Gryffindor Stocking Cap
Here’s my latest knitting project, a stocking cap that I whipped up earlier this week. As you can see, I’m still trying to use up leftover bits of Harry Potter scarf yarn. The pattern is pretty easy to follow and it’s a good one to get familiar with using double-pointed needles (for knitting in the round). The only part I had trouble with was the tassel. Mine is all kinds of wonky. But the rest is cute, huh?
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Now see, the tassle is the only thing I could do. (grin) I crochet, not knit–I know how to get the yarn on the knitting needles and do that knit and pearl, but I can basically just go back and forth creating a rectangle and no one ever taught me how to end the blasted thing–I don’t know how to get the last row off the needles…oh well!
Casting off is pretty easy, Leigh-Anne. In fact, I generally use a crochet needle for it. You basically just knit the first two stitches of the row normally, so they end up on your right needle. Then you lift the first one (on that right needle) up and over the second and drop it off the needle. So then you just have one on the right, and you knit another stitch from the left, and repeat the process. It’s just like how we used to bind off those little potholders we’d weave on looms as kids. I’m going to need some crochet pointers soon, though. I’m making a baby blanket and I’d like to crochet a border around it. I may be hitting you up for tips!
Too…many…stripes…getting…disoriented 😛
Hey your server’s dates are messed.
Yeah, I know. It’s actually crashed twice today and they still don’t have it sorted out. I made a post about it… but the post got incorrectly dated too. 🙂 I can correct them manually in the database for the time being. Thanks for the heads up!
You asked for it, you got it. One crafty vignette blogged…
That’s awesome! I love the cat mask.
I’m a so-so knitter but I love it. My problem (or one of them) is that I am near the end of a hat and don’t have a clue how to switch from a circular to dpn. I’m guessing it’s really obvious but since Ithis hat was knitted on size 3 needles, I’m reluctant to guess!
I had trouble with that too, Nancy. I was thinking that you’d have to, like, pull the circ out and then somehow thread in the DPNs, but it’s actually much easier than that. As you’re getting ready to start the round where you need to switch, just drop the right hand end of the circular. (My knitting-sweaters-in-the-round book suggests you actually pull it out a bit – bunching up your work – and tuck it down the middle so you don’t grab it by accident.) So you’ve got the left end of your circular in your left hand, and you take a DPN in your right hand. Knit a third (or a fourth, if you’re using 4 DPNs) of the stitces onto the DPN. Then grab another DPN and do the same. Continue until everything is *off* the circ and onto the DPNs. Get it?
Thanks, Kris. I fumbled around trying stuff (like what you mentioned about pulling the circ out) and then figured ‘To heck with it, I’m just going to knit the stitches off and it worked!..sort of, since I neglected to make provisions for using 4 needles so I ended up with 2 DPN packed full of stitches and the total inability to knit them. After a good laugh, the penny dropped and I realized that I needed to introduce a 3rd needle if I planned to continue. It’s all done but I need to work on a more comfortable way of doing it since I feel really klutzy. Now I’m stuck on knitting a cord..have the feeling that the instructions are so simple that they are a mystery to me. At this point a crocheted cord is beginning to look good!
Ah, the I-cord (aka idiot cord). Super easy. You’ve got to use DPNs though. Just cast on three stitches and knit them. Then, instead of switching the right hand needle to your left, just push the stitches to the other end of the needle they’re on. Now move to the left and knit them onto the empty one. Repeat until it’s as long as you need. You kinda need to tug a little extra on that first stitch, as the wool will be coming from two stitches over. But basically it’s like you’re doing extremely tiny circular knitting. It’s really fun once you get it. You need DPNs since otherwise the knobby end bit would get in the way when you push the stitches down.
I read these instructions in several books and the concept eluded me (as do many things!) but for some reason your instructions made sense and I’m now plugging away on a long cord to wrap around a kid’s hat. Thank you!
My latest stumbling block is making bobbles. I’ve tried and end up with a bunch of tight stitches that I can’t begin to work with. Tried the direcions in several books with a singular lack of success. Does anyone know a quick and easy way to describe the process?
Ooh, I can’t help you there. I’ve been avoiding them myself!
I guess that’s what French knots are for!
Has anyone seen any interesting patterns for leg-warmers. I’m thinking that the easiest way to make them is to pretend I’m making a very long hat without the decreases.
I’ve seen lots of patterns but the most interesting idea is to get old wool sweaters from Goodwill and cut off the arms. Sew up the raw edge, fold over, and tack down to create a casing for a bit of ribbon or elastic (told hold them up). They look kinda cool, like something an anime character would wear. I’ll have a look today and see if I can find the link (or any patterns) for you…
Sounds like somehing my daughter does..she cuts of old jeans just below the knee and then threads a piece of black elastic through slits in the top and wears them over tights. She is definitely NOT a poster child for the Gap!
She sounds cool! Anyway, I found a great knitting pattern on Knitty. And here’s a picture of the cut-off sweater arm version. I actually think those look adorable.
Love the picture of the legwarmers/ex-sweater. I showed the pattern for the others to my daughter and she really likes it but, of course, would like the thigh length version!
(She is pretty cool; puts together combinations that on someone else would look as though she dressed from the rag bag!)
Thank you for finding these.
Well, I finally got some yarn that’s really neat to make leg warmers for my daughter. Problem is, I have no pattern so I figure I can just knit a tube with ribbing at either end for”snugness” but I’m not sure whether to make it the size of her calves (14″) or base the number of stitches on her ankles (9 1/2″). Obviously there’s no logic at work for me!
what is the size needles you ladies use to start this cap…and what size needles you use to end it?..can someone please e-mail me the needle sizes…thanks alot..
Sorry, Claudette; I knitted this a year ago and I don’t really remember. It just says “needles to meet gauge”. I guess I just tried a few til I got near it.
I’m trying to find a pattern for a preemie hat knit in the round. Most of the patterns I have seen are knit flat and need to be seamed..I would think you wouldn;t want to put a seam on a hat for a wee head. Anyone out there have a pattern to use (or a site to check)?
i’m looking for someone to knit my five yr old leg warmers to go with her halloween coustume so if you know anyone please pass my email address on and your hat is to cute.