KittyK(hat) also known as the PussyHat

Oh my! This has got to be the easiest knitted hat pattern of all time, AND the cutest. I take no credit for this pattern, I just want to share how easy it is. If you can knit a scarf you can knit yourself a KittyK(hat).

I used chunky yarn, it was an wool+alpacca mix from Big W and knitted it on size 8mm needles.

Cast on 30 sts
Knit
Knit
Knit
Yay, you just made "garter stitch"
Keep knitting until you reach 8 inches (20-21cm) and bind off.
Now fold that long rectangle in half to form a square, sew the top and the side - leave the bottom open, that's for your head!
When you put your KittyK(hat) on your head the EARS will magically form. Make sure you tweak them forward and not to the side otherwise they look like horns.

For the pink KittyK(hat) I used 2 strands of 8ply yarn knitted together on 7mm needles
Cast on 40st and repeat the above instructions.

Translated Finnish/Russian Leaf Pattern Slippers #2

Translated from Finnish. http://arkisto.novitaknits.com/cms.php?cms_cname=neulemallisivu&nlm_id=1786

To fit AU size 8

Knit on 3mm needles. I used 8ply yarn and 3.25mm needles. Approx 100g cream and less than 50g of the 2 greens. Some patterns say to use sport weight yarn which is 5ply. 

Cast on 20 sts with a base color. Knit every row (garter stitch) For the first 10 rows add 1 st every second row total of 5 stitches = 25 sts (= heel rounding). Continue knitting every row for a total of 42 rows.  (10 more rows for a bigger foot, 10 less rows for a smaller foot)

End on a right side row.

Start knitting a leaf pattern. (Heel shaping is at the bottom right corner)

 1 row: Knit 15s with base color, 4s with color 1, 4s with color 2, leave 2 sts on needle, turn.

2nd row: Slip the first st, Purl mirroring 1st row.

3rd row: Knit 13 st with base color, 4 st color 1, 4 st color 2, leave 4 s on needle, turn.

4th row: Slip 1st st, purl like 2nd row.

5th row: Knit 11 sts with base color, 4 st color 1, 4 st color 2, leave 6 sts on needle, turn.

6th row: Slip 1st st, purl like 2nd row.

Row 7:   Knit 9 sts with base color, 4 st color 1, 4 st picture color 2, leave 8 sts on needle, turn.

8th row: Slip 1st st, purl like 2nd row.

Row 9:   Knit 7 sts with base color, 4 st color 1, 4 st color 2, leave 10 sts on needle, turn.

10th row: Slip 1st st, purl like 2nd row.

Row 11: Knit 5 sts with base color, 4 st color 1, 4 st color 2, leave 12 s on needle, turn.

Row 12: Slip 1st st, purl like 2nd row.

Row 13: Knit the entire row to end with base color (25 sts), turn.

14th row: purl like row 13

15th row: Knit 5st with base color, 4 st color 1, 4 st color 2, leave 12st without knitting, turn.

Row 16: Slip the first stitch, Purl mirroring previous row

Row 17: Knit 7 st with base color, 4 st color 1, 4 st color 2, leave 10 sts on needle, turn.

18th row: Slip the first stitch, Purl mirroring previous row

Row19: Knit 9 st with base color, 4 st color 1, 4 st color 2, leave 8 sts without knitting, turn.

Row 20: Slip the first stitch, Purl mirroring previous row.

21st floor: Knit 11 sts with base color, 4 sts color 1, 4 sts color 2, leave 6 sts on needle, turn.

Round 22: Slip the first stitch, Purl mirroring previous row

23. rows: Knit 13 st with base color, 4 st color 1, 4 st color 2, leave 4 sts on needle, turn.

24th row: Slip the first stitch, Purl mirroring previous row

25th sts: Knit 15 sts with base color, 4 sts color 1, 4 sts color 2, 2 sts left on needle, turn.

Round 26: Slip the first stitch, Purl mirroring previous row

Row 27: Knit the entire row (25 sts) with the base color, turn.

Round 28: Purl the entire row with the base colour

29th row = 1st row

30th row = 2nd row, etc.

Knit three leaf patterns.

Continue knitting in garter stitch with base color to mirror of the first edge. You should end with 20 sts. Bind off.

Sew heel and sole seams.

Translated Russian knit Slippers

This is the original pattern http://arkisto.novitaknits.com/cms.php?cms_cname=neulemallisivu&nlm_id=1786
I think it is from Finland but all the others you see on the 'net are from Russia which doesn't translate very easily. If you follow the link she says to use 3mm needles and 5ply yarn. I use 8ply for everything so I made adjustments for my translated pattern. I'm NOT claiming this pattern as my own but I think you know my frustration when I saw all the pretty photos on Pintrest and I couldnt read them. 
A HUGE thank you to all the clever Russian and Finnish ladies who posted their gorgeous knitted leaf design slippers and tempted me.


Translated - Russian knit slippers.

I obsessed with these because they are so pretty 😊

3.25mm needles and 8 ply yarn, the leaf pattern doesn't use much, 25g should be ample, 100g of the main colour 

To fit AU size 8 

Cast on 20 stitches. 

1 knit

2 increase in first st, knit to end 

Repeat these 2 rows 4 times, total of 25 stitches, you have now shaped the heel. Continue working straight in garter stitch (knit both rows) for 42 rows inclusive of heel shaping.

Begin the leaf pattern.

1 k17 main colour, k7 colour #1 TURN

2 slip the 1st stitch, purl the row matching the colours, make sure you twist your yarn at the colour change otherwise you will end up with holes in your work

3 k15 main colour, k7 colour #1 TURN

As row 2

5 k13 main colour, k7 colour #1 TURN

7 k11 main colour, k7 colour #2 TURN

9 k9 main colour, k7 colour #2 TURN

11 k7 main colour, k7 colour #2 TURN

13 k5 main colour, k7 colour #2 TURN

15 knit to the end of the row using main colour

16 purl to the end of the row using main colour

17 k5 main colour, k7 colour #2 TURN

18 slip the first stitch, purl the row matching the colours

19 k7 main colour, k7 colour #2 TURN

21 k9 main colour, k7 colour #2 TURN

23 k11 main colour, k7 colour #2 TURN

25 k13 main colour, k7 colour #1 TURN

27 k15 main colour, k7 colour #1 TURN

29 k17 main colour, k7 colour #1 TURN

31 knit to end using main colour

32 purl to end using main colour

Repeat twice more - 3 leaf patterns formed. When you complete the 3rd leaf do NOT work rows 31 and 32, here you begin your garter stitch rows again to mirror the beginning. Knit 32 rows garter stitch then form the heel, this is shaped with the right side facing you

K2tog, knit to end of row

Knit to end of row

Total 42 rows.

Bind off and sew the heel and sole edges together using whatever stitch suits you. I used whip stitch.
To make smaller or larger slippers I suggest working your garter stitch rows in increments of 10. 10 rows more will fit an AU size 9-10, 10 rows less would fit an AU size 6-7.
 

My Flower Checkerboard Afghan

I have been randomly crocheting and knitting throughout winter, mostly making baby beanies and little blankies but when I need distraction I whip up a couple of squares for my bright pink and black rug ...

 

I have no idea how much yarn you require for this - I'd guess aproximately 10 balls of black and 10 balls of pink, enough to make a rug 11 squares along and 9 squares across = 99 squares each measuring 6 inches by 6 inches (15cm x 15cm). All my crochet is double crochet except for the flower itself.

You need a basic granny square:

 And an 8 petal flower square:

Here's the link for the original flower square pattern http://rosehip.typepad.com/rose_hip_blog/2008/11/index.html 

With the color of yarn you wish to use for the center of the flower, ch 4 and join with a sl st into the first ch to form a ring. Continue working in the round as follows:

Round 1: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc, ch 1), * 1 dc into ring, ch 1 **; repeat from * to ** 6 times. Join with a sl st into 3rd ch of the ch-4 made at the beginning of this round. (There should be 8 ch-1 spaces in the round.) Fasten off and break off the first color.

Round 2: Join the color you wish to use for the petals into any of the ch-1 spaces, ch 1 and * 1 sc, 3 dc, 1 sc ** into the same ch-1 space; repeat from * to ** into the next 7 ch-1 spaces. Join with a sl st into the first sc of the first ch-1 space. (There should be 8 petals around the center.)

Round 3: Ch 1, and working behind the petals now, sl st into the stem † of the last sc made in round 2. Ch 4, sc into the stems of the next 2 adjoining scs (between the two petals) and then * ch 3, sc into the stems of the next 2 scs; repeat from * to ** 5 more times, ch 3, and then sl st into the first ch of the ch-4 done at the beginning of this round. You should now have a ch-3 space (or loop) behind each petal made in round 2.

Round 4: Ch 1 and work * 1 sc, 5 dc, 1 sc ** into the first ch-3 space and repeat from * to ** into all the next ch-3 spaces; sl st into the first sc of the first petal made in this round. You should now have another 8 petals behind the first 8 made. Fasten off and break off this color. 

Round 5: Still working behind the petals, join the yarn you wish to use as the background for the flower to the stems † of any 2 adjoining scs of round 4 (between two petals), and then ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 2dc into the same sc stems, and ch 1. Into the stems of the next 2 scs  of round 4, * 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc to make a corner, ch 1, 3 dc, into the stems of the next 2 scs , ch 1 **; repeat from * to ** 2 more times, and then 3dc, ch 1, 3 dc into the stems of the next 2 scs, ch 1 and sl st into the 3rd ch of ch-3 done at the beginning of this round.

 

Continue to crochet around until your flower square is the same size as your granny square ie: flower plus 5 rounds.

Sew them together in a checkerboard design.
I think this is my favourite afghan yet :-)
Now that summer is on its way I doubt I'll be getting out my hooks or needles much. I have so many projects I want to do though ...!!!

Crochet Paperclip Iceskates - Christmas Ornament

Cute Crochet PaperClip Iceskates

 

I found this cute little pattern while browsing google for something else. They are SO easy - less than 10 minutes from start to finish!

All credit goes to Suzie ... http://suzies-yarnie-stuff.blogspot.com.au/2008/12/my-paperclip-ice-skate-ornament-c.html

MATERIALS:
Approximately 5 yards of worsted weight yarn
Approximately 1 ½ yards of fuzzy white yarn
G crochet hook
Two jumbo paper clips

INSTRUCTIONS:
With the continuous wire of paper clip on bottom for blade and the larger loop to the right, attach yarn to paper clip with a slipstitch into the larger loop.

Always crochet over the beginning tails.

Row 1: Ch 2, 7 dc to end of paper clip (work first dc in the larger loop, work remain dc in smaller loop and around both wires). This row forms the foot of the skate.

Row 2: Ch 2, turn, Dc in 4 sts. This row forms the ankle of the skate.

Row 3: Ch 1 turn, sc in 4 sts. After last st, Ch 10, fasten off. On the second skate, only chain 8, so that the skates are offset after tying together.

Row 4: Join fuzzy white yarn with a sc in turning chain of row 3. Sc in 3 sts, 2 sc in last st.
Fasten off and weave in ends. If you crocheted over the tails you will only have the ending tail of the trim to weave in.

Repeat for the second skate and tie the two skates together with the tails of the ch 10 and ch 8.

 

I'm Back

Well summer didn't see me knitting or crocheting much at all. Instead I bought a house! I have spent since October 2011 until now polyfilling, sanding, ripping up carpet and lino, painting, tiling and being a general female tradie (read that as Jill of all trades, master of none).

that was after I attacked the bathroom!
My house has gone from being the worst on the street to one of the nicest. I have a brand new kitchen and bathroom and fresh paint and tiles ... all the way I want it and so comfy and cosy.

Yay - freshly painted and tiled bathroom LOL
Now that the rainy season has started it's time to get the yarn and needles/hooks out - I can't wait to share my creations with you all.

Knitted Bunny Draft Stopper

This is my latest project. Isn't he just the cutest?
PDF file available here
I hope you enjoy making him as much as I did inventing him. Any questions, message me :-)

Soon to come: Bunny Bag Lady (for all those plastic supermarket bags)