Free Pattern: Baby Cotton Bonnet

Just finished my spring cleaning! And there were some cute baby stuff I had to say goodbye to. The two bonnets that I designed for my daughter are on top of the list.

I suppose the reason why I like these two so much is the fact that they match so perfectly the idea that was in my head. We didn't want to know if our baby was a boy or a girl until it actually happened, so such a simple, gender neutral design was perfect. I always thought that I would simply add a crocheted flower for a girl or some cute dinosaur button for a boy to the side of the bonnet. In the end, there was no need.

I had to learn a knitting technique that was new to me to get the exactly what I wanted. I made i-cords before, just never applied or attached them to anything. You can find a great tutorial here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/attached-i-cord-tutorial/

On the same website, I found a baby vest pattern. I used the same yarn as for yellow-grey hat and modified it just a bit. The original pattern doesn't have the i-cord attached all the way around since it's done in a single color. Another difference between the bonnet and the vest is that I used 3.5mm instead of 3mm needles for the vest. In any case, it was a great match :)

 

The yarn that I used was in my stash for quite a long time and it's been discontinued, but any kind of 100% cotton yarn should work. The yellow yarn is Lana Grossa Pico, DK weight, other two are fingering weight. The grey one is Lang Yarns Baby Cotton and the orange is a vintage yarn I already wrote something about, Star Twist by Springer.

One final remark before the pattern. There is only one size, newborn, which should definitely fit until 3 months. My daughter wore the hats until about 4 months, I think. I was considering adding more sizes, the pattern is simple enough, but finally I decided no to. The thing is, as much as I loved the bonnet, I didn't knit it in a larger size for my baby either. In my opinion it is great for a newborn, as soon as they start moving more, not so much, since cotton is not stretchy enough. If someone really needs the pattern in a larger size, I will write it up, of course.

You can find the pdf version of the pattern here, or simply read on.

Yarn: 30-40g 100% cotton yarn in total (DK or fingering), Color A and B (yellow and grey) for a plain hat or Color A and C (yellow and orange) for a stripy hat 

Needles and tools: 3mm straight knitting needles and a set of 3mm DPNs (or a long 3mm circular needle for magic loop), 8 stitch markers, tapestry needle 

Necessary technique: knit, purl, knit 2 together, i-cord, applied i-cord 

Gauge: 26-28 stitches and 40 rows for 10cm in plain stockinette stitch 

Size: Newborn (0-3months) 

To fit: Approx. 35-40cm head circumference 

Finished size: 27cm at cast-on edge, 15cm height 

ABBREVIATIONS

Repeat between * *, st - stitch, RS – right side, WS – wrong side, k - knit, p - purl, DPN - double pointed needle, k2tog – knit 2 stitches together

CAST ON
Start with Color A. With 3mm straight knitting needles or a long circular one, cast on 72st. Work plain stockinette stitch as follows:

Row 1 (RS): Slip 1 st, k until the end
Row 2 (WS): Slip 1 st, p until the end

For a stripy hat, knit 3 rows in stockinette stitch and Color A, switch to Color C for 4 rows and continue switching colors like this until the work measures approx. 9cm from the cast-on edge, but ending with 3 rows in Color A. Switch to Color C before joining to work in the round.

For a plain hat, work with Color A until the work measures 9cm from the cast-on edge.
In both cases, join to work in the round using DPNs or continue with a circular needle, placing a marker at the beginning of the round. Continue with stockinette stitch in the round:

Round 1 – 4 (Plain round): K all st

During the last plain round place the rest of the markers 9 st from the beginning of the round and after every 9 st.

For a plain hat, work the rest of the body of the hat with Color A.
For a stripy hat, continue knitting and decreasing, switching colors in the same manner, after 4 rounds of Color C and 3 rounds of Color A. To maintain nice stripes, after switching colors, knit one round with the new color normally. At the beginning of the next round, pick the first stich of the old color and place it back on your left needle. Knit these two stitches together and continue. This technique will not interfere with the decreases, since they are not made at the beginning of a round until the very end. You may only notice some elongated stitches at the beginning of the round.

DECREASING
Decrease round: *k until 2 st before the marker, k2tog* until the end

Next round (Plain round): K all st

Knit another plain round.

Knit one more decrease round followed by 2 plain rounds and then continue repeating one decrease round, one plain round, until there are 16st left.

Next round: k2tog until the end

FINISHING
Cut yarn leaving a long tail, thread the yarn into a tapestry needle and pass it through the remaining stitches, then secure it firmly.
Make an i-cord, 20cm long, and then continue with applied i-cord on the cast-on edge. Match one row of i-cord to one st of the body of the bonnet. After covering the edge completely, continue with the regular i-cord for another 20cm and bind of all st. Using Color B for a plain hat or Color C for a stripy hat, apply an i-cord of 3st to the side edges of the part that was knitted flat or crochet one row of single crochets. Again, match one row of applied i-cord to one row of the body. Weave in all ends, covering the corners neatly.

And here it is finished, I hope you enjoyed the pattern!

Top 5 online knitting resources

About 5 years ago, I could still say I was a knitting beginner. Sure, I was able to make completely wearable garments using knit, purl and basic increases and decreases. But casting on was always something I'd get an "adult" to do for me and there was nobody around.

Before I turned to Internet for some help, I made this hat, for example. My husband still wears it, but it has a funny, uneven cast-on edge and it's a bit pointy, since the crown decreases were done too slowly. The idea and the color changes were very good, the end result just an average.

So, I decided to improve and here are top 5 websites that helped me. There are other, of course, but these are the ones I always go back to. 

1. www.TejiendoPeru.com : This is a great website for a beginner, with tons of step by step instructions in the form of YouTube videos, patterns and lists of general knitting and crochet techniques. I learned how to knit from my Grandmother and my Nanny, so seeing Esperanza Rosas explaining everything in her videos hits all the right spots. After a short while, I made this vest for Dean following the instructions for a v-neck shaping. And then I chose just the right stitch for my sweater and my top from their gallery of stitches. The videos are easy to follow, the only downside is that you have to speak at least some Spanish to navigate the site.
   

   
   

   

   V-neck explained

   
   
2. www.AllFreeKnitting.com : Once I got some more confidence, I started looking for more knitting patterns​ to match my new skills and this was the right place. What I especially like about this site is that in a single​ category you can find patterns from super simple to advanced, a bit of something for all occasions. Some of my favorite garments were made after visiting the site, plus I saved some for later in my account. You can imagine my excitement when I saw my own projects on their pages! I've noticed lately that they've been adding more tutorials as well. The downside: the patterns come from all over the web, so there can't be much consistency.

   

   Elegant Evening Sweater

   

   Gorgeous Toe Up Gingko Socks

3. www.Filati.cc : This is a great website, but this refers mostly to people living in Austria and Germany. It is an online shop in its essence, but also a great place for knitting inspiration, plus they don't charge for delivery no matter how much you spend. They sell Lana Grossa yarn, needles, magazines and, my favorite, model packages. This means that if you buy the yarn for a certain project, you get a pattern for free and there's plenty to chose from. They sell basic yarns all the time and certain novelties every year. So there is always good quality yarn for small prices, because the last year's novelty yarn goes on sale. The downside is, of course, if you really like that discontinued yarn. Many times I wished I could get that same yarn from 6 months ago or I needed that extra ball of yarn to finish a project. One should be careful about this.

   

   On my needles right now - Lana Grossa Colorato

   

   One of the packages I ordered

4. www.Ravelry.com : For some people this would definitely be number 1 and it's easy to understand why. This is the social media site for knitting and crochet crowd, all of it is included, yarns, patterns, people, their projects, a huge database. When it comes to online crafting aesthetics​ it doesn't get much better than this. We all hold our finished work in our hands, it has it's unique softness, stretchiness, warmth, it drapes in a certain way when worn, moves or stays still. Once we take a photo most of this information is gone. Except on Ravelry there are people who try very hard to make it look as if it was still there and they are doing a good job. Impressions can get very polished, almost alive, and this is what I like to see from time to time. Just getting a cup of coffee, enjoying the beauty of things knitted and crocheted all over the world. The reason why this is not my number 1 and why I hesitated for so long in actually joining in, is the feeling I get of this being a big marketplace. People are there to sell, buy or brag about something, which is fine I guess, we are all free to do that. But it gets unrealistic, too. And I can imagine knitting beginners paying for something that in my opinion should be free. Sometimes a basic pattern is just a basic pattern, even if it gets a special name and a price tag, or is that just me? 

   

   Anisette Scarf

5. www.LoveKnitting.com : This site is like a mix of 3. and 4. Although it is an online store, there is plenty of free patterns to choose from and many interesting designers and other people projects to check out. They sell yarn from all over the world, but the overall style is more European. It's not perfect for purchasing yarn if you're like me and buy smaller quantities at a time, the delivery is free only if you spend more than 50 EUR.

   

   Collier Hat

   
   

You may have noticed that I prefer sites that have less to offer, but more structure. I personally find it easier to find what I'm looking for if the patterns are few, but relevant. Also, if you search directly on YouTube, you might get lost or you need to know at least the name of a specific technique and that can be tricky sometimes.

What about myself? When I started thinking about why I'm even writing this blog, it was clear that I feel that my own voice should be heard. I'm a rather shy person and sometimes I really turn my head away from new technology. Getting myself active online is definitely a step forward.

And what could that bring to others? I have two goals, achieving at least one of them would make me happy, both would be a complete success.

1. Besides free patterns based on what I make and I always makee something, I will start gathering my favorite links. There are great knitting and crochet tutorials out there, pages that I always​ go back to, scattered all over different sites and blogs. Even if I never make a tutorial myself, it would be a challenge to complete such a collection.
2. I'd love to discuss anything knitting related with the people out there. Having conversations about one of my patterns or helping someone with ANY pattern or a bad line would really make my day. If you ask me, I will reply. Maybe not right away, I do have a toddler running around, but I will. I haven't tried everything in knitting or crochet, but I know what I'm doing and there is not much that I wouldn't try. I make plenty of mistakes and fix them all the time. I can follow patterns in German and Spanish, so I can help in that department, too, not to mention knitting math. Let's connect :)

Inspiration: Waiting for the Spring

Yes, I'm waiting, waiting, waiting for the spring... And in doing so remembering one of the last sunny days in September. A lovely day with my family :)

I've been wearing my own design all summer and here I already had to get another layer and admit to myself that it's time to leave it alone for a while...

I was a bit self-conscious, I can see it now when I look at the photos. I guess all new moms are. But I also think that the top drapes nicely and fits well even with that extra baby weight.

I was also surprised this January while I browsed a new Linea Pura magazine. There's a pattern that looks terribly similar to this one. Did I maybe inspire someone? Now, that would be nice!

It was certainly intended for this pattern to be modified to fit everyone's needs, with stockinette part as long as desired or not even there.

If there's someone else who'd like to give it a try, the top is a part of matching tunic and scarf set and here's the link to the free pattern!

Free Pattern: Bobble Filz

Not much different than any other crafter, there's a great thing I made, I really like and I just can't finish completely. That's the case with my little felted purse. It's sitting in my closet for a couple of years now, never finished with everything else getting in the way. Maybe after I publish this pattern, I finally get round to it.

When I went through a brief "felting period", I bought 2 balls of felting yarn for just 2 euros. I really liked it, but I just couldn't stand the fact that you need a lot more to make something useful. Bobbles and cables are my favorites when it comes to felting, so I did my best in using up all the materials and making something so much in my own style. And after felting in the washing machine, I loved the result. I even tried to sew the lining and the zipper right away, so I don't forget about it. Or so the thing that happened doesn't happen; when we leave things unfinished it gets harder to finish them as time goes by. Unfortunately, the material I had in dark blue (just the proper color I wanted for the lining) ended up too rough. And by the time I got some lighter, softer fabric, it was too late.

But here it is, the silent hero, just waiting to see the light of day!

Here you can find the free pattern! And good luck!

Why do I buy my yarn online

Currently, I'm in a phase of life and knitting where my stash is getting smaller... And it's great! The budget was a bit tight and somehow I simply didn't want to buy more, although I guess I still could. But why not make something that was waiting for such a long time.

That would be a gift scarf for Barbara, a very nice lady my husband met at work, a thank you for all the little favors she's been doing all the time. If you're interested in making one yourself, it's a free pattern, here is the link:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/anisette

I'm quite happy with how it turned out, although I probably shouldn't have added more stitches to the central panel. I was a bit afraid of it being too narrow while I was casting on, but as a present it would have been just fine. With the original pattern one skein would have been enough, this way I used about one third of the second. No harm done, those two skeins were waiting for this scarf to happen for more than a year :) Getting new yarn is great, but sometimes it gets in the way of the old and some things are left behind for no reason.

This yarn was bought online, as most of my current stash. Sure, I'm missing out on that lovely feeling you get when you wonder through the yarn store, touching those little fluffy balls of potential. And I still go from time to time... But it simply isn't working for me anymore. Aside from that particular feeling, the rest is not worth much.

When I need small amount of yarn for a hat or scarf, I don't mind the price. But if I want to make a sweater or something similar, I'm looking for a discount. It's hard for me to come home saying: "Darling, I just spent 100 euros on something, it might be a sweater, but I'll keep it hidden under our bed for a while, we'll see how it turns out!" I wouldn't appreciate it if my darling did the same :)

For a good reason, if there's a discount in local yarn shops, I think of two things, either it's a minimal quantity or there is something wrong with the yarn. I have two projects to prove it, beloved and still worn, not deserving the flaws that they have.

This is the first sweater I made for myself, one of my favorite colors and simply what I like wearing with my jeans. The yarn was maybe 10% off, not such a bargain. It was only when I attached the sleeves that I noticed that one of them was darker in color then the rest. It won't stop me from wearing it, but I will always know. You know how men are not suppose to notice anything? Well, Dean noticed it the first time he saw me in it :D

 

The second time I got burned in Innsbruck yarn stores was when I got some rather robust yarn for Dean's sweater. We both liked the rough look and this is the kind of sweater he wears outside without a jacket when it's not terribly cold. Also, I assumed it's some small local manufacturer since the label stated MADE IN AUSTRIA and not much else and it was not expensive, some 40 euros all together.

 Here I was lucky enough that the bad ball of yarn is stretching across his back. Just a bit darker... Terrible...

This happened to me in two, let's say, serious yarn stores in Innsbruck, very disappointing. To be absolutely fair, there is a store in Museumstraße that also sells yarn, this one is quite nice, but they sell many other things. It's mostly good yarn, decent prices, but not much variety. There is a similar store in Sillpark; both are perfect for buying sock yarn, which is not my main interest.

There is one more store that I know of, in Ursulinenpassage, so small that you can hardly enter it :) There, I only bought something when it was displayed outside and I could look around by myself. If you enter, you have to ask for something specific, usually without success.

At least I found an alternative, a great online shop that makes free deliveries in Austria no matter how much yarn you buy, free patterns when you buy the yarn, needles and hooks... There's a chance to buy discontinued yarn for a fine price. The only problem is that they keep sending me free stuff, including cute little brochures, so I end up buying more :) So I miss out on the yarn shop rituals, but I can't risk another shade mismatch, it would be too much...

I can make it on my own ;)

As I've mentioned in my previous post, when it comes to handmade gifts, I make them very often and I don't expect some sort of immense gratitude. It is what it is :) And I don't ask people to take photos while wearing/using something I've made. That's almost a rule for me.

So when I designed and knitted No Trouble Mesh Set for my sister in law Dana, I was very careful about asking for a photo. I explained how I want to take my blog more seriously since I have time right now, how I liked the way the whole thing turned out and if she would be so kind to take a few pictures once she tries it on, no big deal. And she was thrilled to help me, so I was too and I prepared it all. The photos I took were there just in case. When I published the pattern, I was hoping to get her photos in a day or two and add them to the post.

It took a bit longer, though. In the meanwhile I got curious, then bored and eventually started asking all sorts of silly questions. Even if the tunic somehow didn't fit or looked good on her, I didn't see what could be wrong with the scarf? Is it so that just because this one time I didn't actually buy the yarn it doesn't count as a gift? That the time I took designing, knitting, seaming and washing something is not worth the trouble of taking two photos on someones phone? If this was a big and successful blog, this would have been plainly embarrassing :)

On the upside, when I complained to Dean about his sister, he just said: "Who cares?! Why do you even need her photos?" And as usual, he was right. After all, he has seen all the things I've made these few years in Innsbruck.

We went through my stash together and found a perfect yarn to make a brand new set for little ol' me. It's even very old yarn, as I've just found out. Made in West Germany :D It's wonderfully soft and glowing 100% cotton. The color reminds me of  a warm sunset, me somewhere on the beach wearing my new thing over a swimsuit... Well, I can fantasize just a little as I cast on, it's allowed...

This would be my swatch, same needles 8,5mm and a made a few rows in stockinette just to feel the yarn, since the recommended needle size for this yarn is 3-3,5mm. I have to say I was satisfied and continued fantasizing about that beach. After all, this color looks better with a tan :)

The gauge was the same, 9st to 10cm, but I've made the adjustments for the size, to fit chest 92cm. It went something like this: 92*9/20=41,4, then rounding up and adding 2st makes 44st for each upper part in mesh pattern.

I'm amazed how fast it flows! I'm not used to working with large needles, I have to be honest. More often I go for the size smaller then recommended, I prefer dense fabric. But this project makes me smile :)

As things usually work out just fine, as soon as I started my new top, Dana sent me her photos. I guess nothing mysterious was going on after all. Still, I believe I was right not to ask for this kind of a favor so often. It's a great way to make things awkward, isn't it?

I have very few regrets in my life...

...but not photographing all of my knitted and crocheted pieces is definitely one of them. Just a few days ago I started adding my projects to my Ravelry page, always wanted to do that :) Then I realized most things I made are out of my reach, I simply gave them away with all the joy it brings without taking photos first and I'm just not the kind of person to start bothering anyone after some time has passed... So all I have is what I kept for myself or maybe some photos of things I made for my closest family. And I was so wrong...

This is me with my husband Dean before it all started. It's September 2011 and just moments before this was taken I got my MSc in Applied Math, yay! 5 days before, we got married, double yay! We were supposed to move to Innsbruck so I could start my PhD that October and things were looking up. Although I learned how to crochet and knit as a child and I made some things here and there, at the time it was far behind me...

And then all the reality and worries came upon us... Moving to Innsbruck was postponed until spring, Dean was unemployed, I got a job that was way over my head... When you're a student, you are going through a lot, but always with a bunch of other guys, coping together; in real life, nobody cares. I had to do something to make it easier... And we all know what kind of a therapy crafting is.

He needed a hat so I made one, nothing much... Then I wanted to try something bigger, since I only made small things before that, so I made a sweater for a friend, it went well and I was hooked :) That was probably the finest and the most appreciated gift I ever made. There is no photo, of course, but who cared back then, I was finally having fun! This guy was wearing it proudly and when the weather got warmer, he came to me and explained how he had washed it carefully and stored it until the next winter to make sure nothing happened to it. I was astonished!

When we did move to Innsbruck, as things got more serious with our life in the new place, my knitting got more serious, too. I've made many things and most of them I gave away, for some I know they are loved, for some I'm not so sure... And it's o.k. One should not give away something that one can't part with. I'm not making big or very expensive gifts anymore. Sometimes it even pays off. In 2014, I wanted to learn how to knit socks, so I tried it all, toe up, top down, different heals, solid or changing colors, lace, cables and such. A big batch of Christmas presents. That time I didn't even care if they don't want their feet to be warm :) Surprisingly enough, that was the only time that I got a spontaneous photo from my brother who loved his pair!

In the end, I understand, understand that most people who don't do it themselves can't estimate the time or the effort, not the mention the price of yarn. 5 years ago I had no idea :) After a while, I don't even ask, if they don't tell about the piece. That way I don't have to imagine it on the bottom of that big pile of things someone is not wearing or using. But I don't understand why I simply forgot to take those photos.

I wish I had taken the photos to let me remember after some time. It's not like it hurts the person who's getting the present, or making you like one of those people who make photos of each meal they have. It adds to those crafting moments you don't forget. Like finishing your first project. Realizing you have a stash. Or that first look in your husband's eyes, not complaining or judging, just trying to understand why you need some more yarn :) Some people, not me, can also go through all those cute photos of all those precious hours that went away to make someone else happy.

The worst thing is, I keep doing it all over again. I made a lovely baby dress with a lacy skirt and satin bow, booties with the same bow and made up a pattern for a matching hat. It was adorable and I didn't even get the chance to ever see the baby since the parents had to move away before she was born. They even believed it was bought in a store (they meant this as a compliment :) And no photo for me... Even made the same pair of booties for another baby I didn't meet in the end. You can guess I didn't take a photo. And the list goes on and on... Damn! I have no idea why I keep on doing that and will I ever change...

My First Pattern!

This April, my mother-in-law came to see us and meet her first grandchild. Some crafting was expected, naturally. She came with a nice asymmetric poncho on her needles and with some yarn she got from her neighbour, hoping I could turn this into a tunic for her daughter. I'm always ready for a knitting challenge! There really wasn't much yarn, some 200g, no label and I only later found out this is what they call boucle. The idea was: something lacy, large needles and loose fit!

So I started with a lacy part, very simple and reversible, knit on straight needles, and after determining that it wouldn't take up much yarn if I have this as upper part of the tunic, repeated the process, put those two rectangles on a circular needle and continued stockinette in the round until there was a decent length to it.

In the end it turned into something rather interesting! Stripy, black, white and grey tunic which is reversible, gentle shaping, plus enough yarn left for a matching scarf! The reason why I'm even sharing a pattern this simple is that it can be so easily changed in many ways to meet different needs and gauges.

There are only two short seams necessary at the shoulders and if done neatly, the result becomes reversible. One could also make two seams under the arms like I did, but these are quite discreet anyway. The mesh part can be just until underarms or longer, but it's easier not to do it in the round. You don't even need the stockinette part and all of this as well as the final length you can decide on the way.

What you do need to cast on comes down to 2 numbers. Here's some math :) Say you have x stitches in 10cm of the lacy pattern and y cm of desired chest circumference (in my case x was 9 stitches and y was about 100cm). Then you calculate x*y/20 (9*100/20=45), round it up to next even number (46) and add two stitches for the edges - 48 stitches for the front or back for the tunic in the pattern. Easy :)



And the link is here.

Just waiting for the photos from the final destination!

Inspiration: Knitting in Innsbruck

Just lately I decided to go back to my blog idea and change it completely. I really wanted to have "photo blog" and I wanted to keep it in German.

But, for the first thing, why not tell a story? I have more time now to occupy my brain with non-mathematics and (just maybe) non-baby stuff.

The reason for switching to English is a bit more complicated and - more like a story. To make it less boring to a knitter, it involves this hat and loop...

I really wanted to have posts in German with a strong hope that in time I'll be able to find a knitting buddy or, better yet, a knitting group. After all, it was in Innsbruck that I remembered how much I loved to knit and crochet, there must be someone nearby just like me...

In the middle of my fever, Autumn 2014, my parents decided to come and visit. A perfect opportunity to make something for my mom, she loves hats, hat it is! I decided for this one in Lana Grossa "Olympia", plus a matching loop.
https://www.filati.cc/lana-grossa-strickmodelle/lana-grossa-modell-muetze-und-loop-olympia-id_12393.html
I headed to the yarn store that was my favourite at the time; I needed the needles, too. After getting the yarn and the long circular needle, this nice lady selling it asked what I was going to make. When I mentioned a hat, she was assuring me that I can't do it without DPs. I started explaining, you know, "magic loop" and so on. I'm not sure who was more amazed after I left the store: seeing her, after hearing my story and not believing it, or me, realizing that she's the one working in a yarn shop.

The knitting part was a success, there was even enough yarn left to make a hat for me, but my hopes in finding a knitmate were sinking.

Last summer, I was all about knitting for the baby. Also in a pregnancy yoga class and from time to time, we had a round of saying a couple of things about ourselves. So I suggested doing some baby knits together or helping someone learn how to knit. After all, it can be very fun and you get to finish things in no time! But still no luck...

By the time Lulu came in November, I found out that it's not that people don't knit in Innsbruck, but most women my age take up sewing as a hobby. Funny thing is, they also have knitting in school. So, maybe it isn't so much fun when they make you do it!

In any case, it doesn't look like I'm going to find a local knitting enthusiast. I'm starting to knit globally!

P. S. Planning to share one of my own patterns soon :)

Meine kleine Assistentin :)