Here There Be Dragons

Grant requested a custom made dragon hat... and I was able to find the perfect pattern! This was the first colorwork pattern where I was finally able to learn how to hold a color in each hand.. which made the colorwork section go much, much, much faster!

This was a very cool pattern; I liked that the pattern included color charts, and line by line instructions depending on what you preferred. I also like the checkered pattern, and the crown detail is cool. I used a grey heather acrylic from my statsh for the body of the hat, and a slightly graduated yarn (Cascade Paints) for the dragon pattern.

The only problem I had is that the pattern instructs you to cast on 90 stitches for a child… and then you are instructed to do 2 x 2 ribbing (which doesn’t seem to come out even)… maybe that’s just my inexperience coming through, lol!

And, now for the pictures!

I also ended up making dragon socks to match his hat (at his request, lol!). The colorwork portion is a trifle snug on his calf, but it does help the sock stay up very well… he just needs a little help easing it over his heel, and then he says it is very comfortable!
I used a basic sock pattern, cast on 32 stitches (I should have done 36 stitches, as the dragon is a 18 stitch repeat- so only one of the dragons flames.. the other dragon on the sock is flameless!). I did a k2p2 ribbing, followed by a red/grey checked pattern, then 2 repeats of the dragon and then another repeat of the checked border. I’m very happy with these, and most importantly, Grant is too!

Quick Knit Baby Hoodie

My very first sweater! I knitted a 12 month sized hoodie for Katie using size US 10½ needles & Lion Brand Jiffy Dark Grey Heather & this pattern: Quick Knit Hoodie by Stacie Perry The videos that go with this pattern really make the difference between giving up on your first sweater in frustration, and having the lightbulb go on above your head! Everything I needed to know was either explained, demonstrated or referenced… so this sweater took me 2.5 days from beginning to end. I love it! I used acrylic instead of wool or superwash wool because it is for a baby, and I know it will be washed many, many, many times.
This is the first time I have tried swiss darning.. and the heart came out a little wonky (especially on this heather yarn… very hard to see the individual knit stitches), but I still think it looks cute :)