Kiss Hat Pattern

I have had a couple people message me for the pattern I have for the baby kiss hats I make (and sometimes sell) on Etsy. So, here is the pattern for the Newborn size. It knits up quick, so there is still time to make one for someone special this holiday season! And thanks to Sharon for the amazing photos!

gauge: about 4-5 sts/inch

needle size needed: #8 DPNs
yarn used: light grey worsted weight (I used some Cascade 220 wool for the one featured, though I have made TONS of these in everything from Cotton Ease to Caron's Simply Soft. Whatever you prefer!)
Other notions and supplies: a pink or blue piece of ribbon, about 3 inches long, sharp metal large eye needle.

Cast on 55 stitches and join, taking care not to twist your stitches. Place marker if desired.

Knit in single rib stitch (K1, P1) for 5 rounds.

Knit in stockinette (K the entire round) for 13 rounds.

Begin decreases!
Decrease Round 1: (K9, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 2 (and rounds 4, 6, 8, and 10): K entire round.
Decrease Round 3: (K8, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 5: (K7, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 7: (K6, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 9: (K5, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 11: (K4, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 12: K entire round.
Decrease Round 13: K entire round.
Decrease Round 14: (K3, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 15: K entire round.
Decrease Round 16: K entire round.
Decrease Round 17: (K2, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 18: K entire round.
Decrease Round 19: K entire round.
Decrease Round 20: (K1, K2TOG) five times.
Decrease Round 21 K entire round.
Decrease Round 22: K entire round.
Decrease Round 23: (K2TOG) five times.

Knit one more round, then cut your yarn, leaving a good six inch tail. Thread tail onto a sharp sturdy needle (I found a metal craft/embroidery needle works best), then thread through remaining stitches, removing needles.  Insert a 3 inch piece of pink or blue ribbon into the top, pull your knitting stitches snug, then using the tail stitch ribbon securely into place.

Weave in ends and enjoy!

we LOVE Ed Emberley!

we chase sunbeams

We chase sunbeams on Sunday mornings.

late summer snapshots

Where have we been and what have we been doing?  Here's a quick look...

In July we went to Missouri (hi Mom, hi Aunt Jan!), 

stopping in Illinois to see Lincoln's Log Cabin and help some historical reinactors make lunch.

 I participated in my first swap from the #talknt gang, receiving this awesome loot all the way from Hawaii! (Thanks again, Melanie!!)

I sent off this little Granny Square mini quilt, chock full of Denyse Schmidt fabrics.

The backing is more Denyse Schmidt from her DS Quilts line for Jo-Ann fabrics, the binding an awesome aqua stripe. Yummm!

 I packed it up with some goodies before sending it forth.

I finished this awesome shawl FOR MYSELF. With delicious birthday yarn (thanks Mom!).

 I got this quilt finished...

..just in time for this lovely gal's wedding in August!

In September, in between other super secret projects (and a lot of crazy work days) I got this sweater knitted for Norah:

And these slippers felted for Bennett.

October started with a trip to the Ft. Wayne Maker Faire where we ate twinkies 

shot from this hand-built vehicle:

Then raced this modded John Deere Power Wheels:

Down this course:

 And won.  Yesssss!

And at the end of October we flew with BOTH kids to Austin to see my sister wear red shoes...

 ...and get hitched beneath a beautiful tree to a wonderful guy who adores her.

Then we partied with these guys!

Then it was Halloween!

 (Yes, store bought. Something had to give. Jedi Paduan Learner and Baby Lulu!)

Then, the first weekend in November I had my first ever trip away from the family to Lake Michigan with some friends. Amazing. And hello Chicago! I see you across the water!

Phew!!! That was a lot of stuff. Condensed in VERY few pictures. With loads left out. We will have to catch up more thoroughly, methinks. And soon. But for now...

...from our busy family to yours: Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Copycat

Dinner conversation:

Brian: "What did you have for snacktime at school?"

Bennett: "What did YOU have for snacktime at school?"

Brian: "Hey!"

Bennett: "Hey!"

Brian: "Stop copying me!"

Bennett: "Stop copying me!"

*pause*

Brian: "I love to eat vegetables."

Bennett: "I love to eat vegetables."

Brian: "When I get bigger I will mow the grass."

Bennett:  "When I get bigger I will mow the grass."

Brian:  "When I get bigger I will weed the garden and clean my room every week."

Bennett:   "When I get bigger I will weed the garden and clean my room every week."

Brian: "With no complaining."

Bennett: "With noooo complaining."

Brian: "My feet stink."

Bennett: "My feet STINK!"

Brian: "Mom smells like old socks."

*small pause*

Bennett: "Mom smells like love."

Score: Brian: 0, Bennett: 10,965. 

Norah's birthday dress

One of the fun things about having a girl is getting to make clothes for them, as I am slowly discovering.  It's been hectic around here and I hate to ignore this sweet mellow little gal while her exuberant brother has a big birthday bash filled with friends and fun.  

 I cut into some hoarded  Japanese Kokka fabric for this little reversible apron dress.  It is lined in pink Kona, with some ric rak and an appliqued matryoschka doll on the reverse. A couple vintage buttons from the button jar finish off the shoulders.

The series of photos was taken as Brian was taking a break working on the porch roof. She is all about walking everywhere, now!

Such a sweet dress for our sweet gal!  Now I gotta go windex the door again.  Happy birthday, Norah!

Farmer's Wife Friday... er, on Saturday.

It's Saturday afternoon and I realized I forgot to post some blocks yesterday! It's been a busy week, CMQG meeting Wednesday, visited the Snakes at Snake Week, and ended up not making it to swim lessons because of a bloody nose (poor B).  Anyhow, here are two for this week:

Block 84: Spool

I used some Kona scraps and a small fun square of random print for the center. I'm loving green and brown together: I guess it's my mid-century love!

Block 107: Windblown Square

This block is the same as 102, Whirlwind, but with two colors.  I used up scraps from another project, a nautical Swoon gift. I'm amazed at how much waste I generated making those blocks and couldn't just throw them out... sooo, into the Farmer's Wife they go! Waste not, Want not. Oh, wait. That's block 97...

Bennett's Birthday

Cheesing it up for the camera

Not B-day related but Norah can now do this.

Custom made red velvet cupcakes with blue cream cheese frosting and a white chocolate lego mini fig.

 The dual piggy back ride is a skill that is passed down through the generations.

 Lil' B got a set of super hero masks for his birthday. The yard has never been safer.

 Thanks again Mom for making the trip down (and Aunt Amanda, too!). Your last minute party guidance was indispensable. You were right: spray paint was probably not good to leave out for a kids party. 

Farmer's Wife Friday

We have been running around getting the house ready for Bennett's Lego birthday party this week, but I wanted to post a couple new blocks... so, it's really a Farmer's Wife Saturday afternoon when we are birthdayed out post.

 

Block 12: Broken Sugar Bowl

I used up more scraps: some leftover yellow, a bit of brown Japanese matryoschka, and some pink heath.  Overall I'm happy with the sweetness, and the yellow brings in a bit more contrast. Apparently I don't use much green or yellow in my blocks.

Block 25: Cups and Saucers

Yep, another punny one. I just can't help myself! The coffee fabric is leftover from a '90s apartment kitchen curtain, the red from Aneela Hoey's Little Apples line. Don't look too close, you'll see all the unsewing I had to do!

Farmer's Wife Friday

Happy Friday! I can't believe it's June already. Where is the time going??

 

 block 26: Cut Glass Dish

I've been drawn to reds and navy lately, and I love these Moda scissors. I used the last bits of these scraps in this block and am happy as they "cut" their way between all those dang triangles!  I used a Kona navy and also some Denyse Schmidt print instead of white or cream to give some balance to the colors in the block.

block 100: Weathervane

Another fun one! I used some bits of a fun Japanese mushrooms print, Kona khaki, and a bit of Aneela Hooey's Little Apples print in aqua.  There are a deceptive 36 pieces in this little 6 inch block. That is A LOT of sewing. And quite a bit of the inevitable unsewing. Sigh!

Big Girl

 

Does she smash her cake?
Oh, yes she does!

 

 The banana cake with a simple purple cream cheese frosting was a HIT!

 For the rest of us, I made a pink lemonade cake. Four layers of pink lemon cake in 2 shades of pink, frosted in a no-cook 7 minute frosting with coconut. Bennett's face says it all...

Happy birthday, baby girl!