Kaitkait Kopiah

WOW! I've certainly been a busy bee. After my previous project, I was pattern shopping and I discovered that I have not ventured into crochet hats. I found some lovely free patterns on Melody's Makings and loads more from pinterest. However, the one pattern which I found to be the "What you need to know about how to crochet a hat" is from http://littlemonkeyscrochet.com/hats-for-the-homeless-a-giveback-opportunity/ Thank you Rebecca for sharing this pattern. She has a beautiful story about this hat on her blog.

After I mastered the pattern, I was able to adapt by adding another colour, or changing stitches. For instance, the pattern uses half-dc, I used dc, or puff stitch, or cabled. It's quite versatile and challenges my creativity.

The hats were made using cotton yarn called Milk Cotton from  http://www.cottonhousestore.com/mcs. I used hook number 6 from Tulip and I found the the stitches were tight. I liked it this way. Than after working with a few more hats, I changed the hook to number 8. Of course the stitches were loose and I like it this way too.

I made one for my Dad who turned 75 years old. He looked so handsome wearing the blue jeans hat.

Then I continued making for my brother, my brother in-law, my cousins, my son and my children's teachers. It's fun to make and if you are learning a new stitch, make a hat or beanie or kopiah. It'll help you practice your skill. At the end of it you have a great gift to give for someone.

My Boyfriend's Sweater

After completing several big projects, I was looking forward to making simple, no-brain wrecking projects that I can complete over a period of two days. However, another big project landed on my lap and judging from the intricacy of the design and size, I knew that this will tie me up for the next five months.

True enough, at the end of my five month period, I finished it! I called it..... "My Boyfriend's Sweater". This is my first project for a man. I had a boyfriend once, about 24 years ago. If I was making sweaters back than, this will be his.

Of all yarns out there, I was given a cotton, fingering yarn. Can you make a sweater with this type of yarn, was the biggest question in my mind. I didn't think it would work but I went ahead with it. As I was working on it seemed that everything was going to be ok. I was confident that the end project this sweater will look good (even wearable!).

I didn't follow any pattern. I made it up and I had a clear picture in my mind what it would look like. However, I did follow this pattern for size from red heart. You can get the free pattern here: http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/father-pullover. I chose size S and I measured my piece according to the length and width set by this pattern, not by the number of stitches.I worked using trebles and double crochets.

The yarn is a good feel, not itchy or scratchy. It's cotton after all and machine washable. It can keep warm in cool weather and I like it that way. It means my "boyfriend" can also keep himself warm when he is working in an air conditioned room.

My only stumble with this pattern (from my mind) is the neck. I started out wanting to do it one way and ended up doing it another. If I had the time I would have made it differently.

I'm looking forward to making something simpler from now on. It's the simple things that keep my mind uncluttered.

DROPS jacket with fan pattern

I know it has been awhile since my last post. I was occupied making this cardigan. It took me a month to complete one and I made two! I found this pattern here http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/pattern.php?id=4405&lang=en. What caught my attention was the lace from the bodice downward and around the cuff of the sleeves. I knew I had to give a try.

Lace on part of sleeves and body.

The pattern was originally written in Swedish and looking at all the free patterns from the website, I wanted to try them all. You can view the pattern using US or UK terminology. One of the interesting part of this pattern is that it starts from the shoulder downwards for the back. You start by making a rectangle bit for one shoulder then put aside. You crochet another rectangle bit for the other shoulder and make a long chain and join with the first rectangle you made.

The back which starts from the shoulders.

I have never made a cardigan this way before. I find that the pattern is pretty straight forward and easy to comprehend. I added three fabric button as a finale to this project. I love these buttons. They add a personal touch to this cardigan.

Fabric buttons as a personal touch.

Before I sign off, I didn't use yarn from Garnstudio as specified in the pattern, as usual. In this project, I used a fingering yarn from Cotton House Store called Fine Cotton 100 in the colour Bokara Grey. I used five balls and needle number 5.

Apart from what I have mentioned above, I was struggling with the collar which is the last step in making this cardigan. I had to undo so many times that I have lost count. I blame it on my tension, tension and tension. I should have used a smaller needle or maybe I should have gotten the Garnstudio yarn. I don't know. Unfortunately this cardigan did not look like what I imagined it to be. Looking at this picture makes me want to undo the whole piece and start all over again! Hope I'll embark on a more fruitful journey in my next project.