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HALF HAT for hand knitters
It's cozy, quick and flattering!

YARN: Lion Woolease Thick & Quick
1 skein makes 2 hats

NEEDLES: 8mm or to get gauge

SKILL LEVEL: beginner
entire hat is knitted in knit 1, purl 1 rib

FLOWER: is a simple crochet design which is included in the pattern. If you don't crochet at all, embellish with other trim.

GAUGE: on 1 face of the fabric, 2 stitches and 3 rows per inch will show.

SIZED to fit ladies and girls. Adjustments are given.

Pattern is $4 and will be delivered as an instant download.
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The Answer Lady
I adore cables but have less affection for cable needles so I have tried a number of alternatives. Below are my 2 favorites. Feel free to print the material and pass it around. It is OK to use it at clubs. My only request is that the copyright and website info stay with it. Hope these help you as much as they help me! You might also enjoy trying my favorite cast on which is at the bottom of the page.
BOBBY PIN CABLES
(c)2010 Kathryn Doubrley http://www.theanswerlady.com
Bobby pins come in 2 sizes. Have both handy to see which works best for you. Knit up to the cable stitches. When instructed to place some on a cable needle, place them on the bobby pin instead. Put the bobby pin in front or back of the work as instructed. Knit the next stitches as instructed. Now, instead of knitting stitches off of a cable needle, return those on the bobby pin to the left needle and knit them off from there. The advantage is that bobby pins are smaller, easier to put in front or back of the work, cheaper and above all, don't tend to slip out and fly under the sofa as cable needles do. I find this faster than using cable needles and less aggravating. However, it's no longer my favorite method. I now normally DROP AND SWAP as described at right.
(c)2010 Kathryn Doubrley http://www.theanswerlady.com
DROP AND SWAP CABLES
(c)2010 Kathryn Doubrley http://www.theanswerlady.com
Knit the stitches to be cabled in the normal way, off of the left needle, working them a little bit loosely. Drop those to be crossed from the right needle, pinching them with the fingers of one hand to discourage running. With the fingertips of the other hand, re-arrange them in the correct order for the cable cross and slip them back onto the right needle. The cable is crossed without any extra tools or delays! If you find the following row difficult to knit, the cable stitches are overly tight. Adjust your knitting tension for them on the next crossing row. This will feel awkard at first but soon becomes easy. What we are actually doing does not fit the description in most patterns very well, even though the results are the same. Therefore, I find it helpful to re-write the cabled panel instructions. If a 4 stitch cable is to be crossed with the first 2 stitches in back, I'd write "Knit 4, cross 2 back" on my cheat sheet.
(c)2010 Kathryn Doubrley http://www.theanswerlady.com
NEEDLE NOTES All my needles are made of bamboo and are from China. I love the way they feel and perform and have less fatigue in my hands when using them than when using other types. They are labelled in millimeters which, for me, makes it easy for me to visualize their exact size. For those who are accustomed to standard American size references, the manufacturer provides the information at right.

The only troubles I have ever had with bamboo needles were solved with sandpaper and vinegar. Occasionally one will have a rough spot. It sands right off. In a VERY damp period when the weather was mild so all of our windows were open, I looked at my needle jar one day and all of the needles were covered with mold! In a swivet, I consulted other needlworkers. I received several good suggestions, the best of which was to soak the needles in vinegar. It did not hurt them and did eliminate the mold. Those of you in homes that are climate controlled all year round may never see this but fans of fresh air will sometimes deal with mold and it's good to have a simple safe fix.
No. 4 (3.5mm)
No. 5 (3.75mm)
No. 6 (4.25mm)
No. 7 (4.5mm)
No. 8 (5.0mm)
No. 9 (5.5mm)
No. 10 1/2 (6.5mm)
No. 11 (8.00mm)
No. 13 (9.00mm)
No. 15 (10.00mm)
THE ANSWER LADY'S FAVORITE CAST ON
(c)2010 Kathryn Doubrley http://www.theanswerlady.com
I like this cast on because it gives a chained edge that is very neat. A Tunisian crochet hook in the same size as the knitting needle size is needed. Match them by millimeter measurements since the 2 pieces of equipment are not calibrated in the same way. Begin by crocheting a chain equal to the number of stitches to be cast on, counting the loop that is on the hook to begin with. Use the Tunisian hook to make the chain. Insert it into the first chain, pull up a loop of the working yarn. Repeat the italicized instructions down the length of the chain. The cast on is complete now. Work the loops off the Tunisian hook with a knitting needle, knitting and purling in the correct sequence for your beginning row of knitting. This not as easy as knitting off of a pointed needle but it is not difficult. You'll soon get a feel for how to orient the hook so as to prevent it from interfering with knitting the stitches off. When this row is complete, resume knitting with 2 needles as usual. A neat, even chained edge will appear as the cast-on. It matches up nicely with many bind-off techniques.
click here to download a free button scarf pattern
click here to download a free shawl collar scarf pattern
I have an unusual knitting style. Don't really know where I learned it but I found others doing the same thing here. Apparently, this style originated in Russia. There are great videos and explainations of the advantages of this method