As I was getting ready to post this pattern I started looking back to see when my last pattern release was…it has been over a year. So that begs the question, what on earth have I been doing for the last year? I had a baby, which is the best excuse…right? Anyway, I am finally back to it.

So with no further delay here is my newest knitting pattern…the Abigail Hood. This adorable hood feels as though it has jumped from the page of your favorite Austen classic. It fits comfortably over long hair or short and covers the ears for a little extra warmth. The loose construction of the body of the hat allows air flow for warmer weather. Enjoy the larger size for a looser look or the medium for the more fitted feel.

NOTE ON YARN: These hats were all knit up in Malabrigo Twist. This yarn is AMAZING! I absolutely love it. It is 8ply, heavy worsted, 100% marino wool. Basically incredibly soft and squishy and it stretches beautifully. You can use another heavy worsted or aran weight yarn but to achieve the closest look to the pictures, pick up a skein of Malabrigo Twist at your friendly local yarn shop. Colorways pictured are Applewood, zinc, and purple mystery.

There are three sizes included in this pattern.

Large: fits a regular adult head

Medium: fits a child/ teen/ small adult

Small: fits a baby/ toddler/ small child

For my latest pattern (Reversible Smocking Hat), and for many of my Christmas gifts I had to make a pom poms. I actually have not made pom poms enough before to decide on a way to make them. There are several different methods. Here is what I tried first.

https://techknitting.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-make-pom-poms.html

or

https://garnstudio.com/lang/us/video.php?id=95d

This tutorial is great but I don’t prefer this way, mostly because I get bored threading the yarn through the center of the cardboard ring.

You can purchase a pom pom maker like this one sold on amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/Clover-Extra-Large-Pom-Maker/dp/B001CE38QQ

Here is how I do it. I prefer making pom poms this way because it requires nothing more than your yarn and a pair of scissors. The work comes mostly in the shaping of the pom pom.

If you like the scissors used in this post you can find out more about them HERE.

You will need 6-12gm or so of yarn depending on how thick and large you want your pom pom to be.

Hold the yarn between your thumb and your hand and wrap the yarn around your fingers. You can change the size of the pom by changing how many fingers you wrap the yarn around.

Wrap the yarn around your hand until it is thick and around the mass you want your pom pom to be. This is trial by error really. I usually try to wrap as much yarn as possible around my hand so that my pom pom is really thick.

Wrap a piece of yarn around the entire bunch of yarn. I usually wrap it twice around to make it extra secure. I usually like to have a tail of 5 inches or so on each side of the knot. I use these two strands to secure the pom to the hat or whatever else I might be embellishing.

Using scissors cut the loops on either side in as close to the center as you can.

Then cut the other side in the same way. Usually after this step my pom pom looks like a porcupine with a bad hair cut.

Using scissors trim the longer pieces of yarn until your pom pom looks even. Shaping the pom pom is an important part of making the pom pom this way.

You can also make smaller pom poms using this method. I made on using only three fingers instead of four so there was an example of the size difference.

Available for purchase in my Etsy Shop and Ravelry Pattern Store.

I love the construction of this hood. The edging is beautiful.

I was so anxious to see if it would fit Fiona that I rigged it to stay on even though it is only half knit. Here’s how it looks!

I think she will look darling in it when I am finished. I just have to find the perfect button!

Fiona is tired and not feeling the greatest today so when I told her to smile this is the face she made. I have to admit I definately have days where I feel like she looks.

I have also been doing a lot of research. I have a few hat ideas for fall/winter and I am increasing my knowledge of stitch types. Here is an awesome stitch dictionary that I found at Powell’s Books in Portland, OR.

If you are interested in this book you can find it for sale here.

The designer of this pattern is a friend and briliant photographer/Mom/pattern designer Amanda Keeys. Amanda gave me this pattern a while back and I have been waiting for the opportunity and inspiration to start the project. I found it! This last weekend my children were in a friends wedding.

I made knitted bow ties off of a pattern I have been working on for the boys and crocheted lacy headbands for the flower girls. I will be doing a post with more pictures later this week.

The wedding was beautiful and the children were (surprisingly) perfect. Corin proudly carried the ACTUAL RINGS, down the isle and handed them to the Best Man. I was so proud…and relieved. I decided to knit up Fiona’s new hood from the left over yarn.

For the main color I am using MadelineTosh DK in Robin’s Egg color-way. For the contrasting color I am using MadelineTosh Vintage in Silver Fox color-way. I have finished with the edge and I have just started the section using the main color. I will post pictures of my progress.