| Celebrate
your stash |
Make a virtue out of leftovers. Knit a Scrappy Hat. |
 |
This is a
general guide to using worsted weight yarn but remember you can
combine finer yarns (i.e. fingering baby or sock yarns) to achieve
a worsted weight. This is also a wonderful way to blend small
amounts of many colours. By changing colours 1 strand at a time,
especially in reverse stocking stitch sections, the colours will
bleed for an interesting tweedy effect.
|
 |
The
hat is basically a bias rectangle consisting of alternating ribs
of stocking stitch and reverse stocking stitch. For an average size
head it should be 8" (no cuff) or 9.5" (with cuff) deep and 21"
wide. Measure the depth on the straight not along the bias edge. |
| A
is folded to B and joined. D is gathered tightly on a piece of strong
cotton thread and secured. C is finished with a rolled edge and
turned up in a cuff or not. |
This is a good opportunity to practice some knitting skills. Instead
of casting on and off and sewing a seam, try Provisional or temporary
cast on (Knitters Companion, p.46) which is removed when rectangle
is complete and the two edges grafted (Knitters Companion, p82-83
called Kitchener stitch by American Knitters).
When changing colours knit in the tails to avoid sewing in ends
later. If you are using multiple fine yarns change colours one strand
at a time and knit 3 stitches with the old yarn and the new yarn
together before dropping the old yarn. This is enough to secure
the ends which can then be trimmed. |
| Stocking
Stitch: |
with right side facing knit, with wrong side facing purl. |
| Reverse
Stocking Stitch: |
with right side facing purl, with wrong side facing knit. |
| Bias
Fabric: |
On
all right side rows, increase one stitch at beginning of row and
decrease 1 stitch at end of row. |
| Pattern: |
With 4.5 or 5mm needles cast on 60 to 65 stitches. Remembering to
work a bias fabric, do 3 rows of stocking stitch alternating with
3 rows of reverse stocking stitch until work measures 21" or circumference
of head. Fold cast on edge (A) to cast off edge (B) and join. With
strong cotton thread gather the stitches along the length C and
pull up tight. Whip stitch on the wrong side to close hole, secure
ends.
Turn up cuff.
Optional finish with or without cuff:
Along the bottom edge D, pick up 2 stitches in each rib (i.e. 4
stitches for every 6 rows) and with wrong side facing knit 1 round.
Knit 5 more rounds to make a rolled edge in reverse stocking stitch.
Cast off. Turn up cuff or not. |
| Copyright
© Folknits 2004 |
|
