Sunday, December 22, 2013

Knitted Stocking Cap Pattern


 

My little family celebrated Christmas a few days ago, before we left to go home to spend Christmas with extended family. Our baby girl is just the right age to be fascinated by all the sights and sounds of the season, and to tear wrapping paper off of presents! She's already had a good first Christmas, and the actual day itself isn't even here yet!


I've been getting into knitting again since the birth of my daughter; when she was littler, it was something I could do while I fed her. Now that she's bigger and likes to kick things out of my hands, I can't multitask while she's eating anymore, but I do like to sit and knit while she rolls around on the floor near me. However, my yarn often gets tangled up, especially if I have to quickly set my project aside to go prevent Baby Girl from crawling under the tree skirt...again. In light of this, my husband made me a beautiful yarn bowl for Christmas! You all know how good he is at woodworking, from when he made our daughter's crib.


This started as a solid block of rainbow cottonwood, and my talented husband turned out the bowl on his lathe and then carved out the curvy area to guide the yarn. He sanded and finished it to be completely smooth, so my yarn slides through it easily without getting caught. I absolutely love it, and it will keep my yarns from getting all tangled. He was inspired to make it for me when he watched me untangle yarn again and again while making these coordinating stocking caps for our little family.
These hats are so much fun; I can't wait to wear them on Christmas  Day. :)

Seriously, how cute are my loves?!

I wanted to share the pattern, but please bear with me; I have never written a knitting pattern before, so I'm sorry if I make some mistakes or don't always use the proper format/terminology. If you are a new knitter and have any confusion about terms, this is a fabulous resource. And as always, if you have any questions, just ask. :)

I have broken this down into two patterns--one for babies/children, and one for youth/adults. They are pretty much the same pattern, except the stripes are slightly smaller on the baby hat and you begin decreasing sooner. I made these for Christmas, but they would be fun in several different colors for use all winter! Use your favorite colors, or the colors of your school or sports team--or make a more whimsical version with 4 or 5 different colors!

Feel free to use this pattern on items to give away or sell, but please give credit for the pattern to Apples to Applique.

You will need:
Worsted weight yarn (Sorry, I don't know exactly how much. I bought one 6-oz skein of Caron's Simply Soft yarn in each of my three colors, and I was able to make all three hats out of them. If you are making one hat in two colors, one 6-oz skein of each color will be more than enough).
Circular knitting needles, size 6
Double-pointed knitting needles, size 6

These are the knitting needles I use, and I love them:



You will also need a yarn needle, and some cardboard to make the pompom if you are using this method, which is my favorite way to make pompoms.

In light of all the fun directions you can go with colors and stripes, I didn't write them into the pattern. If you want to make your stripes like mine, scroll to the end of the pattern for the breakdown on how I did them.

Gauge: 15 rows and 10 1/2 stitches in stockinette stitch = 2"

Baby/Child's Hat
(Finished size of baby's hat is about 14 inches around; child's hat is about 16 inches around. They stretch to accommodate two or three more inches).
The first number given applies to the baby size, while the number in parenthesis applies to the child size.

CO 72(84) sts. Join for working in the round.
Rnds 1-6: *K2,P2, repeat from * around to end
Rnd 7: Switch to St st [K every stitch]. K all sts around to end
Rnds 8-44: K all sts
Rnd 45: *K2tog, K16(19)* Repeat from* 3 times. (68, 80 sts)
Rnds 46-52: K all sts
Rnd 53: *K2tog, K15(18)* Repeat 3 times (64, 76 sts)
Rnds 54-57: K all sts
Rnd 58: *K2tog, K14(17)* Repeat 3 times (60, 72 sts)
Rnds 59-62: K all sts
Rnd 63: *K2tog, K13(16)* Repeat 3 times (56, 68 sts)
Rnds 64-67: K all sts
Rnd 68: *K2tog, K12(15)* Repeat 3 times (52, 64 sts)
Rnds 69-72: K all sts
Rnd 73: *K2tog, K11(14)* Repeat 3 times (48, 60 sts)
Rnds 74-77: K all sts
Rnd 78: *K2tog, K10(13)* Repeat 3 times (44, 56 sts)
Rnds 79-82: K all sts
Rnd 83: *K2tog, K9(12)* Repeat 3 times (40, 52 sts)
Rnds 84-87: K all sts
Rnd 88: *K2tog, K8(11)* Repeat 3 times (36, 48 sts)
Rnds 89-92: K all sts
Rnd 93: *K2tog, K7(10)* Repeat 3 times (32, 44 sts)
Rnds 94-97: K all sts
Rnd 98: *K2tog, K6(9)* Repeat 3 times (28, 40 sts)
Rnds 99-102: K all sts
Rnd 103: *K2tog, K5(8)* Repeat 3 times (24, 36 sts)
Rnds 104-107: K all sts
Rnd 108: *K2tog, K4(7)* Repeat 3 times (20, 32 sts)
Rnds 109-112: K all sts
Rnd 113: *K2tog, K3(6)* Repeat 3 times (16, 28 sts)
Rnds 114-117: K all sts
Rnd 118: *K2tog, K2(5)* Repeat 3 times (12, 24 sts)
Baby Hat only: Rnds 119-120: K all sts. Break yarn, leaving a 10-inch tail. With a yarn needle, thread yarn through remaining sts and pull tight, drawing tail of hat closed. Thread yarn through hole in center; weave in ends. Attach pompom to end of hat.
Child's Hat only: Rnds 119-122: K all sts
Rnd 123: *K2tog, K4* Repeat 3 times (20 sts)
Rnds 124-127: K all sts
Rnd 128: *K2tog, K3* Repeat 3 times (16 sts)
Rnds 129-131: K all sts
Rnd 132: *K2tog, K2* Repeat 3 times (12 sts). Break yarn, leaving a 10-inch tail. With a yarn needle, thread yarn through remaining sts and pull tight, drawing tail of hat closed. Thread yarn through hole in center; weave in ends. Attach pompom to end of hat.

Youth/Adult Hat
(Finished size of smaller hat [referred to as size medium] is about 18 inches around; the larger hat [referred to as size large] is about 20 1/2 inches around. They will stretch to accommodate 2-3 more inches).
The first number given applies to size M, while the number in parenthesis applies to size L.


CO 96 (108) sts. Join to work in the round.
Rnds 1-8: K2P2 ribbing all around
Rnds 9-59: Switch to St st [K every stitch]. K all sts around to end
Rnd 60: *K2tog, K22(25), PM* Repeat 3 times. (92,104 sts)
Rnds 61-67: K all sts
Rnd 68: *K2tog, K 21(24)* Repeat 3 times (88, 100 sts)
Rnds 69-72: K all sts
Rnd 73: *K2tog, K20(23)* Repeat 3 times (84, 96 sts)
Rnds 74-77: K all sts
Rnd 78: *K2tog, K19(22)* Repeat 3 times (80, 92 sts)
Rnds 79-82: K all sts
Rnd 83: *K2tog, K18(21)* Repeat 3 times (76, 88 sts)
Rnds 84-87: K all sts
Rnd 88: *K2tog, K17(20)* Repeat 3 times (72, 84 sts)
Rnds 89-92: K all sts
Rnd 93: *K2tog, K16(19)* Repeat 3 times (68, 80 sts)
Rnds 94-97: K all sts
Rnd 98: *K2tog, K15(18)* Repeat 3 times (64, 76 sts)
Rnds 99-102: K all sts
Rnd 103: *K2tog, K14(17)* Repeat 3 times (60, 72 sts)
Rnds 104-107: K all sts
Rnd 108: *K2tog, K13(16)* Repeat 3 times (56, 68 sts)
Rnds 109-112: K all sts
Rnd 113: *K2tog, K12(15)* Repeat 3 times (52, 64 sts)
Rnds 114-117: K all sts
Rnd 118: *K2tog, K11(14)* Repeat 3 times (48, 60 sts)
Rnds 119-122: K all sts
Rnd 123: *K2tog, K10(13)* Repeat 3 times (44, 56 sts)
Rnds 124-127: K all sts
Rnd 128: *K2tog, K9(12)* Repeat 3 times (40, 52 sts)
Rnds 129-132: K all sts
Rnd 133: *K2tog, K8(11)* Repeat 3 times (36, 48 sts)
Rnds 134-137: K all sts
Rnd 138: *K2tog, K7(10)* Repeat 3 times (32, 44 sts)
Rnds 139-142: K all sts
Rnd 143: *K2tog, K6(9)* Repeat 3 times (28, 40 sts)
Rnds 144-147: K all sts
Rnd 148: *K2tog, K5(8)* Repeat 3 times (24, 36 sts)
Rnds 149-152: K all sts
Rnd 153: *K2tog, K4(7)* Repeat 3 times (20, 32 sts)
Rnds 154-157: K all sts
Rnd 158: *K2tog, K3(6)* Repeat 3 times (16, 28 sts)
Rnds 159-162: K all sts
Rnd 163: *K2tog, K2(5)* Repeat 3 times (12, 24 sts)
Size M only: Rnds 164-165: K all sts. Break yarn, leaving a 10-inch tail. With a yarn needle, thread yarn through remaining sts and pull tight, drawing tail of hat closed. Thread yarn through hole in center; weave in ends. Attach pompom to end of hat.
Size L only: Rnds 164-167: K all sts
Rnd 168: *K2tog, K4* Repeat 3 times (20 sts)
Rnds 169-172: K all sts
Rnd 173: *K2tog, K3* Repeat 3 times (16 sts)
Rnds 174-177: K all sts
Rnd 178: *K2tog, K2* Repeat 3 times (12 sts)
Rnds 179-180: K all sts. Break yarn, leaving a 10-inch tail. With a yarn needle, thread yarn through remaining sts and pull tight, drawing tail of hat closed. Thread yarn through hole in center; weave in ends. Attach pompom to end of hat.
 
The inspiration for this pattern came from this pattern.

Breakdown on Stripes:
Here's the basic idea of my stripe pattern: it's really two "wide" stripes each with a smaller stripe in the middle of it. On the youth/adult hat, the repeating pattern is two "main" stripes of 15 rounds each, one in the main color (MC) and one in the contrasting color (CC). For each MC stripe, I followed this pattern: 8 rounds of MC, 1 round CC, 6 rounds MC. For the CC stripes: 5 rounds CC, 3 rounds MC, 7 rounds CC.

On the baby/child's hat, I did the same thing, except I made the stripes smaller and decided to use 3 colors. I still followed the same basic principle, though, of two "main" stripes, but I made them 12 rounds each. For the MC stripe: 6 rounds MC, 1 round CC, 5 rounds MC. For the CC stripe: 4 rounds CC, 2 rounds MC, 6 rounds CC.

If you make a hat using this pattern, I would love to see some pictures!

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

DIY Reindeer Hat



Need something to keep your kids busy during Christmas break from school? This is a great last-minute craft that kids can help with. Better yet, almost everything to make it can be purchased at a dollar store--or you may even have it laying around at home already.

Here's what you need:


A hat, a pair of gloves, a red pom-pom, and some googly eyes. I got the sew-on googly eyes, but you could get the glue-on kind. You will also need some polyester stuffing like Poly-Fil.

I would recommend brown gloves as they are supposed to be antlers. However, after a few stops around town, white was all I could find in cheap gloves. Apparently if it gets below 65 degrees here in Texas there is a run on gloves and hats. :) Of course the white gloves look fine, and you could have some fun with other colors, too!

Start by stuffing each glove with the polyester fiber. This is definitely something kids can do! Make sure there is a lot of fiber down in the cuff; this will help with getting the antlers to stand up.


Line up the gloves where you want them on the hat. If you hat has a seam on it, it can really help with lining the antlers up straight.


Sew the gloves onto the hat. To help the antlers stand up better, try to keep the cuff in an open circle as you attach it to the hat, sewing around it. This will give it a wider base.


Attach the pom-pom at the bottom of the hat, centered on the front. I sewed mine on, because you all know I prefer sewing everything when I can. You could just as easily glue it on with fabric glue.


Attach the eyes either by sewing or gluing.


Your reindeer hat is finished! Go put it on and take some fun, goofy pictures!


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Baby's Handprint and Mistle"toes" Ornaments


As I'm sure you all have noticed by now, I am LOVING being a mommy! There is just something so amazing about parenthood. I am in awe every day of my little girl and how much she is growing and learning. She's getting too big too fast! We're at 5 1/2 months right now, although she thinks she is much older than that. ;)

Being a parent is fun every season, but I'm finding it especially fun right now, during the holidays. Seeing the world through my baby girl's eyes is a unique experience. She's at a great age to start taking in all this holiday stuff. She loves staring at the lights on our Christmas tree, crinkling wrapping paper in her hands, and trying to eat the presents under the tree when Momma's not looking. I love watching her discover the world around her.

I wanted to do a Christmas craft with her; even though she's small, I wanted to start that tradition early. I love crafting so much that it's one of my favorite ways to bond with her. I also wanted a way to help commemorate this oh-so-brief time when she's this little.






These ornaments were the perfect answer. Her little hand- and footprints are precious now, but will be infinitely more so in the future. And it was something we did together, which she won't remember, but I will. I will always cherish this memory, and in years to come, she will hear the story of how, during her first Christmas, her Daddy and I wrestled to get a good handprint while keeping her from eating the paint or throwing the ornament...because this is definitely a two-adult job!

You'll notice there is something inside the handprint ornament; this is my baby's newborn hat from the hospital, as well as her hospital bracelet and mine. Love having a place to keep and display those! This was an idea I found here; I just expanded the idea by adding the handprint.
The mistletoes idea is also not original with me; the inspiration came from this plate--I just put it on an ornament instead.

Here is the line-up of things you will need for this project:
Ornaments
Paint
Paint markers
Wipes
Paper plate
Covered work surface


I used 4" ornaments, but use whatever size you think looks best.
A note on the paint: I used ceramic paints, which worked fine, but I should have used glass paint. I'll show you what I did to remedy that later in the post. The paint markers I bought were specifically for glass. This is what I used:

Squeeze some paint onto the paper plate and thoroughly coat your little one's hand or foot. Please be very careful to be sure that they do not ingest any of the paint; I'm not sure how toxic it is, but I do know it wouldn't be a good idea for a baby to eat any of it. :) This is where another adult helper is a must!

For the handprint, point the fingers upward, towards the hook.


For the footprint, point the toes downward, away from the hook.


Helpful tip: If the print smudges or you don't like how it turns out, wipe the paint off the ornament with a baby wipe and try again. I found this worked even after the paint had started drying; at least with the paint I was using.

We tried a few times to get some prints we were satisfied with, and then ended up just cleaning up the final prints a bit. It was hard work trying to get a non-smudged print from a 5-month-old! Here is some of the mess we had when we were done:


Our prints aren't perfect, but I love them that way; they look more genuine than a picture-perfect hand- or footprint, and show my wiggly baby's personality.


When you are satisfied with your prints, leave your ornaments in the tray to dry and go clean up that baby! Make sure to get all traces of paint off of your baby's hands and feet so there is no chance of any paint going in the mouth!

When the paint is completely dry, add details with the paint marker. On the handprint ornaments, I wrote my daughter's name and birth date. This is the ornament in which I added the hospital mementos, so adding other details like birth weight and length might be a fun addition, as well.


On the mistletoe ornament, I drew a bow on the heel. On the opposite side of the ornament, I wrote my daughter's name, "Mistletoes" and the year.


You may notice in the pictures above how the hand- and footprints look dull instead of shiny and glossy. I didn't like that, and I also did not like that the paint seemed easy to scratch off (probably because I hadn't bought a glass paint). The instructions on the paint markers say to bake the project you're working on, but I wasn't sure how my other paint would hold up in the oven.
I ended up using a spray-on Mod Podge finish to solve all of those problems:


I kind-of hooked my finger in the top of the ornament and applied the Mod Podge in small, swirly motions. It worked like a charm! It sealed my paint and gave it a nice glossy finish.

After the Mod Podge dried, the mistletoes ornament was complete!


To finish the handprint ornament, I got out the hospital mementos I wanted to add.


I rolled up the hat pretty tightly and carefully fed it through the opening at the top of the ornament.



When it was inside, I shook the ornament a little to help unroll the hat.
Next, I rolled up my hospital bracelet and placed it inside, as well.


That was followed up by my daughter's hospital bracelet.



After putting the top back in, this ornament was ready for the tree, as well!


These look gorgeous with the tree lights shining through them!


This is such a sweet, fun way to memorialize this phase in my baby's life, as well as keep her hospital mementos! I know I will enjoy looking at these ornaments even more in years to come!

Monday, December 9, 2013

Cranberry Orange Bread with Oats and Pecans



http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http://applestoapplique.blogspot.com/2013/12/cranberry-orange-bread-with-oats-and.html&media=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfeM2wrcHTt1QlcTjF_kERvWlbT6sAffx6uJwjhRF_OYWL3TYM3XRFzhs1-fzBtLY7cNu5rH3-58ZiDI8kza79NDCm1R9pjC_w-n-QZGergbsPNf28SpgaBO_3WEAinv-8wzaNcc4GnFO/s400/Cranberry+Orange+Bread+%252826%2529.jpg&description=Cranberry Orange Bread with Oats and Pecans | Apples to Applique

 This is a perfect holiday bread recipe! I created this over the weekend because I had cranberries, oranges, and pecans on hand. I know those flavors go famously together, so I started thinking of putting them into a bread. As I searched for recipes online, I found way too many options, but none of them sounded just right. Some used only orange juice for the liquid but were reported to be dry; others used buttermilk for the liquid but, as a result, did not have enough orange flavor. I decided to combine several different recipes.


Then, as I was thinking about which elements I wanted to include from which recipes, inspiration struck. I wanted to add oats soaked in cream for extra texture, density, and moisture. I threw the other recipes out the window and started baking, excited to see how this would turn out.

Let me tell you, it turned out great. My husband says this is the best bread I have ever made, and I think he may be right. He also requested that I put it on the menu for Christmas, and I will--but there is a chance I will make it again before then, too. It's that good.


This bread is all things wonderful: thick, hearty, dense, moist, and crumbly, with just enough sweetness, hints of tartness, and a little crunch here and there. Try it; I'm sure you won't be disappointed!

*Scroll to the bottom of the post for a printable version of the recipe*

Here's the list of ingredients:
1/2 C oats
1/2 C whipping cream
1 1/2 C flour
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C white sugar
1 C cranberries, fresh or frozen (If you're using frozen, don't thaw them)
1/2 C pecans, coarsely chopped
1 egg
1/3 C vegetable oil
1/2 C orange juice
1/4 C milk
1 T orange zest
1 t vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 and grease a loaf pan.
In a small mixing bowl, combine the oats and cream. 


Set aside for 10-20 minutes, or until the oats have soaked up the cream.
Here's how mine looked after 10 minutes:


Here's how they looked after 20 minutes, which is how you want them to look:


Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugars, cranberries, and pecans. Set aside.


In a separate mixing bowl, combine egg, vegetable oil, orange juice, milk, orange zest, and vanilla.


Add the oat mixture and the egg mixture to the flour mixture. Stir until thoroughly combined. Make sure you break apart any clumps of oats and incorporate them into the rest of the batter.


Pour into loaf pan and bake for about 1 hour, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.


Halfway through cooking time, cover loosely with foil tent.


When finished baking, let cool on the counter top or a cooling rack, if you can stand waiting that long to eat it. 
Just look at how pretty this bread is!


Cut into thick slices and serve. We ate ours plain, but you couldn't go wrong with a little butter spread on each slice, either.


Right-click the image below to download a printable copy of the recipe.


Happy baking!