Felted Flat Top Bowler

Hiya folks. Yeah it's me again. I've been knitting like a possessed woman these past few weeks and havn't had a whole lotta time to post in the ol' bloggaroonie here. Sorry about that (blushing)!

Well, to get ya'll up to speed n such; I've embarked on a major de-stashing project. I have 5, 30 gallon Rubbermaid totes just poppin out all over the place with (gasp) acrylic yarn (mostly redheart) and I just can't see knitting for my entire family, although there are quite a few of em, stuff from this massive stash.
Well, that being said n all, I figured, why not knit some hats n scarves n stuff for the local charity ( Caring Ministries) they usually end up with second hand junk, and I figured this would be a good thing for them. They would get varied different styles of hats and scarves (nothing like tryin new techniques n all that stuff) potholders, dishclothes, etc. etc. the list could go on n on n on, for weeks even.

I've also been quite busy coming up with patterns n such for other things and finishing up as many UFO's as I can before March 1st hits and the SKP2008 sock knitting contest starts. Also I joined up with the sockamania club as well, AND the ADHD knitters "EX" contest. That one will be loads of fun. LOL!!!

So, as you can see, I've been one crazy knotty chica. I did manage to make a mistake into a rather cute pattern for a felted hat though. I was aiming to try to write up a pattern for the knitted version of the fuschia fedora. But alas, everytime I felt it the crown ends up too small or like this last effort, (oi veh) I kinda let it go in the wash a little bit too long and, well, I guess my lil blue eyed angel has a new Easter bonnet. I do have pics of it before it was felted and the dang thing was like humongo bigness. Gotta pay more attention to the wash I guess when I'm felting something and not let it go the full cycle. Well at least I learned something new though huh? Back to the drawing board or the cirx at least.
I did manage to record the video for the needle-less cable for youtube. Here's the link if ya'll would like to take a peek. n all that good stuff. I think it's really kewl.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX7bK6xlV1U
Or I finally figured out how to embed the darn things LOL!!! How kewl is that???
O, yeah, there's quite a bit of background noise n stuff, cause, well sheesh, for once the kids thought they should be doing the dishes right then. Had to be done, they say. O well!! Who am I to complain when the kids do the dishes. right?

Enjoy the show ya'll. Laters!!!

Pimp Daddy Felted Fuschia Fedora

Pimp Daddy Felted Fedora in Crochet
This pattern is crocheted for those of us who like to “git’er’done”!
Materials: 1 skein of “Brown Sheep’s” “Nature Spun” worsted weight 100% wool yarn 1 /2 skein S. Charles Ritratto, as a carry along for the head band area. You’ll use more or less depending on your stitch gauge. ( the Ritratto is optional).

Size I (9) crochet hook, one stitch marker or safety pin.

Gauge: It really doesn’t matter as this is gonna go into the washer anyway and get the heck shrunk out of it!

Abbreviations and stitches used in this pattern: ch= chain stitch; sc= single crochet; hdc= half double crochet; Rnd= round; st(s)= stitches; pm= place marker; slst=slip stitch; nxt = next.
This is an easy pattern for most crocheters. I am hoping that a lot of you find this pattern interesting and fun and maybe one of these glorious days we can all join together in a CAL (crochet a long, for all you newbies out there).

Now finally to what we have all been waiting for………….
Rnd 1:Ch3, join with a slip stitch to the first chain to make a ring, ch1, make 8 sc in ring, do not join rounds throughout until the last round of the hat. (8 sc)
Rnd 2: 2 sc in each sc around. (16sc)
Rnd 3: (sc in nxt sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (24 sc)
Rnd 4: (sc in nxt 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc) around (32 sc)
Rnd 5: (sc in nxt 3 sc, 2 sc in nxt sc) around (40 sc)
Rnd 6: (sc in nxt 4 sc, 2 sc in nxt sc) around (48 sc)
Rnd 7: (sc in nxt 5 sc, 2 sc in nxt sc) around (56 sc)
Rnd 8: (sc in nxt 6 sc, 2 sc in nxt sc) around (64 sc)
Rnd 9: pm,*sc around (64 sc) Move marker up to the next row as you complete it.
Rnd 10: (sc in nxt 7 sc, 2 sc in nxt sc) around (72 sc)
Rnd 11: Repeat round 9 from * (72 sc)
Rnd 12: (sc in nxt 8 sc, 2 sc in nxt sc) around (80 sc)
Rnd 13: Repeat round 9 from *. (80 sc)
Rnd 14: (sc in nxt 9 sc, 2 sc in nxt sc) around. (88 sc)
Rnd 15: Repeat round 9 from *. (88 sc)
Rnd 16: (sc in nxt 10 sc, 2 sc in nxt sc) around. (96 sc)
Rnd 17: Repeat round 9 from * (96 sc)

Next round: pm and leave on this round for brim measurement reference. Hdc in each sc around, do not join. (96 sc)

Continue working hdc in each stitch until you have 6” from marker.
(optional) Next round: join the ritratto and continue workind hdc into each stitch for 2 more inches til there are 8” totalf from the marker. Do not join. If you leave out the ritratto continue on til the crown is a total of 8".

Next round: (hdc in nxt 11 sts, 2 hdc in nxt st) around. (104 sts)
Next round: hdc in each hdc around. (104 sts)
Next round: (hdc in nxt 12 sts, 2 hdc in nxt sts) around. (112 sts)
Next round: hdc in each hdc around. (112 sts).
Next round: (hdc in nxt 13 sts, 2 hdc in nxt st) around (120 sts)
Next 2 rounds: hdc in each hdc around. On last round join with slip stitch to the first hdc of round. Cut yarn, weave in ends.

Take the hat and put it into a zippered pillow case and in the washing machine with hot water and small load setting, with a pair of jeans or other non pilling item that is heavy weight. Wash anywhere from 5-20 minutes depending on the felt rate of the wool and the size you are wanting. When you get to the size you want, don’t drain the water from the washer but put it on the spin cycle and spin dry, take out of washer and fiddle with it till you get the desired shape you want. For a “pimp daddy” hat, pinch the front and crease, curl up the back of the brim but not the front. Make sure that the top or crown is flattened and not rounded. If you want to shape it some other way that would be just great.. Let sit and dry for 24 hours.

If you want to post pics to either Ravelry or your flickr account and then link them that would be totally kewl.

Funky Felted Fuschia Fedora

Hiya guys n gals,

Here is a picture of a felted hat (fedora) I came up with after doing a rather thorough search on the net for a similar one and not finding it. I am in the process of writing the pattern for this particular hat right now and retesting my directions and making sure I've dotted all my T's n crossed all the i's. Aww heck, ya'll know what I mean!!

At the time I was looking for a hat that was akin to the one the "Indiana Jones" wears in those movies and for the life of me, I could not find one. Knitted or crocheted. So I just said, "heck with it," and came up with my own design. I hope ya'll like it!!!!

And as always, if there are ANY problems you come across just drop me a line at chaptlps @ yahoo (dot) com. I will do my best to answer any and all of your questions if need be.