I have been working on a way
to make ornaments for gifts and use up some of the heavy worsted/bulky yarn
scraps I have. I came up with the following
two patterns. One is for a small roll brim hat with a top knot and the other
is for a double knit scarf (referring to the technique not the weight of the
yarn used). The hat pattern is written for double pointed needles; the scarf
ornament uses straight needles.
Small Hat
Size 10 or 10 1/2 dps (honestly, you could
use 8's or 9's too--it is an ornament--make it as little as you like or use
needles that are handy)
heavy worsted weight yarn (Lamb's Pride works great)
Gauge: not as important as avoiding ladders when you work--if you have trouble with ladders, use smaller needles
Cast on 24 sts and join, careful not to
twist
Knit all stitches for 3 inches (from cast on edge--unroll if you need to measure)
*K2, K2tog around
*K1, K2tog around
*K2tog around twice--you should have 3 stitches remaining
put all three stitches on one needle and work I-cord for about 3 inches,
then K1, K2tog, pass the first stitch over the second and fasten off the ends.
If you are comfortable with double pointed needles, these should take about half an hour to do.
Double Knit Scarf
Size 8 straight needles
heavy worsted weight yarn
Cast on 8 stitches (you can be more technical
and use a tubular cast on described in Knitter's Fall magazine on double knitting
if you would like
or cover up your ends with fringe)
All rows but the last:
*K1, bring the yarn forward, slip one stitch purlwise, bring the yarn over the
slipped stitch and back behind the needle, repeat from * across
[You will be making a tube-the stitches you slip are the other side of the tube--it
also looks pretty scary at first, work at least 6 rows before
starting to panic]
Once your scarf is long enough (I knit for about 8 inches or so), I knit one stitch from the front with one stitch from the back and bound off at the same time