Swappy

Since I posted Elisabeth's new hat yesterday, I thought it might be nice if I shared a couple of other hats I knitted in the last year. One was for Alicia's sweet N, and I posted about it here. Alicia posted about it here. Here's one more photo of my wee one wearing it, which I'm posting just to remember the amazing greenness of only a few months ago. (The hat and other items were swapped for this amazing painting for Elisabeth.)

And Erin and I did a swap in November. She has posted about our swap here and here, and I've been feeling terrible about not sharing about it from my end yet.

She sent two adorable Market Totes for my children. A cherry-appliqued one for Elisabeth, and a tomato-appliqued one for James. They hang on hooks by our front door, always at the ready to come out with us on an adventure, or for some important "toting" around the house.

And she didn't leave the mama out, either! I have really loved the clutch that she designed especially for me.

It's really one of my favorite accessories, with all that pink and brown and Joel Dewberry fabric and the fairy flying the kite on the back. Wow. (You can see more of that in Erin's post.) Right now it's where I'm stashing my Tilted Duster money. (Ssssh!)

For Erin's sweet little one, I knitted this hat, which I must say is one of my favorite handknits to date. I always get a broad smile when I see it in one of Erin's photos.

Here it is on my little model, back in late November. I remember this day so well -- he was so unhappy, and such an unwilling model that afternoon. It was really tough to convince him to let me get just a few pictures. He managed to smile a few times for me, for which I was so grateful and I remember just thinking how blessed I am to have such a sweet wee one in my life; so willing to try something to help his mama, and so generally cheerful.

The hat is knitted using some handspun, hand-dyed yarn from cassiemarie. I was so happy with this yarn, and Cassie was so sweet to do business with. I will definitely buy yarn from her again!

The pattern is The Little Flap Cap #109 by Cabin Fever, another super quick, easy, and fun pattern. I modified it slightly (to give it that elfin point) by only working the decreases at the crown until I had about eight stitches or so left, and then knit about five rows plain (I think -- don't quote me on that). I also omitted the colorwork that was in the original pattern since I was using that beautiful variegated/self-striping yarn.

Then I lined the hat using a buttery-hued, lightweight, soft cotton knit. (The fabric was actually a crib sheet that we'd had for 5 1/2 years and never used since our children don't know what cribs are.) You can see the lining in this picture of the hat on the head of the doll Sally, who had no body at that time. ;)

I love how this particular hat goes down so far on the neck -- I thought it looked a teensy bit odd as I knitted it, but once it was on an actual child, I realized how fantastic it would be to keep a little neck warm!

OK, I know it's been about a million photos (and links! the links!) in this post, so I'll just top with this last one:

But I won't end this post without first wishing a happy fifth and seventh birthday to the children of two sweet bloggy friends! Happy day, little ones! (And to you mamas, too.)

Comments

[carrie]

What a cozy hat with lining! I love the yarn, too.

[shelley caskey]

grace - i LOVE this hat and thanks for sharing the pattern and the yarn! i know who buying yarn from next. ;)

[Alicia A.]

Thanks sweetie! You're the best.

[cloth.paper.string]

i've been oohing over than elfin hat since elisabeth started sporting it this season. i love the yarn, the shape, the lining. it inspired me to start a similar one, but i haven't been happy with how the flaps are turning out. i think it's time to try a different pattern. that back-of-the-neck bit will be perfect -- wind chills are expected to be 60 below this weekend. yes, 60 below zero! perfect stay-inside-and-knit weather...

[Bluebirdbaby]

We LOVE LOVE LOVE the hat Grace :) Thanks so much. Seriously, it gets worn every single day. I'm glad to see the market totes and clutch are getting lots of use too!!

[Nicole]

Great place to stash your money for the tilted duster! oh my, *love* the tilted duster!! Little Jem has the most beautiful brown eyes, what a cutie! You sure are one busy and talented Mama, I love your style!

[Sebrina]

Grace: You make me want to learn to knit :) Well I can knit but only a scarf or something simple like that. These hats are precious!!! And the one on your little waldorf doll is so adorable. I have started my doll with your advise and I really need to knit her a hat like that :)

[Mama Urchin]

I'm dying form the cuteness of your wee ones in hats.

[emily]

love the hat. love the yarn. love the lining of the hat. love the clutch (a lot!). (is that a bandaid on j's head?)

thank you for the birthday wishes!

[Ram in the Thicket]

Great stuff! And I love the hat you made for Elle ;o)

[Anne]

I LOVE the matching doll hat! And THANK YOU for the blog banner advice earlier this week. I appreciate you taking time to help!

[Amber]

Yay, for hats. Your hats are so wonderful---great work. I love the lining idea, too!

[leslie]

that little hat is just the cutest!!!
and of course the photos of your little one wearing it are adorable!

great place to hide your stash. and love that someone else has one! :)

[Kelly]

Grace,

Everything in this post is absolutely adorable!! That last photo is simply priceless. :o)

[bex]

Hmmmmm, everything I love in a post.
Raw materials, WIPs, FOs & beeeeeautiful babies...Xxx

[kristin]

so much knitting inspiration in this post my head is spinning. :)
your hats are really beautiful. i never in a million years have thought about lining a knitted hat. brilliant.

and that photo up there, the one which really shows off the pointed cap, the photo from the back, showing a little fur collar? that is so nice. (they all are really, but that one i really love)

[prairie daze]

as my hands just start to remember how to knit a scarf, i am choosing to see this hat as inspriring not overwhelming!

beautiful work, kristin

[Lynne Nelson-Berg]

Such great hats and such great photos. Love them! Your work is gorgeous

[kim]

Lovely knitting. Ohhh you make me wanna grab my needles (and poke myself in the head since I have no time to knit - ACK!!)

[Regina Casner]

I just love this hat! Beautiful photos as well. I keep scrolling down to see it again and again. :)

[Jennifer]

Grace - just a note to say how many times I have returned to your blog to re-glance at the photos of your dolls and study them for ideas. I'm finally making my first doll - from a kit - but a kit cannot give you the spark that shows up when the doll is being made. Your photos give me inspiration and that little bit of uumph when I'm nervous about the eyes, the mouth... and I suppose eventually I'll get to the hair! Yikes! Thanks again - love seeing not only the dolls but the bits of your everyday.