Author Archives: Coffee Tea Knits

To crochet or knit center out

Posted in November 2019 by

Knitting or crocheting from the center out has many pros. You start with a few stitches in the center and knit or crochet out in a square, a rectangle or a circle. Once the first few rounds are knitted or crocheted, the rest of the rounds are quite straightforward and easy to do. This technique is a great way to use up leftover yarn from previous knitting or crocheting projects.

I crocheted these dishcloths using the center out crochet moss stitch.

Crochet Moss Stitch Dishcloth

November 2019 hat for the WNHyearofhats2019KAL

November 2019 Hat

More details for this hat can be found on my Ravelry project page.

 

A stranded colorwork hat

Posted in October 2019 by

October 2019 Hat for the WNHyearofhatsKAL

Of all the colorwork knitting methods (intarsia, mosaic, or duplicate stitch to name a few), I’ve been most hesitant to knit the stranded colorwork method. After knitting a headband/earwarmer (posted here) to learn this method of colorwork knitting, the idea of knitting a hat or a sweater with this method didn’t appeal to me much. This is because stranded colorwork requires holding two or more strands of yarn per row or round, working mostly with fingering or sport weight yarn, spending some time keeping the different strands of yarn untangled, and managing the floats in the back.

So this month I decided to get past this reluctance and knit a hat using the stranded colorwork method. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the experience of knitting this hat. Not having long floats and finding my own way of comfortably holding the strands of yarn helped in this process. I may now try knitting a more complex stranded colorwork hat this winter.

Keep warm and happy knitting

So many ways to knit a hat

Posted in September 2019 by

This year for the hat knit along, I’ve been learning about the different styles of hats and the different ways to knit them. A hat can be knit (bottom up or top down) and then seamed or it can be knit seamlessly in the round (bottom up or top down). A hat can also be knit sideways and then seamed or grafted.

This month I learnt yet another way to knit a hat. I knit a hat with ear flaps and a combination of the seamed and seamless methods. In the pattern, 1898 Hat by Kristine Byrnes, the brim of the hat along with the ear flaps are knitted flat, seamed or grafted, stitches are then picked up and the rest of the hat is knitted in the round. I made the hat all garter stitch and added a pom pom.

September Hat for the #WNHyearofhatsKAL2019

This hat was knit with yarn left over from a pullover I knit a few years back and is mentioned here.

Keep warm with ear flap hats and happy knitting!

~coffeeteaknits.com

© Coffee Tea Knits. All text and images for personal use only. All Rights Reserved.

A yarn made for improvised knitting

Posted in August 2019 by

The Yarn: Lion Brand® Comfy Cotton Blend™

Improvised knitting: to knit spontaneously without a published knitting pattern in front of you.

The knitted item: A Comfortable Cardigan (more details on my Ravelry project page)

The knitting experience: It was enjoyable, relaxing, creatively satisfying, engaging, and gave me a chance to apply some of the knitting techniques (such as cables, short rows, single crochet edging etc.) I had already learnt.

The yarn experience: The yarn is machine washable, budget friendly, so soft to knit and so comfortable to wear.

August Hat for the #WNHyearofhatsKAL2019



Yarn used: Lion Brand® Touch of Alpaca®

When one craft leads to another craft

Posted in July 2019 by

For me one craft has certainly led to other crafts I didn’t think I would ever be interested in learning. About nine years ago I took up the craft of knitting as a hobby and since then have knitted several scarves, blankets, cardigans, pullovers, dishcloths etc. Last year, to give the knitted dishcloths a more decorative edging I learnt how to single crochet. Then to practice more crocheting, I went ahead and completed some single crochet dishcloths and also a two-color single crochet blanket shown below.

And recently, to reduce the time it takes to complete a yarn project and also to use up the yarn I already have, I’ve started rigid heddle loom weaving (see my June 2019 post). Although I still have quite a bit to learn about loom weaving, I can’t help but wonder what other craft weaving will lead me to!

July Hat for the #WNHyearofhatsKAL2019

Pattern used was Brioche Hat by Lise Bøgevald

Yarn used: Cascade 220 Superwash® Merino and Premier® Serenity Sock™  Yarn

I knit the hat with two strands of yarn held together and also added a pom pom.