Striped Invernal hat, Beanie the third

In honour of our mention in The Sunday Times, I have written a new beanie pattern. Here is the prototype.

I have used the luxurious Invernal angora/merino yarn, as the Rathcooney beanie was so comfortable and soft to knit and wear.

This pattern is simple to knit, with the stripes adding some interest to the body of the beanie, and a double decrease giving a geometric neatness to the crown.
I will be adding this hat to the kits available in the shop.

Beanie and Beret Kit Discount, and the Sunday Mail

I am feeling just a little flattered, our shop is in the Sunday Mail!



I was telephoned the other day, out of the blue, by the journalist who puts together general interest stories for the Brisbane Sunday paper, and despite being slightly misquoted, I think it is terrific that there is an article about knitting in the paper.



A beanie is a terrific project for a relatively new knitter, someone who can cast on, and is confident with knit and purl stitches.
A simple beanie can be knit in a weekend.



A 12 ply beanie pattern from Brisbane shop Tangled Yarn is included in the article. It would work well with Guanaco or Jo Sharp Silkroad Ultra.

As there was not room for another free pattern in the article, I am offerring a 20% Discount on our hat kits using 12 ply yarn, , for this week only, ending on Saturday 21st April. Use code SUNMAIL in the checkout. Alternatively, with the purchase of any 12 ply yarn, I will include the Big Beanie pattern for free - leave a comment asking for the pattern at checkout.


Happy Knitting.

Beanies take over, Basic Cable from Stitch'nBitch Nation

Having knit a beanie for one of my offspring, there was an urgent need for a beanie for a sibling. Fortunately, one never needs to be bored when knitting a beanie as there are so many terrific patterns around, and a beanie is so quick to knit that there is not time to get tired of the pattern before the garment is finished.

Having said this, it is possibly a little dull of me to admit that this beanie is a pattern I have knit several times previously.


This hat is an adaptation of Christine Quirion's Basic Cable Beanie from Stitch'n Bitch Nation. I find this pattern rather small for an adult beanie, but a very pleasant pattern to knit for a child's beanie.
This one is knit in DK/8ply/light worsted/category 3 weight yarn(Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool) instead of the 10ply/worsted yarn called for in the pattern. For a soft beanie, I have stayed with the size 5mm needles used in the pattern, but increased the cable repeat (additional 24 stitches) to ensure that the beanie stretches sufficiently to fit. I have also increased the height of the rib section, as the pattern as written turns out rather short for the heads in my family.

I particularly like the way the cable decrease tapers towards the crown of the beanie.

Beanies take over, Rathcooney in Invernal

Sometimes a particular type of knitting seems to jump the queue. With cooler weather starting, and a trip south, beanies are proliferating.

This particular beanie is from Carol Feller's Contemporary Irish Knits.

It is the pattern Rathcooney, knit in the medium size.

I've used the deliciously soft yarn Aslan Trends Invernal in Rouge, and used less than half of a 100g skein. This yarn is an angora (rabbit) and wool mix, so was very topical for Easter knitting;).

I enjoyed the details of this pattern. The cobblestone pattern is easily remembered, and shifts beautifully into a wide rib, and the added i-cord bind off is a very clean finish.
The only change I would make, should I knit it again, would be to start with a provisional cast-on, as picking up the entire edge was a little tedious.
As beanies are so quick and satisfying to knit, I have several more to show you - they are nearly as addictive as socks.

Small knit series - mega thick doily

I am not quite sure what to call this knitted thing. Jo Sharp calls it a tea pot mat, and she has a point.

However, it reminds me of a doily, being a bit lacey.

It is pretty good at keeping hot things off the table.

I used the yarn indicated in the pattern in Knit 2, Garnet desert garden aran cotton. The only issue with the pattern was that cotton does not block very well, you need to get your shaping and tension just right whilst knitting.

It uses less than a ball, just right for a left over project.I thought I was knitting this for my grandmother -in-law, for her birthday, but made a bit of a mistake currently hidden under the tea pot. I could have made another one, or frogged this one, but have started some cushy soft fingerless mittens instead.