Royalty

Royalty

By Amanda Sadler

This felted crown is easy to make and fun to decorate.  It makes a great gift, or a parent/child project.  You knit and felt, they decorate.

Yarn:  1 skein of worsted weight wool.  This must not be superwash.  Gauge is not important for this project. Crown: Cast on 15 sts.  Work flat. Row 1:  K1, kfb, knit to end.  16sts. Row 2 and all even rows:  Knit. Row 3:  K1, kfb, knit to end.  17 sts. Row 5:  K1, kfb, knit to end.  18 sts. Row 7:  K1, kfb, knit to end.  19 sts. Row 9:  K1, kfb, knit to end.  20 sts. Row 11:  K1, k2tog, knit to end.  19 sts. Row 13:  K1, k2tog, knit to end.  18 sts. Row 15:  K1, k2tog, knit to end.  17 sts. Row 17:  K1, k2tog, knit to end.  16 sts. Row 19:  K1, k2tog, knit to end.  15 sts. Knit 1 row.

Repeat from row 1 until the crown has as many ridges as you’d like, keeping in mind that you can expect your knitting to shrink up to 40% when you felt it.  Bind off all stitches.  Sew cast on edge to bound off edge. Felting: Put your crown into a pillowcase, knot the top, and put it in the washer with a load of towels or jeans.  The hotter the water you use, the better.  Check your crown often, and remove it when it’s the right size.  This may take only a few minutes or 2 or more cycles, depending on your yarn and knitting. Finishing: Snip off any ends that are hanging loose, and decorate your crown.  You can embroider designs, glue on jewels or stars, or use needlefelting to decorate it.  Have fun with it, and make it unique!

Zach's Minion

Zach’s Minion

By Amanda Sadler

This hat was inspired by my son Zach’s request for a full face minion hat for his birthday.  With his help, this hat was created. 

The pattern for this hat can be found in my Ravelry pattern store

Princess

Princess

By Amanda Sadler

This felted princess hat is sure to inspire hours of imagination.  The pattern is straightforward, the knitting simple, and the felting is so much fun.

Yarn:

Worsted weight wool.  The yarn is held doubled, so you could use two strands of the same color, or use two colors for a blended effect.  You will need two skeins.  I used Cascade 220.

Gauge:

3 sts to 1 inch.  I used a size 15 needle.  You need to use the needle that gives YOU the right gauge.

Needles:

One 16 inch circular needle and a set of double pointed needles to more or less match.  I could not find size 15 double points, so I used size 11. 

Body of Hat:

Holding yarn doubled, cast on 80 sts, and join, being careful not to twist.

Knit around and around and around, until your hat is 11 inches long.

Decreasing:

Round 1:  *Knit 14, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (75 sts remaining)

Rounds 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, and 39:  Knit around.

Round 4:  *Knit 13, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (70 sts remaining)

Round 7:  *Knit 12, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (65 sts remaining)

Round 10: *Knit 11, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (60 sts remaining)

Round 13: *Knit 10, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (55 sts remaining)

Round 16:  *Knit 9, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (50 sts remaining)

Round 19:  *Knit 8, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (45 sts remaining)

Round 22:  *Knit 7, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (40 sts remaining)

Round 25:  *Knit 6, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (35 sts remaining)

Round 28:  *Knit 5, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (30 sts remaining)

Round 31:  *Knit 4, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (25 sts remaining)

Round 34:  *Knit 3, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (20 sts remaining)

Round 37:  *Knit 2, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (15 sts remaining)

Round 40:  *Knit 1, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (10 sts remaining)

Round 41:  *K2tog, repeat from * around.  (5 sts remaining)

Finishing:

Break yarn, thread the tail onto a yarn needle, and draw through all remaining stitches.  Pull tight, and weave in ends on the wrong side.  Put the hat in a pillowcase, knot the top, and put it in the washer with a load of jeans or towels.  Check your hat often, felting could take less than one cycle, or two or three cycles.  After felting, put hat over a bowl propped upside down over a canister.  When dry, cut a tiny slit in the top, and insert a veil from the craft store.  You can sew it in, or pull in inside, and tie a knot, so that it’s removable in case you have to wash or replace the veil. 

Fireworks Tam

Fireworks Tam

By Amanda Sadler

This tam is fun to knit and fun to wear.  To block it, wet it thoroughly, and stretch it over a plate.  Leave it to dry completely before you take it off the plate.

Yarn: You’ll need 1 skein of worsted weight yarn. I used Classic Elite Tapestry. Needles: 1 16 inch circular and 1 set of double pointed needles in the same size. Gauge: 5 sts to the inch in stockinette st. I used a size 7 needle, you need to use the needle that gets YOU the right gauge. Ribbed Brim: Cast on 100 stitches. Work in K2, P2 ribbing for 3 inches. K2tog once, knit around. Increases: (K3, m1 by backwards loop) around. Knit in stockinette stitch for 1 inch. (K4, m1 by backwards loop) around. Knit in stockinette stitch for 1 inch. P 1 round. Knit in stockinette stitch for 1 inch. (K39, k2tog) 3 times, K40, k2tog. Decreases: (Switch to double pointed needles when there are too few stitches to fit around the circular.)

(K20, s1, k2tog, psso.  PM in decreased stitch) 7 times. K around. (K18, s1, k2tog, psso) 7 times. K around. (K16, s1, k2tog, psso) 7 times. K around. (K14, s1, k2tog, psso) 7 times. K around. (K12, s1, k2tog, psso) 7 times. K around. (K10, s1, k2tog, psso) 7 times. K around. (K8, s1, k2tog, psso) 7 times. K around. (K6, s1, k2tog, psso) 7 times. K around. K4, s1, k2tog, psso) 7 times. K around. (K2, s1, k2tog, psso) 7 times. (S1, k2tog, psso) 7 times. Finishing: Cut yarn, leaving a 6 inch tail.  Thread though remaining stitches and pull tight.  Weave in ends on the inside.  Wet and block.

Confetti

Confetti

By Amanda Sadler

This hat is knit side to side, then seamed.  Because the needles are large and the yarn is chunky, this hat knits up in just a few hours.

Yarn:

Any super chunky yarn.I used Sidar Sprinkles.

Gauge:

10 sts to 4 inches.

Cast on 15 sts.  Knit flat.

Section (make 4):

Row 1:  Kfb, k to end.

Row 2:  Knit.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 till you have 20 sts on your needle.

Row 3: K1, k2tog, k to end.

Row 4:  Knit.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 till you have 15 sts on your needle.

Finishing:

Sew side seam and each ridge on top, leaving a 24 inch end.

Twist two ends clockwise, and repeat with the other two ends.

Twist the two twists counterclockwise, and knot the end.

Trim the ends, leaving an inch or two for fringe.

Weave in the ends on the wrong side.

Beanstalks Beanie

Beanstalks Beanie

By Amanda Sadler

This child’s hat grew out of my desire to use a cable stitch I’d recently learned.  It uses seed stitch between the braided cables, and the pattern creates a slightly scalloped edge without even trying.   The pattern for this adorable hat is available at my Ravelry pattern store 

 

100 Stitch Surprise

100 Stitch Surprise

By Amanda Sadler

This hat is a wonderful way to experiment with that skein of yarn you have to have, but have no idea what to do with.  The plain yarn on the top and bottom give it shape, and the rest is a great place to let the yarn surprise you!

Yarn:

Light worsted weight yarn for the top and bottom of the hat, and anything that pleases you for the surprise!

Gauge:

For the top and bottom of the hat, 5 stitches to the inch, gauge for the surprise band will vary wildly.  Don’t let it alarm you.

Needles: 

One 16 inch circular needle and a set of matching double pointed needles to finish the top.  I used a size 7 needle.  You need to use the needle that gives YOU the right gauge.

Brim of hat:

Using your light worsted yarn, cast on 100 stitches, and work 2 inches of k3, p1, ribbing. 

Switch to your surprise yarn.

Body of hat:

Knit around and around until your hat is 6 inches long.  Switch back to your regular yarn, and knit 2 rounds.

Decreasing:

Round 1:  *k8, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (90 stitches remain)

Round 2 and all even rounds:  K around.

Round 3:  *k7, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (80 stitches remain)

Round 5:  *k6, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (70 stitches remain)

Round 7:  *k5, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (60 stitches remain)

Round 9:  *k4, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (50 stitches remain)

Round 11: *k3, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (40 stitches remain)

Round 13: *k2, k2tog, repeat from * around.  (30 stitches remain)

Round 15:  *k1, k2tog, repeat from * around. (20 stitches remain)

Round 17:  k2tog around.  (10 stitches remain)

Finishing:

Break yarn and thread the end onto a needle, and draw through the remaining stitches.  Pull tight and weave in ends on the wrong side.  Block if needed to make the yarn bloom.