Author Archives: Coffee Tea Knits

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.

Summertime and knitting

Posted in June 2019 by

Somehow for me knitting with worsted weight yarn and summertime don’t go well together. So every summer I try to knit with cotton yarn or lighter weight yarn. Those projects do take more time to complete. This summer though will be different. With a loom no matter what yarn type or yarn weight I use I can still complete weaving projects in less time than my knitting projects.

Woven Wrap

coffeeteaknits_wovenwrap

June Hat for the #WNHyearofhatsKAL2019

The potential of yarn

Posted in May 2019 by

Does the potential of yarn make it difficult for you to give it away? It does for me.
Is it easier to knit and give away the finished item? It is for me. Although finishing knitting projects take time sometimes weeks to months or years.
So in an effort to reduce the time it takes to finish a yarn project, I began dabbling in weaving using a large size pot holder type loom I put together.
Add a rigid heddle loom and it opens up a whole new way to realize the potential of yarn! Watch this space for more weaving projects.

May 2019 hat for the #WNHyearofhatsKAL2019

Knitted with Premier Chamonix® Yarn

~coffeeteaknits.com

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