Big Stitch 4 -- What a GREAT Day!

Whew! Still catching my breath from Saturday. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came (and battled the Flea Market traffic), everyone who donated hats (2448 and counting -- hats have been given to me all week from those who couldn't make it through the traffic on Saturday!) donated door prizes, goody bag items and helped to coordinate the day! We still need hats to meet our goal! Please contact me when you have some to add to the count.

Check out these great pics of my daughter Bethany pouring hats into the tower!

1 Make a Difference Day

Everyone should be proud of themselves. The hats you have made will make such a difference in the lives of so many people! See you tomorrow!

2. GOODY BAG - soap sample

Yes! We all get a sample of Kacy Ellis's handmade vegetable-based soap from her company "Gather a Leather"! Check out her blog at gatheralather.blogspot.com.

3. DOOR PRIZE: Cabot Cheese Gift

Cabot Cheese of Vermont has sent us yummy cheese to snack on during the day to support our efforts. They have also sent a small insulated cooler filled with goodies -- visor, t-shirt, frisbee and coupons!

4. COUPON

$5.00 off $10.00 or more purchase from Stitchin' Post!

5. DOOR PRIZE - Debbie Macomber bags!

Check out this site!

A new friend to Knit and Crochet TN, Sarah Smith, sent me this link -- lots of new stuff! http://www.appliancepartspros.com/socks-patterns-sewing-tips-kitting-techniques-and-more.aspx

TOP TEN REASONS to attend The Big Stitch!

10. Six hours of knitting and crocheting ... HEAVEN!

9. DOOR PRIZE: Tote Bag and 10 skeins of yarn donated by Haus of Yarn!

8. $1 yarn and .25 cent pattern boutique!

7. GOODY BAGS! Filled with coupons, patterns and, of course, GOODIES!

6. COUPON from Imagiknit Yarns & More for 2 FREE balls of Katia Marathon.

Big Stitch Seminars

The following seminars will be conducted at The Big Stitch on Oct 24:

• Understanding Patterns (Knitting and Crochet)

• Crochet - Ribbing (front/back post stitch, front/back loops stitching)

• Knitting - Purling and Ribbing (developing ribbing with knitting and purling)

New Crochet Hat Pattern

Uses Hometown USA yarn.

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90290AD.html?noImages=0

New Knitted Hat Pattern

Here is a pattern using Hometown USA.

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90076AD.html?noImages=0

New Yarn!

I promise, I do not work for Lion Brand Yarn, but I just received an email about their new yarn -- Hometown USA. The colors are named after towns across the United States. Check out info about the yarn here: http://cache.lionbrand.com/yarns/hometownUSA.html?utm_source=20091009_Oct09&utm_medium=Emails&utm_campaign=Weeklynewsletter.

Happi-Hooker Hat

Check out this hat made by Jessica of Happi-Hooker fame modeled by my baby, Bethany.

Bunny Slope Hat

Cute, cute hat with a free pattern from Lion Brand Yarn. If you are not a member, consider signing up! Here is the link:

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90040AD.html?noImages=0&utm_source=&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=&utm_campaign=305

And here is the pattern:




Lion Brand^® Alpine Wool

GAUGE:

13 sts = 4 in. (10 cm) in St st worked in the rnd (k every rnd). BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. When you match the gauge in a pattern, your project will be the size specified in the pattern and the materials specified in the pattern will be sufficient. If it takes you fewer stitches and rows to make a 4 in. [10 cm] square, try using a smaller size hook or needles; if more stitches and rows, try a larger size hook or needles.

STITCH EXPLANATION:

K2, p2, Rib (worked in the rnd) Rnd 1: *K2, p2; rep from * around. Rep Rnd 1 for K2, p2 Rib

STRIPE SEQUENCE
*With A work 4 rnds, with B work 2 rnds, with A work 1 rnd, with C work 4 rnds, with A work 1 rnd, with B work 4 rnds, with C work 2 rnds; rep from * for Stripe Sequence.

HAT
With circular needle and A, cast on 60 sts. Join, being careful not to twist. Place marker for beg of rnd.
Work in K2, p2 Rib, following Stripe Sequence, until piece measures about 5 1/2 in. (14 cm) from beg.
Next Rnd: Change to St st worked in the rnd (k every rnd) until piece measures about 8 1/2 in. (21.5 cm) from beg.
Shape Crown
Note: Change to double pointed needles when sts have been sufficiently decreased.
Next Rnd: *K8, place marker, k2tog, rep from * around – 54 sts rem at end of rnd.
Knit 1 rnd.
Next Rnd: *K to marker, k2tog, rep from * around – 48 sts.
Knit 1 rnd.
Next Rnds: Rep last 2 rnds, 6 times – 12 sts.
Next Rnd: (K2tog) around – 6 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through rem sts and gather tightly together. Fasten off.

FINISHING
With A and following package directions, make a pompom. Tie pompom to Hat. Weave in ends.

More Hats!

NEW HAT COUNT!

Thanks to some recent donations, we are now up to 823 hats! Thank you to Gail Camplair from the Brentwood Library Chicks with Sticks group, Marilyn at Knit Happy and the H.A.N.D.S. group from Good Shepherd United Methodist Church for adding to our total. Additionally, the ladies of Trinity Lutheran Church Knit and Crochet for Jesus group donated 64! Keep ‘em coming so we can reach our goal of 3033!

A hat pattern written by one of the Happi-Hookers!

Here is the ball cap pattern that you saw at the July 17th Big Stitch. I made this with Bernat "Baby Jacquards" yarn (which is a light weight yarn; weight 3) and a G hook (size 6:4.25MM). I have since made a hat with a cotton yarn and an H hook. I did make some changes to the pattern...you know how I am =).

Here is the link to find the original pattern:

http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/cpatt14.htm

The original pattern has been moved, and brings me to this link:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060521003056/http://groups.msn.com/HappyHookeraCrochetersParadise/memberpatterns.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=13704&LastModified=4675481976218776363

*I’m not sure which of the above links you would need to use as I now have it bookmarked*

Here are the changes I made:

Beginning chain: I only chain 3, it makes the whole at the top smaller. Or you can use a "magic ring" if you know how.

Rows 1 thru 33: As is. **You can repeat row 33 for desired length if needed**

Row 34: I ended row 33 with 84 sts and had to increase the number of sts before and after the Back Loops Only. Changes: Sc in both loops of the next 24, sc in the Back Loops Only of the next 37 sc, sc in both loop of the last 23 sc, ch 1.

Row 35: As is.

Brim: the only thing I changed is: SC in the first sc of every row. Then skip 1sc and continue the pattern as is. Just don’t forget to add one sc in the very first sc of every row for both layers of the brim.

**When I got finished with my second hat I realized I did row 11 of the brims as "Repeat row 8" instead of repeating row 9. I never noticed a difference. So, you can put your own twist on this pattern and it still looks rockin!

Also, I didn’t use the plastic canvas. This part is entirely up to you.

As always, let us know if you have any questions and we will do our best to answer them. Keep on hookin! =) =)

Thanks ~ LiL HooKeR