KNITTING NEEDLES PROJECT PATTERNS
including suggested patterns, however many other patterns are acceptable!
BLANKETS
Baby Blankets
If you can sew, quilt, knit, or crochet: you can make a blanket 36”x36” up to lap or twin size. Your blanket can be any pattern, any color(s), using 100% cotton fabric if sewing or acrylic yarn (no wool) if knitting or crocheting. Finished blankets should not be ‘holey,’ for the safety of infants.
Any patterns are acceptable, however a simple knit or knit/purl with ending measurements at least 36” x 36” is fine.
HANDS OF KINDNESS
Knitting blankets to keep veterans warm
The blankets our vets appreciate are sized between 40” x 70” to 42” x 72.”
They may be knit or crocheted, using any pattern.
We are also making a pieced together blanket by combining 10” x 10” squares,
preferably in dark colors. You may drop completed squares off in the Chesed Connection
office or bring to our monthly knitting group, the second Wednesday of each month.
CAPS
Chemo Caps
Yarn: Berroco Plush (color: Lava Lamp)
Needles: US10
I strongly recommend using life lines or something similar with this yarn.
Materials:
[MC] Berroco Plush; 2 skein
1 pair US 10 19″ Circular Needles
1 set US 10 Double Point Needles
Basic Rolled Brim Hat
Gauge: 2 st = 1″
Measurements: This hat ends up with a 22″ circumference and has a depth of 8″ with the brim rolled down.
Notes:
pm = Place Marker
Pattern
- With two strands of yarn held together as one, cast on 45 stitches. I strongly recommend a very stretchy cast on.
- Join making sure not to twist and place marker to designate the row.
- [k9, pm] 5 times.
- Knit until piece measures 7 inches.
- [k7, k2tog] 5 times. Repeat this for every row until you have 5 stitches left. *When the hat becomes too small for the circular needles, begin using the double-point needles.
Finishing Cut yarn leaving a 6″ tail. Thread yarn through a tapestry needle and pull yarn through last 4 stitches. Pull tight. Secure the yarn on the inside of the hat and weave in ends.
The Brim The brim is just the natural curl of the stockinette. I just rolled it a bit more to make it a little thicker.
Directions for Jiffy Chemo Cap
Use chenille yarn and 10" double-pointed needles. (To make needles, get a quarter-inch dowel and cut into four even pieces. Sharpen each end in a standard pencil sharpener and sand smooth.)
Cast on 55 stitches and knit 1 purl 1 for three rows for band.
Knit evenly around until piece measures four inches.
Next row: k 9, k 2 together; Row 2: knit; Row 3: k 8, k 2 together; Row 4: knit; Row 5: k 7, k 2 together; Row 6: knit; Row 7: k 6, k 2 together; Row 8: knit; Row 9: k 5, k 2 together; Row 10: knit; Row 11: k 4, k 2 together; Row 12: knit; Row 13: k 3, k 2 together; Row 14: knit: Row 15: k 2, k 2 together; Row 16: k 1 k 2 together; Row 17: k 2 together.
Cut yarn and loop over neighboring stitch, then weave through stitches to hide (do not tie a knot as this irritates sensitive skin).
A More ‘Fun’ Cap
Materials:
Size 13 US (9 mm) circular needles, 16" in length or size needed to obtain gauge
Tapestry needle
Smooth, worsted weight yarn
Eyelash yarn
Gauge:
About 2 sts=1" with one strand of worsted weight and one strand of eyelash yarn held together. Hat is stretchy so exact gauge isn't vital.
Instructions: With two strands of worsted weight yarn held together, CO 40 sts. Join, being careful sts aren't twisted.
Rnd 1: K
Rnds 2-11: *k2, p2; rep from * around
Drop one strand of worsted weight yarn. Add one strand of eyelash yarn. Cont with one strand of worsted weight and one strand of eyelash yarn.
Rnds 12-26: K
Rnd 27: *k2, k2tog; rep from * around-30 sts
Rnds 28-32: K
Finishing
Cut both yarns. Using a tapestry needle, thread through each of the remsts. Pull tight. Weave in ends on WS.
IDF Caps
Simple Soldier's Hat, Two Knit Versions
There are two patterns here, one for a hat that can be knit flat on two straight needles and one for a hat that can be knit in the round on a circular needle and/or double pointed needles. The latter method is recommended because it requires less sewing up at the end and tends to look neater.
Yarn: You must use machine washable plain black worsted weight yarn - this is in order to comply with both the soldiers' requests and army regulations. Look for a yarn that is soft, warm and non-felting. Superwash wool is best, acrylic or a wool/acrylic mix is okay. You'll probably need about 220 yds. / 200 m.
Gauge: 24 or 28 stitches = 4 inches/10 cm. in K2P2 rib stitch
Needles: Use whatever size needle you need to get correct gauge. The 4 mm - 5.5 mm range is a good place to start. For circulars, use a small circumference, 12" to 16"
Pattern A:Knit on Two Straight Needles / Pattern B:
StartonaCircularNeedle, finish on Double Pointeds
Loosely cast on 98 stitches and work back and forth in K2 P2 rib as follows:
Round 1 (right side): K1, [K2, P2] until one stitch remains, K1
Round 2 (wrong side): P1, [K2, P2] until one stitch remains, P1
Repeat these 2 rounds until work measures 9.5 inches / 24 cm., ending with a wrong side row.
Shape crown
Row 1: On right side, K1, [K2, P2tog], K1. 74 stitches remain.
Row 2: P1, [K1, P2], P1
Row 3: On right side, K1, [K2tog, P1], K1. 50 stitches remain.
Row 4: P1, [K1, P1], P1
Row 5: K1 [K2tog], K1. 26 stitches remain.
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: K1, [K2tog], K1. 14 stitches remain.
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: K1, [K2tog], K1. 8 stitches remain
Break yarn, leaving a 20-inch / 51 cm. length. With a tapestry needle, thread the yarn through the remaining 8 stitches (pull tight) and then sew up the back seam using mattress stitch, being careful to match up the rows. For help with mattress stitch, see here: Knitty Spring '04 issue or here: Knitting Help basics (scroll down to "Finishing" and then select "mattress stitch" for a short video demo) / You can work this entire hat on double pointed needles, if you prefer.
Loosely cast on 96 stitches. Join work, place marker, and work in K2 P2 rib until work measures 9.5 inches / 24 cm.
Shape crown
(Here you begin a series of decrease rounds. When you find the hat getting too small to work on the circular needle, switch to double pointed needles.)
Round 1: K2, P2tog to end of round. 72 stitches remain.
Round 2: K2 P1
Round 3: K2tog, P1 to end of round. 48 stitches remain.
Round 4: K1, P1
Round 5: K2tog to end of round. 24 stitches remain.
Round 6: Knit
Round 7: K2tog to end of round. 12 stitches remain.
Round 8: Knit
Round 9: K2tog to end of round. 6 stitches remain.
Break yarn, leaving a 6-inch / 15 cm. length. With a tapestry needle, thread the yarn through the remaining 6 stitches (pull tight).
Weave in the ends and admire your work! Please wash & dry your hat before mailing.
Simple Soldier's Hat, Crochet Versions
Notes:
- Gauge (tension) is 4.5 stitches/inch (18 sts/4 inches or 10 cm)
- Hat is worked flat, the rows going from the face to the top, and then back to the face.
- Terminology is American, not British!
- All stitches are worked through back loop only!
Chain 50.
Base Row: Single crochet in 2nd chain from hook and in each chain across.(49 sc). Note, the starting tail is at the "face edge" of the hat.
Row 1: Chain 1, turn. Sc in 1st stitch and in each of the next 45 stitches across. (You do not quite get to the end of the work.)
Row 2: Chain 1, turn. Skip 1st stitch, then sc in 2nd stitch and in each of the next 45 stitches across. (You are back at the face end.)
Row 3: Chain 1, turn. Sc in 1st stitch and in each of the next 42 stitches across. (You do not quite get to the end of the work.)
Row 4: Chain 1, turn. Skip 1st stitch, then sc in 2nd stitch and in each of the next 42 stitches across. (You are back at the face end.)
Row 5: Chain 1, turn. Sc in 1st stitch and in each of the next 39 stitches across. (You do not quite get to the end of the work.)
Row 6: Chain 1, turn. Skip 1st stitch, then sc in 2nd stitch and in each of the next 39 stitches across. (You are back at the face end.)
Row 7: Chain 1, turn. Sc in 1st stitch and in each of the next 48 stitches across, both the single crochet and the chain stitches. In this row you will have worked a total of 49 single crochet stitches, and will finally reach the end of the work.
Row 8: Chain 1, turn. Skip 1st stitch, then sc in 2nd stitch and in each of the next 48 stitches across. (You are back at the face end.)
Repeat rows 1-8 until work measures 16 inches/ 40 cm in a relaxed state, ending with an even row. Slip stitch hat to close. Cut yarn, leaving a 12 inch tail to close up the hole at the top of the hat, and weave in the ends and admire your work! Please wash & dry your hat before mailing.
Once your hat is here, I'll affix a label that looks like the one below and make sure that it gets to a soldier who can use and appreciate it.
[Loose translation: Knit for you with warmth and love. From The Connecting Thread]