Colourful Tulip Hat

I've finished another version of my Tulip Hat, where this time I have used a different colour for each flower. I really like this version, and it such a good way to use up oddments of left over wool. Each flower head only takes 2.5 m of yarn, which is not really very much.

Again I have had to be my own model, which has meant my trainee photographer (my husband) had to take the photos. I think he is doing quite well!

The hat pattern is available on Ravelry, Etsy and LoveKnitting. I'm working on a new tulip pattern at the moment. Hat will be heading to my Etsy Shop

 

Tulip Hat Knitting Pattern

I am really happy with my new Tulip Hat knitting design, and it will not be too long before there are some tulips out in my garden. It is a really practical, cosy hat, but also pretty and quite unique. Working on the tulip motif took me some time, and I have ideas for some other patterns where I will use it.

This Tulip Hat is knitted in doubleknit wool, and takes a bit less that 100g of the main shade. I would call it medium difficulty, as each flower is knitted with two separate lengths of wool. It is explained in the pattern how to do this, but the main aim was so the wool did not need to be carried on the reverse side between the flowers, which would have made the hat too tight. An added advantage of knitting this way means that it takes less wool.

 

 

I will be putting my sample hats for sale on Etsy, and am knitting one more where each flower is a different colour, which I thought would be fun. I decided they will all be realistic tulips colours, but looking online at photos that really doesn't seem to rule any colour out.

The hat is knitted flat on two needles, and has a single seam to sew up. The finished measurements of the hat when sewn up is 23 cm across at the bottom, and approx 30 cm from cast on edge to top (when rib is not folded up).

The hat pattern is available on Ravelry, Etsy and LoveKnitting.

And just for once a photo of me. I had to be my own hat model, but am hopeful I might be able to persuade someone a bit more photogenic to do some more modelling. My husband had to be photographer/stylist where I am in the pictures. Most of the photos I hated, but this photo was sort of okay, as although it doesn't show my hat off very well, I am at least smiling.

Fingerless Gloves

I had left my gloves in the country, so decided to make myself a new pair. I have used this pattern before, when I made these mittens and gave them to a friend: Margot's Garden Fingerless Mittens.  

I love the design, and fingerless is usually my favourite sort of glove. Perfect if you have jobs to do, or photographs to take. I didn't look back at the previous post, but once again I extended the ribbed sections for the wrist. 

Just a reminder that there is still plenty of time left to join in my Ginx Woolly Linx party for Feburary. Click on the photo above or at the top of the page to find the party. I would love to see what you have been working on this month.

Margot's Garden Fingerless Gloves

For a change I wanted to knit something from someone else's pattern, and which would be a bit of fun. Ravelry always comes up trumps. I love these fingerless gloves from Margot's Garden Fingerless Gloves pattern. The pattern has a chart, which was very easy to follow. I knitted them on four needles, which is the way I prefere. I made the ribbed sections a bit longer than the pattern suggests, and although I also used thicker wool, they seem to have turned out fine.  And also this pattern is a free ravelry download.

I really enjoy a bit of colourwork, and found a bag with some wool left over from a tapestry project. It worked out really well to use these little skeins of wool for the coloured flowers. One skein was enough for each set of flowers on both gloves. But I found I had no green, so used some 4ply wool that I had, but knitted two strand of wool together to get the same thickness. For the main shade I used the Patons Diploma Gold DK Black that was left over from the wheels of my London Bus.

I love the gloves so much that now I can't quite decide whether to give them as a gift or keep them for myself. But I have more little skeins, so may well have to make another pair.

Vintage Caravans

I've been mulling over this idea for a while. A knitted vintage caravan. Henrietta my 2CV was a curvy car, and that led me to think if I could knit some other curvacious vehicles. Knitting doesn't really lend itself to being angular. What is more curvy that a vintage caravan?

I thought this caravan would make either a really cute toy or ornament, or perhaps be useful as a pincushion. But the pattern also contains instructions for a simpler version where you only knit one side and make it into a keyring for your caravan keys. These few will be for sale in my Etsy shop. I think they are so cute and would now quite like my own vintage caravan.

When I think of a new idea for a knit, I normally go through a similar process. I do a very quick look on the knitting websites to see if anyone has already had my idea. If there are lots of really good patterns, I usually stop then. What can I add to this? But with my vintage caravan I really couldn't find anyone who has knitted anything quite like this. (Apologies if I have missed someone's brilliant knit.) Then if there are a very few, or no patterns, I say hurrah!  Although this may mean that I am designing things that are so quirky very few people want to knit them. I would love to be able to come up with something that is both quirky, unique, and popular. But "chin up" I say. Caravans are one of the popular things I can think of, and who does not love a retro vintage caravan

The pattern designing process then usually involves me sitting and knitting with a notepad by side. I then type up a first version, and after that I amend, and amend and amend ... But I always feel a lot happier when I have that first typed draft, even if I know I am going to have to alter and change a lot. 

These caravans are knitted with doubleknit, and quite a fine needle 2.5mm. This was because I wanted all the pieces to be firm, so the overall caravan wouldn't bulge too much. Everything is knitted on two needles (even the wheels). The finished caravan is quite small (8cm long and 7.5 cm tall). I am thinking of knitting a little car that would be to scale and could go infront.