The Infamous "SIDEWAYS HAT"

HUGE DISCLAIMER:
I got this data as a photocopy of a photocopy of a hand written document. It only gives the "30 or 35 stitches" and "35 ridges" information. No credit is given as to who did the math.

The iteration you see below is my 'translation' of that data into a 'pattern'.


SIDEWAYS HAT “RECIPE”

• The “Recipe” doesn’t have too many specifics. You’re trying to knit a garter stitch rectangle.

• Cast on some stitches and start knitting. I usually do 30 or 35 stitches on a size 10 needle. (I knit tight.)

• Knit until you have at least 35 ridges. Not “rows’. RIDGES.

Time to test:

• Hold the rectangle so that the ridges are going up & down
(Some would probably say “hold it sideways”.)

• Fold up the bottom a little (see photo). Does it look roughly as big as any baby hat you have ever knit?


• If “YES”, then bind off loosely.

• Hold the hat so that the ridges are going up & down.

• Run a piece of yarn through the “top” of the hat to pull it closed. Fasten SECURELY. I usually leave a little extra yarn at the cast on edge, and use that piece since it’s already hanging there.

~~DO NOT use that piece to sew the side seam. No matter how tight you THINK it is, it WILL come loose and you'll have a 'hole' in the top of the hat.~~

[ I fiddled with the color on this photo in the hopes that y'all can get a better look...]


• Now sew the cast-on and cast-off edges together. Or ‘sew the back seam”, whichever you prefer to call it. Weave in ends.

• Fold the bottom of the hat up to form the brim.

Cute, eh? And VERY stretchy.


TIPS:

• Use whatever needle size you need to get a suitable material. The stitches should be loose enough for the piece to be flexible. Not tight like a kitchen scrubby, not loose enough to be ‘mesh’.

• If you can put your fingers through the holes, it’s knit too loose. If you can’t fold it, it’s too tight.

• Try to match the yarn with the intended use of the hat. If it’s for a preemie, you won’t want to use a thick wool.

• For preemie hats, you can use the SAME number of RIDGES, but a few LESS stitches. (Try 25 or 30?)

• Remember, it’s a ‘recipe”, not a pattern. You have to knit up a ~sample~ and see what happens.

This is NOT a ‘gauge swatch”, it’s a ~sample~. Like licking the bowl to see how your recipe is turning out.

WIP's (Works in Progress)

OK... we have one of THESE:


Any ideas what this will end up being? C'mon... take a guess!

And a little one of THESE:


NO, it's a REALLY LITTLE one. See the quarter?


Now I have to figure out what size hat will go with it.

Cooper Hospital Delivery

Made a quick delivery to Cooper Hospital over the weekend, as they were OUT of hats & blankets.

Cooper Hospital was lucky enough to be chosen as AC4C's April Project, and the Project Coordinator, Ginden, has set up a web site here.

The NICU is a Level III facility, featuring 25 Intensive care beds, two isolation nurseries, and a nine bed transitional nursery. It is usually full. If you have a few minutes and a lovely soft ball of yarn, please consider whipping them up a few hats.

A few quick photos of the 'goodies'. It's a nice selection of hats, blankets, and even some 'Amen Blankets' (fetal demise). You can click any of the photos to get a better peek:

A Wee Bit O'Sweater Modification

The September Project for AC4C is the Guideposts Sweater Project.

They're specific that they want everyone to knit one of THEIR patterns so that when they deliver the sweaters, the kids are all getting the SAME sweater. Anyone who has had to deal with more than one child at a time for any reason knows that that makes perfect sense.

However, all that garter stitch can make one a little nutty. And who likes seaming?

The "10th Anniversary" version of the sweater has a stockinette body, and I've been knitting that in the round.

Sure, theoretically it's the same as doing 'all garter stitch', but if you use a variegated yarn, you can PRETEND, right?

The top is still done in garter stitch, and the finished sweater matches the schemata and sews up with a few less seams.

Here's one side done, and the second side waiting to be picked up:

Bonus Fiber Content !

We had passes to take the kids to the Crayola Factory in Easton, PA (Thanks Mom & Dad!).

They share the space with the National Canal Museum.

There's a small room across from the admissions area that recognizes the area's fiber heritage. Some of these are hands-on displays for kids, including one where you can twist four strands into a "S" or "Z" twist.

A second looks a little like a cage, and kids take long 'noodles' (made of cotton filled with fiberfill) and thread them through the 'bars' as if they're weaving.





There's also a LOOM (Please Do Not Touch!):



And a display where you can spin the wheel and see magnifications of different fiber types:





The entire building has FOUR floors. THREE of which are 'Canal Museum'.

The Crayola Factory is only one floor. More crayons in one place than most people suck up in their vacuum in a lifetime!


Also, lots of small people running around with marker all over themselves. The kids thought it was great.

They had the "Hall of Fame" where they show the 'Retired Colors" and the 100 Billionth Crayon, which was molded by "Mr. Rogers".

It was a little 'commercial', but then again, I remember 'back in the day', when we went to the Actual Factory for a tour, and the waiting list was over 2 years long at one point. Heck, you could step in some wax and trail it around all day!

Blog Catch-Up Post

I've been meaning to post these photos (as requested).

These are the 'gift bags' made from dish towels, displayed fetchingly upon my ironing board.





Directions are ridiculously easy:

1) Buy embroidered cotton dish towels on Deep Clearance at Target.
2) Put them away for a year.
3) Dig them out just before the holidays and remember WHY you bought them.
4) Embroider names with Mom's machine.
5) Sew together on the serger.
5a) Be sure to angle them so the big thick hem drops off.
5b) Put a piece of ribbon in the seam BEFORE you sew it, to tie it closed.
6) Rip out at least one bag because you forgot to do 5b.
7) Wrap all the gifts in tissue, stuff 'em in, and tie shut.
No wrapping paper, gift tags, or tape required.

8) Optional: Do a little dance when you realize how much time this saves.

January AC4C Project- Baby Packs!

The January Project for All Crafts for Charity is KwaZula-Natal Baby Packs.

List member SAM has set up a site
here with all the project details, as well as photos and info about this area of South Africa.

I sent my package a little early, and included two of the kimonos from Mason-Dixon Knitting, with matching hats and some diaper pins.