Counting SHEEP ............ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

While I was enrolled in a pattern testing works (which I might, time permitted, write about the experience in the blog later), I also came across this popular Baa-ble Hat by Donna Smith.  After looking at hundreds of beautiful finished project pics, I just had to try my hand on it.

Even Dave the duck falls asleep with the baa baa :D

I took the modified route as suggested by a few knitters that find the original pattern produces a hat that is on the big side, and knowing my knitting is on the loose side, I casted on 88 sts.  Still, 88 sts for the circumference for a hat could be a little bit tight with my experience, so to be on the safe side, at least I could put it on, I used German twisted cast on (instead of the normal long tail cast on) just to make sure the tightness on the cast on rows were kept to a minimum.  It works perfect.

Since the body of the hat is 90 sts (instead of the original 120 sts), the distribution of the flecks along the rows would need to be adjusted as well. The only two numbers that will give a even number after dividng 90 is 3 (30) and 5 (18), that will be the number of the pattern repeat for the flecks along the rows.  So the repeats are every 2 and 4 sts, you do a different colour.  When we got to the crown decrease, there was really no set number to evenly spread out the sparkles but need to look at the sts in between the 2 decreases and work from there.  It might be easier to set up a quick knitting chart and experiment it from there before actual knitting if wished. Also try not to put the flecks below the k2tog (I am using k2tog decrease, but we can be different too and do a ssk decrease; as long as we keep it consistent).  This will give you a half stitch colour look, but if that is what you are looking for, go ahead :p

Every sheep has its day :D

Or have a look at Susan Anderson's blog, she has all that written :)

Also the measurement from the top of the ribs (k2,p2) to where you want to start the crown decrease should be kept at around 4".  For my small head, it is a good fit in circumference and a slightly relaxed fit in length.  It will look perfect with a yarn or faux fur pompom.

It is a 2 colour work for any single row and easy knit for a lazy afternoon watching movie :D

Oscar counting sheep, made it to 1 ..........

Then came the Baa Ble mittens. You know, have to make a set :)



Happy Baa Baa !!

This took me a some time to decide on the final plan.  Although it will be consistent to do a normal ribbed type mittens to echo with the ribbed hat, but the problem with the position of the gusset and the sheep pattern bothered me.  I read a few comments and saw the pic. In order to have the sheep pattern around and near to the wrist, and they did it by using the afterthought thumb technique, not the normal gusset technique. Normal gusset should be starting immediately to 4 - 5 rounds above ribs for a good fit, while afterthought thumb opens up higher in the body of the mitten. I am not a fan of afterthought thumb for its fit and the overall appearance of the mittens as they were worn. Sometimes pattern will get  distorted. Remembering this is also a colour work, there will be not be enough ease to "give" for the fitting. So moving on ...... :p

If one wanted the sheep pattern around the wrist, it will not be joined but punctuated by the gusset stitches. So I decided to try again with the arch gusset technique that I saw on Purl Soho's website whereby it is a rolled up knit edge and gave me enough rounds to knit the sheep pattern before starting the gusset. 

Outside and inside of the mittens

I tried to knit the arched gusset mittens once before but the left thumb opening somehow made no sense to me then and I did what I thought best and that was it. This time the light bulb turned on and the instruction finally make sense to me but I still think it need rewriting.

So here it is my clumsy attempt :) 

After increasing up to 56 sts
Next rnd knit all the way to the marker, remove marker, slip the next st (unknitted st); then slip all the following sts till the end of rnd (15 in total) onto a piece of contrast colour yarn to hold; slip the unknitted st back onto the left needle and k2tog with the next st following on the left needle (that should be the start of the rnd st).  The resulting k2tog stitch will be the new start of the rnd st (40 sts)

You will also find that the thumb hole in the left is a round lower than the right to start, so when knitting the thumb, be sure to add 1 row more on the left side; or alternatively knit to length instead.

Moo Moo adding his hairs to the pieces as bonus :D

Enjoy !!!