Knit a Hat

If you are still hoping to knit up a few handmade lovelies for holiday giving, may I suggest a hat? Just a few skeins of yarn and a few movie nights, car rides, or plane trips, and you have a finished gift! We have many great samples at the shop to help you make a choice. Here are some good ones.

Canape in Classic Elite Kumara:
Trellis in Classic Elite Ariosa:
Close Knit Waffle Hat in Misti Tonos Chunky:
Thistle in Classic Elite Lush:
Windschief in Amy Butler Belle Organic Aran:
Watch Cap in Karabella Superyak:
Earflap Hat in Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande:
We have all of these yarns and patterns available at Close Knit. We are open on Mondays for the next few weeks, and we're open until 10PM every Wednesday. Come on in and get knitting!

A Waffle Hat for You

I took home a skein of Misti Tonos Chunky a few weeks ago to make a sample for the shop, but I wasn't exactly sure what it would become. I knew I wanted to make a hat, and I wanted to use just one skein of this chunky alpaca/merino yarn. Since we often have requests for a good men's hat pattern, I was hoping to come up with a pattern that would work for a man or a woman.

I trolled around Ravelry until I found something that seemed almost right. I started with Aaron's Hat by UptownPurl, and I was inspired by several Ravelers who had made a some modifications to the original design. After a few false starts, I ended up with what I wanted. UptownPurl kindly gave me permission to rework the pattern and make it available.

The waffle stitch has a great texture and it's even reversible. The hat would work in any of our bulky yarns at Close Knit, and I've included a list of suggestions at the end of the pattern.

This is a quick knit on big needles, so whip up a few and stash them away for holiday gifts. Enjoy!

Waffle Hat (an adaptation of Aaron's Hat by UptownPurl)
by Leah Bandstra

Yarn: 1 skein Misti Tonos Chunky, Avocado #TTC05
Needles: US10 16" and double-pointed needles
Finished Size: 18" with plenty of stretch for my 22" noggin, 8" high
Gauge: 3.5 stitches/inch in stockinette on US10 (standard bulky weight)

Waffle Pattern:
Round 1 and 2: *K2, P2* Repeat between *s around until the marker.
Round 3: Knit all stitches
Round 4: Purl all stitches

Instructions:
Cast on 64 stitches with your 16" circular needle.

Join in the round (don't twist), placing marker at the beginning of the round.

*K2, P2* Repeat between *s around until the marker. Do this until you have 6 rounds of ribbing.

Begin the waffle pattern. (Note that the first 2 rows of the waffle pattern look just like the K2, P2 ribbing you have been doing.) Complete the waffle pattern 6 times total. You should see 6 purl ridges on your hat. You should have enough yarn to add an extra repeat of the waffle pattern to add about 3/4" if you'd like.

Begin the decrease rounds, repeating between *s around each round, switching to DPNs when it gets too tight for the circular needle:
Round 1: *K2, P2tog, K2, P2*
Round 2: *K2, P1, K2, P2*
Round 3: *K5, K2tog*
Round 4: Purl all stitches
Round 5: *K2tog, P1, K2, P1*
Round 6: *K1, P1, K2, P1*
Round 7: *K2, K2tog, K1*
Round 8: Purl all stitches
Round 9: *K2tog, K1, P1*
Round 10: *K2, P1*
Round 11: *K1, K2tog*
Round 12: Purl all stitches
Round 13: *K2tog* (8 stitches left)
Break yarn and pull the tail through the 8 remaining stitches.
Weave in your ends and block if desired.

Alternative yarn suggestions:
Berroco Cuzco, Cascade 128 Superwash, Classic Elite Ariosa, Classic Elite Duchess, Debbie Bliss Glen, Karabella Margrite Bulky, Karabella Superyak, Malabrigo Chunky, Rowan Cocoon, Rowan Purelife Renew, Rowan Purelife Sheep Breeds Chunky

Add Some Sparkle

The weather is often dreary here in Western Oregon, even on the second day of spring. So, why not add some sparkle to your life?

Here at Close Knit, we carry many fun, festive, sparkly yarns for your spring projects.

We've got subtle

and not-so-subtle

and everything

in-between.

So, if the clouds are getting you down, stop by the shop and check out some sparkly, shimmery yarns that will brighten your day.

Yarns top to bottom:

1. Plymouth Yarns Dye for Me Baby Llama Glow - a worsted weight llama and stellina blend - can be dyed or used as is - a creamy natural with silver flecks. Use Baby Llama Glow for a slouchy hat or beret or a cozy cowl.

2. Artyarns Silk Mohair Glitter - a laceweight mohair/silk blend - perfect for an airy lace scarf or shawl

3. Rowan Shimmer and Lurex Shimmer - a metallic yarn used for embellishments and fine decorative accents

4. Be Sweet Ribbon Ball - a mohair yarn with hand-tied ribbon and spun with a thin metallic strand. This yarn looks wonderful coupled with a solid mohair yarn.

5. Louisa Harding Jasmine DK - a versatile blend of cotton, silk and bamboo that comes in a wide range of cheery colorways and is lovely for a camisole, spring top, capelet or cloche.

6. Karabella Gossamer - a blend of mohair, nylon and polyester perfect for a festive wrap

Spring Bunny

While I always have such high hopes for handmade holiday goodies, I never seem to start my planning until right before the big day.


This year, I am going to try to motivate myself to create some little items with time to spare. Since spring is creeping up on us, I decided to start with a knitted bunny. I think he’ll make a sweet (sugar-free) treat tucked into an Easter basket.

We have several bunny patterns at Close Knit: Little Rabbit Foo Foo from Heirloom Stitches, Hop from Blue Sky Alpacas, and Bunny Fun from Fiber Trends. If you are looking for an alternative to the bunnies, we also have patterns for a variety of animals, including alpacas, hedgehogs, chickens, and squirrels.


As for yarn, angora seemed most appropriate. I chose to knit Little Rabbit Foo Foo in Karabella Chloe, a cotton/angora blend. Since my bunny is stuffed, I knit him on a size 7 needle rather than the 9 suggested on the ball band. Knitting the fabric a little tighter keeps the stuffing from showing through the stitches. If you decide to make a bunny and need help with the tail, bring your yarn into the shop on any Sunday, and I'll help you make a pompom.


Stop by the shop to see Little Rabbit Foo Foo and choose a pattern for your own little springtime critter!

Edited To Add: Spud & Chloe just posted a fabulous free pattern for a Mini-Reversible Duck to Bunny using their Spud & Chloe Sweater. We have this yarn in a wide range of colors, so come on by the shop this weekend to get started!