getting started

If you’re anything like me, you probably view the hat-of-the week masterpieces with a combination of admiration and frustration. We’re really happy to hear that lots of you have picked up some needles for the very first time this year to help us out. So, we decided to post this letter from Sandra – to make sure that the beginners don’t get left out.

“It started at the village fête. I visited the knitting area and, on a sudden impulse, bought 3 big knit kits. One for my mother-in-law, one for a WI friend of her choice and one... for me, in case she agreed to teach me. She did.  So, on the first weekend of September, my husband and I went over to his mum's. By the end of the weekend, we had knitted one little hat each.

I was very proud of my shapeless ill-looking little hat and decided to rescue it with a magical makeover. First, I folded over the irregular bottom of the hat and made a little trim using crochet. Then I sewed on a little butterfly... to hide a hole. Friends went so far as to call it “pretty” and adorable”.

As every girl knows there is no such a thing as “plain”. It’s just lack of accessories (and that goes for knitted little hats too ;-D)"

(to be continued with details of Sandra's second hat...)

gooseberry fashion

This week’s hat was sent in by Susan C’s knitting group from Kent. We love the use of different kinds of wool and think the little bobbles remind us of gooseberries. The black strands which are neatly interwoven into the hat also make for an elegant design. This creation wouldn’t look out of place on the catwalk.

We’re getting a little stuck for hat-of-the week themes now. We’d love to know if you have any bright ideas.

secret squirrel

Well, here he is! My red squirrel. I think maybe he would have been improved with a fluffy tail, but I couldn't find any red fluffy wool. Never mind...he has an essence of squirrelishness!

The next project I think will be a celebration of my niece going off to Uni at the end of the month. I must brainstorm some studenty ideas! If you have any suggestions, please drop us a line by leaving a comment. Happy knitting

By Debs one of our guest Knitter Knatter writers.

please meet some of our knitters

Hello,

How is the knitting going? We love it when we receive photos and stories from knitters letting us know how they’re getting on. We’ve had lots of lovely photos and tales over the last few weeks and thought it would be nice to share a small selection with you.

This first photo was sent to us by Mrs Turner. She’s been very busy and has already knitted over 200 hats this year. As you can see from the photo Mrs Turner even took her knitting with her on holiday to the beach and Mr Turner has been super-busy making all of the bobble tops.

Next, please meet Margaret from Age Concern Ceredigion with a nice big box brimming with bright coloured bobble hats.

And last but not least here’s a photo of Christeen from Stornoway showing us some of her woolly creations. (Can you spot the unconventionally located hat).

the flower hat pattern

This is an intermediate knit. 
The body:  cast on 28 sts.     K1, P1  10 rows
k1, K2 tog,  (19sts)                        Knit 3 rows
K1, K2 in 1 to end  (28sts)              knit 5 rows
K1, (k2 tog, k1) 9 times (19sts)
k1 (k2 tog, k3 ) 3 times (15sts)               
k2, k2 tog twice, k3, k2t og, k2 (12 sts)                           k2 tog,  6 times                k2 tog , 3 times
break off yarn and thread though, join seam.

Leaves   8 or 9
cast on 3 sts
knit 1 row,    purl 1 row,          *k1, k2 in 1, k1 (4sts)               purl 1 row        k1, k2 in 1,k2 in 1, k1 (6sts)
purl row,      knit 1 row,       purl 1 row,         k1, k2 tog, k2 tog, k1 (4sts)       purl 1 row  ,
k1, K2 tog, k1 (3sts)            purl 1 row.*      this is one side of leaf,  repeat the pattern from * to *
then fasten off , sew up seams.    sew on leaves
This body pattern can be used for all sorts of animals. 
good luck with the knitting.

By Kim one of our guest Knitter Knatter writers.

double bobbles

This week’s hat of the week was knitted by Karen. Karen asked us what the shape-restrictions were for our Big Knit hats. When we told her to feel free to think outside the bobble-hat box she went all out and produced this lovely hat. We particularly love her use of motley wool and the double-ended bobble design looks very impressive.

We don’t know about you, but we’re finding that things are getting a bit chilly at the moment. Almost time to don your thermal vest and gather some conkers. With this in mind, next week we’ll be searching for the best autumnally inspired design. Get those creative caps on and happy knitting.

lunchtime knitting

We thought our big knit hatometer needed a bit of a boost so we had a lunchtime knitting lesson from some of the ladies from Age Concern Hounslow. We enjoyed it so much a tea, biscuit and knitting lunchtime group is sure to follow.

Kneedles at the ready.




Ginger Sarah gets her kneedles in a twist.

super-pigs

These little piggies were knitted by Karen who sent us 17 all the way from Edinburgh. We think that these are worthy of the Hats of the Week title because we love the way that she’s knitted their snouts, twizzly ears and the all-important curly-wurly tails. In fact we think that they’re so super we’ve put some on top of our natural vitamin c superfoods recipe.

Pigs were also a particularly poignant choice for us at Fruit Towers this week following the safe return of pignapped Piggy. Piggy was seized whilst our Julia was in a meeting and the pignappers have been making threatening demands for his safe return. After successfully finding a founder to kiss and convincing 50 people to donate £2 each to the Save Piggy Ransom Fund*, Julia was finally reunited with Piggy this week at our Monday Morning Meeting. Phew.

*All proceeds to WellChild.

pretty in pink

Hello

Here's my latest hat...a bridesmaid to celebrate my sister's wedding anniversary complete with cheating posy of flowers! I remember the real posy I carried on the day (24 years ago, argh), and it had a doily back just like this! I was quite pleased with the hair. I crocheted a line and then threaded wool through before sewing it on the head. It was great fun trimming it...like being a hairdresser.

This week it's Red Squirrel Week, so I'll be knitting, you guessed it, a red squirrel. His body is done, but I'm a bit stuck on the tail. It needs to be really fluffy, but I haven't found any red fluffy wool the right colour! Another trip to the shop is in order I think!

I love the snake hat! How cool would it be to put all the animal hats together that everyone's knitted for a photo shoot. A bit like Noah's Ark!

Happy knitting
Debs xx

never again lose your smoothie in the dark

Last week I mentioned we’d be looking for a hat to make us smile. Today we decided that this squiggly snake sent in by Imelda is just the ticket. The wrap-around design of this snazzy snake is sure to keep one lucky smoothie nice and cosy this winter. Imelda also sent us a glow-in-the-dark hat which gets full marks for creativity. In fact we reckon it’s the first ever glow-in-the-dark smoothie hat ever made by mankind. We’re so impressed by that fact we’re positively glowing.

letter from Debs

Hello

Well it was a very busy week at work last week so it’s been nice to relax in the evening with a bit of knitting. My project this week is a hat to celebrate my sister’s wedding anniversary. I was her bridesmaid, so I’m going to try and knit a little mini me! I think the posy of flowers I’ll be carrying will have to be a ‘cheat’ using some tiny silk flowers from the haberdashery up the road. I’m not sure if it’s possible to knit 5mm wide flowers! I’m also going to try and knit a ball for the head this time. My sister and I have used metal washers in the past to make giant pompoms for heads, but this time I’m going to try something new. The hair will be a challenge. Not sure how to do that yet.

Here’s a picture of the Welsh Lady I knitted for my sister’s birthday. She really liked it which was great. There are loads more family birthdays coming up this autumn including my niece, Mum, Dad and husband, so we’ll need to get thinking!

I’ve got a fab pattern for arms by the way. If anyone’s interested I can post it up here!

Happy knitting
Debs xx