Psychotically Sane

Archive for October, 2009

I wanted to knit an earflap hat with some fantabulous bulky weight Knit Picks yarn I had. And I couldn’t find a pattern that I liked. So I made my own. :D

And I’m posting the pattern for anyone that is interested. It’s my first pattern, so please excuse if there are any errors and confusions. I’m trying to get the pattern listed on Ravelry, so soon I will have it available in PDF format :)

Chunky Ribbed Earflap Hat

Yarn Weight: Bulky
Gauge: 4 stitch/per 1inch
Needles: 10.5 (dpns & circular will be used, although can be done on just dpns)
Knit to a 18 inch head circumference

Earflaps (make two):
CO 3 stitches
knit I-cord for 6 inches
row1: k1, p1, k1 (3 sts)
row2: k1, m1f, k1, m1b, k1 (5 sts)
row3: (This will be done with all wrong side rows) k1, purl to 1 st before end, k1
row4: 1, m1f, knit to 1 st before end, m1b, k1 (7 sts)
row6: 1, m1f, knit to 1 st before end, m1b, k1 (8 sts)
row8: 1, m1f, knit to 1 st before end, m1b, k1 (10 sts)
Contine until you have 13 stitches. Make sure the last row is a wrong side row.
Repeat the following rows 1 & 2 until ear flap measures 3 inches.
row1: knit across
row2: k1, purl to 1 st before end, k1
Keep the live stitches on a dpn.

Brim:
Knit across one ear flap and then cable cast on 26 stitches (front of hat). Knit across the
next ear flap and cable cast on 20 stitches (back of hat). You should now have 72 stitches
total.
Place stitch marker and start knitting. Your first stitch in the round should start at the first
ear flap. Knit 12 stitches, p2, k2 (ribbed) until you get to the next earflap. The last two
stitches should be purl. Knit 12 stitches and then p2, k2 (ribbed) to finish off the round.
Continue for the next 5.5 – 6 inches.
It might be easier to put stitch markers between the 24 earflap stockinette stitches and the
46 ribbed stitches, just make sure that can distinguish between the stitch marker for the
start of the round and the others.

Time to decrease!

Decreasing can get a little confusing so it’s really important to make sure that you pay
attention to whether you are decreasing the earflap stockinette stitches or the rest of the
ribbed part.

Row1 – (for the 1st stockinette section) k2tog, k2 (for the 1st ribbed part) p2tog, k2 (will end
with a p2tog), (for the 2nd stockinette section) k2tog, k2 (for the 2nd ribbed part) p2tog, k2
(will end for a p2tog)
row2-5 – knit stockinette sections and p1, k2 ribbed sections
row6- (for the 1st stockinette section) k1, k2tog (for the 1st ribbed part) p1, k2tog (will end
with a p1), (for the 2nd stockinette section) k1, k2tog (for the 2nd ribbed part) p1, k2tog
(will end for a p1)
row7 & 8- knit stockinette sections and p1, k1 ribbed sections
row 9- k2tog the whole round
row10-12 – knit to end of round
row13- k2tog, k – repeat to end of round
row14- knit to end of round

cut a 10 inch tail and weave in through remaining stitches. Pull togetherly tightly and
weave in ends.

Make two tassles, sew on to icords, weave in all remaining ends and ta da!

Wear, and enjoy :)

I highly suggest the Knit Picks Wool of Andes Bulky yarn for the hat. It is a great priced yarn at 3.99 for a skein of 137 yards. It knits up beautifully and it feels great. Definitely my favorite yarn.

Skyler and I have had a lot of discussions about his Halloween costumes. First he wanted to be spiderman, then a pumpkin, then a dragon. For a good two weeks he wanted to be a dragon. I searched the stores for either clothes I could turn into a dragon costume or for a ready-made dragon costume so I could go the easy route. Nothing. Nada. Why don’t stores sell dragon halloween costumes?

So I broke the news and he decided again that he had to be spiderman. I searched the stores and found multiple spiderman costumes. Ranging from $10 to $40. No fucking way am I spending $40 on a halloween costume. Better yet, none of them were his size. Luckily, we found a super cute dinosaur costume. It was love at first sight.

He’s happy, I’m happy.

And if you are wondering, he’s wearing his rainboots. Because he never takes them off. ever. Unless he’s has to go to daycare. Then it’s all about his spiderman tie shoes ;)

So I’ve been busy lately…
working, Skyler, life…
and of course, knitting.

My current project is pretty fabulous.
At least I think so.

Because anything with drawstrings and pom-poms are pretty fabulous.
And I know a lot of people will agree with me.

Introducing…..

Itty Bitty Leggies!!!

Soon to be in my shop. Here is style numero uno. Next I’m going to knit style numero dos.

I love baby items :)

I’m really starting to wonder how much more I can suck at posting in my blog.

Nothing new going on. Just work, Skyler, knitting, home and sleep. That’s what my day to day life consists of.

blah…

I am near collapsing from exhaustion currently, but excitement over being 99.99% done with a knitting project has me up and awake for at least another 30 minutes…

This week has not been fun….

I had intended on taking Tuesday as a half day. Spend the morning at work getting what I needed done and spending the rest of the day relaxing at the library, reading and knitting. Instead, I went to bed Monday night with my stomach tossing and turning (and not in a good way) only to wake up a couple hours later throwing up. And I continued to be sick with the dreadful stomach bug for the following 12 hours. I knew I wouldn’t be able to take care of the Sky-guy, so he went to daycare and I went back to bed. Only to wake up 7 hours later (after waking up to run to the bathroom and then back to sleep several times) to pick him up from daycare. The rest of the night was spent on the couch while he lazied it up watching tv. I didn’t feel a tad guilty because I needed my rest. Gma was incredibly gracious to get him fed and then after dinner he was back on the couch with me. Once 8pm hit, we dragged (drug?) ourselves upstairs, brushed the teeth, washed up and went straight to sleep.

The next morning I was fine and dandy except for the remaining exhaustion and feeling like I had been run-over by an 18 wheeler the previous day.

Work sucked the whole rest of the week. I would rather have spent the past three days being whipped and beaten by slave drivers then at the Targhetto. Playing catch-up with MY work while being expected to help the rest of the store play catch-up is not good for the soul or the mood.

But this week is almost behind me. Tomorrow (or today I guess…) is another day. Sky-guy and I will spend the morning at the library, then to the Targhetto to present my client/friend with her scarf order and then home to rest, clean, play and just enjoy the rest of the day and the weekend.

Hopefully next week will be better…