I have had a lot of customers come in and ask for a pattern for a head band - it seems these headbands are being sold in NYC boutique shops for at least $20 a pop.  So, I finally sat down and put together a pattern and I thought I would share the pattern with you. The first one I made out of Cascade 220, the flower was knit in Jamieson's DK Shetland wool.  The secnd headband is made out of Knit One, Crochet Too's Ty Dy. The third is out of Cascade Nikki.I used a Size 10 needle for that one.  Like potato chips -- just can't make one.  I modified the flower from a pattern I found here Here is the head band pattern:

Head Band

Materials: 100 yards worsted weight yarn, size 8 needles, 1 button

Gauge not important

Always slip first stitch with yarn in front as if to purl

Cast on 12

Rows 1-4: : Slip 1, ( K1, P1) Rib to end

Row 5: Slip 1, ( K1, P1) rib for 5 stitches, YO2, P1, K1 rib to end

Row 6: Slip 1,  (K1, P1) rib for 5 stiches, drop one of the YO’s, P1 with the additional yarnover, K1, P1 rib to end

Rows 7-12 – Repeat Rows 1-6

Increasing

Row 13:-14 same as row 1

Row 15: Slip 1, K1, Pf&B, M1, (K1, P1) rib to end

Row 16: repeat row 15

You should have increased by 4 stitches for a total of 16 stitches

Repeat Rows 13-16 until you have a total of 28 stitches,

Continue in ribbing until you have 13 inches completed

Decreasing
Next 2 rows: Slip 1, K1, SSP, SSK, (P1, K1) Rib to end
Following 2 rows Repeat Row 1
Repeat this sequence of rows until you have 12 stitches
Repeat Row 1 until you have knit 18 inches. Bind off.

Make a flower and attach.

Sew on Button.

Fair Isle--I love doing colorwork and started a new group of folks on the technique last weekend.  It took a little while, but I got them started on doing two-handed fair isle, first practicing with worsted weight yarn and then we got back to the fingering weight Spindrift. They are all on their way. 










I showed Amy how to do two-handed fair isle and before you know it, she had her tam done.  Gail stopped by to show me a hat she was working on using fair isle. She was using one skein of Mini Mochi taking the yarn from both ends and getting what I thought were great results.  The pattern is a freebie from Crystal Palace. She was really unhappy about how slowly it was knitting up, so Amy showed her how to do fair isle using the two-handed method -- boy what difference

Donna finished this cute Cowl Neck Top for the Ravelympics. Pattern is from Vogue Winter 2009/10 and is made out of Cascade Lana Grande.  Did you get a gold medal for this?

Donna also decided to make the Cropped Vest designed by Lutz & Patmos in the current issue of Vogue Knitting.  The original vest is made out of S. Charles Collezione "Sari", a bulky 100% silk yarn. I didn't have the yarn on hand, so Donna decided to strand a few thinner yarns together.. She took one strand  of Plymouth Silk Shire, one strand of Dale of Norway's Svale and one strand of Cascade Heritage sock yarn.  I think the solid strand of the fingering weight yarn gave it just the right amount of "punch" for color.  Can't wait to see the finished product.

Will came by to sit and knit the other day and had to show off his beautiful Daybreak Shawl out of Malabrigo Twist.  I couldn't believe how soft it was.

Jennifer took our Rigid Heddle weaving class and wove this beautiful scarf out of Manos in no time.

I could not resist the Yggdrasil Afghan when I saw a picture of it in the new Interweave Knits Magazine.  It didn't help that when Brenda came into the store, she was talking excitedly about doing this too.  I have finished a lot of projects lately, so I gave myself permission to begin this blanket.  the pattern is free from Knitting Daily. The full size blanket takes close to 4000 yards, so I know this is going to be a project for at least a year to come, if not longer.   I love working on it.  I really love doing cables and the way the design comes out.  You can sort of see the tree of life -- I have about 10 more rows to go on this center part and can hardly put it down.  Anyone else working on it  --- I'd love to hear from you.  I am knitting this out of new yarn from Plymouth --- Worsted Merino Superwash.  Knits like buttah.  It reminds me of knitting with Karabella's Aurora 8 -- at a little more than half the price.  And it's superwash!

 

Woolbearers has the trunk show from Veronik Avery's new pattern magazine, St. Denis -- featuring her new-in-the fall yarn, Nordique. The contributors to the magazine include Carol Sulcoski ( who came to our shop for a book signing last year), Robin Melanson, Franklin Habit, Ysolda Teague and of course Ms. Avery. This is my favorite yarn that we got last fall. It is so wonderful to knit with. And I know I'm in good company when I say that -- The Yarn Harlot made a great hat from Nordique loves the yarn. The trunk show is truly inspiring and I hope you get to the shop to see it. All of the garments will be on display until March 14.

I'll be getting her new fingering weight yarn in -- Boreale -- and a new pattern book as well.  Can't wait.