Back to School Knits, by Me!

Great news! I've published a few knitting patterns and they're available now...for free!

It's no secret that I love knitting for kids. It's been a passion of mine before I even had kids. I used to knit for every kid I knew. I was browsing patterns one day, and I saw a photo of a child on school picture day, in his favorite handknit sweater. Suddenly I had an idea to design a few patterns inspired by school motifs: penmanship paper, composition books, and the humble yellow pencil.

These designs, sized for kids ages 4-12, are patterns I would love to see on kids. In fact, I will see them on kids, as mine will be wearing them for many years to come :). I hope you'll download the free e-book, and make one for a kid you know. If you do, I would love to see it!

Special thanks to everyone at Knit Picks, who did an amazing job with everything from the tech edits of the pattern, to the photos and graphic design. Thanks as well to James (+ Malena & Graham) for being such a great model. And to Penny, for being Penny, even if she didn't really know why she was wearing this sweater in front of this backdrop.

Mr. Jones calls this her, "Wait, mommies don't go to Kindergarten?" photo. I might just have to Photoshop in one tiny, glistening tear falling from her eye. Love you, Penny. 

You can download the free pattern e-book by clicking HERE. Enjoy!

Lulu Was A Little Lamb

I knitted her this hat from an Instagram Knit-a-long. It's the sweetest thing, even if she only keeps it on for 5 seconds at a time. We have next Winter to try it again ;).

Model Behavior

My kids did some modeling lately, for knitting patterns for the company where I work! It resulted in some pretty adorable photos, taken by the talented Amy Cave. Here are the photos they didn't use (and gave me permission to post).

Penny points to Lulu's Scrunchy Booties:

It might be hot out, but Lulu doesn't mind sporting her Bee Stitch Hat (and giant pom pom)!

Penny got to wear the cutest poncho. I want to make one for each of her friends!

After 10 seconds she was tugging on it ("Done, Mama, DONE!"), so I offered to push her on the see saw and she enjoyed the ride, while keeping her hands off the knitwear.

 There is nothing cuter than a baby in a pointy hat. That is a FACT, friends.

You can find this pattern on the website, and you can find these photos in grandparents' homes from the East Coast to middle England. I can hear the framed pictures being nailed to the walls as I post this; am I right? Because professional modeling doesn't happen very often. Penny and Lulu don't wake up for less than $10,000 a day. That's a fact, as well ;).

Bib It Up

We had a laundry, um, situation over here recently.  I *might* have left a bright red lipstick in the pocket of a pair of trousers and it *may* have gotten a streak of red on every single thing in that doggone load.  Of course, it was one of those, "I'll just add a few more things into this basket, then I can have much more laundry done" type loads, too.  DRATS.  Anyway, we lost almost every single bib we had in the wake of that situation  (as well as Mr. Jones' only pair of shorts, though I may still be wearing a lipstick-stained nightgown and a favorite dress, already stained with milk - for SHAME!).  However, in these days of teething, Miss Jones can't be wearing red-streaked bibs.  So I got to work...

Fabric scrap bag to the rescue, again!  I traced a bib I liked from the carnage, made some tweaks, and sewed up some new ones from bits of favorite scraps.  I made them reversible, and it's nice to have Penny in a nice linen floral, instead of wearing a towel strapped around her neck at all times of the day.  If there's one thing she hates most in this world it's the sound of velcro, so I used buttons.  I saved the pattern so you can make some, too!  Because everyone knows a few babies, and every baby is a big 'ol messy mess.  I bring you "A Very Good Bib", with a link on my sidebar, should you want to find it at a later time.

First click on this bib pattern jpeg below, and drag it to your desktop to copy it.  Then, print it using the "Tabloid" or 11x17 inch setting on your printer.  Follow the directions below to sew it up.

What you'll need:
1. A small amount of 2 different fabrics, or a larger amount (less than a quarter yard) of one fabric.
2. Two buttons OR a small amount of velcro for fastening the bib.
3. A sewing machine.
3. Thread.
4. A hot iron.

How you'll make it:

1. Cut 2 bibs from the same or different fabrics, using the pattern.

2. With right sides of fabrics together, sew around the bib using a quarter inch seam allowance and leaving an opening between the gray lines.

3. Turn the bib, pushing out the small curves and pressing the bib flat with an iron, tucking the seam allowance to the inside of the "sack" at the opening.

4. Topstitch the bib, leaving a scant seam allowance, getting as close to the edge as you can with your stitching.

4. Attach 2 buttons to either side of the bib, where the orange circle indicates, or attach sew-on or adhesive velcro to both sides, or one.  If using buttons, make sure to attach well, so babies don't chew or tear them off.

5. Make a buttonhole where the orange line indicates, or attach the other portion of the velcro.

6. Attach bib to Baby, and watch the drooling begin!  Make 10 more, to get Baby through 1 day.

Also:
A stack of these make a great baby shower gift!
Also:
Please send nightgowns and dresses (kidding!)

Red Ribbon Day

Exciting news, friends. I won Second Prize at the Oregon State Fair!

I entered my HarVest Design into the "Original Item by Designer" competition. Unfortunately, Mr. Jones and I didn't make it to the State Fair this year (like we did last year). But when I picked up my entry here in Portland, the woman reached into the paper bag with my name on it, pulled it out to confirm it was mine, and squealed "Ooh, there's a ribbon on it, Congratulations!". I then squealed with her.

Second prize not only gives me something to aspire to for next time, the red ribbon matches the vest so nicely, I might never take it off!

You can make your own HarVest, by following the instructions right here.

Mr. Furly's Bear Hats: Pattern and Tutorial

When Mr. Furly (who is a beaver) wants to disguise himself, he uses one of my homemade bear hats! I'veknitted so many of them for friends of all ages, and have finally put together a step-by-step picturial tutorial so any Beginner Knitter can make one for their winter hibernation. I hope you'll try it, and enjoy!

Materials: 1 skein aran/worsted weight yarn (for these hats I used Malabrigo Worsted in chestnut and natural) in any bear color you like (I always make a mixture of Brown, Grizzly, Polar bears). A small amount of the same weight yarn in a constrasting color. One 4.5mm (US size 7) 60 cm (24 inch) circular knitting needle. One set of 4.5 (US size 7) double pointed knitting needles. 4 stitch holders OR 4 extra double pointed needles. One stitch marker.

Guage: 18 stitches to 4 inches on 4.5mm needles with single-held yarn in stockinette stitch.

Size: Adult One Size fits Most, Child Size Age 2-10 (in brackets)

Skills needed: Casting on, Casting off, Knitting in the round, Knitting on double pointed needles, 3 needle bind-off.

Instructions:

Wind your skein of yarn into two balls, roughly the same size. You will be using one strand from each ball, held together, to make the bear hat. It should look like this:

Make hat rim:

Cast on 82 (74) stitches onto the circular needle holding 2 strand together for each stitch cast on. Join the ends, being careful not to twist, and place marker at the join. Knit 2 rows, Purl 2 rows. Your knitting should look like this:

Knit body of hat: Continue knitting in the round, replacing marker when you come to it, until your knitting measures 4 inches from the cast-on edge. Your knitting should look like this:

Split hat for ears:

Starting at marker, Knit 40 (36), slip next two stitches on SEPERATE stitch holders or double-pointed needles, Knit 39 (35), slip the next two stitches on SEPERATE stitch holders or double pointed needles.

Note: When you slip the stitches on dpns or stitch holders, slip the first one purlwise and the second one knitwise. That way the stitches will face each other and not get twisted.

Your knitting should look like this:

Continue the body of the hat:

Knit in the round, slipping 4 stitches onto stitch holders (1 on each) every time you complete a round. Once again, the stiches you slip to should be connected to, and facing each other on the holders, and you'll continue knitting in the round the stitches you do not slip. Like this:

Continue knitting in the round and slipping stiches until you have a total of 16 (14) stitches on each holder/dpn and 9 (6) stitches in the middle. End your round when your reach the stitch holder.
Your knitting should look like this:

Knit the middle of the hat:

At this point, if you're using stitch holders, put the stitches on the closest ear onto double pointed needles. Also, put your circular stitches onto double pointed needles. They'll be much easier to work with.

Slip 2 stitches from EACH ear (8 total) back onto the double pointed needles that hold your middle stitches. Pull your yarn through these stitches to the end. Like this:

Bind off middle stitches:

Now knit across the middle stitches by knitting 2 stiches together - one from the back, one from the front, and binding off as you go. This is called the 3 needle bind-off, and HERE is a good video if you're confused. You should now have one stitch left on the middle needle, and 14 (12) on each ear.

Your knitting should look like this:

Start the first ear:

Bind off the stitch on your middle needle with the first stitch on the ear, then knit around the ear with main color - 1 row, 16 stitches each side. Row 2 of ear: Knit 4 (3) of main color, Knit 6 stitches of contrasting color, Knit 4 (3) of main color. Repeat on 2nd side of ear.
Row 3 & 4 of ear: Same as Row 2

Row 5 of ear: Knit 5 (4) of main color, Knit 4 stitches of contrasting color, Knit 5 (4) of main color.

Your knitting should look like this:

Row 6 of ear: Break off contrasting colour with 4 inches left, pull contrasting yarn through ear to main body of hat. With main color, continue to work around ear, binding off one stitch on each side of each ear (4 stitches per round) until 4 stitches remain on side. Bind off stitches as you did for the middle stitches using a 3 needle bind off. When one stitch remains on the needle, cut yarn with 6 inches left, pull the remaining yarn taught through the last stitch through the ear to the main body of the hat.

Reconnect yarn for second year: Pull yarn through hole between first and second stitch in middle section. Like this:

Pull stitch taught to first stitch on second ear and work ear same as first. Once complete, pull extra yarn through ear to body of hat. Turn hat inside out and tie off all loose ends from ears on the inside. Like this:

Tie off the first stitch, and weave in the ends on the inside of your hat. Turn hat right side out, and ENJOY! You've done it! If you've found any mistakes in the pattern, please email Holly@HollyKlein.com. Send me a photo of your bear hats, I'd love to see them. Could they be as cute as this one?

Prince Hat: Free Pattern!

Now you can make a hat to wear to your next Prince concert (and you should definitely go to one at some point in your life). This hat takes intermediate knitting skills, including knitting in the round, double pointed knitting, Intarsia and chart-reading skills.

I took inspiration from Whitney's 70s ski hat, and included a soft alpaca lining, so you won't have any wool itch on your forehead when wearing it.


You can download my free pattern BY CLICKING HERE. I warn you that the pattern gets a bit loose toward the end, requesting that you try the hat on and customize it to the height you would like. Charts and instructions are all included.

I hope you'll make one and wear it, even if you don't go to a Prince show (like Ingrid, Mr. Jones, and me, circa 2003). The funny thing about this photo is that when we got to Madison Sq. Garden we didn't see one other person dressed up. Ah well, it never stopped up before, and certainly hasn't since!

Dragon Scale Keyhole Scarf: Free Pattern!

Now you can make a cozy scarf for the colder weather. Made of worsted/aran weight yarn, it knits up quickly, and all you need to know is how to knit, purl, cast on and bind off. It makes a great last-minute gift, too!

The "keyhole" element is a slit you make down the center of the scarf, so you can tuck one side into the other and secure the scarf around your neck. Download my original pattern by cliking HERE, send me a photo when you're done, and enjoy!

Unfurled Originals: Pictorial Legwarmers!

Whales, umbrellas, and cowboy boots are motifs I remember from my 80s childhood. After taking a fair isle knitting class, I wanted to design my own pattern, and after making a film on graph paper charts, it came quite easily.

You can knit your own pair of pictorial legwarmers by downloading my original pattern. You'll need to know basic knitting and stranding techniques, but these knit up quickly and easily, and will see you through many walks about town. Enjoy!

P.S. I know it's Summer. I am, however, still in black tights and, as usual, freezing.