Emergency Monster Hats

October 25, 2017October 3, 2019

Emergency Monster Hats

Halloween is hands down my favorite time of year. The air is just starting to get crisp, meaning I can finally break out my handknits. There’s always candy. Everywhere. All the time. Cider, campfires, beautiful changing leaves; I could go on.

Clockwise from the top we have Rachel wearing Clarice, Heather wearing Chunk, and me (Amy) wearing Clyde)

But of course the most fun thing about Halloween are the costumes. I finally settled on my own costume idea for this year a week or two ago. But there was a period of panic where I just couldn’t come up with an idea I was happy with. Enter: monster hats (pattern link).

Hi. I’m Clarice. I know it doesn’t look like it but I’m actually very happy.

Now monster hats are really pretty fun any time of year. They’re really not season-specific. But, in a pinch, they can make an excellent costume.

All three are crocheted in numerous shades of Uptown Worsted, our super-soft anti-pilling acrylic. This is a great hat yarn because it feels good on the head and is not itchy. It’s also quite affordable and buying several skeins in different colors won’t break the bank.

I believe she was not in her right mind while making me. I mean, one eye? At least it’s a large eye. I am Clyde, by the way.

There lots of different add-on elements going on in each of these hats. The idea is that you can follow the patterns as written if you like. Or you can come up with your own unique monster using different combinations of spikes, horns, different numbers of eyes, etc.

We want candy. More candy. And not the cheap stuff.

So if you’ve found yourself with out a costume and Halloween only a week away, why not be a monster?

You can find the patterns for all three hats on our website here (pattern link). Happy Halloween!

October 13, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Button Up Hat and Scarf

It’s Free Patterm Friday!

Today, the Button Up Hat and Scarf in Dona (link here).

The weather’s cooling off here, so it’s time to dust off all those “winter is coming” images…

…and to cast on for something toasty!

The Button Up Hat and Scarf is a matched set in Fibra Natura Dona superwash merino. This cozy cabled set is brightened by the pop of color of a buttoned garter stitch band. Thread the scarf through to keep it snug.

The written and charted all-over eyelet and cable pattern creates a raised texture that’s quite warm.

We hope you enjoy this taste of winter!

Happy crafting!

October 9, 2017

Free Pattern – Cancer Comfort Cap

We are proud to share this free pattern with you, although we wish there were no reason to do so.

This is the Cancer Comfort Cap in Cotton Supreme DK (pattern link here).

We designed this cap at the request of Yonca, our sales director. When she requested this cap, it was for a friend who is about to undergo chemotherapy for breast cancer. Unfortunately, since then, another friend of hers has also been diagnosed. According to breastcancer.org, 1 in 8 American women will develop invasive breast cancer in the course of her lifetime (as well as 1 in 1000 men). This is a disease that hits close to home.

Yonca wanted to write something for her friend to add to this post, but she finally had to admit defeat. She felt that everything she wanted to say was inadequate. In the face of a life-changing diagnosis, it can be hard to find the words to express our pain and love. But just reaching out to say “I’m here, I’m with you,” can sometimes be enough.

We offer this hat as a way to say “I’m with you” when words won’t quite do the trick. It’s knitted in the round in our Cotton Supreme DK, which we picked because it’s very soft, and chemo scalps can be quite sensitive – something to keep in mind when choosing yarn.

If you have questions about breast cancer detection and treatment, the American Cancer Society has a helpful page. Mammogram guidelines can also be found at CancerCare.org.

To all of our generous-hearted crafting friends, we wish you good health and every happiness.

September 22, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Little Acorn

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, Little Acorn in Adore (pattern link).

Little Acorn comes to us from Anita Closic, proprietor of A Garden of Yarn in Chadds Ford, Pa. Like so many LYS folks, Anita’s a sweetheart – she also gifted our customer service team (Katie and Angie) with scarves, which they haven’t stopped raving about. Nobody appreciates crafting like crafters! Thanks, Anita!

Little Acorn is a reference to the seed from which mighty oaks grow. It’s a lovely topper that’s sized from baby through adult, with just one skein of Adore (100g/273yds) required for any size.

The hat is worked from the scalloped brim up, in the round on US size 6 (4mm) needles, or whatever gets you gauge. Accent it with coordinating buttons for a special touch.

We hope you enjoy this pattern – and if you’re ever in southeastern Pennsylvania, stop in at A Garden of Yarn and say hi to Anita!

Happy knitting!

March 16, 2017October 13, 2021

Halos of Hope – Healing Vibes

One of the nice things about going to crafting shows is that we get to see in person how generous our crafting community can be. We were reminded of this again with the Halos for Hope booth at StitchesWest.

Halos of Hope partners with LYSes and local guilds to collect and distribute chemo caps. These caps are practical, and also serve as a personal reminder to a person going through a difficult time that yes, they are cared for.

We were moved to design new patterns for our Cotton Supreme family, which is a great choice for chemo caps. It’s incredibly soft and won’t irritate chemo patients’ scalps, which are often more tender than usual.

Amy Gunderson brings us our first offering, Healing Vibes in Cotton Supreme DK.

Amy says she thinks of this as a knitted representation of rays of radiation zapping cancer away. Such a lovely idea – meaningful, but still very pretty in its own right. We hope someone wearing this will feel the strength and energy Amy has put into this design.

This pattern has a bit of personal significance to me. It was released on the 9th anniversary of the day my mother was declared free of ovarian cancer. Mom has had no recurrence – she’s still energetic enough to run rings around me. She’d be the first to tell you to know the signs, and to go see your doctor if you have any concerns. I, for one, am very glad that she took early action.

If you’d like to l earn more about Halos of Hope, their website has info. Their Facebook page is also chock full of patterns and ideas.

We hope that you enjoy this free pattern, and that while you take care of those around you, you take care of yourself, too.

Happy and healthy knitting!

February 3, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Pomtastic Hat and Scarf

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Pomtastic Hat and Scarf in Major.

We like this combo for two reasons.

First, it’s a neat example of how to work the same stitch pattern flat or in the round. Row one is the same on both, but of course when you’re working in the round things are a bit different because you’re never reversing directions. In row 2, stitches are knitted for the flat back-and-forth of the scarf, but purled in the round for the hat.

The second reason to like this set:

It’s pretty cool what you can do with a pom-pom maker and a self-striping yarn like Major. You can plan out the colors, or just go with the flow. This little half-and-half topper happened organically.

Plus, let’s face it, what isn’t improved by the addition of pompoms?

We rest our case.

Happy knitting!

January 27, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – EKG Set

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the EKG Set in Deluxe Worsted.

Why EKG? The little zigs and zags reminded us of a heartbeat. Plus, the love we have for this sweet pattern makes our hearts race just a little bit.

This may look like Fair Isle, but the color changes are actually slipped stitches. The pattern is both written and charted for your convenience.

The entire four-color set takes two skeins of the gray, plus one skein of each other color in Deluxe Worsted 100% wool (220yds/100g).

The cowl looks great doubled over and scrunched – or if you’re in a silly mood like designer Tori Gurbisz, wear it however you please. Very “Cat in the Hat,” Tori. You’ll definitely turn heads.

We hope you enjoy this stylish set.

Happy knitting!

January 13, 2017

Free Pattern Friday – Inside Job

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Inside Job hat in Uptown Bulky.

Sometimes you just want to make something fun and quick, you know? Inside Job fits the bill.

This basic hat flies by in our Uptown Bulky anti-pilling acrylic yarn (87yds/100g). It’s worked from the bottom up in the round, with US Size 11 (8mm) needles for the ribbing and US Size 13 (9mm) needles for the brim. Top it with a cute pompom, and voila!

What makes this hat a little different is that it’s worked in reverse stockinette. The plain striping shows on the inside, and the more intricate patterning shows on the exterior. Hence the name “Inside Job.”

We hope you enjoy this quick and thick topper.

Happy knitting!

December 21, 2016December 21, 2016

Dona Color Kits – Blue Color Shift Hat and Mitts

You’ve got everyone else covered for the holidays, but what do YOU want?

Did you get a gift certificate to your LYS? Need something to point to for that well-meaning relative? You know the one – they want to do right, but then they panic and get you a bunch of random skeins from a grab bag. Sure, it’s the thought that counts, but when you say “you shouldn’t have!” maybe you’d rather not mean it. It’s so much easier to point at a color kit and discreetly clear your throat.

Continue reading “Dona Color Kits – Blue Color Shift Hat and Mitts”

December 16, 2016

Free Pattern Friday – Munchkin Set

It’s Free Pattern Friday!

Today, the Munchkin Set in Uptown Worsted Tapestry.

This set shows why we love self-patterning Uptown Tapestry so much. A basic knit turns colorful so easily!

This is a cute little 3-skein set. A classic kid cardi, with hat and booties.

The cardi is knit in one piece from the bottom up. If you want to get sleeves and each bootie to match, you’ll want to find the same place in the patterning on your balls. Of course, babies look awfully cute in hand-knits, matching or not.

We hope you enjoy this cute little set. Happy knitting!