Free Knitting Pattern...Rock Candy Hat

Rock Candy hat now in Preemie, Newborn, Baby, Toddler, Child sizes!

All heads are different, so please measure first for best fit (each size has circumference and height measurements in inches).

Rock Candy is a funky, adorable little hat that knits up quickly. It is perfect for your little ones who won't keep a hat on. Feel free to customize hat with multitude of colors, or knit in a favorite solid color.

Finished Sizes:

• Preemie (12 inch circumference, 5.5” height)
• Newborn (14 inch circumference, 6” height)
• Baby (16 inch circumference, 7” height)
• Toddler (18 inch circumference, 8” height)
• Child (20 inch circumference, 8.5” height)

Note: Heads come in lots of different sizes, please measure child's head first for best fit.

Gauge: 24 stitches and 17 rows = 4 inches

Materials:

• Any worsted weight yarn in 3 of your favorite colors
• 1 US 8 16” Circular Needles
• 1 set US 8 DPNs
• Tapestry Needle
• Stitch Markers

Abbreviations:

CO: Cast on

K2tog: Knit two stitches together

P2tog: Purl two stitches together

St st: Stockinette Stitch

PM: Place marker

RS: Right side

WS: Wrong side

Hat:

Preemie (Newborn, Baby, Toddler, Child)

CO 48 (56, 64, 72, 80) sts using color A, PM.

Join in the round, being careful not to twist.

Begin working in st st (knit all rounds) in striped color pattern as follows:

4 rounds color A

2 rounds color B

4 rounds color C

Repeat until hat is roughly 5.5 (6, 7, 8, 8.5) inches from CO edge.

Decrease Crown:

(Note: Change to double pointed needles when needed)

At next round begin decrease:

Round 1: Knit

Round 2: K2tog across

Round 3: Knit

Round 4: K2tog across

Round 5: Knit

Using tapestry needle, break yarn leaving a long tail. Thread through remaining stitches and pull tightly. Weave in ends. (Hat will probably begin curling because of stockinette edge, but earflaps will help straighten it out)

Earflaps:

Using color A, fold hat in half to determine placement (I placed a stitch marker on either side to mark the spot), pick up and knit 14 sts and work in st st for 4 rows, ending on WS row.

Earflap decrease:

Row 1: k2tog, k10, k2tog

Row 2: p2tog, p8, p2tog

Row 3: k2tog, k6, k2tog

Row 4: p2tog, p4, p2tog

Row 5: k2tog, k2, k2tog

Row 6: p2tog, p2tog (two sts remain on needle)

Ties:

With remaining 2 stitches, work i-cord for 12” inches (this creates enough length for a bow to be tied comfortably under chin). BO 2 sts and repeat again for the other ear flap. Weave in any remaining ends.

Pom Pom:

Add pom pom if desired and fasten to top of hat.

© Jennifer Dickerson 2013
Please note: Patterns are for personal and charity use only.  In addition, if you enjoy the pattern, please link to it, but do not copy the pattern to your own website or blog (including other languages).  Thank you!

Expanded sizing coming soon!

Thanks for your kind requests for the Rock Candy pattern, I love your comments and feedback!

...As of right now I am editing the pattern for sizing as follows:

Preemie
Baby
Toddler
Child

I am fiddling with it now with plans to have the updated pattern here and on Ravelry by early this coming week.

Stay tuned!!

PS I have been working on some top secret designs too, been knitting up a storm!

Change is good...

Soooo, I got all crazy and gave the blog a fabulous new makeover!  Still trying to get used to it...pretty much all of it came from this awesome site http://www.shabbyblogs.com

Plus, you may notice that the name of the blog now refers to adventures in "stitching" and not just "knitting" I wanted it to reflect both my forays and explorations in the needle arts as well as my obsessive compulsive knitting habit.

Happy Knitting Everyone!!!

How did you learn?

The eternal WIP...

In my last post I talked about learning to crochet, in the spirit of learning new things, it got me thinking about when I first learned to knit as well and how the experience of learning the two were so very different.

When I learned to knit years ago, I plunked myself down at my laptop with a DVD and willed myself to stay put until I had mastered knitting in it's entirety.  After being brought to my knees with it's complexities and intricacies of a simple cast on, garter stitch, and bind off,  I decided that was quite enough for my first lesson and proceeded to make garter stitch scarves for everyone in my life for the next two years.

I slowly vowed to learn a new skill on my own with each project and build my skills that way, which I more or less do even today.  My departure from squares and rectangles was liberating!

My journey into crochet, while still a new one, was taught to me by a real live person!  They were able to answer my millions of questions, and be a reassuring guide during the process.  So different from the lady on my computer...

So, let me ask you...how did you learn how to knit?  A patient grandma?  With a DVD?  U-tube? A formal class? Internet photo tutorials? A friend and a glass of wine? A book?

I put a poll on the right side here to see how we've all learned, check it out!

Featured...

Check out my pattern, "Rock Candy Hat" featured on The Daily Knitter!

(link is in the hats section)


http://www.dailyknitter.com/

Learning to fly...

My first granny squares!

I recently learned how to crochet and have been tentatively exploring the medium ever since.  I've been making medallions, granny squares and the like...although my blog is a knitting one, I have felt the need to share with you some of my adventures in crochet as well, because I think it has expanded my view about knitting and I am now finding myself approaching my knitting projects with a fresh new perspective.

I just realized I photographed this on the "wrong" side...oh well live and learn I guess.

It has been an interesting journey, this crochet thing...my once confident fingers fumble and feel awkward and I tend to pull things apart more times than not.  All in all it has been a humbling experience, but it is fun and engaging.

One of the most interesting (and satisfying) things I've observed about crochet is how incredibly fast you can work something up, I mean at lightening speed folks...I still love a stockinette expanse of knitted fabric the very most, but things like flowers, medallions, and granny squares are so cheerful, retro and strikingly beautiful.

The beginnings of my first crocheted afghan...

While still wholeheartedly (obsessively) committed to my knitting, my crochet foray has been enlightening and humbling and once again deepens my respect for the needle arts.

Happy knitting (and crocheting) everyone!