Free and easy shawl pattern

Yesterday, knitnscribble posted an article with two summer shawlette patterns found in my wanderings, both beautiful shawls, and perfect for summertime and warmer weather's cool nights. A friend on Facebook asked if there was an easier free pattern that still had a little ruffle flirty edge to it, which reminded me of  "Mara" by Madelinetosh. It's the first attempt knitnscribble made at knitting a shawlette, easy, great for beginners, knit on US size 7 (4.5mm) circular needle, and there's no endless counting starting out at the cast on.

Still this triangle scarf has a little pleated edge, which gives it lots of charm and flair without lace stitches. The shawl can be knit as a handkerchief scarf or larger for a full-sized shawl with a ruffle. This one uses 3 skeins of light worsted yarn or 675 yds. If you want it larger, then you'll need more yarn.







The one pictured at right is 46 in. across in width. This is a free pattern from Madelinetosh, a wonderful source of hand-dyed yarns you will love, very soft and just the fiber you want near your skin. You can download and print out this easy shawl pattern "Mara" here.
You'll find an unending selection of summer blend yarns at WEBS Yarn Store online, shipping internationally, too.

Read about the two summer shawl free knitting patterns mentioned above here.
Additional free patterns for knitting and crochet shawls visit here.

2nd photo from Madelinetosh, 1st is knit_n_scribble's own.

Knitting and crochet patterns for sun hats

Get ready for the beach and carriage walks on sunny days. Li'l Sun Hats to knit and wear all summer long by Knitting at Knoon Designs, Chris de Longpre, are available as an 8-page pdf download from Patternfish. Scroll down farther and you'll find crochet sun hat patterns, too.

Knitted completely in the round, washable, and foldable, these little hats fit 18" to 20" toddler heads. After knitting, the hats can be blocked over a mixing bowl and shaped to fit. The knitting designer suggests using a little starch and water solution to make the fabric stain resistant.  

"Much of the success of your project will depend on blocking. All the hats can be blocked over an inverted kitchen mixing or storage bowl of the right general size and shape. (I use a small, stainless steel mixing bowl that measures 20" circumference at its top.) Use a spray bottle to thoroughly wet the hat and form it with your hands. Do not be afraid to pull it into shape. Allow fabric to dry completely. Tip: For a crisp, slightly soil-resistant finish, mix one part liquid starch to three parts water in the spray bottle and use this solution for blocking. (Be sure to rinse the spray bottle well before next use!)" Purchase and download the sun hats pattern here. 

For a free baby and toddler sun hat knitting pattern

try this one at threelittlefrogs.blogspot 
Sizes are newborn, small, medium, and large.

Find a free crochet hat pattern for toddlers at Garn Studio.

Several sizes available are for infant through 3-4 years. At the link, scroll down the page for the free crochet sun hat pattern.

Or knit this adorable sun hat and sweater combination set, free from Red Heart.

Easy sock pattern - summer Hedgerow

Socks are always a solution to keep knitting in warmer months. Small and portable solutions for travel and beach visits, knitting socks is the perfect warm weather project. Jane Cochran has provided a free download for an easy sock pattern called "Hedgerow" on Ravelry and at KnittersReview.

Obviously, Jane lives in a town, similar to knitnscribble's, "...where privet hedges define nearly every road and property. They rise like soft green walls that hug the contours of roadsides, lawns, and fields. There’s almost nothing as lovely as the view down a shady privet-lined street on a soft summer afternoon."

There's almost nary a street in Newport, Rhode Island without a privet hedge.

Sock Monkey hat pattern with earflaps

Get my easy sock monkey hat knitting pattern, complete with earflaps, pom-pom, ears and stuffed mouth at Wattery Totteries on Etsy. Hat finished size easily fits big kids and adults with knitted interlining for warmth. Four-page pdf pattern has more photos and knitting instructions.

The small version of the Sock Monkey Hat with lined earflaps knitting pattern is now available, too, in a 7-page pdf. with detailed instructions and many photos. Extra warm and cozy and fits babies and small children.  It's the Cheeky Sock Monkey Hat pattern small size!

Knitter offers free cowl pattern for Japanese relief

Knittimo on Ravelry has responded to the urgent need for Japanese relief charity fund donations by posting a free infinity cowl knitting pattern download. Her "Jeweled Cowl" is a marvel, beautifully knitted and beaded, using the crochet hook method. 

Sachiko Uemura is Japanese, from Tokyo, now living in Portland, Oregon, and asks that you make a donation to your choice of charity in return for the free cowl pattern. Here are Sachiko's suggestions for donating:  Japanese Red Cross Society, American Red Cross , Mercy Corps. 

The cowl is knitted with a US size 8 needle, using one skein of Malabrigo lace yarn. Finished size is 14 in wide by 44 in long, knit entirely in the round. The gauge is approx. 4.5 sts / 7.5 rows = 1” in stockinette.

Crochet and knit stay on baby booties

Baby socks and booties come in all sorts of designs and shapes, from Mary Janes for little girls to Converse All Stars for modern infant boys and girls. One of the most important aspects of baby bootees design is that they stay on constantly kicking little feet. Here are some easy stay on knit and crochet baby booties free patterns found recently. 

 Baby Mocs at Purl Bee, the folksy online blog of Purl Soho, a knitting and craft shop in New York City I'm dying to visit. These bootees are knit with sport weight alpaca, that's 6 sts = 1 in on US size 2 and 4 needles. For a bootie larger than this 3.5 inch finished size, use a size 5 or 6 needle and a yarn with a gauge of 5 sts = 1 inch. Two pairs of booties can be made from one skein of yarn and bits and pieces from your stash used for the different color Native American design. Download this free baby booties pattern. Read on for even more baby bootee patterns.

Moving right along - seven shawls and then some

Today, I wanted to tell you about Rosemary Hill's new ebook, "7 Small Shawls to Knit," seven beautiful shawl designs she posted as one offering in March of this year. You will remember Rosemary as Romi of designsbyromi. She's also a talented jewelry designer and pairs her lovely shawl pins with her knitting designs. Each one is simply ravishing, but the shawl that caught my eye this morning is "Taygete" with open lace work border and picot edging.