Monday, May 30, 2011

Butterfly Pattern Tester Photos

Hat by Tester Marcy

Hat by Tester RedStar

 
Hat by Tester Debbie

Hat by Tester Jackie


Hat by Tester Marta



I also wanted to send out a special Thank you To Marta for donating to our Relay for Life, raising money for the Hope to find a Cure, the reason I am designing this pattern in the first place. To donate you can click on the link in the upper right corner of my blog which will take you directly to the the Relay for Life website. Donating directly you will receive an emailed form so you can deduct from your taxes if you itemize and live in the USA anyway. If you donate $10 or more you are also purchasing a Luminaria which will Honor a loved one who has in the past or is battling cancer, or In Memory of a loved one who has lost their battle against cancer. You can enter their name in the Fundraising Honor Roll or in the message. Your loved ones name will go on a illuminated bag which will glow all night through the walk. Once I get this pattern ready, I will try my hand at selling it on the Ravelry site but I believe a percentage of the money will then go to paypal, or you can donate directly on the Relay for Life site.
If you donate as your way of purchasing this pattern please follow up using the same email address as you used to donate and email me at dana@schuldt.org. Once I confirm your donation I will email you a pdf file of the pattern. As we speak I believe I have preemie through 6 month size hat pattern ready.
 I would also like to share one more thing, Marta also had a cute idea to make the butterflies look... well more like butterflies.
She weaved in Red Heart Tiki decorative yarn, through each butterfly stitch and tied off on the inside behind each stitch. So cute! If you see this post Marta and have any tips or tricks please post a comment.

Thanks to all my wonderful testers I should have the pattern available soon.


Butterfly Knit Hat Pattern is almost ready

I've gotten most of the pattern testers replies back. I'm working on adjusting sizes for larger and smaller hats. I wanted to share a site I found extremely helpful to figure out sizes. This comes in real handy when you don't have a little one of your own the right size to test model.

Bev's Country Cottage

Bev lists head sizes by age in inches and centimeters, also give approximate height hats should be. If you scroll down on the pages she lists measurements for lots of other stuff too.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Eggs

No progress yet on the duckling and keets. I can hear quiet little peeps when I open the cover on the incubator. I hope I have some babies when I get home from work today.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Ducklings, Chicks, and Keets

I'm so excited. I hatched out 8 chicks this past week. Tonight a few of the ducklings and guinea keets are just beginning peck out of their shells. I know your not suppose to count your chickens before they hatch but I just can't wait. James is as excited as I am. He says, he's never seen ducklings before so he sure hopes he gets to see these.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Butterfly Knit Hat


I designed and knit this cute Butterfly Hat for my darling little girl. First knit pattern I've designed and would like a few people to test my pattern and give me some feed back. The pattern fits approximately 6 months old infants. If I have enough interest I may work up patterns for other size as well.



Butterfly Hat – infant size 6 months
US size 10, 6mm 16” circle needle ~ gauge 15 stitches & 21 rows = 4”
unstretched 15” circumference x 5.5” height (edge naturally rolled)
I used Caron Simply Soft yarn, but any worsted weight yarn should work fine as long as it is a solid color so the decorative stitch will show up.

If you are interested in being a pattern tester for me. Please post in the comments as well as email at dana@schuldt.org and put "Butterfly Hat Tester" in the subject line. I will email the first 10 interested people a pdf file of the pattern. Please post in the comments if you are interested in a different size, and if the interest is high enough I will figure out a pattern for other sizes as well. You can email me for any questions or advice and I will try and get back to you as soon as possible. In exchange for this free pattern I ask that you have the hat completed in two weeks, followed by emailing me feed back and photos with your permission to post them on my blog. I would also appreciate your photos linked to the Ravelry page as well if you are a member.

Thanks and happy knitting!

As of 5-17-10 all test knitters are hard at work. Thanks everyone. I'll post pictures when I get them back. You can still post comments on other sizes of hats that you may be interested in, if this test knitting process goes well. Thanks for all the support and compliments I've received. Dana

5-30-11 some photos are in ~ click: Butterfly Hat Tester Photos

Basic Knit Infant Hat

Just a quick note before we get to the pattern. I just wanted to let everyone know that I am fund raising for Relay for Life, Hope to find a Cure for Cancer. I have a Butterfly Hat pattern I am selling just for this cause. Please check out the link in the upper right corner of my blog to read our story and donate if you can. Thanks!

Basic Knit Infant Hat ~ Size 3 months
Over all size with out stretching 13" circumference 5.5" high
US size 10, 6mm circular needle 16" ~ Gage 7 stitches = 2"
I used Red Heart Camouflage 0971
Using this large of a needle makes for a very stretchy, lighter hat for the spring and fall.

Cast on 48 stitches, place a stitch marker and join without twisting yarn.
Row 1 - 7: * k2, p2 * Repeat to end
Row 8 - 26: knit
Row 27: * k2tg, k6 * repeat to end (42 stitches)
(tip: I like to place a stitch marker before I begin each repeat, then I don't have to keep count for the remaining rows)
Row 28: * k2tg, k5 * repeat to end (36 stitches)
Row 29: * k2tg, k4 * repeat to end (30 stitches)
Row 30: * k2tg, k3 * repeat to end (24 stitches)
Row 31: * k2tg, k2 * repeat to end (18 stitches)
Row 32: * k2tg, k1 * repeat to end (12 stitches)

Cut yarn long enough to thread through remaining loops on on hook, pull tight and weave in ends.

Decreasing quickly with out a knit all row in between decreases makes the hat have a flatter top, a little more boyish looking I think.

Ok Here is my first attempt at a knitting chart - click on it to view larger

What I've been up too


Butterfly Hat for my beautiful little girl


Bunny Blanket Friend for a gift - free pattern from Lion Brand Yarn.


Camo infant hat also for a gift.

I've also hatched out 9 baby chicks in my incubator. I have some duck and guinea eggs that if all goes well will hatch out this week as well. I can't wait I've never hatched duck eggs before.