Last Minute Hat for Adults

This is a nice stretchy hat, which should fit most adult heads as it's nearly all ribbing. With extra bulky yarn and oversize needles, it should take very little time to knit.

Pattern:

Cast on 52 stitches with size 10 mm (US 15) circular or double-pointed needles. I used a double strand double cast on, over 2 straight needles (held together), and then transferred the stitches to my circular needles. I switched to dpns when starting the decreases.

1-16. *k2, p2; repeat from * to end
17. *k2, p2, k2, p2tog; repeat from * to last 4 sts, k2, p2
18. *k2, p2, k2, p1; repeat from * to last 4 sts, k2, p2
19. *k2, p2tog, k2, p1; repeat from * to last 4 sts, k2, p2tog
20. *k2, p1, k2, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k2, p1
21. *k2, p1, k2tog tbl, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k2, p1
22. *k2, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k2, p1
23. *k2tog tbl, p1, k1, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k2tog tbl, p1
24. *k1, p1; repeat from * to end
25. *k2tog tbl; repeat from * to end
26. *k2tog tbl; repeat from * to last st, k1

Cut the yarn, leaving maybe 4 inches (or more) to work with. Use a metal crochet hook (or the most gigantic darning needle you can find) to pull the yarn tail through the stitches remaining on the needles - stuff the end through the top of the hat before closing the "hole". Then, turn the hat inside out, pull the yarn tail tight (to close the "hole") and use your crochet hook to knot the yarn firmly and weave in the end. At the edge, where your cast on tails are dangling, tie the tails together and use your crochet hook to weave the ends in. Finally, of course, turn that hat the right way out again! :p

It's really hard to photograph an all-black hat, so I've taken a close-up (lots of flash, etc) so you can see the rib pattern. The yarn I used was Red Heart Lisa Big, a super chunky acrylic.

Simple Tree Mittens

**UPDATE - January 18, 2014**

Revised free patterns - in both knitted and crochet versions - now available on my current blog, FC Knits.

Simple Tree Mittens can now be crafted as: Original (Knitted), Seamless (Knitted) or Crochet!

http://www.fcknits.co.uk/2014/simple-tree-mittens

**ORIGINAL PATTERN**

Cast on 24 stitches using 4 mm (US: 6) knitting needles and DK yarn.

1. *k2, p2; repeat from * to end
2. *p2, k2; repeat from * to end
3. *k2, p2; repeat from * to end
4. *p2, k2; repeat from * to end
5. *k2, p2; repeat from * to end
6. knit

Change yarns at this point, if you wish to use 2 colours.

7-16. work 10 rows of st st (beginning with a knit row)
17. *k2tog tbl; repeat from * to end
18. purl
19. *k2tog tbl; repeat from * to end

Cut yarn with a long tail, thread through the last 6 stitches and pull tight. Use the yarn tail to sew up the side seam. Weave in ends.

Make a cord for your hanging loop - crochet a single chain, knit a single row and bind off or plait some wool - and sew to the top corner. Make a small pompom (the fork method works best for tiny sizes) and attach to the top corner, under your hanging loop.

Chunky Drop Stitch Scarf

It is halfway through November and I fear I am running out of time to craft all my Christmas gifts, so I'm trying to up the ante with some seriously chunky wool. The queen of all quick knits is a funky, chunky scarf: so here is my version - complete with absolutely tons of truly shameless dropped yarn overs to speed it along!

Pattern:

Cast on 12 stitches using size 10 mm (US 15) needles and an extra chunky/bulky wool.

1. *k1, p1; repeat from * to end
2. *p1, k1; repeat from * to end
3. *k1, p1; repeat from * to end
4. *p1, k1; repeat from * to end
5. *k1, p1; repeat from * to end
6. *p1, k1; repeat from * to end
7. *k1, p1; repeat from * to end
8. *p1, k1; repeat from * to end
9. k1, *yo, k1; repeat from * to end
10. k1, *drop yo, k1; repeat from * to end
11. k1, *yo, k1; repeat from * to end
12. k1, *drop yo, k1; repeat from * to end
13. k1, *yo2, k1; repeat from * to end
14. k1, *drop yo2, k1; repeat from * to end
15. k1, *yo2, k1; repeat from * to end
16. k1, *drop yo2, k1; repeat from * to end
17. *k1, p1; repeat from * to end
18. *p1, k1; repeat from * to end

Repeat rows 9-18 until scarf is desired length. Then repeat rows 1-6, bind off and add optional fringe (or weave in ends).

Where I've written "drop yo", I simply mean: drop the yarn over from the previous row. That creates the lovely lacey effect - and makes the scarf lengthen extra fast!