Another Flower Headband - New Pattern

Hi Knitters,
Well, after years of seeing these adorable flower headbands all over the place and having my daughters request that I a make them one, I finally sat down and designed one myself. It is not an earthshaking design and I didn't reinvent the wheel, but I did try to spice up my version with some fun techniques that may be new to some of you (if not that's all the better). I threw in some detailed instructions for short rows and a sewn bind off and a few different sizes for the headband and a completely customizable flower.

There you have it! My girls are in love with these headbands. Peachy likes the natural version and TC likes the colorful Noro version. Go figure.

Here is what you will need:
120 yards of chunky weight yarn (samples in Rowan British Sheep Breeds - leftover from the Owls sweater, and Noro Kochoran)
US size 10 needles, 6mm, 16-inch circular and 24-inch circular (the longer needles are optional but make things easier) or the size to obtain gauge
Gauge is 3.75 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch.

And you'll need about one afternoon or evening to make a beautiful headband! It is a fast and furious and simple project.

A little front angle for you....

The Noro Kochoran version...

TC wanted a lining for extra warmth so I found a headband that I purchased at Jo Ann's for $1.00 in a matching shade of pink. I see these cheap-o headbands all over, even in drugstores and grocery stores. I took a matching thread and stitched it in leaving enough give so that it stretches nicely.

One note, TC wanted a bigger flower so I added a 10 petal layer to her finished version. This version has a smaller flower.

Go big or go home (with your flower that is).

Now, I want you to know that there are pages of similar projects on Ravelry like this one. There are even many free versions of headbands with flowers. You may want to check these out.

I am making this pattern available for an extra-low price of $2.50.

And for this price you get:
3 sizes:  small child (large child, teen/adult); 16-inch (18-inch, 20-inch) circumference (remember to have 1-2 inches of negative ease when selecting a size)
Technique instructions
A customizable revamped flower pattern (similar to the felted flower in Itty-Bitty Hats) - it is only 3 rows per petal layer!
An instructional video for the flower - remember this one?

And a whole lot of fun, I hope! I made three of these and had the pattern completely memorized including the flower. It is that simple. It's my new go-to gift.

Click here for the Ravelry project page link!

I forgot how much I love making these flowers!

For some other cool flowers to embellish your headband check out this pattern by Kristin Nicholas.

The button-free headband gets narrower in the back of the neck for comfort. This project is a great way to use up leftovers from other projects. You could stripe yarns and use different yarns for the flower, too. Mix it up!

The pattern is in my Ravelry Pattern Store and I am putting it up in the new Craftsy.com pattern store as well (I'll let you know when it's available over there). Yarn shop owners, by the way, I have made my Ravelry Pattern Shop patterns available for wholesale if you are interested in that. I think you have to be a pre-approved shop but definitely check into it if that is something you'd like to do.

Here is the Ravelry button to click to purchase the pattern for Another Flower Headband, if you are interested:



I'll be back with my Milk Cow pattern from Knit Circus. The rights have reverted back to me so I can sell the pattern in my shop now.

Also, a couple of you left comments about a Pinterest invite but you didn't leave your email. I need your email address to invite you.

Take care, sweet Knitters, and keep those ears warm!
best, susie

And Now....

Hi Knitters,
Ahhhhhh.... and now my Owls is even better and much more comfortable and wearable.
Red oval buttons from the Sow's Ear.
Succinct and clear sewing machine steeking instructions from, Color by Kristin, by Kristin Nicholas.
Tiny sentimental antique eye buttons moved discreetly to an owl on the back, had to keep those.
best, susie

One Last Hoot and Link Time

Hi Knitters,
Well, my Owls pullover, designed by Kate Davies, is finally dry and I have been wearing it ever since. It smells so good from the Soak wool wash I used. While it was blocking TC and I were discussing the buttons and she knelt down put her face right in the wool and took a deep sniff. She told me it smelled really good. That made me smile. She's a wool-girl.

The blocking didn't change the appearance much but it softened the fabric a little and it just feels cleaner and fresher. It was much needed.

As promised, here are the details for my version of Owls.

Needles: US size 10 and 10.5, 24-inch circulars and dpns - for the sleeves
The pattern recommends a 32-inch but I didn't have any problem knitting the entire body and yoke on the 24-inch circs.

Size: Size 4 in the pattern (38-inch bust)
Usually I make a 36-inch bust size but Kate describes the sweater as a very fitted pullover and I really didn't want a super tight chunky weight sweater. I wanted to be able to layer underneath. Even though I went up a size, it really did turn out as quite a fitted sweater and I was right on gauge and used the suggested yarn.

Yarn: Rowan Purelife British Sheep Breeds Chunky (100% British wool), 120 yards per skein (I used the better part of 6 skeins.) in the Steel Grey Suffolk colorway

Length of body to underarms: 17.5-inches

Length of arms from underarm to bind off at wrist: 17-inches

There you have it. I followed the pattern as is! If you make an Owls please let me know and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I have to talk for a moment about Pinterest. I am having so much fun over there. I have discovered and tried lots of new recipes, found new sewing patterns and crafty inspiration, learned about new products, and especially enjoyed the huge numbers of knitters on Pinterest.

Click here to check out my boards on Pinterest! Please feel free to follow me if you'd like (you can follow all boards or select the ones you are interested in). I'd love to see you over there.

It is still relatively new as a site so you need an invite to join but then you are a member right away. There is no waiting. If you need an invite let me know and leave your email in a comment on this post. I will happily send you an invite. I am a little busy over the next few days but I will add you as soon as I get a chance.

I'll leave you with a few fun recipe links I've found on Pinterest. I have cooked entire meals from Pinterest links which has been really fun. Check these out:
One Pot Macaroni and Cheese recipe
Yummy no-bake cookies
Crockpot chicken and noodle soup
Snickerdoodle muffins
The bark that changed everything (Watch out, this is addicting and the kids love it!)

Off into the weekend we go! I have a couple of new patterns that will be available for purchase through my Ravelry Pattern Shop next week. I haven't had the time to update my shop much at all so I am looking forward to doing more of that. I am working on the cutest women's winter accessory right now that I am so excited about.

Take care.
best, susie

Owls Blocking Day and Button Eyes

Hi Knitters,

Blocking day has come again and this is actually the second day of blocking. The Rowan British Sheep Breeds is a heavy wool and it really soaked up that water yesterday. I put a fan on it yesterday, too, and it is still damp today. Maybe by tomorrow it will be dry. 

I will be wearing it tomorrow if it is ready! I'll share one more photo of me in the finished and blocked and buttoned pullover.

By the way, when I dumped the water out of the basin where I was washing the sweater, the water was quite dirty with a small amount of brown sediment at the bottom of the basin. This is a truly rustic wool and I absolutely love it. I never mind picking twigs out of my yarn as I work. I have no idea why I am so drawn to natural wools and tweeds like this. Yum.

You can see the button choices here. TC helped me place them on the owls. She loves helping me make choices about things like this. 

After much deliberation, I have to say that this is my favorite.... 

...the single owl and the tiny white button eyes and off-center to the left. It's just enough.  

I've already stitched these two button eyes on with some matching gray thread. I found the buttons in an old button tin that my dear friend gave me after her mom passed away many years ago. I think her mom, Bernice, was around 90 years old. What a treasured gift. The two buttons I picked are not an exact match and they are slightly yellowed around the edges. I imagine they are really quite old which I love. Antique buttons kind of go with this sweater.

I love these buttons even more now that my friend is gone. She was a huge bird lover, too. It will be a sweet reminder of her and it made me feel good to stitch these particular buttons to the owl. 

There is both back shaping and a little side shaping on Owls. You can see the back shaping clearly here. I have only done side shaping before so this was new to me. I kind of like it. Waist and back shaping are always optional if you want a looser fitting sweater. 

I'll give more details and information (like size, gauge, tips, needles used, etc.) on my final post about Owls in a day or two. I've heard from a lot of knitters planning to start their own Owls sweater. It is a good choice.

Also, I have received lots of questions about my blocking boards since the Citron blocking day post. Mine are the original Knitter's Block by Cocoknits (click here for her website). I love them and I have the largest size set. It comes with the carrying bag and the set includes blocking pins, as well. Check it out if you are interested.

best, susie

Hoot Off the Needles

Hi Knitters,

Owls, by Kate Davies, is off the needles with grafted stitches under the arms and only one end yet to weave in on the neck. I couldn't wait to throw it on and check it out. 

I already love my Owls. I think with a good blocking it is going to fit perfectly and relax the stitches a little. I can't recommend this pattern enough. It is well-written and has a large size range, there is even a kids version called Owlet. 

This is the perfect bottom up, easy-peasy cable, seamless yoked sweater for a first time sweater knitter. If you are considering tackling a sweater this winter or year this is a good one! Big needles, big yarn, knitting in the round, minimal shaping.... all of this makes for a fast and fun knit.

I filled up my Soak basin with cold water and added the sudsy Soak Wash in the Sola scent, squished the sweater around a bit and let it sit for almost 30 minutes. I gently squeezed out the excess water and rolled it in a towel to get as much water out of the wool as possible.

I now have it drying flat on my blocking boards, no pins. I'll get a photo later to share. I need to get a fan blowing on it to speed up the drying a bit.

I dug out these tiny blue buttons that I am going to sew to only one owl, off-center and on the front. I bought these buttons a long time ago at Purlsoho.  I'll see how it looks once the sweater is dry before I decide for certain. I have some clearer blue buttons that I may consider, too.

I'll keep you posted on the Owls progress as I finish up these final steps. I'm off to a busy week with lots of work knitting and deadlines looming. I have to put down the personal fun knitting for a short bit and focus on work knitting, which is also fun but different.

Have a great start to your week, Knitters. What are you knitting this fine week in January?

best, susie

Friday Fun

Hi Knitters,

I am on the second sleeve of my Owls sweater. I have the cuff completed so far. I finished the body and the first sleeve this week. I love the Rowan British Sheep Breeds yarn. It's delicious and full of character and depth. This yarn seems to have layers of color and it kind of tells a story in itself.

This morning my knitting buddy Jaala Spiro came over for tea, hot chocolate and baked treats and lots of knitting, of course.  We had so much fun chatting and knitting away. The time flew. It was a good way to end the week.

I want to give you a quick update on TC's fleece blanket. These are the squares from the corners of those tied fleece blankets she has saved up over the past couple of years. She sewed them with the machine into columns. Then I helped her sew the columns together with the machine. It was a little tricky because the seams became quite thick and a little difficult to get through the machine.

We went to JoAnn's and picked up a piece of a pretty blue fleece (with a 50% off coupon!) for the backing of the quilted top. Isn't it adorable? TC is so proud of it.

She trimmed the edges with my pinking shears. It is so thick and soft. We love the way it turned out. 

We have it all wrapped up and ready to give to a baby she helps take care of over at my sister's house every week. She is so excited to give the blanket to him. He is almost a year old so it is perfect. She will see him in a few days. 

Have a great weekend, Knitters!

best, susie 

Russian Join ~ Video Tutorial

Hi Knitters,
I have a quick video tutorial on how to do a Russian join when you are attaching a new ball of yarn to your project. I have been using this technique recently on both my current project, Owls, and my last sweater, Agnes. It is a slick technique and then you don't have to weave in ends later.

One thing to note is that you could dampen the joined section with warm water and roll it in your hands to felt the fiber together a bit. I didn't do that but it would secure the ends a little more. I did felt the ends like this on the Agnes sweater which I made with Quince & Co.'s Puffin. It is a single ply yarn and felted very easily.

Either way it works great and I hope you enjoy!

For all of my video tutorials on youtube (I have 42 tutorials now!) click here.
best, susie