My zeebee beanie is finally done. I finished the knitting part at my usual pace and had fun with the short row technique. The construction of the hat is fun to watch develop as you knit. I also like the look of the completed crown. But I took weeks to get up the nerve to graft it together. If you read schmeebot's instructions on finishing this may make sense to you too. For me, I start quivering when I read, "should you stumble and mess up the last stitch." It doesn't much matter what comes next because all I feel is fear. My head knows this is silly. I mean, making a mistake while knitting will have very little lasting effect on my world. In fact I can always frog away and try again. Yes, my head knows this, but for my heart it's different.
If you are thinking of making a zeebee too, let me tell you, my heart was wrong! The finishing was fine, not perfect, but fine. schmeebot's writing assumes you are a knitting neophyte and therefore goes into great detail.
It is true, however, I had never done a garter stitch graft/Kitchener stitch. Now that took me some time to figure out. I started with the reverse stockinette graft two times before I finally figured out how to do do a garter graft/Kitchener Stitch.
I thought I would share my findings with you so that you too can do a reverse stockinette, AND garter graft/Kitchener Stitch! First I have embedded a YouTube video of the stockinette graft/Kitchener Stitch (for those of you struggling to teach yourself this stitch). For those who are already comfortable with this stitch scroll down to my table the shows you the differences between the graft stitches.
| Type | Prep stitches | Front Needle (1st) | Back Needle (2nd) |
| Stockinette | F - S1: aitP*on; B - S1: aitK*on | S1: aitK off; S2: aitP on | S1: aitP off; S2: aitK on |
| Reverse stockinette | F - S1: aitK on; B - S1: aitP on | S1: aitP off; S2: aitK on | S1: aitK off; S2: aitP on |
| Garter** | F - S1: aitP on; B - S1: aitP on | S1: aitK off; S2: aitP on | S1: aitK off; S2: aitP on |
F = front needle; B = back needle; *aitP = as if to purl; *aitK = as if to knit; ** For this to work, ensure purl bumps are snug up against the front needle, and knit stitches are against the back needle. Repeat as needed! Picture of my zeebee beanie to follow. This beanie is supposed to be for me, but it doesn't suit my large melon head! So this zeebee will have a very limited life. But I am certain there will be other zeebee's in my future! | |||
 | I love tea and I was lucky enough to get a Brown Betty Teapot! It makes such lovely tea. One thing though, it cools off if we take our time drinking it. The solution, of course, is to make a tea cosy. And I have done it (Emu, No. 6196 - Striped Cosy with Pom-Pon). My love is teasing me that I now have truly become an old fogey! I will take pictures soon. / I tried the pom-pon but did not like it. Instead I crocheted a modified Bachelor's Button. I also crocheted a hot pad for the bottom of the teapot. / The yarn I have used is Patons Shetland Chunky - Earthy Brown and Canyon Variegated from my stash. / I had purchased this yarn for another Pick-up Diamond Helmet, Knitter's Magazine K77, Winter 2004, p. 46 (the one pictured here is also knit with Patons Shetland Chunky) but to make the tea cosy instead. |
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 | I am also doing more work on my Reversible Cable Knit Scarf. I am loving it. (Sorry, this is an old photo.) |
 | I have started the Catalina Shawl with Fiddlesticks Garnet Lace yarn. It is 50% silk and 50% merino wool. This is my first lace project and there has been a steep learning curve. I think I have had to rip out at least 5 times! I am making headway now. Pictures are coming. |
 | After seeing Jared's zeebee and garter stitch scarf I knew I had to make one too. (see his entries for 5.29.2007 and 6.07.2007) I am making my own with Dee's Posh Yarn, Eva 8 ply cashmere & silk in Love is... colourway. Truly luscious! |
 | And I have added another project to my list (the only one I will admit to today). I want to make a Clapotis wrap in Hand Maiden fine yarn, Lady Godiva, Renaissance Colourway. I bought this yarn from an American shop (lovely to do business with them) and had to pay duty when it arrived (ouch). And it burned all the more when I found out that Hand Maiden fine yarn is hand dyed in Canada! |
Author: Afya Ibomu
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Taunton (Nov 7, 2006)
ISBN-10: 1561588504
ISBN-13: 978-1561588503
Given my love of crocheting hats I knew I had to get this book when I saw it on the CraftSanity Blog here. I wasn't disappointed! It is appealing from the very start. Although a paperback, the paper weight is substantial. The cover is pre-folded 1/4" from the spine to help keep the book open without hands - a good design element for a pattern book. It is a colourful book with wonderful pictures and an easy to read style. The Getting Started section is targeted to the beginner. Afya has created the best set of crochet instructions I have seen. She has full colour pictures and diagrams to illustrate all the key points and step-by-step instructions. The diagrams are large and easy to understand. The "Making a Bib" (also called a bill) section is terrific; I haven't found this information elsewhere. Afya offers instructions for both a smaller or larger bib that can be added to many of her designs.
The 20 original designs are terrific. I think my favourites are The MC (Master of Ceremonies Rap Artist) a classic baseball cap, Queen (see picture), Kinky Reggae (this pattern is available for free on the CraftSanity Blog); Soon Come (similar to a newsboy-style cap), O.G. (Original gangsta) fedora type, Soldier (see picture), and Superfly. There are a few designs that are made to accommodate dreads. The patterns are clearly written. The only problem is that there are no measurements available for each finished project. The patterns either are for one-size or have small, medium and large adjustments.
All in all, this book is a very welcome addition to my crochet library. All my other crochet hat books have only caucasian models and many of the designs are downright hilarious. I think the beginner to the advanced crocheter would enjoy and use this book. Thank you Afya for publishing your work!
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Sandia, by Sarah-Hope Parmeter |  |
Picture 1 | Picture 2 |
I have fallen in love with making crocheted hats. It is so much fun and so fast!
This all started with an odd ball yarn (Clara by Filatura Di Crosa in Melon) . It is a lovely braided 100% wool yarn that is so soft and stretchy. I thought it would make a terrific hat, but for whom? (I confess, my lovely large head does not sport hats well.) Then I realized, I have a very good friend who is trying to grow her natural black hair. She feels it is at an awkward stage right now and loves to wear hats. I now had a project with a purpose!
I started with the Headhuggers There Are Holes In My Hat -- Skully Version pattern. The Clara turned out to be too bulky for this pattern. So, what to do? Go check out the LYS of course! (Note: I made the large adult size of this pattern - 16 rounds)
I came home with Lang Tosca in 059 (gold, orange, rust) and 095 (brown, red). It was so lovely to crochet with and so much fun with the changing colours.
I was having such a great time and couldn't stop there. I went out and got some cotton - Bernat Handcrafter Cotton in Potpourri Ombre. (I also got Sunkissed Ombre and Country Sage Ombre - at less than $1.50 a ball I couldn't resist.)
I learned how to make a Reverse Single Crochet border (see below)
 | Reverse Singe Crochet Border - At the end of your crochet row chain 1. Do not turn your work (or if you are working in the round, go in the counter clockwise direction). Insert your hook in the previous stitch. Wrap the yarn over the hook. Draw the yarn through the stitch. You will now have 2 loops on your hook. Wrap the yarn over your hook again and draw the yarn through both loops. Continue in this fashion to create a lovely border. |
Picture 1: (L to R) Tam (variation on Skully) in Tosca 095 , Skully in Tosca 059, Skully in Potpourri Ombre, Mesh Cap (Hooked Hats, 20 Easy Crochet Projects p. 29) in Clara with some Cotton and Tosca.
Picture 2: Side view of the Tam in Tosca 095 (the brim is in Lily Cotton Sugar'n Spice Worsted Warm Brown)
The sweaters arrived! And don't the brothers look smart wearing these Cowichan type sweaters! The youngest was very happy to get the sweater & hat. The older brother thinks the sweater is okay. At nearly 7 years of age clothes don't make a very exciting gift. It's a good thing I included chocolate!
Initial Post: tag-a-long
To see authentic Cowichan Sweaters you can click this link.
The Crochet Guild of America
Knitting Daily
It's time.
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