Market Friends

A couple of weeks ago, we saw
Hannah (10) and Caroline (5) handing out samples of fresh-roasted nuts for their parents. Nan talked them into wearing my hats and sending people to our booth. They were so helpful and friendly we invited them to come over for a looming lesson when they got a break. We all had a great time looming and chatting.



After thinking about how the hats bulged around their ponytails, I made a modification to leave an opening. Hannah was busy last week but Caroline graciously agreed to model another hat for me.











Caroline had gotten a green loom so she could make something for herself. Here, Nan cast on a project for her.









Caroline worked very diligently on her project. She wanted something she could finish during the Market so we settled on a headband. She knit 8 rows and I took it off the loom for her.










We let the headband roll and attached a flower I made. She was justifiably proud of her accomplishment and happy to model it for the camera.

My hats are selling well. Seven-year-old Elizabeth bought one a couple of weeks ago and came back to get more colors. She chose a green hat but kept eyeing the red, white and blue self-striping hat I was working on. She finally asked how long before it was finished. On hearing it would only be a few minutes, she sat with us and bought it also.

Nan has a couple of returning customers (elementary and middle-school ages) who have each bought 2 hats and are anxious to buy more. The older boy asked her for a rainbow hat with fun fur and dreadlocks. She came up with some great hats for him (pictured on her blog). They didn't make it last week but the hats are ready. Last week she taught the lady in the booth next to us how to loom-knit. They both worked on a hat during the Market, then Nan did some more at home. Next week she'll show the woman how to take the hat off the loom.

Summer Hats

Our local farmer's market opened a couple of weeks ago. Nan got a table and drafted me to help supply projects. She wanted to see if her loomed acrylic hats would sell. We were excited when 6 of them did. Of course, we can't expect people to go on buying warm hats as summer comes, so we've both been busy coming up with other items. I decided to try crocheting cotton hats. It wasn't hard to find some great ideas on Ravelry.


This hat and the two in the next picture are from the pattern Gulf Shores. If you haven't been to this site, there are lots and lots of good patterns.
















Then this Crochet Rolled Brim Hat caught my eye. On this first hat, I actually followed the pattern. But then, as you can see, I began improvising. All were fun to make; here's hoping customers like them!

And still more hats

Playing with designs on this loomed hat.

I found this yarn last year and finally tried it on the green loom. The color is Peruvian Print by Red Heart. The yarn forms the patterns as it is knitted. Nan made a hat with it on the red loom that looks completely different.

Nan came up with this variation for the brim. It's done in garter stitch with 2 colors used in alternating rows.

This hat is needle-knit. The pattern is a variation of Candy Dots, found in the book Kids' Knitted Hats. I used size 9 needles and more stitches to make the hat larger.

And this pattern was found on Techknitting.com. The entry is called Gaugeless, guaranteed-to-fit MAGIC LOOP SKI HAT with a TKIO. My hat was done with size 11 circular needles and doubled yarn. It was fun to try something so different. Even though the hat folds flat, when it is on a head it looks like a regular round hat.

Still Looming Hats

At first my idea was to make some hats and use some of the cute beads in my stash. This one has jungle animals on it.

This one has fish.

Simple stripes can be so striking. Then I started getting ideas for designs using color.

This hat uses the same colors as the one above.

On this one I did a rolled brim, 3 rows of purl, some diagonal stripes and a couple of solid sections.

What a fun hat to make.

Hats Again

Another hat on the KK loom. This one is extra long, almost like a stocking cap. The center is a combination of Homespun and Red Heart. The top is shaped with short-rowed sections that were sewn together.




On this needle-knit hat I was using up scraps of yarn.

Puffy Brim Hats

I saw a hat on a stranger the other day and really liked it so, naturally, decided to try to make one like it.

This was knit on needles. The brim is K 1 row, P 3 rows, K 2 rows, P 3 rows, K 2 rows, P 3 rows and K 1 row. Then I changed to the variegated yarn and did a basic hat. The one I saw had slightly larger puffs, maybe 4 or 5 rows of purl, but I was pleased with this.

Then I wanted to make the same hat on the loom. On this hat the brim is K 1 row, P 6 rows, K 2 rows, P 6 rows, K 2 rows, P 6 rows, K 1 row. Then I switched yarn and finished the hat. This time the puffy brim was larger than I wanted but it still makes a nice variation.

Simple Loomed Mug Cozy

After looking at various mug cozies on Ravelry, I came up with my own version.

Simple Mug Cozy

Using the blue Knifty Knitter and 2 strands of worsted weight yarn, cast on 9 stitches. Purl the first row. After that, skip the first peg, knit the next 5, and purl the last 3. Continue until the cozy measures 10 inches when stretched slightly. Purl the last row and bind off loosely. Attach the top stitch from one end to the top stitch of the other end. Repeat with the bottom stitch on each end. Weave in ends.

Homespun Hats

I've been making hats with Homespun lately.

Both of these hats were made with Homespun Tudor and a solid green Red Heart.

These three hats were made with Homespun Sierra and a variety of solid yarns.

The last three hats were made from Homespun Barrington. In the first hat, the solid color is a purple. In the other two hats, the solid color is a softer lavendar.

Knick Knack Boxes

Isela posted this pattern on her blog. It is an incredibly easy project to loom. The basket in back is done in Red Heart yarn. The two in front are Lion Brand wool. They all started the same size but the wool baskets were felted. Mine ended up being 5-1/2 in by 3-1/2 in. This is a fun way to use up scraps of yarn and an easy project for those new to felting. Thanks, Isela!

Nan's Beehive Hat

Neighbor Nan made a Noro hat for a friend. She alternated a soft orange with the same orange and white. I think it's gorgeous.

Beehive Hat

While browsing through hat patterns on Ravelry, I came across this Beehive Hat. It seemed like a good way to use up leftover bits of yarn. Mine was done on the loom, but other than that I followed the pattern. Pretty easy to do and something different.

More Easy Projects

I'm still working up easy projects as ideas for my new-to-looming friends. Using Sugar and Cream yarn (doubled) and the blue KK round loom, I made this basic dishcloth. I was pleasantly surprised at how soft it is. It was begun by doing 3 rows of garter stitch. For the body I worked a row of 3 purl, knit across, and ending with 3 purl. The next row was straight knit. These two rows were alternated until the cloth was almost a square. It was finished with 3 rows of garter stitch.

The red round loom was used to make this little girl's purse. It's made in the round just like a hat. After removing it, the live stitches are seamed shut. Then a simple icord handle and a large button to keep it closed.

This little drawstring purse was made on the blue round loom. It has a flat bottom. When it seemed almost long enough, I moved every other stitch to the next peg and knit a row, making eyelets. Then I continued knitting all pegs for another couple of rows. An icord was strung through the eyelets before sewing the ends together.

And here is a scarf made on the purple loom with a matching hat. The scarf was made by following Isela's Bongo Blues pattern, but I used plain Red Heart yarn. The scarf is knit using a single strand of yarn but is very soft. The hat is a basic style with a roll-up brim. Fun Fur was knit into the brim.