UPDATE #1: Back to Basics (Free Hat Pattern)

Update #1: So, I finished the pattern and there were a few issues with the final product. For one, it was WAY too shallow for my head. It fit the bill in terms of being big enough to fit over my hair without making marks in my "do", but it only covered half my ears. This is fine if my hair is down because my hair insulates my ears but, really, I want a hat the fits properly and does its job. Secondly, I wrote in a severe decrease at the end because I wanted the hat to have sort of a "flat" top (like a mushroom almost). I got the desired effect but the super-fast decrease ended up leaving a lot of "holes" in the top - almost as if I'd intentionally made eyelet. I used a loooooong tail of yarn to sew all the holes closed which was, as you can imagine, really tedious and frustrating.

So, I'm working on version 2 right now. I've increased the cuff at the start to 2 full inches (actually, it may be more - I need to measure) and I'm adding some buffer rows in the decrease at the top. If these fixes work, I'll be updated the pattern below. If they don't, I'll be making another one until I get it right. I'm nothing if not tenacious. LOL

We talk a lot about being distracted here - of being waylaid by shiny objects and the constant need to do something different. It's the basis of who we are. It's our shared trait that gave us our name.

Unfortunately, for me, the same trait that makes me want to try everything and be challenged is also the one that also makes me, occasionally, "burn out". Reading is a regular victim. At my reading peak, I belonged to three book clubs. Most of the time I can keep up pretty well with the responsibilities of one club plus some additional reading that's just for fun. But, every now and then, I just stop. I don't read anything accept online articles (blog post length - not NY Times length) and the backs of cereal boxes. These reading droughts can last months, or weeks. Regardless of their length, they are painful dry spells where I can't muster any interest in reading at all. As a matter of fact, when I'm in one of these lulls, I can't even imagine caring about reading ever again. And then, one day, I pick up a book and I'm back.

A visual representation of my craft drought

Since Cassandra and I began crafting in earnest, I've had a couple of small knitting droughts. Nothing major really - until recently. In case you haven't noticed, most of my posts lately have been about everything BUT knitting and/or crafting in general. The good news is, I picked up my stick again this past weekend and designed a little hat so it looks like the dry spell may be over.

It's no secret that I love designing. I'm not a huge fan of making the same thing twice but coming up with an idea and capturing the instructions in such  a way so that others can make it too is incredibly satisfying. Even when I was a beginner knitter, I would often go "off book" and try varying the pattern I was working. Now, with "easy" projects like hats, scarves, mittens, etc. I usually just look at a variety of patterns, try to find the commonalities in the creation of the item, and then put the common elements together with the stitch patterns, finishes, decorations, etc. that I know or can dig up from design books.

So, this is a really easy pattern. I had a random skein of Cascade 220 in my stash and a need for a hat that was the right shape to wear without leaving at marks on my stylish hairdo. You've seen this style of hat - all the hipster boys wear them.  If I were 20 years younger and wore skinny jeans, I'd fit right in. LOL

Here's the pattern as it exists in my head right now. If you decide to make this (should be an easy weekend project), please let me know if you find any errata in the pattern that I can correct. Enjoy!

Almost done

Hipster Hat

Use a worsted or DK weight yarn
Size 10 double-pointed needles
Gauge: 4 stitches = approx 1"

Cast on 75 stitches. If you need a larger or smaller hat, size your cast-on (up or down) in multiples of three (60, 63, 66, 69, 72, 75, 78, 81, etc.)
Place marker before you begin knitting in the round
K two rows, being careful not to twist your stitches
*K2, P2, repeat from * until piece measures 1.5 inches long
K one row
*K3, YO, repeat from * to the end of the row (this will leave you with a row of "eyelets")
K five rows
*K4, M1 (using the backward loop method), repeat from * to the end of the row
K five rows
*K5, M1 (using the backward loop method), repeat from * to the end of the row K five rows
*K6, M1 (using the backward loop method), repeat from * to the end of the rowK five rows
*K5, K2TOG, repeat from * to the end of the row.
K one row
*K4, K2TOG, repeat from * to the end of the row.
K one row
*K2TOG, repeat from * to the end of the row, do this twice (2 rows)
*K2TOG, repeat from * until the last stitch. K the last stitch

You should have some stitches left at this point (I'm not sure how many because I haven't actually gotten there yet!). Cut a tail and then your thread through the remaining stitches and pull tight. Weave in any loose stitches

Create an icord (see YouTube for video) or get a length of ribbon. Run the icord or ribbon through the eyelet holes at the top of the "cuff" and tie a bow.

E voila! You are done.

I may need to update this in a day or so when I finish the hat. Keep your eyes peeled for the word "update" added to the title.

Hope you like it.

- Alex

1970s Fashion Flashback!

Back in the stone age, when I was in high school, maxi skirts were the rage. And the coolest maxi you could have was one made from an old pair of blue jeans.

There was a cool girl at my school who had the best blue jean skirt ever. I coveted that skirt. Then, one day she left school - I can't remember if she graduated or if she moved to a different school but she left the skirt behind in the laundry room and I found it. Possession is 9/10th of the law, right??

I wore that skirt almost daily for a full semester. I loved that skirt with everything I had. Then, one day, she came back and saw me in it. The exchange went like this:

HER: Hey! That's my skirt!

ME: No it's not.

HER: Yes it is... look there's the [some identifying feature that made it hers]. Give it back!

ME: No.

HER: I'm telling. (she probably didn't actually say this but...)

ME: Fine.

So, I caved and returned the skirt and forever regretted no longer having the coolest jean maxi skirt ever.

The other day, I was cleaning out my chest of drawers and came across a pair of jeans that I never wear anymore. And I had an epiphany.

Because I'm a really generous person, unlike that b*tch from high school, I'm going to share my tutorial on how to make your very own, awesome jean maxi skirt. Enjoy.

Materials needed:

• 2 pair of jeans (or one pair of jeans and fabric to fill in the “center” of the skirt)
• A seam ripper and/or a really good pair of sharp pointed scissors (snips)
• A spool of “jean thread” (it’s kind of orange and heavy)
• A denim needle for your sewing machine. DO NOT SKIP THIS. You need a heavy duty needle to get through the multiple layers of denim.
• An iron and ironing board

Step one: Open up the inseam on the pair of jeans that will serve as the skirt. 

Step two: Clean up the remnants of the old thread.

Step three: Measure and cut the jeans that will be used to fill the center of the skirt.

a)      Measure the inseam on your “skirt” and then measure the leg of your second pair of jeans from the hem up – allowing yourself at least four inches of extra fabric. It helps if your “inset” jeans are longer than the “skirt” jeans.

b)      Mark the fabric at your cut line. Fold the jeans in half and cut across both legs.

Step four: Secure the “V” of the skirt in the front and back by folding the fabric over and sewing it down using a topstitch with the "jean thread".  I used a ¼” seam allowance. See photos:

Front fold

Front pinned down

 

Front sewn

Back pinned

Back sewn

Step five: Take one of the legs apart with a seam ripper, leaving you with two pieces of long fabric. The back of the leg will be wider and, probably, the one you’ll want to use for the front inset. However, you can use the narrower one if it fits and you prefer it. Iron flat any old seams that might be folded over.

Step six: Open the larger seam (the old inseam) on the other leg, leaving the smaller seam and creating a wider piece of fabric. This is the one you’ll use for the back inset.

a)      When placing this fabric into the “V”, make sure you line up the seam so that it’s exactly in the middle or it will look askew.

Step seven: Pin the inset fabric into the front and back “V”’s of the skirt and then sew in place using a ¼” seam allowance topstitch.

NOTE: on the front of the skirt, the old inseam should still be folded under and you can just topstitch over that. In the back, you'll need to iron the fabric to create a finished edge for the topstitching.

Step eight: Turn your skirt inside out and trim off the excess fabric. Don't worry about the frayed edges. Pro-tip: If they bug you, use some Fray Stop.

That's a lot of extra fabric.

Step nine: Finish the hem in whatever way you prefer. I like a fringe so I just cut everything to the same length and start the fray with the pick end of the seam ripper. It will fringe up nicely with a couple of washings.

E voila! You’re done. Now you can be the coolest kid in school too. 

- Alex

FREE! Hat Pattern

It's winter. We all need hats. Thought you might like to whip one up from this pattern I designed. It came out pretty cute, if I do say so myself. (My arm just cracked from patting myself on the back.)

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I created a "Poodle Hat" to go with my niece's Christmas present, the infamous "Poodle Scarf."  It's only poodle-y because it's got pom-pons and is pink. Make it in some other fun colors and it could just be a super-cool snowboarding hat or "I'm a fun person and not boring" hat. Frankly, once I'm done with some obligatory gift knitting, I'm making one of these for myself.

The pattern can be found on our "Free Downloads!" page or by clicking here. I hope you all enjoy it. If you find any errata, please, please, please let me know so I can fix the pattern accordingly. It's pretty simple so hopefully there's nothing seriously wrong with it.

Enjoy!

- Alex

Free Pattern Wednesday!

We at Mighty Distractible would like to introduce you to our new FREE downloadable embroidery pattern from our Woodland series. Please meet Hare.

Hare is a feisty rabbit from the Black Forest who looks very cute as wall art, pillow fronts, or even a quilt block. Use floss, crewel yarn, ribbon, felt in any color of the rainbow. Hey, if you love purple bunnies, go with it...you're only limited by your imagination. Please feel free to download and enjoy!

We would love to see your work so please send us pictures of your finished projects.

The Woodland Series will feature 4 designs. All will be different animals and all will be offered free from Mighty Distractible. Please keep checking on Wednesdays for a new free design to download. There is also a link to "free downloads" on the right sidebar for easy access.

We did french knots, you do what you want!

–Alex and Cassandra