Easy Fun Panda Hat

Isn't this panda hat so cute! does it make you want to knit one for yourself?
To knit this panda hat, you only need basic skills: Cast on, knit,purl,  decreases, bind off.

Sizes 3 years (4-5 years, 6-7 years, Adult)

Finished Measurements
Hat circumference: 16 (18, 20, 201/4)" (40.5 [45.5, 51,51.5 ] cm)
Materials
1 skein white double knitting type yarn
Size 7 (4.5mm) needles
Yarn needle

Small amount of black double knitting yarn for features
Small amount of red double knitting yarn for tongue.

Hat

Cast on 72 (80, 88,97) stitches. Work in stockinette stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row) until the piece measures 41⁄2 (5, 51⁄2, 51/2)" (11.5 [12.5, 14, 14]cm) from the beginning.

Shape Crown
Row 1: *K6, k2tog; repeat from * to end-63 (70, 77,84 ) stitches.
Row 2: and all wrong side rows Purl.
Row 3: *K5, k2tog; repeat from * to end-54 (60, 66, 72) stitches.
Row 5: *K4, k2tog; repeat from * to end-45 (50, 55, 60) stitches.
Row 7: *K3, k2tog; repeat from * around-36 (40, 44, 48) stitches.
Row 9: *K2, k2tog; repeat from * around-27 (30, 33, 36) stitches.
Row 11: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * around-18 (20, 22, 24) stitches.
Row 13: K2tog around-9 (10, 11, 12) stitches.
Cut the yarn, leaving a long end. Use the yarn needle to thread the end through the remaining stitches. Draw together tightly and fasten off and sew seam.

Eyes – Make 2
With black, cast on 21 sts loosely. Knit 3 rows. Pass all sts, 1 at a time, over first st. Cut yarn,
leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining st; pull to tighten. Embroider whites of eyes and black french knot in centre.

Ears(make 2)
With black cast on 20 stitches.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2 : Purl
Row 3 :Knit
Row 4 : Purl
Row 5: k2tog, k 6; k2tog; k2tog, k 6 k2tog
Row 6 : k2tog, k4, k2tog, K2tog, K4, k2tog
Row 7: k2tog, k2, k2tog, k2tog, k2,k2tog
Cut the yarn, leaving a long end. Slip 4sts onto a second needle. Hold both needles parallel to each other and use the yarn end to graft the stitches together

NoseWith white, cast on 15 sts. Work in St st for 8 rows.
Next Row (RS) *K2tog; rep from * to last st, k 1 – 8 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining sts; pull tightly and secure.
Sew Nose seam.

Tip of nose With black, cast on 5 sts. Knit 2 rows. Purl 1 row.
Next Row K2tog, k 1, k2tog – 3 sts.
Next Row Purl.
Next Row K3tog – 1 st.
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining st; pull to tighten.
sew Tip to Nose.

Tongue With red, cast on 3 sts. Work 4 rows in St st. K3tog. Thread tail through remaining st; pull
to tighten.
FinishingUsing photo as a guide, sew knit Eyes and Ears in place. Stuff Nose and sew in place.
With black, embroider mouth. Sew Tongue to
mouth.

For those who prefer to knit with circular needles the hat pattern is the same a froggy hat a previous post on this blog. http://dianne-jones.blogspot.com/2012/01/easy-fun-froggy-hat.html

Childs Tam - Free Pattern

The Tam o’ Shanter is a Scottish bonnet  originally worn by men but, women have now adopted a form of this hat and it is  known as a “Tam” or a “Tammy.'' The hat is named after the Robbie Burns poem Tam o’ Shanter, written in 1790 which is often illustrated by a character wearing a hat in this style. The hat is usually made of wool and has a pompon ( known as a toorie) in the centre. It is quite a floppy type of hat with the crown sometimes twice the diameter of the head.  Originally they were dyed blue ( the famous “blue bonnets”), owing to the limitation of available dyes nowadays you can find them in every colour imaginable. This is a similar version suitable for a child, i made this in the same eyelash yarn as the poncho in yesterdays post as they are to be worn together by the same child.

Alice’s Tam

Size 5mm needles
Cast on 85 sts and work K1,P1 rib for 6 rows
( as the eyelash yarn is very soft i knit the rib in a double knit yarn in a similar shade)
Work 24 rows stocking stitch  (1 row knit, 1 row purl) and in the first knit row increase 12 sts evenly aross -96st
Decrease row1 *k10,k2tog, rep from *
Decrease row2 *p2tog,p9, rep from*
Decrease row3*k8, k2tog, rep from*
Decrease row4*p2tog,p7, rep from*

Continue to decrease every row, having a stitch less between dec’s until 16sts remain. Cut yarn leaving a long strand and pull through remaining stitches, tighten and sew seam.

Instead of adding a pompon in the centre i decided to add a flower at the side to make it a little more girlie.

The flower is made as follows:

Cast on 4 stitches.
Row 1. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 3 (5sts)
Row 2. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, purl 4 (6sts)
Row 3. Knit front & back of 1st stitch, knit 5 (7sts)
Row 4. Knit front & back of 1st stitch purl 6  (8sts). Cut yarn leaving a 4’’ tail and leave on a spare needle.
Repeat 4 more times but do not cut yarn on last petal

Row 5. Join all petals by knitting across (40 sts)Row 6. Purl 2 together across row (20 sts)
Row 7. Knit 2 together across row (10sts)
Row 8. Purl 2 together, purl 3 together, prul 2 together, purl 3 together

Thread yarn through stitches and pull tight and sew into place. Secure all loose ends.

 Attach the flower to the hat and any little girl will love this Tam.

Knit With Love

September is Knitting for Charity Month For knitting Galore. Today our featured Charity is Knit With Love.

Knit With Love was founded by Lindsay Baxter as a high school student in Orange County, California. She learned to knit at a young age, and built up a large inventory of scarves and beanies (hats). The giving of her first knitted beanie to her grandmother who was going through chemotherapy, and seeing how much happiness it brought her was one of her main reasons for starting this charity. A few days before Christmas in 2008 Lindsay went to downtown Los Angeles to pass out knitted items to the local homeless people and seeing how much appreciation there was for these simple items,  was inspired to continue on with this. Since then Knit With Love has donated over 1,200 items to people in need in twenty-three countries. They have donated items to homeless children and adults in America, impoverished people all over the world, and kids in cancer wards in hospitals.

Knit With Love is focused on providing scarves, beanies, blankets and other knitted clothing to people in need.  The gift of a scarf or cap can bring joy to a person in a time of need, and brighten up their life.Every item donated is knit with love and with a specific purpose in mind. The goal is to provide warmth, hope, and love to people in need. They donate items to homeless people, impoverished children abroad, premature babies, people going through cancer treatments, and are always looking for more deserving people to give to.

How You Can Help

Knitters are invited to  help by providing much needed scarves, beanies, blankets and other knitted items and even if you don’t knit, you can donate yarn and needles to help knit items for people in need.You can ship it via UPS or other carrier to the address below.

Ship Donations To: Knit With Love.
                              32565 Golden Lantern, Suite B, # 190.
                              Dana Point, California 92629

  Knit With Love is committed to giving warmth through knitted items. With the support of many sponsors and supporters, are able to maximize the effect of every dollar received. Knit With Love is an all volunteer charity, and make every dollar count. If you’d like to make a financial donation information is on the web site.

The link to Knit with Love web site is: http://www.knitwithlove.org

If you have any questions about donating please email info@knitwithlove.org

The holiday season will soon be upon us, and although your knitting is needed all year round, there is a higher demand at this time of the year. During the Christmas season of 2008 and 2009, Knit With Love donated scarves, beanies, and blankets to children and adults staying in homeless shelters in downtown Los Angeles. They also donated knitted beanies to children in the Children's Hospital of Orange County who have cancer or other illnesses. Through the organization, StandUp For Kids, were also able to donate items to homeless youth in Louisville, KY and Seattle, WA.

If you know of a person in need, or a charity/organization that helps people, and you feel that Knit With Love can help by providing knit items, please contact them, they would love to help in any way possible. .  Help put a smile on a deserving person’s face today!.

 Are you’re looking for a way to use up your leftover yarn?
 Please help Lindsay and her team  and ‘Knit With Love’.

If you’d like a free knitting pattern ‘knitting for Charity’ please enter your email address in the box  provided at the end of this blog and I will email you a copy. (I promise to respect your privacy and will not pass your email address on to a third party )