Stitch 'n Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook (37 page)

S
IZE

One size fits most, approx 23" around

M
ATERIALS

Mission Falls
1824 Wool
(100% superwash merino wool; 50g/80 yds)

Devil Hat:
3 skeins #011 Poppy

Kitty Hat:
3 skeins #005 Raven

US 7 (4.5mm) 16" circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge

US 7 (4.5mm) double-pointed needles (set of 4/5)

Stitch markers

G
AUGE

17 sts = 4" in St st

S
TITCH
P
ATTERN

SEED STITCH (ON EVEN NUMBER OF STS IN THE ROUND/FLAT)

Rnd/row 1: *K1, p1; rep from * around.

Rnd/row 2: *P1, k1; rep from * around.

Rep rnds/rows 1–2 for pattern.

D
IRECTIONS

BOTH HATS

With circular needle, CO 84 sts. Work 1¾′ in seed st. Switch to St st for 3¾′ more. Place a stitch marker after every 12th st.

Dec rnd (switch to dpns when necessary): K2tog before each marker around. Rep dec rnd every other rnd 3 times more—56 sts; then every rnd until there are 7 sts left on needle. Break off yarn, leaving a fairly long tail. Thread tail through rem 7 sts, pull firmly, and draw through to inside of hat and fasten.

EARFLAPS AND TIES

**On CO edge, with the outside of the hat facing you, count 12 sts to the left of beg of rnd. Pu 18 sts from this point, making sure to pu through both loops of the st. Turn. With the inside of the hat facing you, k 1 row plain (if you’re stuck with the outside of the hat facing you for the first row, p 1 row plain). This leaves a nice beaded line between the earflap and the rest of the hat. Work 2 rows seed st.

Row 4: K1, k2tog, seed st to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Row 5: Seed st.

Rep rows 4–5 until there are 4 sts left. K1, k2tog, k1—3 sts. Work 2 more rows seed st, then knit I-cord for 12" or to desired length. Keep your st on the needles—you’re not done yet.

D
EVIL
H
AT
O
NLY

DEVIL TAIL ENDS

Cable CO 3 sts at one side of the I-cord. K across these 6 sts, turn. Cable CO 3 more sts—9 sts. K 1 row. Cont in garter st, dec 1 st each end every other row until there are 3 sts left. K2tog, k1, turn; k2tog—1 st. Break off yarn. Thread end through last st, pull firmly, weave end up through tail end and I-cord to hide.

Rep from ** for other side, beg pu 30 sts to right of beg of rnd.

DEVIL HORNS

Mark where you want horns with a safety pin. It helps to try on the hat when you do this. Try to place them symmetrically, above earflaps, and slightly to the front. Pu 15 sts in a triangle, using 3 dpns, 5 sts on each needle. Join in the rnd and k 3 rnds St st. Then (k3, k2tog) on each needle. K 2 rnds even. (K2, k2tog) on each needle. K 1 rnd even. (K1, k2tog) on each needle. K2tog on each needle—3 sts. Break off yarn, leaving a fairly long tail. Thread through rem 3 sts firmly to form a point, then pull down through horn to inside of hat and weave in end. Rep for other horn.

K
ITTY
H
AT
O
NLY

End off I-cord. Make pom-poms and attach to ends of I-cord.

Rep from ** (under “Earflaps and Ties”) for other side, beg pu 30 sts to right of beg of rnd.

KITTY EARS

Lay hat flat with earflaps at the center. Above the earflap, slightly front of center, meas about ¾"
down from the top of the hat. From this point, pu 12 sts down toward the earflap. Work 2 rows in seed st.

Row 3: *K1, k2tog, seed st to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Row 4: Seed st.

Rep rows 3–4 until 4 sts rem. Then k1, k2tog, k1, turn; k1, k2tog, turn; and k2tog. Break off yarn and pull through last st. Weave end through ear to hide. At the base of this ear, pu 12 sts. Rep entire process, so there is a double ear above the earflap. Using a yarn needle, whip st the 2 pieces tog. Rep for other ear.

ABOUT KITTY

When I was eight or nine, my grandmother, Nan, taught me how to crochet. Nan was from the granny-square-vest and bicentennial-themed-daisy-afghan school of crocheting. I didn’t learn to knit until I was twenty, while working at a mind-numbingly boring job, taking orders for a catalog company. An older coworker, who would knit through our shift, brought in a spare pair of needles and yarn and patiently walked me through the fundamentals. After a few overly ambitious, expensive, failed projects (a sweater that would fit Bigfoot, a vest for my mom that made her look like Sonny Bono, and so on), I gave it up. Then one day, I came across Elizabeth Zimmermann’s
Knitting Without Tears
. I found her technique liberating and inspiring, and I haven’t worked with a commercial pattern since. I take my inspiration from vintage girlie magazines, thrift-store treasures, drag queens, Saturday-morning cartoons, and old movies. I will always be blown away by the fact that you can make something warm to wear from a piece of string. I am also a graphic designer and play accordion with the Big Mess Orchestra in Philadelphia.

KITTY SCHMIDT

T
his cowl has a loopy, shaggy edge that can be worn around the face or around the neck edge for a more sedate look. It fits snugly, and soft merino wool makes it warm and comfortable.

M
ATERIALS

Karabella
Aurora 8
(100% merino wool; 50g/98 yds), 4 skeins #0008 Orange

US 7 (4.5mm) 16" circular needle, or size needed to obtain gauge

G
AUGE

19 sts = 4" in St st (k all rnds)

S
TITCH
P
ATTERN

GARTER STITCH (IN THE ROUND)

Rnd 1: K.

Rnd 2: P.

Rep rnds 1–2 for pattern.

LOOP STITCH (ANY NUMBER OF STS, 5 ROWS)

Note:
This loop stitch is not as complicated as it seems. It takes a few stitches to get into the groove, but if you stick with it, you’ll be glad you did. It’s meant to be shaggy and loopy and kind of crazy-looking, so don’t despair if your loopy stitches aren’t perfectly uniform. Anyway, you only have to do it 4 times, and then it’s smooth sailing.