FAST EASY and Lovely-Cowl(super long) and Hat Pattern-----Europe?

My new favorite bulky yarn is Malabrigo Rasta. I have made cowls and/or hats from Indicieta,Piedras, Oxido, Solis, Porinnho, Arco Iris.. You can get it at the Upper West Side local yarn store Knitty City- Amsterdam and 79th Street-212 787 5896(they take phone orders too!)  Among the 16 colorways there are also white and black.

This is easy fast and fun for gifts. Around hour and half for each, cowl and hat....

Needles:For Cowl use 15(10mm) For Hat use 13(9mm)

Super Long Cowl: Provisionally Cast on 7 stitches 
Knit in seed stitch for whole skein of yarn, leave enough for 3 needle bind off.

Every and All Rows K1 P1 K1 P1 K1 P1 K1

If you dont want to do provisional cast on, you can insert thin needle through 7 bumps along the cast on edge and do the 3 needle bind off OR you can cast on and off normally and sew together!

This cowl should go around your neck 3-4 times.. it will stretch a bit...

Hat: cast on 45 stitches join in the round(odd number)

ROW 1-5 knit (can be same color or contrasting) (5 rows of stockinette can do as much as 7 if you want wider brim. )

ROWS 6-22 Switch to seed stitch and knit 16 rows. k1 p1 all around….knit the purls & purl the knits

2 choices for top- (can be same color or contrasting)

“Square Top”

put stitches on 4 dpns 11 11 11 12 (45 stitches)

Switch to st st

Row 23 knit all stitches

Row 24 decrease at each(as needed)end of needles such that following row will be 10 on each needle, (40)

Row 25 knit

Row 26 decrease beginning and end of each needle(k2tog at start, ssk at end)

Row 27 knit

repeat rows 26 and 27 until 8 stitches. using large sewing needle thread yarn through the remaining 8 stitches…

Alternate Top,

"Swirl Top style"

row 23 and 24 knit all around

row 25 *knit 7 ssk* repeat

row 26 *knit 6 ssk* repeat

row 27 *knit 5 ssk* repeat

row 28 *knit 4 ssk* repeat

row 29 *knit 3 ssk* repeat

row 30 *knit 2 ssk* repeat

Using Tapestry Needle, sew through remaining stitches pull tight and weave in.

How can the European Monetary System work...If the issuing countries join their debt together, they must have the same ability to tax each other and have fiscal discipline together...not sure what the final outcome is..but not pretty...

Here are some of the holiday gifts I made.... You can see the neighborhood out the window...almost no leaves left at this point....

 I have also made some scarves for the LoveScarf Project..These 2 and 3 or so more on the needles will go to Hospital Patients....The 7 seed stitch cowl is perfect for these as well....


See you soon!