Heather Lodinsky LOVES yarn

Heather Lodinsky has designed for many yarn companies and magazines for almost 20 years. She is the author of 150 Knit and Crochet Motifs (2011, Interweave Press) which has been published in 5 languages. She is also the designer of the popular "Central Park Hoodie" cardigan. Heather lives in Buffalo, New York with her family and teaches 3 times a week at the Elmwood Yarn Shop in Buffalo. (Website with shop and class information: Elmwoodyarnshop.com)

“I smiled when I heard about ‘I Love Yarn Day’, because that is every day of my life! For as long as I can remember, I have played with yarn. My first ‘commission’ was to make Barbie doll dresses made on a circular knitting loom for my 2nd grade teacher. (I was paid 10 cents for each one and then I got to keep the remaining yarn!) I also had a ‘pom-pom pet’ business in 8th grade with 3 school friends taking orders for me. I guess I was destined to always have a life with yarn. I still love to pick up a ball of yarn and ‘play’ (others call it swatching) to see what it will look like when it is knit or crocheted. The hat I have designed is a knitted homage to my love for yarn with knitted cables that become ‘hugs and kisses’ represented in the O's and X's. If you have never tried a cable pattern before, this is a good introduction on how holding your cable needle in the front or the back changes the look of your cables.”

LW339 - Hugs and Kisses Hat

Celebrate I Love Yarn Day with this easy topper!

By Heather Lodinsky
www.redheart.com
www.crochettoday.com

Download the instructions

What You’ll Need

RED HEART® With Love™: 1 skein of 1703 Candy Pink. Art. E400 available in solid color 7 oz (198 g), 370 yd (338 m) and multicolor 5 oz (141 g), 230 yd (211 m) skeins.
Susan Bates^®Knitting Needles: 4.5 mm [US 7] and 5.5 mm [US 9].
Cable needle
yarn needle

Medium

Easy

Finished Measurements

fits 21" (53.5 cm) head circumference.

Gauge

16 sts = 4" (10 cm), 22 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Stockinette Stitch with larger size needles.
CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size needles to obtain the gauge.

Abbreviations

K = knit
mm = millimeter
P = purl
st(s) = stitch(es)
tog = together
( ) = work directions in parentheses as indicated.

Special Stitches
Cable 4 Back– Slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold at back of work, K2 from the left needle, K2 from the cable needle.
Cable 4 Front– Slip next 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold at front of work, K2 from the left needle, K2 from the cable needle.

HAT

Cabled Band

With larger size needles, cast on 14 sts.
Row 1: K3, P8, K3.
Row 2 (Right side): P3, K8, P3.
Row 3: K3, P8, K3.
Row 4: P3, work Cable 4 Back, work Cable 4 Front, P3.
Rows 5-7: Repeat Rows 1-3.
Row 8: P3, work Cable 4 Front, work Cable 4 Back, P3.
Rows 9-12: Repeat Rows 5-8.
Rows 13-16: Repeat Rows 1-4.
Repeat Rows 1-16 for pattern until piece measures approximately 21" (53.5 cm) from cast on edge.
Bind off all sts in pattern.

RIBBING

With smaller size needles and right side facing, pick up 114 sts along one edge of Cabled Band.
Row 1: P2, (K2, P2) across.
Row 2 (Right side): K2, (P2, K2) across.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for pattern until piece measures approximately 1½" (4 cm) from Cabled Band.
Bind off all sts in pattern.

Crown

With larger size needles and right side facing, pick up 84 sts along opposite edge of Cabled Band.
Row 1: Purl across.
Row 2 (Right side): Knit across.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 for pattern until piece measures approximately 6" (15 cm) from bind off edge of Ribbing, ending by working a wrong side row.

Crown Shaping

Row 1 (Right side): (K5, K2 tog) across: 72 sts.
Row 2 and ALL WRONG SIDE ROWS: Purl across.
Row 3: (K4, K2 tog) across: 60 sts.
Row 5: (K3, K2 tog) across: 48 sts.
Row 7: (K2, K2 tog) across: 36 sts.
Row 9: (K1, K2 tog) across: 24 sts.
Row 11: K2 tog across: 12 sts.
Row 13: K2 tog across: 6 sts.
Cut yarn, leaving a 16" (40.5 cm) end for sewing. Thread yarn needle with end and weave through remaining stitches. Draw up firmly, fasten securely.

Finishing

Thread yarn needle with long end. With right sides together and matching stitches, sew seam.