FO: Not-Quite-A-Baby hat and mittens

My little mannie was well equipped for the winter chill last year. My sister and I knit him many hats and mittens, but as this year started to get colder, I found myself unprepared. All of last year's gear was too small, but knitting patterns seem to be sized for newborns or toddlers, and Duncan is in between. So, I hitched up my big girl pants, and adapted a pattern for mittens. Then I got crazy and wrote one for a hat. So, lest there be other wee one year olds in need of headgear, I'd like to share my pattern with you.

The Not-Quite-A-Baby Hat

Yarn: Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller Washable Ewe

Needles: US size 6 and 7 circular, 40 inch for Magic Loop or dpns

Gauge: 5 1/2 sts/inch & 8 rows/inch in stockinette stitch on size 7 needles.

Size: Intended for Duncan's 17 inch noggin

CO 104 stitches onto your size 6 needle and divide in half for Magic Loop or arrange evenly over your dpns. Join to knit in the round.

Knit k2 p2 ribbing for 9 rounds.

Switch to size 7 needles and knit even in stockinette stitch (knit all rounds) for 2 1/2 inches. If you want to extend the wear of your hat, knit for 3 3/4 inches and fold up the ribbed section. Then as not-quite-baby grows, you can fold down the ribbed section for more length.

For the decreases:

1) *k11, k2tog, rep from * to end (96 sts.)

2&3) knit

4) *k10, k2tog, rep from * to end (88sts)

5) knit

6) *k9, k2tog, rep from * to end (80 sts)

7) knit

8) *k8, k2tog, rep from * to end (72 sts)

9) knit

10) *k7, k2tog, rep from * to end (64 sts)

11) knit

12) *k6, k2tog, rep from * to end (56 sts)

13) *k5, k2tog, rep from * to end (48 sts)

14) *k4, k2tog, rep from * to end (40 sts)

15) *k3, k2tog, rep from * to end (32 sts)

16) *k2, k2tog, rep from * to end (24 sts)

17) *k1, k2tog, rep from * to end (16 sts)

18) *k2tog, rep from * to end

Break yarn, leaving a 6-8 inch tail. Thread your tail through remaining 8 sts and pull them tightly together. Weave in ends and lightly block.

For Duncan's little mittens, I adapted the excellent Baby Mitts pattern by Susan B. Anderson. I love this pattern because it is easy to knit, cute and very useful. I knitted a few pairs of these for Duncan for his first winter and they really came in handy. This year, they were all too small, so I sized up the pattern. Here is what I did.

Not-Quite-A-Baby Mitts

Same yarn and needles as the hat

Size: Fits my 1 year old as well as my 3 year old.

CO 32 sts onto your size 6 needle and join to work in the round.

Knit k2p2 ribbing for 9 rows.

Switch to size 7 needles and work even in stockinette stitch for 2 1/2 inches.

For the decreases:

1) *k2tog, k15, rep from * to end

2) *k4, k2tog, rep from * to end 

3) knit

4) *k3, k2tog, rep from * to end 

5) *k2, k2tog, rep from * to end

6) *k1, k2tog, rep from * to end

7) *k2tog, rep from * to end

Break yarn, leaving a 6-8 inch tail. Thread your tail through remaining 8 sts and pull them tightly together. Weave in ends and lightly block.

I hope this keeps your little Not-Quite-A-Baby warm and cozy!

Here is the Ravelry button -

Kitschy Coo mittens

We went to the park the other day, and I was worried about Myra's wee hands, but I wasn't up for a trip to the local Walmart or Target with my wild bunch, so I decided to try out this tutorial by Kitschy Coo for making your own mittens, complete with an actual opposable thumb.  How cool is that?

Here they are!  Pardon the black thread.  I was too lazy to change it...  Isn't that cool!  Mitch thought it was pretty awesome that I made mittens.  They were super easy, and the tutorial was great.

Hmm, what is this about??

Check these out!  Myra really likes them!  I think she thinks that they are hand puppets.  She wanders around with them on her hands going, "La La La!"  Pretty cute.  I was jazzed that she liked her mittens!  Of course, 4 seconds after we got to the park, they hit the ground.  Sigh.  At least she has some cute pink hand puppets.