Toby and Tina the Teddy Bear Hats

Sometimes my designs come from a set of requirements, or inspiration in things I see and other times I see the wool first and just think this would be perfect for. . . . .  and that’s what happened when I saw this SIRDAR snuggly speckled DK baby wool.

 

It is so soft it is just lovely to knit with and when I saw the beige speckled colour the first thing it reminded me of was teddy bears! And although not one of the most original ideas I have had I just had to knit a teddy themed baby hat!

 

My Design – Toby the Teddy Bear Hat;

I wanted to keep it simple, rather than a rib edging I decided to do purl stitch and then the ears with the purl stitch for the inner ear. Doing this purl stitch on both ears I think would tie it in nicely with the edging.

 

It was now time to bring Toby to life!

Once I started knitting with the wool I was really pleased with colour effect, it was just how I thought it would be. The wool also offers a nice stretch to it which was perfect considering I did not do a rib edging.

 

 

 

Once knitted a sewed the seam up using mattress stitch – for me the finishing is just as important if not more than the knitting – there is no point spending hours knitting and the rushing the making up!

Mattress stitch means two pieces of knitting can be sewn up and on the outside the join becomes invisible – it’s just a matter of picking up the bars between the knit stitch at the edge;

 

Pick up the bars between the edge knit stitches

And Ta-dah the seam is perfect!

 

 

When it came to the ears I was expecting it to take a few attempts to get the perfect size but I got it on the first attempt!

 

 

 

Once both ears were done a fastened them in place with a needle to check the positioning – I actually used two of the decrease lines to position them and counted the same number of stitched from the top for both so they are symmetrical! 

 

And Ta-dah the hat is done!

 

 

 

Perfect for a baby boy but for a baby girl I felt there was something missing . . . . a bow!!

 

Introducing Tina the Teddy Bear Hat . . .

 

 

 

It’s such a simple but effective pattern and I really think this wool adds that extra special touch and a perfect gift for a new born. If you are unsure of the sex you can make it in advance and then just add a bow if it’s a girl!

If you want to have a go at making this the pattern is available on both Etsy and Craftsy - the pattern has instructions for new born, 3-6 months and 6-12 months.

 

Christmas is Done and a New Years Begun!

I hope you all had a fabulous family Christmas and brought the new year in in style!

 

For me Christmas was a lovely family Christmas as always, the morning at my mums and then the afternoon with Ad’s family! The best part of the day for me was the gift giving and opening at my mums, it is always so much fun!!

 

This year  I knitted my mum a hat, one of the only knitted gifts I got round to doing and she totally put me to shame, she knitted 3 amazing blankets for me and my sisters! Here is me and Ad chilling under ours on boxing day J they are fantastic, the hours of work she has put in to them is just amazing!!

 

 

 

Continuing with the knitting theme one of my sisters got me a subscription for one of the many knitting magazines I buy religiously and did me a personalised card to open on Christmas day to show what it was . . . . I love it! The picture is of me in a chair done like a ball of wool with knitting needles sticking out of it! I would love this chair in my house but not so sure Ad would be quite as keen.

 

 

We have never really been ones to go out on new year’s eve, the packed bars, high drinks prices and queuing for a drink really don’t appeal to us so we had a nice chilled night in and of course I did some knitting ;)

 

Looking back on 2013 I can’t say I am happy to see the year end as for me it was a really happy memorable one; I got engaged, celebrated Ad’s birthday with a family party, went to Las Vegas, started selling my patterns online and writing this blog!

 

But I also can’t say I am not looking forward to 2014 . . . the year of our wedding!!!

 

In terms of Resolutions last years was to stop talking about it and actually start a blog and start selling my knitting patterns and I did it! So what will this years be . . .

 

Well given the size of my wool stash now I think the first one has to be not to buy any more wool without a design in mind – but I know I won’t be able to stick to this one but everyone needs at least one resolution they won’t stick to done they!?!

 

Another one has got to be around my knitting machine, since I got it I have learnt the basics and then not touched it! And next year I would love to have knitted Christmas jumpers done for everyone so I must get to work on that!

 

And finally and I may regret this one with being so busy with the wedding but this year I want to get a least one pattern published in a magazine! I don’t know how I am going to do it or where to start but I have a whole year . . .  plenty of time . . .  (I hope!)