99 from yarn.com; yarn for granddaughter's sweater, still undecided.

courtesy Valley Yarns/yarn.com

Sweetest little girls vest is trés bien!

copyright Cécile Levesque

Are you searching for a girl's vest knitting or crochet pattern? This little camisole jewel with the sweetest little picot edge hem is the perfect answer.

New knit baby sweater and bonnet patterns

Finally, off the needles and onto paper, my vintage-style baby sweater and knit bonnet patterns, sold separately on Etsy and Ravelry as the "Fancy Lace Baby Sweater pattern." Knit with DK yarn, the sweater is a traditional generously-sized baby sacque or jacket with a little lace and picot edging, pattern is written for two sizes: 6-9 months, and 12 months. The original design will suit nicely for baby layette, christening day, or special celebration.  The pdf's have lots of photos and detailed instructions and are sent to your paypal email address or other email that you specify. Happy knitting! Find the links for purchasing here with the rest of knitnscribble's patterns.

copyright 2012 Sharon Watterson

Vintage style baby bonnet and sweater set in organic cotton

copyright Sharon Watterson

Here's a sneak peek at a new baby sweater pattern I am finally writing down. Have always loved the traditional vintage patterns and like babies to look like babies, especially little girls' christening bonnets! For years, have just picked up the knitting needles and not written anything down for the finished project. It's a pain and time-consuming process, but once on paper can be kept in perpetuity. Lesson learned the hard way. If you are like me and enjoy knitting your own designs, write it down as you go. Saves many hours later.

copyright Sharon Watterson

It's a vintage-style baby cardigan pattern that matches the Fancy Lace Baby Bonnet pattern, finally prepared this winter as well. As a set, it is the perfect baby jacket and christening cap or hat for girls.   The yarn is Rowan Purelife cotton.

You can purchase the baby sweater pattern and bonnet pattern separately or as a set.

See all knitnscribble patterns here: free patterns and those that are for sale. 

London Olympics yarnbombing 2012

picture by Richard Rayner/North News & Pictures

The Olympic yarnbombing on the Saltburn Pier in North Yorkshire, England this week is not only whimsical and celebratory of the London Olympics, but it also exhibits the goodwill that is indigenous to knitting and crochet artists. The knitted "scarf," as noted by British media, stretches fifty meters long, that's over 53 yards of detailed knitting of amigurumi Olympic athletes in motion and a true work of knitted graffiti art. Bravo! Yarnstorming in England.
Read "Winning patterns for 2012 Olympics" to get close up view of all the many characters in this incredible yarnbombing and learn where to find the athlete patterns for current and favorite Olympian athletes.

And the latest London Olympics 2012 controversy, involving knitters and crocheters, you won't believe!

courtesy Sharon Watterson, copyright Knitnscribble 2010

Knit a uterus for Congress

Yesterday, knitnscribble was casually browsing Twitter, when a women's rights-concerned knitter spawned a great idea to protest the Republican Congress' continuous attempt at controlling women's bodies and their healthcare. With the Blunt Amendment, the all-male women's health panel, the push to defund Planned Parenthood, and then Rush Limbaugh's denigration of Sandra Fluke, it became apparent, man's deliberate control over women was mushrooming! Why not knit or crochet a woman's womb, vagina, or uterus and send it to your abject Congressmen, with a note "Get your prehistoric laws out of my V-JJ! Better yet, here’s one of your own!” She immediately received the vital support from several well-known members of the knitting community, even men! Crochet patterns and free knitting patterns were found for multiple women's body parts.

(c) M.K. Carroll, used with permission

For the whole story and information regarding free patterns for a woman's womb, uterus, and vagina and the newly formed Ravelry group, read more.

New baby bonnet knitting pattern

©SharonWatterson

Knitnscribble has knit this fancy lace baby bonnet many times over the years. It's the perfect fancy everyday baby hat or christening cap for newborn to six months or in the larger size: 6 to 12 months. Having never written it down before, here it is finally. Knit baby bonnet with organic cotton on a US 6 needle (4.25 mm), this sweet little girl's bonnet has a lace ruffle trim and wide double-faced satin ribbon tie. The pattern is now available, you can purchase it right here.

As with all patterns by Knitnscribble, a copyright exist and patterns can only be used for personal use only.

Two free scarf patterns, two yarns

In this morning's Classic Elite newsletter are two free patterns for reversible cowls with cable stitches, knit with CEYarns' bulky weight Ariosa yarn, described as "soft and squishy" and obviously comfortable to be worn next to the skin, which is so important for an infinity scarf pattern or cowl. The longer cable cowl pattern caught the eye and is rated as easy. Knitnscribble, only recently charmed by Cascade's Baby Alpaca chunky weight yarn, was intrigued by the discovery of Ariosa, admittedly "a day late and a dollar short," yip-pee! another soft and luscious reasonably priced yarn for today's so popular quick knitting projects.