New Pattern! Cute and Slouchy Hat

I am happy to announce that I've created a new hat pattern. This is one that I invented because I wanted to make a hat that I would actually want to wear. What I like about it is it is not tight fitting, so it doesn't mess up my hair too badly, and it covers my ears, keeping me nice and warm! In the picture of the purple hat, my model has her long hair tucked inside the hat, which is really nice if it's snowing.

Here are some of the specs for this hat pattern:

Size: One size fits all teen & adult heads.
Gauge: 4.5 sts and 8 rows per inch in stockinette stitch on size 7 needles.

Yarn:
Yarn A, worsted weight, wool/acrylic blend, solid color, 1 skein
Yarn B, worsted weight, wool/acrylic blend, variegated color that coordinates with Yarn A, 1 skein.

Needles:
US Size 5 (3.75 mm) 16” circular needles,
US Size 7 (4 mm) 16” circular needles, or size to reach gauge
US Size 7 (4mm) double pointed needles, one set of 4-5.

The pattern uses the following stitches: knit, purl, seed stitch--which is just knit and purl stitches, increase by knitting into the front and back of a stitch, and decrease by knitting two stitches together.

To order one, just email $3.75 to my PayPal account: krndpx@yahoo.com, indicating in the notes section that you wish to purchase the cute and slouchy hat pattern. I will email you a .pdf file of the pattern.

Merry Christmas and a Sneak Peak

I've almost finished my special order knitting this year, and I'm really looking forward to some time off to design some new hats and patterns and especially to relax with the family.

One thing I want to work on when I get a little time is creating kits to make the monster hats. It would include everything needed to make the hat except the knitting needles, plus a pattern in multiple sizes. Watch for that to come, and I'd love some feedback as to whether you think this is a good idea.

Sales on my cupcake hats are slower this year. Perhaps it's the economy. They are my most expensive hat, but they also are the most tedious to make.

I participated a couple of weeks ago in a small boutique in American Fork, Utah. I was amazed at the reception of my products and I did better at that small, residence-based boutique than I have at expensive, time-comsuming boutiques in other venues. I hope I am invited to participate next time.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

Boutique in Lehi 6/23-24

It's been way too long since I have posted anything.

If you happen to be in Utah and want to come see a much larger selection than in my Etsy shop, come to Lehi for the Lehi Round-up Rodeo days. There will be a boutique at Wines park (500 N 100 E). I'll be there. Mention that you saw this announcement on my blog and I'll give you $2 off any one item.

Headband Pattern Available

I've finally put together a pattern for the headbands I've been making like crazy. I can't seem to make them fast enough! To purchase a pattern, just go to my Etsy store and purchase it. It will be in .pdf format.

To get to my Etsy shop, just click on one of the items on the right that is featured from my shop.

Easy pattern! Now, get knitting!

Here's the Link to the Show!

The showcasing of my Brainsucker hats went pretty well, I thought. They even mentioned that I make cupcake hats, too! I noticed they had the little boy dressed in a monster vest to match. Cute touch!

I loved all the other things too, especially the removable crocheted flowers for the headbands. I'm going to have to try that.

Here's the link to the show: http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=58&sid=9483379

Let me know what you think!

Local TV Station Features My Shop

I'm so excited! Today at 11:00 a.m., Mountain Time, KSL is featuring my shop and one of my Brainsucker hats on Studio5. I anticipate that I will be getting a lot of special orders for hats from this exposure. I'll post a link to the show if I can get hold of it.

What's On The Needles?

Currently on the needles (OTN) are a number of projects. I've never been one to work on just one thing at a time.

1. I am still making lots of cupcake hats for customers from my Etsy store. Sales dropped off quite a bit right after Christmas, only to pick up again after New Year's Day. That was a pleasant surprise for me.

2. I recently re-purchased Knitware designing software. I downloaded it off the internet. I had purchased it once before, on another computer, and because of economic troubles, the company no longer supplies technical support. The did, however, lower their price for the software. So, three of my children decided I needed to knit them sweaters. I hope they realize that's a long-term project. Maybe by next winter.... But, we had a fun time sitting down together at the computer, designing them each a sweater. They are not technically on the needles yet, except the first one. I'll have to post pictures as I knit them.

3. Several people in my neighborhood have asked me to knit them wide headbands with crocheted flowers. I've been working on them in between the cupcake hats. Here's a green one I recently made for my Etsy shop.



4. I have also tried to come up with more ideas for my Brainsucker series of earflap hats. I decided a penguin would look really cute. So, I knit up a penguin Brainsucker hat. I listed it earlier this week in my Etsy store, and it sold within a couple of hours! All I have left are pictures. I will have to make another one!



5. This one should actually be on the hook, rather than needle. I decided to try to teach a group of young women in my church how to crochet. I thought I could teach them how to make a granny square. None of them had ever heard of granny squares, and most of them had never handled a crochet hook before. By the time we got down to business, I only had 20 minutes to teach them. It was a dismal failure. I came home much discouraged. Maybe we'll try again sometime, and maybe we'll just bag the idea. Maybe I should have started with single crochet, rather than jumping right to double crochet. We were going to make an afghan for a new mother in our area.

Wide Headband With Rosette

I've been seeing them all over town. They are so wide, at first glance they look like hats. Knit out of thick yarn, they are not only super cute, but warm, too! Two chunky buttons secure the headband at the back.

So, of course, I had to try making one. Here is the result. The ones I've seen around town are more conservative colors, but I am so ready for spring, I had to make it a cheery pink.

What I'm wondering is if these cute headbands are a local trend, or if they are popping up in other areas. Can anyone enlighten me?