anna knits - brooklyn beanie

I was gifted some beautiful North Light Fibers Fingerling 80% Baby Alpaca, 20% Bamboo 2 ply yarn a few months ago. I was not sure what to make with it at first, but since I was not in the mood to knit on tiny needles, I decided to hold two strands of the fingerling yarn together and knit a hat with size US6 circular needles. I love the color combination of the gray and blue yarns, so I included a thin contrast stripe at the bottom. This is an easy unisex project that would make a great holiday gift. I included the pattern I used below. 

You can see a different style hat I made with the same yarn here. 

~Brooklyn Beanie Pattern ~

Yarn: I used 2 strands of North Light Fibers Fingerling 80% Baby Alpaca, 20% Bamboo 2 ply held together in main color (MC) Stone Wall, and 2 stands of North Light Fibers Fingerling 80% Baby Alpaca, 20% Bamboo 2 ply held together in contrast color (CC) Cerulean Sea Glass. A thick sport or light worsened weight will get the same result.  

Needles: US6 circular and double pointed

Gauge: 25 stitches = 4", 30 rows = 4" in ribbed (K2, P2) stitch.

Finished hat size: fits 20" - 23" head circumference

K = knit

P = purl

K2tog = knit 2 stitches together

P2tog = purl 2 stitches together

Cast on 100 stitches in MC to circular needles

Round 1: Join work, place marker, and work K2, P2 around

Rounds 2-7: (K2, P2) around

Round 8: Switch to CC and K2, P2 around

Rounds 9-11: (K2, P2) around

Round 12: Switch to MC and K2, P2 around

Continue with K2, P2 until hat measures 7" - 7.5" from Round 1

Crown Shaping (switch to double pointed needles when needed):

Round 1: (K2tog, P2) around (75 stitches)

Round 2: (K2, P1) around

Round 3: (K1, P2tog) around (50 stitches)

Rounds 4-6: (K1, P1) around

Round 7: K2tog, (K2tog, P2tog) around (25 stitches)

Round 8: K1, (P1, K1) around

Round 9: P1, (K1, P1) around

Round 10: K1, (P1, K1) around

Round 11: K1 (K2tog, K1) around (17 stitches)

Cut yarn and weave through remaining stitches. Draw firm and fasten on inside. Weave in loose ends.  

Block using your preferred method.

See the Ravelry posting here. 

anna knits - preemie santa hats

A few weeks ago a friend asked if I would help out with an effort to knit santa hats for preemie babies at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH). I myself was born at BWH, so I was particularly excited by this appeal, and volunteered to knit five hats by November 1.

For my hats I used Cascade 220 Superwash Sport in Really Red (809) and White (871). It took two skeins of red yarn and one skein of white to knit five hats. We used this free pattern by Sandy Davis, which I found easy to follow.

If you are interested in knitting for charity, especially as the cold weather and holiday season begins, Lion Bran Yarn has compiled a list of organizations seeking knitted donations for those in need. Browse the list here.