I apologize for the absence of the Skinny Ruffle Scarf pattern, but the site has disappeared so the link I had here no longer works. But, a better place to find LOTS of pattern similar to this one (and they are FREE) is the Ravelry site. If you are not a member, it’s free to join and anyone who knits / crochets should be part of this site.
Check out the Pattern Search for “ruffle scarf” with the word “free” chosen on the left side options. Here is the page, which you may be able to get to if you have an account. It includes knit and crochet patterns and lists over 700 free scarves!
Since I began knitting, I’ve discovered that the item I love most to make is hats. Over the years I have become crazy about knitting hats of all kinds, in all sizes, for everyone I know. (The green hat shown is the Aran Watch Cap from the “Hat’s On!” book.)
Scarves were what I made most of the time when I lived in New Hampshire because my hats didn’t turn out all that well. I loved to knit hats, but didn’t have all the info needed to begin them correctly – using a good-looking cast on, and then joining in the round. And the beginning of a hat is one of the most important parts. When beautiful yarn is used and intricate cables and colors mix to create a lovely handmade garment, it pays to do everything correctly, from the cast-on to the pompom on top.
Three Ways to Join In The Round
Because I can’t always remember how to join in the round, I’m adding this YouTube video. Once the cast on is complete, the ends must be attached so circular knitting can begin. If the “join” is done wrong, the edge of the hat will have an obvious indent. The YouTube video below, by Very Pink Knits, shows three easy ways to make the join correctly.
Creating a Jogless Stripe in Circular Knitting
Another knitting trick I usually can’t remember and have to look up is how to make stripes, or changing colors, in circular knitting. The tutorial below shows how it’s done.
Topping Off a Hand Knit Hat
Once the decreases are over and the hat is finished, it may need something a little extra at the very top. Pompoms and tassels are often chosen for this honor.
I’ve also come across a fun tutorial for making covered buttons to top off a hat. This tutorial can be found at Kate Davies Designs and has pictures along with the description of how to cover a button with yarn. The end product is quite stunning and would make a unique addition to a special hand-made hat. I plan to try it myself one day soon.
Choosing Yarn and Figuring The Cast On Number
Most hats are knit on 16 inch long circular needles. The needle size depends on the yarn weight and gauge. I found a good printout which helps you guesstimate the number of stitches to cast on. View the Earth Guild “Super Simple Circular Hat Calculator“, and if you know your gauge – how many stitches per inch – and the circumference needed to fit the head that will wear it, the cast-on number is given.
All types of yarn can be used to knit hats. Yarns can be held together to create a speckled look, like the chunky child’s hat I made from Purl Soho’s Snow Day Hat pattern.
Often a soft merino, or some type of warm wool, is used because hats are usually meant to keep heads warm in winter.
I added a flower to the side of this little pink baby hat, then mailed it to someone as a gift.
Once I got the hang of hat knitting with basic knits and purls, I decided to try more intricate cables and patterns. For hat knitting with advanced stitches, plan to pay for a pattern or buy a book. It’s good to know how to read a knitting chart also because some pattern designers use charts only.
Here is a link to a YouTube video which shows how to knit a Fair Isle hat- called the Fimmel Hat – in 5 colors. A link to the yarn kit and pattern is located beneath the video and Very Pink Knits provides the helpful “how to”. This includes casting on using a German Twisted (or Old Norwegian) Cast-on. It’s pretty involved, but it makes a nice edge. I’ve never done it myself, but will definitely give it a try on my next hat. I love the top of this hat with that star design. She also shares how she blocks her hats. It’s a great idea. Watch the video!
Buy Hat Patterns and Books of Hats
Following a pattern all the way around and up a hat can be challenging, but fun. Hats are small enough so as not to be overwhelming. They are good practice for cables and intarsia / Fair Isle (using multiple colors to create patterns). Or maybe start with two colors, like the Fana Cap I knit for my daughter (find in the Hat’s On book).
I just ordered the book listed below which has some very unqiue hat designs. I only hope I am able to create them!
My version of the child’s “Snow Day” hat pattern found at Purl Soho. The chunky hat was knit using a different yarn and needle size to fit a young child.
Recently I purchased two skeins of tweed Quarry yarn from Harrisville Designs. I’ve been looking for tweed yarn in dark colors to knit hats for my boys. The company is located in New Hampshire. The tag notes that the yarn is “sourced” in Wyoming, “spun” in New Hampshire, and “dyed” in Pennsylvania.
I purchased “Obsidian” and “Slate”, which are black and gray. The colors are nice. The yarn is not very soft, but I had hoped that it would become soft after washing. However, I can’t even get this yarn onto my needles without it coming apart! I’ve tried twice to start a hat in the round, and any pulling on the yarn (unless you are super careful) will cause it to come apart.
This is what happened when I tried to tighten the yarn on my needles.
So I finally had the cast on figured out and had just joined the yarn in the round. I went to tighten it up, and it came apart. I can’t knit with yarn like this! Apparently this type of yarn does this, but I wish I had known. I spent a good amount of money on this yarn and I am not happy. UPDATE: I have found this PDF about Quarry yarn and it recommends twisting the yarn before putting stress on it. That should strengthen the strand so it won’t split.
I’m happy to support home-grown yarn, and I used to live near Harrisville in New Hampshire, so I was excited to buy this product. Once I give it another try, I will post updates here.
I’d love to hear suggestions from knitters who have used Quarry yarn, but in the meantime I did find this post by someone who knit an entire cardigan sweater using Quarry. It came out lovely, and here is the link to her sweater page.
I’m blogging about my journey as I attempt to complete a MKAL (mystery knit along) challenge. Well, for me it’s a challenge. I have spoiler images on this page, if you are beginning this KAL!
In the Through the Loops forum at Ravelry we are sharing progress, problems, questions, and ideas while knitting an asymmetrical shawl from clues doled out over the course of about six weeks by the designer. I’ve been behind from the beginning, but only by a few days. This requires a LOT of knitting. Far more knitting than I have ever done in such a short amount of time, and in a pattern far more difficult than I have ever attempted.
It takes discipline and concentration and I am having fun!
Although the shawl requires 2 skeins of yarn, a number of knitters were worried about running out of yarn. Some ran out, and I am one of them. As I began Clue #3 which would have had 3 rows of color A (my yellow color), I knew there wasn’t enough.
Starting Clue 3 and realizing the yellow yarn is gone!
I decided to ask in the forum if anyone had simply changed to Color B, or if that would mean running out of that color eventually.
The designer, Kirsten Kapur, suggested I could use a contrast color from my stash, which could also be added in later in the pattern. I liked this idea, so I wouldn’t have to stop knitting and fall further behind. Many people have already moved on to Clue Four at this point. I guess I will also add this new color in somewhere else. It’s my backup if Color B begins to get short.
The trouble was, my stash of yarn is pretty small. And I needed fingering weight in a color that would go with light blue and cumin yellow! Probably a pretty green or another shade of blue would have been the best choice, but I didn’t have either of those. So to finish up my Clue #3 rows I substituted a rust color for the yellow.
Now my shawl will contain three colors, but only little of the third color. I hope in the long run it will all look okay.
Added Color C, which is rust to finish up Clue #3
I have now begun Clue #4, but it’s a toughie, so I’ll wait until morning, when my mind is fresh and full of coffee, to do more knitting.
By the way, some people are actually knitting 2 of these shawls at once! And many knitters get the clue finished within a day! Then there are those who have only just decided to start, or are behind like me. At least I don’t feel like I am the worst knitter in the group.
“Canyon Wren” is a rust color yarn and is now my Color C for this project.
