rubbishknitterjunior

I know I've been a bit quiet, but I've been busy! So here are some of the things I have been making recently.

• A son, born last Sunday


• A slip stitch hat for newborns

The former was 8lb 12oz and quite cute.

The latter was made up out of scrap yarn during a sleepless night last week while I pondered whether I was in labour or just having indigestion (with hindsight, I suspect a combination of the two). I have never really done much with slip stitch patterns, so was quite surprised to see how it's not just the pattern but the texture that is affected - it looks kind of like ribbing. The hat's also actually been very useful. Amazingly, it fits perfectly! And newborn babies seem to be a bit rubbish at regulating body temperature, even in summer - any bits of baby that aren't under a blanket generally feel freezing. So if anyone else is interested, here is a quick attempt to write up the pattern (it was reaaaally easy, takes approx. one sleepless night to make)

Newborn slip-stitch hat

Yarn: Oddments of Rowan 4 ply cotton in leaf green and purple, scrap of Debbie Bliss Cathay in turquoise (I know, this is a slightly thicker yarn, which is a Knitting Crime, but it was the most suitable scrap yarn i could find in the cupboard at 1 am!)
Needles: 3 mm double-pointed
Size: Large-headed newborn

• Cast on 100 stitches over 3 needles, join to work in the round.


• MC (leaf green): Do about 10 rows of k1, p1 ribbing


• CC1 (turquoise): repeat around: [k1, sl1 purlwise]*


• CC1 (turquoise): k


• CC2 (purple): [k1, sl1 purlwise]*


• CC2 (purple): k


• MC (leaf green): [k1, sl1 purlwise]*


• MC (leaf green): k


• Repeat last 6 rows another 6 times (or possibly 5 would be enough if the intended recipient is blessed with a more normal head size!)


• Start decreasing, maintaining slip stitch pattern:


• CC1: [[k1, sl1] 4 times, k2tog]* around


• CC1: k


• CC2: [[k1, sl1] 3 times, k1, k2tog]* around


• CC2: k


• MC: [[k1, sl1] 3 times, k2tog]* around


• MC: k


• CC1: [[k1, sl1] 2 times, k1, k2tog]* around


• CC1: k


• CC2: [[k1, sl1] 2 times, k2tog]* around


• CC2: k


• MC: [k1, sl1, k1, k2tog]* around


• MC: k


• CC1: [k1, sl1, k2tog]* around


• CC1: k


• CC2: [k1, k2tog]* around


• CC2: k


• MC: [k2tog]* around


• Break MC yarn and pull through remaining stitches. Break other yarns and weave in ends. Place on baby.