Today, I’m continuing to share inspirational ideas on where to take your ‘knitting to go’ from yesterday. You may find, as I have, that the travel knitting bag is more important than your backpack, and at least as important as your snacks! The small size of the VIVACE Knitting Bag in black is discrete and easy to grab and go. I can easily pack 3 balls of UNIVERSAL YARN Deluxe Stripes into it, as well as all the needles and accessories I described in yesterday’s post.
Taking in the view of the Saint Croix River while knitting on my cowl, in St. Stephen, New Brunswick.
Be sure to stop and enjoy the view as you walk along the river. Taking the time to pause is rewarding for the soul. Also, the memories and impressions are knit into the piece you’re working on. It makes each item ‘souvenir knitting’. Later, in the cold, deep winter, when I pull out this piece to wear, I’ll be reminded of this river walk, the sounds, and the smells.
A close-up of Michelle knitting the cowl, at New River Beach, New Brunswick (#beachknitting)
Long afternoons spent at the ocean beach are the perfect times to get some real progress on that cowl. Some folks like to read. I confess I prefer knitting. It keeps me more in the moment, even as time seems to pass more quickly.
Knitting the cuff of my mitts using 2 circular needles, at Lake Utopia, New Brunswick (#beachknitting)
I always bring knitting to the beach. #beachknitting is a popular hashtag on Instagram. And I do think that folding chairs were designed to hold yarn, not a drink. Work on something easy to pick up and put down, for when you want to get in that quick swim.
The reward at the end of a hike is getting to knit while enjoying the view.
What do you do when you finally make it to the top of that rock? Whip out your knitting and rest for a while! The view is always sweeter when you have something to do once you get there.
Knitting a simple hat is the perfect pastime for a rainy day while camping.
Camping in the rain. Can you think of anything better to do while camping, especially when it’s raining? I made a lot of progress on the hat that day!
Making the hat
The first travel project pattern I created using UNIVERSAL YARN Deluxe Stripes is for the hat. I used the materials listed in yesterday’s post, I’ll take my knitting to go! 3 places to knit when travelling, which I packed into my travel knitting bag.
A close-up of the hat knit in Deluxe Stripes, showing the details
HAT
One size, adult; approx. circumference: 21¼” [54cm]
Abbreviations
Approx approximately
cm centimeter(s)
in inch(es)
k knit
k2tog knit two stitches together as one = decrease of one stitch
m meter(s)
mm millimeter(s)
p purl
pm place marker
rm remove marker
rep repeat
rnd(s) round(s)
sm slip marker
st(s) stitch(es)
St st Knit all right-side rounds
yd yard(s)
[ ] work instructions inside brackets a specified number of times
2 x 2 Rib [k2, p2] repeat to end of round, and repeat round to form pattern
materials
yarn
- 1 skein of UNIVERSAL YARN Deluxe Stripes, 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon, 218yd [200m] per 3.5oz [100g], Color: 307 Timber
needles
- 1 KNITTER’S PRIDE Dreamz circular needle size US 4 [3.5mm], 16” [40cm] long
- 2 KNITTER’S PRIDE Dreamz circular needles size US 7 [4.5mm], 16” [40cm] long
notions
- 6 stitch markers
- yarn needle
- scissors
- Soak Gentle Laundry Soap (no-rinse laundry soap)
gauge
18 sts x 24 rnds = 4” [10cm] in St st on US 7 [4.5mm] needles, blocked
32 sts x 32 rnds = 4” [10cm] in 2 x 2 Rib on US 4 [3.5mm] needles, blocked
The best campsite set-up you can have includes a fire, guitar, a BBQ and easy knitting!
Instructions
With US 4 [3.5mm] needle, cast on 96 sts. Join in round, taking care not to twist sts and place a stitch marker for beginning of rnd. Slip marker throughout.
Work 40 rnds of 2 X 2 Rib, or approx 5” [13cm].
Change to a US 7 [4.5mm] needle and work 16 rnds of St st, or approx 2½” [6.5cm].
A close-up of the hat knit in UNIVERSAL YARN Deluxe Stripes, showing shaping of the crown using 2 circular needles.
Shape crown
Next rnd: [K14, k2tog, pm] rep 6 times. 90 sts.
Next rnd: Knit.
Next rnd: [K13, k2tog, sm] rep 6 times. 84 sts.
Next rnd: Knit.
Next rnd: [K12, k2tog, sm] rep 6 times. 78 sts.
Next rnd: Knit.
Next rnd: [K11, k2tog, sm] rep 6 times. 72 sts.
The crown is reduced with each decrease in stitches. Once the circumference is too small to spread around the 16” [40cm] needle length, introduce the second size US 7 [4.5mm] needle. Work using the two circular needle technique.
Next rnd: [K10, k2tog, sm] rep 6 times. 66 sts.
Next rnd: [K9, k2tog, sm] rep 6 times. 60 sts.
Next rnd: [K8, k2tog, sm] rep 6 times. 54 sts.
Continue to decrease 6 sts each round as established, for 7 more rounds. 12 sts.
Next rnd: [K2tog, rm] rep 6 times. 6 sts remain.
Wearing the hat, mitts, and cowl on the wharf at St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick
Finishing
Cut yarn, leaving a 6” [15cm] strand. Using a yarn needle, thread through 6 open sts and draw up tight to close the top. Fasten the yarn securely to the inside of the hat and trim the ends. Weave in the yarn end from the cast-on. Wet block with a quick bath of SOAK wash, in a cool basin of water. Dry the hat on a hat form, if possible; otherwise, spread the hat on a towel, turning it several times during dry time.
In the next post, you’ll find the easy pattern for the mitts. UNIVERSAL YARN Deluxe Stripes is a great choice for these fast-to-make mitts, as the stripes add the perfect design element. There will be lots of pictures, as I continue my theme of ‘knitting to go’.
This is part 2 of 5 in this series
Go back to part 1: I’ll take my knitting to go! 3 places to knit when travelling
Go to part 3: Easy pattern instructions for knitting open finger mitts
