Well Hello there! If you’re in the US, are you sprinting to the finish for Thanksgiving? I’ve lucked out this year and won’t have to do any baking, as we’re visiting the in-laws. I will miss my pie baking though — my family always lets me bake the pies, which is really fun for me. So…….sorry, there won’t be any fun Thanksgiving pictures here!
Anyway, as I mentioned in my last post, since dear Hester is out of commission and I’m not in charge of any holiday cooking, I’m going to try to squeeze in a few hats for Jean‘s hats for the NYC homeless. I started knitting one yesterday and it’s moving along pretty quickly.
TheManoftheHouse says this will be too small, but not to worry. I’ve made these before and they fit just fine. If they’ll fit my big-headed boys, they should fit most people. In case any of you might like to knit some of these hats for Jean, I thought I’d share my favorite easy pattern. Although, I must say, taking a peek at the hats already starting to arrive at Jean’s, I’m thinking I need to go in search of that rolled brim hat too — it’s pretty cute! Oh, and check out this exciting post — Jean is giving prizes and some of them are REALLY cool. Go on — go check it out — it will make you want to knit hats. I’ll wait.
Tap…Tap….Tap…
Ok. Are you excited now??? So, here’s the pattern I’m using. I got this several years ago from our LYS, which, sadly, is now out of business. They used to give this pattern out for free if you purchased the yarn at their store.
Beginning Knitter’s Basic Hat
Materials: 1 skein of yarn + scraps if you would like to add a stripe. Light worsted weight (Cascade 220 is nice).
Instructions are for knitting on straight needles, but I like to knit them on circular needles so that I don’t have to sew up a seam at the end. If knitting on circs, start off with 80 or 84 stitches, depending on where you fit on the gauge spectrum. Also, if knitting on circs, and adding stripes, there’s a fantastic tutorial here for making jogless stripes!
Gauge:
4.5 sts = 1″ on #8 needle
Beginning at lower edge cast-on 82 sts.
Row 1 (WS): P2, *K2, P2, repeat from * across.
Row 2(RS): K2, *P2, K2, repeat from * across.
Repeat last 2 rows until piece measures 1″ from cast-on, ending with a WS row.
On next RS row dec 2 st evenly across row. 80 sts remain. Continue in st st until piece measures 6″ from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.
To shape top of hat:
Row 1(RS): *K8, K2tog, repeat from * across.
Row 2 and all WS rows: P.
Row 3(RS): *K7, K2tog, repeat from * across.
Row 5(RS): *K6, K2tog, repeat from * across.
Row 7(RS): *K5, K2tog, repeat from * across.
Row 9(RS): *K4, K2tog, repeat from * across.
Row 11(RS): *K3, K2tog, repeat from * across.
Row 13(RS): *K2, K2tog, repeat from * across.
Row 15(RS): *K1, K2tog, repeat from * across.
Row 17(RS): K2tog across.
Cut yarn leaving a 20″ tail, thread through remaining stitches, pull tight and sew back seam.
Abbreviations: dec-decrease, inc-increase, K-knit, P-purl, RS-right side, st st- stockinette stitch, sts stitches, tog-together, WS-wrong side.
It will be a few days before I can do my normal blog visiting, but if you’re in the US, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. (If you’re traveling, travel safely!) And if you’re not, you should make a pumpkin or pecan pie just because they’re so darn good!
XOXO,
Anna
Thanks for the hat pattern. I will try it out. I love working on circular needles also. I am working on a baby sweater and it is all one piece you start at the tip and work down. I am doing the sleeves with dbl pointed needles and am loving not having to do any stitching when I am done. I also have a pair of mittens going and am loving them also:) I got to get better so I can try a pair of socks:) Hope you have a nice week-end:)
Thanks so much for the get well wishes you sent to me thru the yellow farmhouse blog. It really made my day. In the last 5 years, I’ve had 3 fractures so I know all the staff at the rehab unit. When they say, I remember you!, is that a compliment or not? When I came up with this plan for not cooking Thanksgiving dinner, I’m afraid I didn’t do a great job of thinking it thru. Again, thanks a million!
You’re teasing me….I have too much to do……pies to bake, turkey to stuff, gifts to make….. but this does sound like such a good cause! I may have to squeeze one or two in, especially since you’re supplying a pattern. Do you know that you can make a rolled brim on this pattern or any pattern…. Instead of ribbing, start right in with stockingette stitch [plain on one side, purl on the other—or all plain on circular needles] It’ll curl automatically. Have a great day tomorrow! We have a lot to be thankful for in this country!
We’re having both pies! :) In fact, my pecan pie is baking right now! Yum!
I am going to try that hat pattern, thanks for sharing it. What an awesome thing to do. I have lots of stash yarn, I just might help Jean out too. I’m only cooking the Turkey, not hosting this year and it feels funny.
You have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones.
Too bad I don’t knit, it all looks foreign to me. Thanks for the Thanksgiving wishes and yes I made a pumpkin pie.
That Beginner Hat Pattern is exactly what I need! I’ve been afraid to try much else…haha. What does “Continue in st st” (in the line “Continue in st st until piece measures 6? from cast-on edge, ending with a WS row.”) mean? I’m such a newbie!
Sorry to hear you won’t be baking, but you an always make up for it with Christmas cookies or a dessert for Christmas dinner…or to celebrate whichever holiday you celebrate. ;)
Happy Thanksgiving Thimbleanna! Have fun knitting your hats! I’m going to eat some turkey (or chicken~whichever my friend ends up getting, LOL!) and pie and stuff and then tat myself silly~ Maybe! Chat with you later!
If you are missing pie baking, I would gladly let you bake a pie for me! Whe I was growing up, my family called me “Pie Face”, if that tells you anything. Yummmmmmmmmm – pie!
I don’t think you’ll get me to knit after reading all those hyroglyphics – I’m ascared. Cute hat, though! You go girl! I think what you’re doing is wonderful. Of course, I think you’re wonderful! Happy Thanksgiving!
Looks like a great cause to knit for!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving Anna!
I need to knit some more small girl hats – can you believe they’ve decided that the ones I made last winter are now ‘too pink’ !!! Ingrates!
you are so lovely knitting these hats…thank you for the pattern.
Hey Chick – hope your getting lots of knitting done :). Enjoy your time with the in-laws and safe travels on your way home. Thanks for the hat pattern – 2 colors of yarn could be a stretch for this old girl, LOL.
Happy Thanksgiving – Karen
Cute hat! I’m getting somewhere on my socks (I think), so I’m feeling really brave. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Ooooooh Anna! Just when I’ve been wanting a 4 needle hat pattern! I have some lovely aran weight wool that I bought to make Mr Locket some wristwarmers for his birthday, Dot used some to make him a scarf too so all he needs now is a hat!
Happy Thanksgiving – even if you’re not doing the pies!
Lucy x
Happy Thanksgiving! My head hurts at the thought of knitting jogless stripes! LOL. I would try it though, next winter!
I shall not be making a hat. I don’t want to embarrass you with my brilliant knitting. Cough.
Came over to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving but you’re not there. Hope you had a lovely time.
Learning to knit (again) is on my list to do next year. I’m thinking private classes might do the trick for the 4th time! Love the hat~!
Hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! Your hat looks like a most worthwhile project.
happy thanksgiving anna.
i hope your day was wonderful and i’m glad you got to kick back and knit!!!
i went to bed at 1am because my company was here for a long time. i helped my “neighbor” with a couple of desserts for her thanksgiving, and dinner was fine at our house.
that hat you’re making will be well-received by the wearer i’m sure. it looks fantastic. what a good thing to spend time on during the holidays!! f
Great hat! I wish I could knit I just swear when I try.
Thanks for the pattern – hats are so much fun to make! I’ve got a new “Peppermint Twist” giveaway and I hope you will enter.
S.W.A.K.
http://www.CuteStuffInside.blogspot.com
I’m so going to try this hat pattern. thanks for sharing it!!!
oh, and happy belated thanksgiving to you!
Cute hats! I have been wanting to take up knitting…maybe I’ll give these a try! Thanks! =)
What a nice project you ladies are working on.
very cute….i need to find someone local to aid my knitting skill….
This needs to be the winter I finally branch out from crochet and learn to knit….
Great toque. I love knitting toques – they go quickly and here in Canada they are wearable most months of the year. American Thanksgiving is over and I guess it is a sprint toward Christmas. My tree is up and I have plans for every weekend this month :)
Wow thanks! I really do need to knit a couple of hats.
Cute knittin’ and cute kittens.
Jody