Springtime Cowl and Beanie

The winter of 2019 seems to be just as endless in Chicago Land as last year's - so I thought that my friend Barb might welcome the warmth of a cowl - doubling as a beanie for the really Chicago-windy days - and in the spring color of green, with a few red, blue and yellow beads thrown in for good measure as a stand-in for spring flowers!

 Springtime Cowl and Beanie

The pattern is called: Barb’s Springtime Cowl and Beanie!

First: It is a cowl. Secondly: It is a beanie. Thirdly: You can wear it with the greener part at the top or at the bottom, upside down, inside out. And finally: The I-cord is removable and can be woven through the holes between the stitches either at the top or at the bottom. I crocheted the last two rows and the elastic bind-off to make an even hole-spacing for the I-cord.

 Springtime Cowl and Beanie

 Springtime Cowl and Beanie

After weaving the I-cord through the spaces between the stitches, pull it tight, make a bow and there you go, take a bow! Wear your beanie upside down whichever way you please. Oh yes, lest I forget, if you don't want the I-cord to show you can gather the cowl together at the top with the I-cord, make a bow, turn the cowl - now a beanie - inside out and there you go. How versatile is that!

Springtime Cowl and Beanie - I-Cord

Springtime Cowl and Beanie

Of course there is the option to wear it inside out and upside down, but that is totally up to the wearer-ess. The spiral-like green beads on the one end I bought in Shanghai in 2008. The colourful Rocailles (beads) I bought in Vienna in an incredibly well-stocked bead shop sometime at the beginning of this century. And the various yarns were bought during the past 6 decades of picking up so-called orphan yarns, i.e. where only one or two skeins are left in an orphan basket in yarn stores of every country we visited. Now they are orphans no longer but united in a hopefully useful accessory. They are in the colors of spring flowers. 
So there you go! An international Barb Beanie and Cowl!

 

Succulent - not a cowl or beanie, but green!

Colors to Lift Your Spirits - Starting with Green

Although winter temperatures and trees bare of leaves will still be with us in the northern hemisphere for another month or so, I am now starting to knit colors for spring. These two hats are made with fuzzy yarns from my stash, one of them adorned with a pink heart for that little girl somewhere in a migrant welcome center in Berlin.

Spring Green Hat for a Baby

I used the Emily Ocker cast-on and German Short Rows for the earflaps. Adding a new color when knitting in the round: "jogless" is what you want so see this tutorial on how to joing a new color to your hat. I-cords and a little heart-shaped button - and the hats were ready to start their travels. For more helpful hints click here
and go to bottom of posts.

 

  

Spring Green Hat for a Toddler

O how I long again to see
The vernal face of Spring,
And hear, from every budding tree,
Some little warbler sing.

I long to see the forest trees
Clothed in their robes of green,
And swaying in the gentle breeze
Display their glossy sheen.

I long to wander by the stream
Where sport the speckled trout,
Or in the noontide's genial gleam
See lambkins frisk about.

I long to see the sons of toil
Perform the noble deed
Of breaking up the stubborn soil
To plant the fertile seed. 

I long to see the meadows green
Bespread with flowerets gay--
I long to have a change of scene
From winter cold and gray.

It won't be long--a little while
And snows will disappear
And Flora with her winning smile
Shall find a welcome here.

A poem by S. Moore (Canada)

At the Beginning of Year 2016

we are all hoping that this year things will take a turn for the better. There were so many tragic events and a lot of grief and sadness during the past year. The hope for freedom and safety drew refugees across dangerous seas, and they were welcomed with open arms or rejected on the grounds of many reasons, an uncertain future awaiting them either way. Nobody knows overall solutions to those troubling problems... But at least we can try and help.

Snow Hat

Last year, I began knitting items for children as my contribution to help people coming into Germany. They are ill prepared for cold winters and snowy conditions and so I thought of hats:

Snow Hat - fluffy white with gold sprinkles

This is a nice pattern, a hat with inbuilt ear flaps, using a light color to make the wearer visible and thus safer during the dark winter hours. Story behind it:

Snow Hat

After I had already started and been about halfway, I was not happy with my winged earflaps. So I did an earflap hat/cap pattern search on Ravelry, a search which was followed by a determined and quick frogging activity.

Snow Hat - moss stitch brim

Using fancitiger's pattern "Ice Skating Cap" I quickly knit up this pretty cap plus two more and dropped them off at one of those collection centers for items useful for refugees. It warms my heart to think they will warm somebody's ears...

Snow Hat - creamy white and gold

I love to knit. Sometime people ask me why I knit. The very question can only come from somebody not involved in textile crafts. Knitting, crochet and other textile techniques involve the brain and the heart and soul simultaneously. While I knit, I can think of wonderful events in my life - especially of my family and friends and cats, as well as of the many wonderful homes I've lived in in a number of countries. In short: it makes me happy.

Winter Morning - Le Lauragais

Observations -  "A small child is toddling along the sidewalk, stopping now and then, seemingly for no particular reason, and then just as spontaneously picking up speed for a short dash to the next attraction, seemingly invisible to everybody but the child. The adult following the child smilingly seems to have no hurry at all in her steps, her arms are a bit stretched out, hands open and ready to catch the child if need be. The child laughs and turns around to share his joy of having seen something new and the grandmother responds in kind with an understanding and reassuring smile."

Frosted Berries (Copyright Valerie Mader)

Advent Candles

Advent time - so special for children. Decorating the Christmas tree, cards and gifts arriving, school or church Christmas plays, shops and markets with adorned colorful lights and lots of golden, red and green garlands strung across the streets, the first snow falling and the delight of using the sleigh on a snowy hill - who from the northern parts of the globe doesn't remember this fondly. And every Advent Sunday in December another candle will be lit until it is time for the Christmas tree.

Copyright Valerie Mader

The frosty weather reminded me of the time I knitted beanies for just about every child I knew.

Various beanies for children

In the evenings, I have been busy with my new project "Scarf n' Half" - ready to be photographed, all I need now is a model! Pattern to follow soon.

Entangled Scarf n' Half

Bunched up Scarf n' Half

For the light mauve colored string I used my precious handspun and dyed silk, and will use some of my tailspun yarn to add more "Halves" to my scarf project. If you are wondering about tailspun yarn, here is a good blog post explaining it all.