Caps for Good.Part 9

This is my last posting in the Caps for Good series. It's a variation on the pattern shown here.  The soft aqua eyelash reminds me of feathers on a a baby bird. The eyelash is knit into the cap except on top where I hand stitched it after the cap was done to get a nice concentration of whispy aqua. The spot of dark blue was also added after the knitting was done, using a method similar to darning. For a closer look, click the photos.

Pattern

Abbreviations, Gauge, Materials

K = knit

P = purl

K2tog = knit 2 stitches together

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch

Yarn A was used for the first tire and the decoration on the top. I used Patons South Pacific double knit acrylic, which has a bit of a sheen to it.

Yarn B was used for most of the cap. I used an acrylic yarn that looks and feels like cotton. It's no longer available, and that's why I'm not bothering to look up it's name, etc. That's my story and I'm stickin' with it!

Yarn C is an eyelash yarn. I used Lion Brand Fun Fur Stripes. The stripes on the skein are ivory, aqua, and lime so I cut the yarn to get to one of the aqua sections, since that's all I wanted to use for this project.

Size 8 needle for casting on
Size 4 double-pointed needles

Instructions

• Using Yarn A and a size 8 straight needle, cast on 66 stitches leaving a 6-inch tail. The large needle assures a nice stretchy edge.
• Move stitches to double-pointed size 4 needles. Working in-the-round, K 12 rounds.
• Switch to Yarn B. K 3 rounds.
• * Add Yarn C and K 1 round using Yarns B and C together.
• Using only Yarn B, K 2 rounds. P 5 rounds. K 2 rounds. *
• 
  Repeat the sections from * to * until you have a total of 1 "roll-up tire" made with Yarn A, 3 tires made with Yarn B, and 3 rounds with eyelash (Yarn C).
• Knit until the cap is 4 inches tall.
• Now the decreases begin. Each decrease round alternates with a round of solid knit.
• K2tog, K4. Repeat to end. 55 stitches. K next round.
• K2tog, K3. Repeat to end. 44 stitches. K next round.
• K2tog, K2. Repeat to end. 33 stitches. K next round.
• K2tog, K1. Repeat to end. 22 stitches. K next round.
• K2tog. Repeat to end. 11 stitches. K next round.
• K2tog 5 times. 6 stitches. K next round
• Cut yarn leaving a 7-inch tail. Thread tail into a needle and pull through the remaining stitches. Sew in loose ends.
• Use Yarn C (the eyelash) to add a fluffy finish to the top. Then use Yarn A to create a solid touch of color. I sewed 5-8 parallel stitches, and then stitched an equal number of stitches that wove through the first ones, but you can make up your own method, if you wish.

Caps for Good.Part 8

I've not posted in nearly a month and now I have to catch up so I will back-date this posting. This newborn cap is part of my Caps for Good series. In the end, I completed nine newborn caps to send to Save the Children in time for the February 28 deadline. This was actually the last cap I made, but I'm saving one other cap so I can end with a favorite.

I broke my promise to myself to only use yarn on-hand and  instead purchased a skein of eyelash for the last two caps. The style of both reminds me of the Michelin Man and also Mongolian hats as shown here. Both caps are variations on the on instructions I posted here, but you will probably do better using the instructions posted here. Click on the photos to enlarge them.

Caps for Good.Part 7

This cap reminds me a bit of the Michelin man. The  photos do not fully capture the textures. It's made with two yarns -- a shiny yarn for the tassel and stockinette areas, and a"drier" slub yarn for the "tires" and top.

The cap is worked in the round. The rolled edge that frames the face, takes advantage of stockinette's propensity to roll up on itself. The extra long tassel adds a stylish punch.

Pattern

Abbreviations, Gauge, Materials

K = knit
P = purl
P2tog = purl 2 stitches together

 Gauge: 6 stitches/inch

Yarn A for the "tires" and top. I used Hayfield Pretty Cotton (washable cotton, acrylic, nylon blend), a "dry" looking yarn.
Yarn B for "recessed" areas and the tassel. I used Patons South Pacific double knit acrylic, which has a bit of a sheen to it.

Size 8 needle for casting on
Size 4 double-pointed needles

Instructions

• Using Yarn A and a size 8 straight needle, cast on 66 stitches leaving a 6-inch tail. The large needle assures a nice stretchy edge.
• Move stitches to double-pointed size 4 needles. Working in-the-round, K 12 rounds.
• Yarn B. Knit 6 rounds.
• *Yarn A. K 1 round. P 3 rounds.
• Yarn B. K 3 rounds.*
• Repeat from * to * 3 more times. You will have the "roll-up tire" plus 4 additional "tires."
• Yarn A. K 1 round. P 1 round.
• Now the decreases begin. Each decrease round alternates with a round of solid purls.
• P2tog, P4. Repeat to end. 55 stitches. P next round.
• P2tog, P3. Repeat to end. 44 stitches. P next round.
• P2tog, P2. Repeat to end. 33 stitches. P next round.
• P2tog, P1. Repeat to end. 22 stitches. P next round.
• P2tog. Repeat to end. 11 stitches. P next round.
• P2tog 5 times. 6 stitches.P next round.
• Cut yarn leaving a 7-inch tail. Thread tail into a needle and pull through the remaining stitches.  Sew in loose ends. Make a tassel from Yarn B and sew in place.

Caps for Good.Part 6

These caps for newborns just keep making themselves! If you would like to make a Cap for Good, you can learn more about the project here.

The yarn is an acrylic that looks and feels like cotton. The pattern is a variation on this one. I should have done a provisional cast-on because I ended up unraveling the cast-on stitches and working them in as I folded the picot edge. I really love the simple delicacy of this particular caps. It's one of my favorites (of course, out of 7 caps, I have at least 3 favorites!) Yes, 7. I'll post the seventh one tomorrow.

Caps for Good, Part 5

I can't stop making these caps for newborns! They are so quick and fun! It's not too late for you to make a cap or two for Caps for Good! Here's the link.

 I was lucky that I ran out of the dark yarn, because I think this cap is cuter with the two-tone effect.

Once again, I used the basic pattern like the others but this time I made up my own stitch -- a variation on the brioche stitch (which is usually 1YO, 1 slip, K2tog, but I made it purl 2 stitches together).  I think I started with a couple rows of garter stitch but I'm not sure because I made this a few days ago and did not make any notes to myself.

Brioche Baby
Abbreviations, Gauge, Materials
K = knit
P = purl
P2tog = purl 2 stitches together
YO = wrap yarn over

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch

Yarn: Patons South Pacific double knit acrylic
Size 4 straight needles
Size 8 needle for casting on
Size 4 double-pointed needles

Instructions

• Cast on 66 stitches leaving a 6-inch tail to sew the hem in one spot. To get a nice stretchy edge, I used a size 8 needle and the double cast-on method. This video has a great demo of the double cast-on method.
• Make 2 rows in garter stitch using the straight needles. Switch to knitting in the round.
• Do one or two more rows in garter stitch ending with a knit row.
• Begin the pattern:  1YO, slip 1, P2tog. Repeat to end of row.
• Repeat pattern row until the cap measures 4 inches  from the beginning.

Begin the decreases -- each decrease row will alternate with a row of all knit.

• K2tog, knit 4. Repeat to end. 55 stitches.
• Knit next row.
• K2tog, knit 3. Repeat to end. 44 stitches.
• Knit next row.
• K2tog, knit 2. Repeat to end. 33 stitches.
• Knit next row.
• K2tog, knit 1. Repeat to end. 22 stitches.
• Knit next row.
• K2tog. Repeat to end. 11 stitches.
• Knit next row.
• K2tog 5 times. 6 stitches.
• Knit next row.
• Cut yarn leaving a 6-inch tail. Thread tail into a needle and pull through the remaining stitches.
• Sew in loose ends.
• Optional: Make a tassle for the top.

Caps for Good, Part 4

Once again, I'm unsure if I should thread a ribbon through the eyelet. What do you think? The fiber is acrylic. The pattern is similar to this cap except I added a few rows of garter stitch at the beginning and end of the stockinette section.

Caps for Good, Part 3

I call this one Siam Princess because the nob on top reminds me of the crowns worn by all the little princes and princesses in the King and I -- as shown here.

This cap was completed several weeks ago, but then I revised it.

This cap is a modification of the Caps for Good basic knit cap. Sorry, there is no pattern because I did not take close notes. It's worked in the round. When I got to the top of the cap, I began to add a lot stitches for several rows. I knit a few rows and then did a lot of decreases. Then I decided the edging did not work with the design and I frogged that, picked up the stitches and made a bunch of increases to create the ruflled edge before casting off.

While this yarn looks and feels like cotton, it's actually acrylic. I'm trying to decide if I should thread a ribbon through the eyelet. What do you think? Ribbon round the "crown", the edge, both, or neither?

Caps for Good, Part 2

This is actually the third cap I made, but the second one is going through some revisions. The pattern is very similar to the first cap except, I skipped the cuff and made a picot edge instead. This tutorial by Judy Graham will explain how it's done. Remember to start with an even number of stitches. Judy likes to slip the first stitch on every row; other than that, our techniques are similar.

This hat is bigger than the previous one but I think that's because it does not have the ribbed edge.

I just discovered another tutorial by Judy Graham teaching a lacy pattern that's very similar to what I used for this cap (except Judy's second row is not a solid row of knitting). Watch this video and then try my pattern.

Pattern
This pattern was corrected July 2016.

Abbreviations, Gauge, Materials
K = knit
P = purl
K2tog = knit 2 stitches together
YO = wrap yarn over

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch

Yarn: Patons South Pacific double knit acrylic
Size 4 single needles
Size 8 needle for casting on
Size 4 double-pointed needles

Instructions

•  Cast on 66 stitches leaving a long tail that you will use to sew the picot hem. To get a nice stretchy edge, I used a size 8 needle and the double cast-on method. This video has a great demo of the double cast-on method.
• Make 5 rows in stockinette. I used straight needles for this part, which means it was K one row, P one row.
• With the wrong side (the purl side) facing you, YO, K2tog. Repeat to the end of the row.
• Knit one row. Transfer to double-pointed needles and work stockinette in the round.
• When you have at least 10 rows beyond the picot, you can fold up the picot row and use the tail to sew the hem and close the small side seam. Or, you can do this sewing when the cap is all done.
• To make the lacy texture:
• YO, K2tog, continue to end of row.
• Knit 1 row.
• K2tog, YO, continue to end of row.
• Knit 1 row.
• YO, K2tog, continue to end of row.
• Knit 1 row.
• Work in stockinette until you are 4 inches above the row where the picot hem folds.

* NOTE: Now the decreases begin. They will be done on a knit row. If you are working on single-pointed needles, the alternate rows will be purled. If you are working in the round, all the rows will be knit.

• K2tog, knit 4. Repeat to end. 55 stitches. Work next row as described at *.
• K2tog, knit 3. Repeat to end. 44 stitches. Work next row as described at *.
• K2tog, knit 2. Repeat to end. 33 stitches. Work next row as described at *.
• K2tog, knit 1. Repeat to end. 22 stitches. Work next row as described at *.
• K2tog. Repeat to end. 11 stitches. Work next row as described at *.
• K2tog 5 times. 6 stitches.Work next row as described at *.
• Cut yarn leaving a 6-inch tail. Thread tail into a needle and pull through the remaining stitches.
• Sew in loose ends.

Caps for Good

If you like to knit and want a quick project that will help a newborn keep warm, check out the Save the Children Caps for Good website here. I've made several caps this week; here's the first.

I made the cap by using the knitting pattern in the Caps for Good Action Guide. The guide also provides a crochet pattern. I adapted their pattern to my yarn and could not resist using two shades of blue. The cover of the Action Guide says it all -- "Your Handmade Cap Can Help Save a Life."

NOTE: The deadline for sending in the caps is Feb 28, 2011.

Pattern with my adaptations
Abbreviations, Gauge, Materials
K = knit
P = purl
K2tog = knit 2 stitches together

Gauge: 6 stitches/inch

Yarn: Patons South Pacific double knit acrylic
Size 4 double needles.
Size 8 needle for casting on

Instructions

• Cast on 66 stitches. To get a nice stretchy edge, I used a size 8 needle and the double cast-on method. This video has a great demo of the double cast-on method.
• K1, P1 for 1 inch in main color to make the cuff.
• I worked in the round so I would not have to sew a side seam.
• Knit in stockinette until 5 inches from the cast on. Alternate the yarn color for each row.
• * NOTE: Now the decreases begin. They will be done on a knit row. If you are working on single-pointed needles, the alternate rows will be purled. If you are working in the round, all the rows will be knit.
• K2tog, knit 4. Repeat to end. 55 stitches. Work next row as described at *.
• K2tog, knit 3. Repeat to end. 44 stitches. Work next row as described at *.
• K2tog, knit 2. Repeat to end. 33 stitches. Work next row as described at *.
• K2tog, knit 1. Repeat to end. 22 stitches. Work next row as described at *.
• K2tog. Repeat to end. 11 stitches. Work next row as described at *.
• K2tog 5 times.  6 stitches.Work next row as described at *.
• Cut yarn leaving a 6-inch tail. Thread tail into a needle and pull through the remaining stitches.
• Sew size seam if worked on single-pointed needles.
• Sew in loose ends.
• Fold up the cuff .