- Patterns

Patterns...fun, easy you'll want to try 'em all!
What you'll find in The Romantic Mom.com

Roll-brim Hats

I was given this pattern by lovely, little Helen who owns a lovely, little shop called Heavenly Socks Yarns in lovely, little Belfast, Maine. You can print her pattern HERE (scroll down to Roll or Edge-brim hat). Plus all of her other fun stuff!
This is my variation on that pattern:

Sized for child's large, adult medium, and adult large

Peaches n' Cream cotton yarn and corresponding 16" circular needles (size 7 or 8) and double pointed needles to give a gauge of 5 stitiches = 1 inch

Cast-on 80 (90) (100) stitiches. Connect cast-on (careful not to twist), and work in the round in stockinette stitch (roll edge) for approx. 6 (7) (8) inches or until desired length or in K1, P1 (rib edge) for 1" to 6". Then work in stockinette until desired length. Place a ring marker, paper clip, or piece of yarn to mark the start of the decrease.

First decrease row:
Knit 8 stitches, knit stitch 9 and 10 together, repeat this pattern 7 (8) (9) more times to end of row which should be the marker. [This was a little confusing to me at first. Knit 8 then stitch 9 & 10 together for a full row. Then begin the next row, knit 7 then stitch 8 & 9 together. If you feel it's too much decrease then just knit another row the same without a decrease until you're ready to start decreasing again. See? This is the fudge-y part I love about knitting!]

Second row:
Knit all stitches.

Note: When knitting gets difficult on circular needles, switch to double-pointed needles.

Third row:
Knit 7 stitches, knit 8 and 9 together, repeat to the end of the row.

Fourth row:
Knit all stitches. (You can delete this row after a few rounds to get more of a flatter top).

Continue this pattern - knitting one less stitch before knitting two together every other row until 7 (8) (9) stitches remain on needle. [For my EASY tail & tassel skip to below] Pull the yarn through the remaining stitches. Consider embellishing with a pom pom, tassel or crocheted strands of yarn. Have fun!

Roll-Edge Hat with Tail & Tassel

For My EASY Tail & Tassel: I switch to double pointed needles when I have 28 stitches left on the round needles. This makes 7 stitches on each of 4 double pointed needles. I decrease down until I have 2 remaining stitches. I then knit the stitches to the length of tail I desire. (Once you start knitting the 2 stitches it closes your hat and becomes a tail--very cool! Yes I made this up--I'm into wingin' it!). At desired tail length, pull yarn through loop and use that yarn string to tie on your tassel. That's it--you're done!

For My EASY Tassel: Wrap yarn loosely around 1 - 1 1/2" cardboard rectangle several times until you get desired pom-pom fluffines. My tassels I leave a little on the skimpy side. Cut one edge along fold. Tie in center of the bundle with yarn string of tail. That's it--now you're really done!

Eyelet-edged Baby Blanket

This snuggly soft cotton baby blanket with an adorable eyelet-edge is so easy with only basic knitting skills Once again I used Peaches n' Cream cotton yarn on the big bolt size with size 5 circular needle, 29 inches or longer (that's why I ended up with my blanket at 26" rather than their 30"). I got this pattern from one of my favorite knitting books Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick and Kristin Nicholas.

Gauge

18 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches on size 5 needles in garter stitch.

Make First Half Blanket

Cast on 4 stitches.
ROW 1 Knit
Row 2 Knit 2 stitches, increase one stitch by making a yarnover (see tutorial), knit to end of row. You now have 5 stitches on your needle

Repeat Row 2, increasing one stitch, two stitches in from the edge, at the beginning of every row until you have 189 stitches for a 30-inch blanket (mine wasn't quite 189 for more like a 26" blanket). Your knitting is now a triangle shape (half of a square).

Make Second Half of Blanket

ROW 1 Knit 1, knit 2 together, yarnover, knit 2 together, work to end of row. You have decreased the number of stitches by one. (The first knit 2 together reduces the stitch count; the yarnover continues the eyelet edge established in the first half of the piece, and the second knit 2 together cancels out the increase created by the yarnover). Repeat row 1, decreasing 1 stitch at the beginning of each row (hard to remember to do at first, but don't forget to do this!) until 7 stitches remain.

Finish Blanket

ROW 1 Working with 7 stitches on the needle, knit 2 stitches, slip 1 stitch from the left-hand needle to the right-hand neekle without knitting it, knit the next 2 stitches togther, then pass the slipped stitch (the second one on the right-hand needle) over the first stitch (this is the same action that you perform when you are binding off--see tutorial), knit the last 2 stitches so you now have 5 stitches on your needle.

Row 2 Knit 2 stitches, yarnover, knit 2 together, knit 1--5 stitche remain. Bind off all stitches. Weave in all loose ends.

For even more fun, make a matching roll-brim hat. Also try this wonderfully, super-easy baby blanket by Purl Bee--even simpler than this one!

Sweater or Sweatervest

Coming Soon!

I got this pattern from Helen, too, but I couldn't find it on her site anymore. It has a nice diagram with it so I'll copy it as soon as I can--I promise!

Petticoat Skirt