I started my third knitting project, a lace scarf of cashmere, back before Christmas. This piece looked so simple, but after ripping it out five times it was all I could do to start over again and slog my way through. I learned a lot and the end product makes me smile but I don’t plan to undertake something with this fussy of a yarn for a while.

Rounding out my finished projects for 2007 is crochet project #14, the baby cape. This cape is going to a baby due in cold and snowy Wisconsin January. I’m hoping the hooded design will make for an easy wrap and hold for a little extra baby warmth.

Meet Isabelle, my first crocheted animal. I finished her around the end of November but have been keeping hush until I could present her to her new owner, my sister. She’s made from left over scarf yarn. Her eyes were rescued by SB, from my grandmother’s sewing kit. I decided she should only wear pink to compensate for her darkness and designed the cape, complete with ear holes.

There’s something about putting a face on an object that can change your whole understanding. Once I finished her I realized she was Italian. Being an Italian bunny obviously means she eats only gelato and always looks fabulous.

*Photo by Arielle

Do you have an extra large head? Have puny “average” sized hats left your ears cold? Perhaps you have a normal size head but you like your hats big and loose. Based on a chunky ribbed hat pattern from winged sheep, here is a knitting pattern for a hat to please your giant head.

Ribbed hat
You will need
- 1 skein Malabrigo chunky merino wool
- 1 circular needle, 24″ size 10
- 4 double pointed needles size 10

Starting with the circular needles:
Loosely cast on 84 stitches.
Rib stitch: k2, p2
Rib stitch rows around until your tube measures between 5 and 6 inches tall.

Begin decrease, changing to the double pointed needles when needed.
Row 1: * k2tog, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2tog, k2, p2, k2, p2 repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2, p2
Row 2: * k, p2, k2, p2, k2, p, k2, p2, k2, p2 repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2, p2
Row 3: * k2tog, p, k2, p2, k2, p2tog, k, p2, k2, p2 repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2, p2
Row 4: * k, p, k2, p2, k2, p, k, p2, k2, p2 repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2, p2
Row 5: * k2tog, k2, p2, k2, p2tog, p2, k2, p2 repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2, p2
Row 6: * k3, p2, k2, p3, k2, p2 repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2, p2
Row 7: * k2tog, k, p2, k2, p2tog, p, k2, p2 repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2, p2
Row 8: * k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2 repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2, p2
Row 9: * k2tog, p2, k2, p2tog, k2, p2 repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2, p2
Row 10: * k, p2, k2, p, k2, p2 repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2, p2
Row 11: * k2tog, p, k2, p2tog, p2 repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2, p2
Row 12: * k2tog, k2, p2tog, p2 repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2tog, p2
Row 13: * k2tog, k, p2tog, p repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2tog, p
Row 14: * k2tog, p2tog repeat from * until last 4 stitches k2tog

Cut the yarn leaving a generous tail. Using a finishing needle weave yarn through remaining loops and cinch together, pulling the small opening closed. Tie off and weave in ends.

Matching scarf
The matching scarf pictured above was made using 2 skeins Malabrigo chunky merino wool plus remaining yarn from hat. Using size 10 needles, circular or straight, cast on 36 stitches. Rib stitch (k2, p2) in rows until all yarn is used. Weave in ends.

Malabrigo yarn comes in great colors.

*Photo by Carol

Last November my Mom taught me how to crochet. It began a love affair with hooking that resulted in many beautiful finished projects and many nights dreaming about crochet. I even joined a local crochet group. They meet every week at a nearby bookstore and put my crochet obsession to shame. Most of these amazing women have been crocheting, knitting and sewing for fifty years or more. They are ready to share their knowledge and bring more people into the fold. It has been terrific.

This month I decided that my Mom should teach me how to knit. It also gave me a great excuse to take her to my local yarn store, Knitch. After a couple hours at the yarn store and some basic lessons from Mom I was happily knitting along. After a week of practice I have completed my first two projects, the ribbed scarf pictured above and the hat shown here.

Knitting is fun but it hasn’t captured my heart like crochet. I will continue to knit mainly because there are certain things that just work better knit, but I will dream in crochet.