Fornicating Deer Hat

I found the pattern for the hat with ear flaps as well as the chart for the deer on Ravelry.  It was quick and easy to knit.  I found the design infinitely amusing and, as it turns out, other people love it as well.  Now, to just find enough time to make a half a dozen more for Christmas gifts!

I used US Size 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles and Caron Simply Soft yarns.  For the strings from the ear flaps, I cut four strands of the main color and two of the contrast color, folded them in half, and connected them to the ear flaps, then braided them.

Hat:
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/us/pattern.php?id=4254&lang=us
Deer Chart:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fornicating-deer-chart

In the pattern for the hat, I used the maximum number of stitches in each section adding up to 96 stitches around, which allowed the deer chart to fit in exactly three times.  I didn't use the full chart, I knitted up to the end of the antlers, knitted around three more rows in the main color then started the decreasing with:

Row 1: *K10, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                  -88 sts
Row 2 and every even numbered row: Knit around
Row 3: *K9, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                    -80 sts
Row 5: *K8, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                    -72 sts
Row 7: *K7, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                    -64 sts
Row 9: *K6, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                    -56 sts
Row 11: *K5, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                  -48 sts
Row 13: *K4, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                  -40 sts
Row 15: *K3, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                  -32 sts
Row 17: *K2, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                  -24 sts
Row 19: *K1, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                  -16 sts
Row 21: K2tog around                                                  -8 sts

Break yarn, pull through remaining stitches and sew in the tail.

Dream Toys Horse

I have a friend who likes horses and I thought a knitted horse would be a great gift for a late birthday/Christmas present (No worries, I have two gifts for him, one for each celebration) for him.

I found this pattern through Ravelry, but it is on the Lion Brand website (Dream Toys Horse). It was quite easy to make.  I didn't like how arthritic the knees looked, nor how knobby the hooves were, so I changed that a bit.  I liked my changes overall. 

I didn't start the hooves in reverse Stockinette Stitch. I kept the whole pattern in Stockinette Stitch. I did, however, use seed stitch around the edge of the bottom of the hooves.

For the legs on my horse, I knitted as follows:

In CC, CO 4 sts.
Row 1: PFB every stitch                                                                     -8 sts.
Row 2: Knit around
Row 3: PFB every stitch                                                                    -16 sts.
Row 4: Knit around
Row 5: PFB every stitch                                                                    -32 sts.
Row 6-10: Knit around
Row 11: Purl

Switch to Main Color

Row 12: Knit
Row 13: Purl
Row 14: K2tog, *K4, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                          -26 sts.
Row 15: Purl
Row 16-19: Continue in Stockinette Stitch
Row 20: K2tog, *K2, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                          -19 sts.
Row 21: Purl
Row 22-25: Continue in Stockinette Stitch
Row 26:  K1, *K2tog, K1, repeat from * to end.                               -13 sts.
Row 27: Purl

Continue pattern on forelegs or hind legs as written in pattern.

Rbtebby's Wedding Afghan

I just finished knitting a light throw.  I saw Hobby Lobby's BambooSpun yarn and I had to buy it and make a blanket.  I searched Ravelry until I found a design I liked. I went with a design by the user rdtebby.  The instructions say to double the yarn, but I just went without doubling it.  I wanted a throw that would be light enough to cover me and still let me stay on the cooler side.  I like staying cool, but I always feel as if I need a blanket, even if I'm at a comfortable temperature.

This design was perfect! It was easy enough that a simpleton like me couldn't screw it up, but different enough to keep me interested! And I only used 5 skeins of yarn, and the yarn was even on sale (Yippee!).

I love this! If anyone stopping by my website likes it as well, you can find rdtebby's pattern on ravelry! Here's the URL: Wedding Afghan

Rilakkuma Hat

I have a thing for the cute, little Japanese characters!  I went with a Rilakkuma hat this time.  You could also turn it into his little friend, Korilakkuma, if you change the colors up a bit too.

Materials:

• U.S. Size 8 (5mm) Needles
• Yarn Needle
• 1 Skein of each: Bernat Satin in Sable (MC), Caron Simply Soft in: White, Black, and Sunshine

You obviously don't need much of the white, black, or yellow, and I didn't even use the whole skein of the main color either

Gauge: 20 stitches and 28 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch with U.S. size 8 needles

 

Pattern:

Body of hat:

This pattern is worked flat then sewed together.

Cast on 90 stitches in MC.
Rows 1-8: Work in 1x1 rib
Row 9: (Starting stockinette stitch) Knit across
Row 10: Purl across
Row 11, and every odd numbered row to 27: K29, start/continue chart, K29
Row 12, and every even numbered row to 26: P29, continue chart, P29

I made his eyes one row lopsided because that's how my picture turned out, but if you're a stickler for symmetry, you can move the left eye up a row.  You can't really even tell they're lopsided though.

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 5 1/2 inches from beginning of work, ending on a W.S. row ( I knitted until it measured 6 inches because my friend has A LOT of thick hair and needs more hat to cover it all).  Then start decreasing as follows:
*K7, K2tog. repeat from * to end
Purl across
*K6, K2tog.repeat from * to end
Purl across
*K5, K2tog. repeat from * to end
Purl across
*K4, K2tog. repeat from * to end
Purl across
*K3, K2tog. repeat from * to end
Purl across
*K2, K2tog. repeat from * to end
Purl across
*K1, K2tog. repeat from * to end
Purl across
K2tog across

Break yarn, pull through remaining stitches and sew up the sides.

Ears:

The ears are made in four separate pieces. Two front pieces are sewn to two back pieces to make the two ears.  I worked the ears stranded, so make sure to carry the MC behind, especially on the first row of the right ear.  Rilakkuma and Korilakkuma's colors inside their ears aren't centered, they are on the outsides.  The MC is the same color as the bear and the CC is the color used for inside the ears.

Back of ears (Make 2):
 Cast on 10 stitches in MC.
Row 1: Knit across
Row 2: Purl across
Row 3: Knit across
Row 4: Purl across
Row 5: K3, K2tog, K3, K2tog
Row 6: Purl across
Row 7: K2, K2tog, K2, K2tog
Bind off

Front of right ear:
Cast on 10 stitches in MC
Row 1: K6 with CC, K4 with MC
Row 2: P3 with MC, P7 with CC
Row 3: K6 with CC, K4 with MC
Row 4: P4 with MC, P6 with CC
Row 5: K3, K2tog with CC, switch to MC and K3, K2tog          -8 stitches remaining
Row 6: P4 with MC, P4 with CC
Row 7: K2, K2tog across in MC                                                  -6 stitches remaining
Bind off.

Front of left ear: 
Cast on 10 stitches in MC 
Row 1: K4 with MC, K6 with CC
Row 2: P7 with CC, P3 with MC
Row 3: K4 with MC, K6 with CC
Row 4: P6 with CC, P4 with MC
Row 5: K3, K2tog with MC, switch to CC and K3, K2tog          -8 stitches remaining
Row 6: P4 with MC, P4 with CC
Row 7: K2, K2tog across in MC                                                  -6 stitches remaining
Bind off

Knit each front ear to a back ear making sure the wrong sides are facing each other.  Sew the ears to the top of the hat.

Knitted Domo Kun Hat

I had a friend who absolutely loved the Domo Kun.  I thought it would be neat for me to knit him a Domo Kun hat so I started searching the internet for a free pattern.  I found children's backpacks, mittens, and toy patterns, but no FREE hat pattern (I spend so much money in yarns and needles and other supplies that I'm all about free patterns). So, I tried my hand at making a pattern of my own. After a few failed attempts, I finally made it! Disregard what looks like a color change in the second photo.  I think my camera's flash washed out the red color and made it look yellow.

So, this is the pattern I figured up. I thought if I was looking for a knitted domo hat pattern, there may be others out there too! You'll have to bear with me as this is the first pattern I've written and my knitting terminology still leaves something to be desired.

Materials I used:

•  5.5mm (U.S. Size 9) Needles
• Yarn Needle
• Bernat Premium (Worsted), 1 skein of each color: Mocha (MC), Holly Red, and White
• 2 Black buttons 1 inch in diameter

Gauge:  I haven't the first idea on how to measure my gauge yet, but if this helps, I didn't knit loosely nor too tight.

Pattern:

This pattern is worked flat then the sides are sewn up together

With the MC, cast on 80 stitches.
Rows 1-6: Work in 1x1 rib
Row 7: (Starting stockinette stitch) Knit across
Row 8: Purl across
Row 9, and every odd numbered row to 23: K28, start chart below, K28
Row 10 and every even row to 24: P28, continue chart, P28

I worked this stranded because I haven't quite mastered intarsia and all the different sections of yarn. So, if you're like me and are also going to work this stranded, be sure to tack in the long floats!




Continue in piece in stockinette stitch until it measures 5 1/2 inches from beginning (ending on a WS/purl row) then start decreasing as follows:
*K6, K2tog. repeat from * to end
Purl across
*K5, K2tog. repeat from * to end
Purl across
*K4, K2tog. repeat from * to end
Purl across
*K3, K2tog. repeat from * to end
Purl across
*K2, K2tog. repeat from * to end
Purl across
*K1, K2tog. repeat from * to end
Purl across
K2tog across

Break yarn, pull through stitches, and sew the sides up together.

Button Eye Placement:

From the top corners of the chart design, count up five rows and out one stitch.  Sew the button eyes around that stitch.

I hope anyone looking for a free domo kun hat pattern likes this or finds it useful in making their own pattern!  Happy knitting!