A Free Hat Pattern for all you Knitters out there!

I love a crisp fall Monday morning!

And I LOVE a free knitting pattern, so I decided it was time to share a pattern I have been asked for before.

You may remember it from this post:  http://loopsbykeri.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-special-hat-for-special-girl.html

My Candy Topknot hat, the one I designed and made for my little Miss O!

I got this fabulous yarn at Chelsea Yarns, who has many amazing yarns- be sure to check her out!  http://www.chelseayarns.com/default.asp

 For those of you non-knitters, I can make you one if you like in your choice of colors. I will put one up on Etsy soon.

Materials Needed:

1 Skein of Candy Yarn, by FEZA yarns. 50% wool 50% acrylic, 100 grams =110 yards
1 size 11 circular needles 12"
1 set of 5 size 11 double pointed needles
1 stitch marker
Tapestry needle

Finished size of hat 19" circumference unstretched. This will stretch to fit most heads comfortably.

Hat is knit in round on circulars and then switches to double pointed needles.

* Note  - this yarn has beautiful felted pom poms that will randomly show up in yarn as you knit with it. Ensure the pompoms are on the right side of the work and that you keep your tension even when they appear, so they are secure in the knit.

Cast on 56 sts onto size 11 circular needles
Place stitch marker and join in round.

K2P2 rib for 5 rows.

Knit 22 rows.

Then we start to decrease for head shaping. During this decreasing section, you will need to switch to double pointed needles, as you will not have enough stitches to make it around the circular needles. I usually switch after the first or second decrease row.

(Knit 6 stitches, knit 2 tog) * repeat for entire row
(Knit 5 stitches, knit 2 tog) * repeat for entire row
(Knit 4 stitches, knit 2 tog) * repeat for entire row
(Knit 3 stitches, knit 2 tog) * repeat for entire row
(Knit 2 stitches, knit 2 tog) * repeat for entire row

You will now have 21 stitches on the needles. It will measure 7 1/2" from cast on.

Knit 8 rows.

Next row is a Decrease row: (Knit 6 stitches, knit 2 tog) * repeat for entire row. You now have 18 stitches pm the needle.

Knit 10 rows.

Next row is a Decrease row: (Knit 3 stitches, knit 2 tog, k1) * repeat for entire row. You now have 15 stitches pm the needle.

Knit 10 rows.

Next row is a Decrease row: (Knit 2 tog) *4, K 1 .You now have 9 stitches pm the needle.

Knit 24 rows.

Next row is a Decrease row: (Knit 2 tog) *4, K 1 .You now have 5 stitches pm the needle.
Next row is a Decrease row: (Knit 2 tog) *2, K 1 .You now have 3 stitches pm the needle.

Leave about 6" of yarn & cut yarn. Using tapestry needle, thread yarn and loop through the remaining 3 stitches, securing them with a knot. Then bury the yarn through the long tail of the hat.

Sew in edges of yarn securely!!

Once yarns have been buried, tie the long tail of hat in a loose knot.

That's it!

Let me know if you have any questions! If you use this pattern, please email me or post it at Ravelry.com! Would love to see you Candy Topknots!!

Hats On! ;)

Loops By Keri hand knits are now available online!

When I started this blog, I said an Etsy site was right around the corner. It took a little while longer to get to that corner, but it is FINALLY up and running!

If you haven't shopped there before, Etsy.com is a website for all things handmade. Each person sets up an online store that you can purchase from.

You can now find my hand knits on Etsy.com at http://www.etsy.com/shop/LoopsbyKeri

Please note, if you go to Etsy directly, the name of the store is LoopsbyKeri, all one word. that's how they do it. 

OR - even easier, use the link on the top left of this blog! Easy peasy! The one that looks like this...

Here's a sneak peak at the site!

Once you check out the site, if you like what you see, please favorite my shop! You can favorite any items you love too! Which is great because it gives me feedback as to what people like best!

You can also click the follow button to follow my Etsy site. That way, you'll know what is new in store! 

I have a small selection of my hand knits online.  MANY, MANY more to come!!  It takes a bit of time to design and knit them, get some great photos and write it all up, but am working as fast as I can! 

I also do custom orders, so if you see something you like but would LOVE it in a different color or something like it, or in a different yarn, please let me know!

 Knits make fantastic presents for babies, kids and adults alike! We can make them match coats, favorite color, eye color, whatever! : )

And for my friends that live local- we can get together and plan out the knit by choosing colors and yarns and patterns...like I did recently with my friend L. 

Here is her fabulous hand dyed merino wool hat with vintage button on a button band. The color is navy with pops of lilac and deeper purple. (It will look MUCH better on her than on this glass head, but since she wasn't available, it had to do!)

The hat will match her cowl perfectly. I don't have a picture of HER exact cowl, so here are a few LIKE hers...

Loops by Keri hand knits are also available in store at Rexer-Parkes in Huntington NY, located at 35 Gerard Street in Huntington Village. 

This year, Rexer-Parkes will be carrying some of my adult accessories as well as children's knits!

I just delivered some incredible new cabled cowls there- take a look! Just pop it over your head and you are good to go!

It will keep you warm, while still looking chic. And for all you Mom's out there, it will stay put, no worries about losing it as you run after your little one, as sometimes happens with scarves!  

Stay tuned for lots more knits!

xo

New Hat Design! I am SO in love with these right now!

It's almost fall! 

As a knitwear designer, Fall is obviously my favorite season. You get to pile on the knits! 

And I have been busy busy busy knitting! 

My new favorite?

The Funky Nightcap.

Isn't it awesome?!

I found this beautiful 100% soft wool yarn that is hand dyed and spun in the USA and comes is the most intensely gorgeous colorways. I manipulate it a little bit to get the color changes I want, but LOOK!

Kids and adults alike all respond to these hats! They just love them! I was showing some friends the hats and their little daughters all reached out to put them on! It was super cute!

I got really creative with this pompom. I felt like with the aqua ombre, it needed a pop of color at the end!

Don't you just love the colorways? I have some more muted ones on my needles right now- a denim blue ombre, one that reminds me of the forest as it changes from brown to many shades of green! 

The way the colors gradually change into each other? LOVE it!!

Guess who wants the rainbow one?

I will have these at the Maritime Festival in Greenport this weeked, September 21st-22nd. And The Etsy site will be launching in a few days, so if you would like a funky nightcap, you can own one soon!

Go put a hat on! : )

My Girl LOVES her Freckled Chicken Rainbow Dress!

Hello friends!

We just got a rainbow in the mail! Come see...

Little Miss O is sporting a Freckled Chicken original! Isn't it beautiful?

Freckled Chicken is the brainchild and incredible designs of Ms. Holly Hester.  Freckled Chicken's point of view is wholesome, comfortable and personal, which I think we need more of for little girl clothing, don't you?

Each one is special, with sweet embroideries, fun embellishments and that certain special something!

This dress is made from rainbow bandana fabric, which is perfect for my Little Miss who is smitten with all things ROY G BIV! Notice the sweet white pompom ball trim around the neckline! swoon!! And I need to take a picture of the glittery polkadot facing fabric hidden inside, adding structure to the neckline and a special thrill when my little one puts it over her head. Brilliant!

 And did I mention, it's PERFECT for twirling!

You can find Freckled Chicken on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/FreckledChicken. If you happen to live in Texas, you can find her at the White Rock Local Market! You can also follow her on Facebook and Pinterest. I know I do! That's when I saw this dress and there you have it! Just look at some of her recent offerings! 

Holly is forever creating new designs, so be sure to bookmark it and check back. I am sure you will find the perfect skirt or dress or accessory or other gorgeous design that you HAVE to HAVE! I know we did! 

I have my eye on that cherry skirt! And her signature Freckled Chickster T-Shirt! So Cute!

And Ladies, she makes adult sizes too! Funky aprons and skirts in our size! Whee!! 

Twirl on!