Simple Slouchy Beret

So... I'm finally getting around to sharing this pattern. It's taken me a while in getting this out there. Partly because I've been really frustrated with my camera, every time I've tried to take a photo of the hat that goes along with the pattern all I get is blurry blobs... Well my crummy camera is four years old so what should I expect, right? So I ordered a new one online, it should be coming on Monday and I can't wait.

But without further rambling, here's that pattern. It's a great simple beret pattern that I use all the time. It's not too loose around the brim so it doesn't feel like it's about to slide off your head, but it's still nice and slouchy and cute.

Simple Slouchy Knit Beret:

You will need:

-About 130 yards of Yarn (aran weight or light to medium worsted will all work, as long as you get some drape)

-Size 6 16-Inch Circular Needles

-Size 9 16-Inch Circular Needles

-Size 8 or 9 Double Pointed Needles

-1 Stitch Marker

Cast on 80 stitches on the size 6 needles. Place marker and join to knit in the round.

Knit 1x1 rib for 8 rows.

Change to Size 9 circular needles and *K2, M1* to end of row ( 120 sts)

Knit about 5 inches.

*K4, K2tog* repeat to end of round (100 sts).

Knit 4 rounds.

*K3, K2tog* repeat to end of round (80 sts).

Knit 4 Rounds.

*K2, K2tog* repeat to end of round (60 sts).

Knit 3 rounds.

*K1, K2tog* repeat to end of round (40 sts). At around this point you will need to switch to your double pointed needles, just do it when your stitches feel tight on the circulars.

Knit 2 rounds.

*K2tog* repeat to end of round (20 sts).

K 1 round.

*K2tog* repeat to end of row (10 sts).

Knit one round.

Cut yarn, thread through remaining stitches and pull to close up the hole.

Good Job! Just weave in the ends and you're good to go; no need to block this one.

Did you know it's quite snowy in New York right now? Luckily, I have a lot of wool hats.

One Down...

A new horse is in the shop!

More to come soon...

New Yarns

Two new yarns added to the shop tonight.

New Ideas and Adventures

On Friday Norel and Anna and I decided to hit the road for the day. We drove to Long Beach in Long Island (in Norel's red Mustang) and walked around on the beach. It was really cold and windy but so beautiful.

In more relevant news, I'm working on a special edition of horses (possibly a unicorn or two) made with some of my own hand-dyed yarn. I'm really excited about this.

Maybe you didn't know I knit horses? Maybe you would like to try knitting a horse yourself? Did you know I'm selling kits now? I'd love for you to check them out here and here! Christmas is coming up and I honestly think these could make great gifts either as the kit itself or the finished product.

I'm going to try to have a couple new Small Friends in the shop by this weekend. Wish me luck.

Yarns and Leaves

First of all, I now have hand dyed yarn in the shop. Hooray!

I have to say I really think they are so pretty... and I'll have more coming out within the next couple weeks.

I also want to tell you about something that i think is really neat:

I am very lucky to get to hang out in Central Park a few times a week (because of babysitting). It's such a beautiful place to spend time and it's especially beautiful in autumn.

So, behind the Metropolitan Museum (which is in the park) is this huge vent that blows out a ton of warm air, and the kids from the school play this game where they all get a huge arm-load of leaves and throw them on the vent at the same time.

The leaves shoot way up into the air and all the kids shout and scream and it's actually super exciting. If you're in nyc you should really try it sometime.

Dear Internet,

My name is Lydia and I'm starting this little blog today for a few reasons:

-to promote my Etsy shop http://smallestfriend.etsy.com

-to organize some of my own thoughts and ideas (and hopefully be more productive)

-to share some of the knowledge I have through tutorials and knitting patterns and other things like that

-to have more motivation to take photos of things I make and do

Lately I've been really getting into Kool-Aid dying. It's really fun, pretty cheap, and a great way to try out dying with out spending a ton of money on a big dye kit and special pots and mordant and whatnot. I used this tutorial from Leethal.net to get started. You can really get some beautiful colors and it even smells good. Well, except the Mango, that one smells so weird and musty and definitely not something I would ever drink.... eww.

Some yarn drying on my little balcony

Yarn dyeing in progress using Cherry, Orange and Mango Kool-Aid

More to come soon!