Hobbies And Interests
Baby Hats
Start by knitting a hat for a baby. The newborn size will make it a quick and easy project, and you can move on to bigger items as your skill improves. Choose a soft three- or four-ply wool and size 11 needles, and cast on 90 stitches. Knit alternate rows of knit and purl until the hat measures 3 inches ending on a purl row. Now decrease by knitting eight stitches then two together and repeating for one row. Purl every alternate row. Knit seven stitches, then two together and repeat, gradually decreasing the number until you are knitting two stitches together. Continue until you have just one stitch left. cast off and sew the side hem.
Adult Hats
Adult beanie hats follow the same pattern but use bigger needles and more stitches. Alternate colors to make an attractive striped hat. This is good for using oddments of wool and will keep a child interested when he is learning to knit. Add a fancy bobble or decoration to personalize the hat.
Socks
Woolen socks are more difficult to knit. You will need four sock needles that have points at both ends. These enable you to knit the leg of the sock without a seam. Beginners may find this difficult, as the stitches are more likely to fall off the needles. The difficulty increases with turning the heel, where knitting changes to just one needle. The sock is then sewn up across the toe and the side seam
Choosing Wool
Choose the wool for your hats and socks to match the person you are knitting for. A baby or child will love the feel of soft, delicate cotton mixes. A little girl might appreciate a sparkly wool with silver thread twisted through or a fluffy angora finish. Bed socks can be made with a warm chenille, but socks for the daytime need to be knitted with a thin cotton so that the feet can breathe.