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New! Free Knitting Pattern: The Flynn Hat

Happy New Year everyone! I can’t believe 2014 is over and done with! (In all honesty, I usually say “I can’t believe it’s already [insert month here]. What have I done with my life??”) I’m quite far behind in the things that I’ve been meaning to share (weird life stuff, major holiday crafting, fantastical dreams/goals), but rather than start the new year with review of the past, I thought it best to start with something new. So, I give you a shiny new pattern- for free!– the Flynn Hat!

Shown in Voolenvine Yarns‘ Deco Worsted in the “Deck the Halls” colorway

Flynn is a rib knit hat with a texture that’s not too plain or too complex- versatile for many occasions and many personalities! The ribbing not only provides visual and tactile interest, it helps the hat stretch where it needs to and stay snug where it should. Knit primarily in the Farrow Rib stitch, there are only two different rows to work until the crown, making Flynn an easy-to-memorize, quick knit, perfect for binge watching all those tv shows you have on your Netflix/Hulu/Prime queues. (Since we’re talking about movies, points if you can guess where I got the name. Hint: There are two answers!)

Flynn Hat in Voolenvine Yarns' Deck the Halls

I also used this pattern to make a hat for my dad as a Christmas gift, using Lorna’s Laces’ Shepherd Worsted in the Lake Bluff colorway, which pooled in a fun, exaggerated spiral way.

Flynn in Lorna's Laces Lake Bluff

Opposite side of the same hat. Really.

If you’re not a knitter and want one of your own, I’ve made a few available for sale in my etsy shop! To celebrate the new year, there’s a coupon code for free domestic Priority/discounted International First Class shipping.

YARN
Approximately 140 yards of worsted weight. Sample shown in Voolenvine Yarns‘ Deco Worsted (100% superwash merino, 218yds per 100g) in the “Deck The Halls” colorway.

NEEDLES & NOTIONS
Size US 7/4.5mm 16″ Circular Needle
Size US 7/4.5mm DPNS OR 2 circular needles OR 1 long circular needle for Magic Loop (whichever you prefer to use for knitting small circumferences in the round)
1 stitch marker to mark beginning of round

GAUGE
25 sts by 31 rows = 4″ in Farrow Rib (worked in multiples of 3):

Knit flat:
k2, p1 every row

In the round:
1: k2, p1 across
2: k1, p2

SIZE
Adult medium*
To fit head circumference: 20-23″
(For reference, my noggin measures about 22.5″ in circumference)
Finish circumference at brim: 17″
Finished length: 8″

*To change the sizing, change the number of cast-on sts by 12: increase by 12 sts to make a larger hat or decrease by 12 to make a smaller hat. Alternatively, you can change the needle size.

SKILL LEVEL
Advanced beginner

SKILLS AND ABBREVIATIONS
CO: cast on
st(s): stitch(es)
rem: remaining
wyib: with the yarn in back
sl: slip purl-wise
k: knit
p: purl
yo: yarn-over
sl2tog-k-p2sso: wyib sl 2 sts as if to k2tog, k the next st, then pass the 2 sl sts over the k st. (sometimes written as “cdd” or “sk2p”)
k2tog: knit 2 stitches together
ssk: wyib (sl 1 st as if to k) twice, insert left needle into front of both sts and k2tog
Rnd(s): round(s)

DIRECTIONS
Cast on 96 sts, join in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts, and place marker to indicate beginning of rnd.
I recommend the German Twisted Cast-On; it’s a touch more elastic than the Long-Tail Cast-On. The Cable Cast-On would also be a nice choice.

Brim: k2, p1 across.
Work 2×1 rib for 1.25″.

Rnd 1: k1, p2 across
Rnd 2: k2, p1 across

Repeat these last two rnds until hat measures 6.5″ from cast-on edge, or until desired length. The decreases at the crown will add approximately 1.5″ in length.

Repeat Rnd 1.

Begin crown decreases:
D1: (Ssk, k2tog, k1, p1, k2, p1, k2, p1) eight times. 80 sts rem.

D2: (K2, p2, k1, p2, k1, p2) eight times.

D3: (Ssk, k1, p1, ssk, k2tog, k1, p1) eight times. 56 sts.

D4: (K1 p2 k2 p2) SEVEN times. k1, p2, k2, p1, sl1, remove marker, move sl st back to lefthand needle, replace marker.
(The last st now becomes the first st of the next rnd).

D5: (sl2tog-k-psso, p1, k2tog, p1) eight times. 32 sts.

D6: K1, p1 across.

D7: (K1, sl2tog-k-psso) across. 16 sts.

D8: Ssk, k2tog across. 8 sts.

FINISHING
Cut yarn, leaving a tail at least 18″ long. Thread tail through rem sts and pull tight to close. Weave in ends. A quick soak and light blocking may help relaxing any stitches, especially the decreases, but other than that, you are good to go!

All content is © Emmyelle 2015 unless otherwise noted. This pattern is intended for personal non-commercial use only. Charity donations and commissions from friends are cool though! No portion of this pattern may be reproduced without express permission. Thanks!

January 5, 2015

announcements, crafting, Emmyelle

New, But Also Old: The Celeste Cloche

With this new Emmyelle pattern, I’m going back to the beginning (Isabel knows what I’m talking about). Presenting Celeste: a quick, little, lacy, Art-Deco inspired cloche hat.

Emmyelle Celeste Cloche (green)

This charming little cloche not only hearkens back to the 1920s with its classic bell shape, but with an Art Deco-esque lace as well. It’s designed with considerable negative ease for a snug fit (so of course it’ll stay put whilst sneaking into speakeasies and/or dancing the Charleston) and to open up the lace. Knit it up in muted, neutral tones for an era-appropriate look, or in a bright, vivid color for a retrofuturist approach. Instructions are also given for stripes along each pattern repeat, so you don’t have to decide on just one color!

Emmyelle Celeste Cloche Striped (white & green)

While there are only two sizes given, the pattern can easily be adapted; for a looser fit, just cast on another 10 stitches (or 20! Whatever you need) as each pattern repeat creates approximately 1.25” of width. Keep in mind however that since there is no ribbing, the lace is what maintains the elasticity. Choosing a yarn with natural elasticity and memory will also help. Juniper Moon Farm’s Moonshine yarn was the perfect choice not only because of its name, but because of its fiber content: wool keeps it stretchy, alpaca provides a silent-film, soft-focus halo, and silk adds that little taste of glamour and opulence.

Celeste knits up fast, so you can make one for yourself and maybe even a few friends as holiday gifts!

To celebrate this being my first Small Business Saturday, from now until the end of Monday, December 1st at 11:59PM PST, you can get a total of 10% off this pattern and/or the Sirena snood with the code TINYSHOP10. The code will work in both Etsy and Ravelry, so go where you feel most at home.

November 29, 2014

announcements, crafting, Emmyelle

Sirena

Sirena knitting pattern Emmyelle

After a few months of working and worrying– not to mention the years of wondering– I’m finally starting an online shop, Emmyelle! Now, if you’ve met me, you’re probably well aware of my anxious and neurotic ways so this was no easy feat, but in all honesty, it was an easy decision. So many ideas were bubbling around in my brain and it was time they were finally made manifest.

The first item available is a knitting pattern*, my ode to summer, Sirena. This is a lacy little thing that gets its name not from the effect it can have on sailors (or does it?), but from the Milanese Lace stitch that evokes geometric wave patterns. Short and sweet, it’s easy to knit up and even easier to wear, making it perfect for those breezy days at the beach or any time you need just a little protection from the elements.

The name is also a nod to my love of The Little Mermaid, because the fandom part of ~~my brain~~ ~~my heart~~ my soul is always at work, as you can see by my Weasley Weather Bottle shirt.

Sirena as a Seaside Scarf

Sea Sirena

Sea Sirena Folded

Using the Provisional Cast-On method, Sirena begins from one side and is worked towards the other, with the ends grafted together using the kitchener stitch for a seamless look. Because of this, the final length of the piece is determined by the cast-on stitches, while the final circumference is determined by the rows worked.

Despite the lace and the cast-on method (a link to detailed instructions is provided within the pattern), one only needs to know the following stitches: knit/knit 2 together, purl/purl 2 together, and yarn-over. That’s it!

Sirena as a Sunset Scarf

Sunset Sirena

Sunset Sirena Folded

I’ve knitted these two samples up in differing weights and fibers to illustrate the versatility of the pattern. The turquoise sample is Wool and the Gang’s Shiny Happy Cotton in “Magic Mint” (which was recently restocked!), while the orange sample is Knit Picks’ Shadow Lace, a 100% Merino Wool yarn, in the beautiful, but unfortunately now discontinued “Queen Anne Tonal” colorway.

Sirena is available to purchase for only $5 USD over at Ravelry, (you don’t have to be a member to make purchases) as well as Etsy! Both sites have the pattern available for instant download, so no need to wait to cast on!

* If you’re interested in a physical product, please let me know! I’ve been considering making a worsted weight option available for sale, but given that there are so many factors to look into (fiber options, colors, costs of production and shipping, the list goes on!) I wanted to know if enough people are interested before heading down that road.

August 20, 2014

crafting

Stitchin’ Time: TS Street Hoodie

Stitchin' Time- TS Street Hoodie

I’m hoping the title comes off less as a reference to “it’s clobberin’ time” and more towards “a stitch in time saves nine.” Or does that even make sense? True, the latter isn’t a perfect fit because sewing this up isn’t preventative, it’s necessary, and to be quite honest my sewing skills are so rudimentary that Thing could probably do a better job.

Unblocked & clockwise from top: hood, two pockets, two sleeves, back piece, front pieces

I actually finished knitting up all these pieces nearly two weeks ago, but put off the seaming until now. As I write this, I’m waiting for half the pieces to finish blocking (sleeves, hood, and pockets) because I have so little room for just leaving cotton knits to dry. Given another two, three days for the remaining half, as well as a few frustrated days of sewing… well, here’s to hoping I finish this within the next two weeks! With autumn quick on our heels, I’ve still got a few other sweater/cardigan works-in-progress that have been neglected for far too long.

August 23, 2013

crafting

Talking Tension

Or, “what not to do when you’re knitting.”

You might have seen from my instagram that I caved and bought the Tara Stiles x Wool & the Gang TS Street Hoodie, complete with their gorgeous rosewood needles that I really did not need. This was not the most logical decision, given that not only do I already own this Denise Interchangeable Needle Kit, which includes a US size 15 needle, but I didn’t know whether I could get that gauge. Of course, I hoped I would.

Same needles, different styles. Left: Continental. Right: English.

Naturally, as it always happens when one relies purely on hope, and as evidenced by these photographs, I didn’t get the right gauge on my first try. However, nor did I get it on my second. The swatch on the left is my first attempt and it’s about half an inch smaller than it should be. Now, as every knitter knows, the solution is just to use a different needle; in this case, a larger one… which I didn’t have. Instead of doing the smart thing and going out to get the next size up (a whopping US size 17), I decided to keep trying my luck by abandoning my usual Continental style of knitting for the English method, which, for me, results in a much looser gauge.

It kinda worked.

Width comparison.

Height comparison.

With this second swatch I was able to gain a quarter of an inch in width and got the height I needed, however the width is still about an eight of an inch too small. While this should compel me to bite the bullet and buy another pair of needles, buyer’s remorse (for just the needles of course) and obstinacy is telling me to just go with the English style. The TS Street Hoodie is a one-size-fits-all garment, and although I’m not as lithe as Ms. Stiles, so long as I stay mindful (this is yoga, after all) of my tension, this could work out.

If not, I can always frog it.

July 9, 2013

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