#WIDN: Custom Hat in Malabrigo Rios

One of my recent commissions was a request for a special winter hat, and after being deep in Turkey Hat orders for the last two months I couldn’t think of anything better than taking a break from stuffing and seaming legs than to refresh my brain with some beautiful yarn and a quick new project. 

I went to pick out yarn at one of my local yarn stores, The Altered Stitch. It was my first time visiting despite driving by all the time, and I’m so grateful for the commission that sent me there seeking yarn...they have the most amazing selection of indie-dyed yarn from a large range of makers and it was hard not to desperately covet all the sock yarn (Hedgehog Fibres Typewriter was particularly calling to me!) 

I ended up choosing two skeins of Malabrigo Rios, an incredibly beautiful 4-ply superwash merino. My client particularly wanted something very fun and bright, and these colors jumped out at me almost immediately.

I chose two skeins of color 093 Fucsia (a solid color with some very, very subtle variances that make it very rich and interesting) and one skein of 057 English Rose, just a mind-blowing variegated in all the colors that make me drool.

In true Elise fashion, I didn’t reference or use any patterns…I just kind of jumped right in. I’ve made so many hats at this point in my life that I have a pretty good idea of how many stitches to cast on depending on the yarn weight. Using two strands of Rios at the same time felt to me similar to worsted weight. So I grabbed some US 6 (4.0 mm) double-pointed needles and got right to work!

I held two strands of Fucsia together and knit a simple 1x1 rib for the brim. I just love a 1x1 rib...I love how it looks, and I love that it helps the brim keep from getting too stretched out. 

For the body of the hat I originally wanted to do a fun stitch pattern like seed/moss stitch or skinny cables, but after I did a quick swatch that all went out the window. The yarn is so pretty and the colors are so vibrant that I thought it looked best showcased in simple stockinette. I finished the body of the hat holding one strand of Fucsia and one strand of English Rose together. I knit the body to make a slouchy fit, long enough so it could also be worn with the brim flipped up for some extra warmth.

And then of course I finished it off with a large pompom, made with a mix of both colors. It’s seriously the best part. 

I love how it turned out! The Malabrigo Rios was such a dream to knit with, I’m already scoping out other colorways. 

What do you think?  Have you knit with this yarn before?

#WIDN: custom knit alligator

very recently, i designed a large knit alligator toy as a commission for a dear friend who intends to give it as a baby gift. It’s always an honor when I’m asked to make custom knits! i feel simultaneously flattered that someone likes my designs enough to support my work and so excited for the challenge of being trusted to design something great. as someone who grew up loving stuffed animals, there’s something extra special about designing for a baby and creating something that they will hopefully love for years to come. 

pattern: elisemade original design, 2017

yarn: patons classic worsted wool in aran & lion brand heartland in joshua tree

i tried to keep the design as simple as possible by knitting flat the head/torso/tail in two continuous pieces, the back and the underside. i knit the four legs separately, using the same idea of seaming together two flat-knit pieces. the texture on the back is from simple variations of knit/purl stitches across a row.

i knit a flat piece in pink and black wool in the same shape as the head and seamed it to the inside to create the "open" mouth.

the eyes are simply 2 flat knit pieces (white eye and green lid) seamed to the face and puffed up to make them 3D, and i used a tapestry needle to embroider the iris and pupil.

to make the teeth, i cut a narrow wave pattern down the middle of an approximately  2x11” strip of felt. the two halves became the top and bottom teeth and i simply hand-stitched them to the edge of the mouth.

finished dimensions are approximately 12x24". 

i'm very pleased with the way he turned out! what do you think of my knit alligator design? check out my knit toys page if you'd like to see more photos! 

if you'd like to commission a custom toy, please email me at elisemade@gmail.com <3 

DIY: free knit snowman ornament pattern

it is december 1st and that means gift knitting season is upon us! there's still time to cast on a few projects before christmas, and plenty of time to make a few knit snowmen ornaments using my free pattern! 

if you're not a knitter, no worries...you can purchase a ready-made snowman ornament from my shop!

these snowmen are knit in the round in one piece and are easy and fast to make. use up scraps of worsted or fingering weight yarn for the cozy scarf embellishment! add these to your tree, give as a gift, or use as a present topper.

supplies: 

size us 6 (4.0 mm) double-pointed needles

worsted weight yarn in white (i like patons classic worsted wool in aran)

contrast yarn (black or brown for eyes and mouth, worsted or fingering weight scraps for the scarf)

orange felt (to make carrot nose, or use orange yarn to knit one!)

tapestry needle

sewing needle and orange thread (for felt nose)

instructions:

click here to download a PDF copy of this free pattern from ravelry!

stay tuned next week for some fun variations on this pattern that you can use to make more gifts and decorations. happy knitting! 

-Elise