Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

The act of creating, in one form or another, preserves my sanity amongst the chaos of life. This explains why I always have more than one project going at a time as well as why my housework tends to fall behind. I enjoy seeing what others are working on and keeping calm with, too. What are you creating? What is keeping you going? Snap a picture or two and share it with the rest of us by leaving your link below.

KCCO

Snow!!

Amidst the chaos of moving during Advent season, I somehow forgot that Little L's Christmas sweater was never finished. Thankfully, it moved with us and I only have a small portion left to work on. I managed to forget about buttons, though. Looks like I will need to contact Taryn ASAP!

I am in need of advice from all of you. The wind is very strong here and blows through my hand knit hats freezing my ears, so I am thinking I need to try a knit more suitable for colder weather. What knits do you recommend?  Also, I would love to purchase a shawl pin for K's Little House Shawl, but I have no clue where to look. I would love one that would fit with our Little House theme, too. Any suggestions? Please share links to your favorite hat patterns and shawl pins in the comments!

What are you working on?! Happy creating!

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Please remember to link back here so that others who may want to join KCCO can find us.

It's as simple as that. Remember your post can be from any day of the week, it doesn't have to be today. We all love feedback so if you have a moment please leave a comment on some of the KCCO posts you may visit. I know from my own experience just how much your comments really motivate me! Now please share and inspire us all!







































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Posted by FrontierDreams at 2:18 AM
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Lori's avatar - Go to profile

Lori · 591 weeks ago

Hi Nicole,
I loved your sweet story about St. Nicholas day in your new home. All of your traditions will make your family feel "at home" no matter where your home may be! I'm sorry that I can't recommend heavier knitting patterns--I live in Hawaii--but I'm sure that you'll get a lot of great advice from other knitters. Thank you for hosting and take care! Aloha, Lori
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Andréann · 591 weeks ago

I can't help with the shawl pin, but here it's VERY windy, and windy cold, so if a hat let air through, we line it with fleece or felt. It's also good for mittens!
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aimeed · 591 weeks ago

I find that for my hats to be warm enough in deep winter, I must have at least a double layer of stout wool at the ears. A turned up brim, or stranded colorwork (or stranded colorwork, and a ribbed brim folded up over that for 3 layers!). There's a reason why all those cold climes (like Norway) have so much colorwork! Also, I notice a lot of hats on rav are knit at the "normal" gauge for the yarn. For a warmer hat, for example, I knit a wool that I might knit a sweater at 5st/inch, but I knit it at 6st/inch for a hat. Good luck!
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Stephanie · 591 weeks ago

I've used a pattern where the band and earflaps are double layered and that works well, but I would also second the recommendation to line them with fleece or even wool. Another option would be to felt a knitted wool hat. Good luck!!
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Julia C K · 591 weeks ago

Try Etsy for the shawl pin. There are some cute cat ones. They don't really follow with the Little House theme, but may be appropriate for K. Either way, there are lots of options on Etsy.
For the hats, I'd suggest lining with fleece.
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Kerry · 591 weeks ago

I have no ideas but I can't wait to find out what knits you chose.
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sondra · 591 weeks ago

have you tried lining your hats with fleece or wool felt? Also, mayamade.blogspot.com did a post on making wool felt inserts for her boots. Or, using a double layer of wool yarn is a good idea, too. Novanaturals toys also sells amazing merino wool/ silk blend long johns for kiddos and adults. Also, they sell hats, socks, and many other cozy clothes.
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Marie's avatar

Marie · 591 weeks ago

Stranded knitting would be a good option, and even better, stranded knitting then slightly felted. I've inherited two gem knitting books from a dear friend, http://www.amazon.com/Fox-Geese-Fences-Collection... and http://www.amazon.com/Flying-Geese-Partridge-Feet.... You will find lovely things in these books if you can get your hands on them. Maybe through the library or second hand online? Because they were mostly knit for families in coastal Maine and the Maritime Provinces, they are designed to be warm, and dense to keep out the chill winds and cold blasts, as well as still being warm when wet. I hope this helps.
And for a shawl pin, I'm thinking you might do a little research of the period. http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum/collection... not really sure they would have used a pin? Good luck!
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Andrea's avatar

Andrea · 591 weeks ago

I second (third, fourth) the suggestion to line with fleece. I did that last winter for a grandson in Michigan. The outer hat was knit in fingering yarn, all patterned and fun, but it wasn't very warm. I lined it with Polarfleece and it's now his winter favorite,
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Joy · 591 weeks ago

Your picture says that it's currently unavailable. I can't wait to see L's sweater. The pics on Ravelry look adorable.
1 reply · active 591 weeks ago
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Lee's avatar

Lee · 591 weeks ago

Hi! I'm from Newfoundland (sort of far NE of Maine) originally and my grandmother aways made colourwork mits out of pure wool, also knit at a slightly higher gauge - they were always warm and cozy! I bet it would totally work for hats too. Though mostly we wore toques (I think they are also called beanies?) with hoods drawn up over them.
Good luck! I'm currently in Calgary (North of Montana) and it's been -36C (-32F) so I'm very interested in warm things right now!!
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Natalie · 591 weeks ago

I was going to suggest lining it too, but then I remembered a pattern I read about for mittens. The mittens are called Thrummed Mittens - on Ravelry, but you could definitely do it with a hat. The point is to knit with your regular wool yarn, and every so many stitches, you add a loose piece of fluffy wool or roving (about 3" long) in with your stitch. By the time you are done, you have a pattern on the outside, but the inside is lined with all the ends of the bits of roving and as you wear it, it felts down to line the hat with an extra layer of wool.
1 reply · active 591 weeks ago
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Sarah · 591 weeks ago

It's very windy where we live and I have the same problem… I actually bought myself a hat lined with polar fleece. The children wear wool hoods (Ruskovilla) under their knit hats + coat hoods. Lovely sweater!
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carol · 591 weeks ago

I really like the little wool hoods too, they come down around their necks and tuck in so well, so it also prevents snow down their necks. Those, with hats and hoods did fine in negative temps here. but lining with fleece has also been great. specially if a hat is beautiful but feels a bit itchy for them. Having lived in Wyoming, I know how crazy the wind can be, and how it howls through treeless land!
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Julie's avatar

Julie · 591 weeks ago

I would probably either line them fleece or wool (perhaps recycled from a sweater or some such item). Also, if you knit a new hat perhaps trying knitting a thrummed hat and there are patterns for knitting mittems too!! I understand they are extremely Hot!!
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Janet · 591 weeks ago

I always put cotton balls in my ears to shield me from the wind and I wear a sweater band((80% acrylic, 14% poly, 5%rubber and 1% spandex) around my forehead and then my down jacket has a wonderful hood. I am very toasty :)
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mossgrownstone 19p · 591 weeks ago

As usual I love the color and pattern of your knit!
On the wind making it's way thru the hat- I find using double layers- either a wide brim of thicker yarn or using finer weight yarn and making the whole hat two layer works well. Another option I see a lot of others suggest too is to line the hat with fabric.
I tend to wear my cowl or a scarf so it also covers over my ears and then I can cover my face too.
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katherine johnson · 591 weeks ago

That is the most gorgeous sweater! The color and the stitch pattern! Your work is beautiful, as always.
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lori · 591 weeks ago

oh my goodness, snow! since i've never lived in it, it's still so exciting to me. i hope you find a good solution, with all the helpful advice here, sounds dreadful cold. i think i would walk around with a hot water bottle on my head.

thinking on the shawl pin for your girl! your sweater is so pretty!
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Brandy · 591 weeks ago

I live in a fairly windy place, six months of it or so. What I do for little ones is to have a jersey pilot cap under the knitted hat. I second the thrummed mittens, too. Working on my first pair (or it's sitting waiting on me to stop snuggling the baby). We layer up a lot and use Weleda's Weather Protection Cream to help prevent windburn. Stay warm!
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jazzoo6 25p · 591 weeks ago

Thanks for hosting!
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akajennifer 1p · 591 weeks ago

Thrummed mittens and a thrummed hat. The only way I make through winters up here in bitterly cold Canada!!!
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Marie's avatar

Marie · 591 weeks ago

Nicole, the books I mentioned earlier http://www.amazon.com/Fox-Geese-Fences-Collection.... and http://www.amazon.com/Flying-Geese-Partridge-Feet include both stranded double knitting and thrumming as methods for their patterns. I think they'll definitely fit the bill!
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mamamajuly 4p · 591 weeks ago

Maybe a shawl pin from Perl Grey? http://perlgrey.com/index.php/pewter/stickpin. Or a shawl buckle, safer for kids: Mirdi Creations make nice ones, in the shape of a butterfly or bird (you can ask to have it plain, without engraving) http://www.creationsmirdi.qc.ca/boucles%20a%20fou....
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FrontierDreams 111p · 590 weeks ago

Oh my, you rock! Such wonderful suggestions to start looking into - thank you!!

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