Pixie Hat Tutorial

What materials you need:

* 7 double pointed needles (dpns) size 8

* Stitch holders

* Cable Needle

What skills you need:

Working in the rnd with dpns

C4b

C4f

C6f

C6b

T3

i-cord

K2tog

K3tog

P2tog

Tbl (through back loop)

Gauge:

22 sts and 26 rows = 4in/10cm worked in cable st in the rnd using US 8 (5mm) dpns

You will be working in the round. Start with three needles and as you increase more sts, add another dpn. Be sure to have even amounts of sts on the dpns.

CO 6 sts
Kfb al sts - 12 sts

(K1, kfb) 6x - 18 sts

(P3, kfb) 6x - 24 sts

(P2, k1, kfb) 6x - 30 sts

(P2, k2, kfb) 6x - 36 sts

(P2, k1, t2, kfb) 6x - 42 sts

(P2, k4, kfb) 6x - 48 sts

(P2, c4f, k1, kfb) 6x - 54 sts

(P2, k6, kfb) 6x - 60 sts

(P2, k7, kfb) 6x - 66 sts

(P2, k2, c6f, kfb) 6x - 72 sts

(P2, k9, kfb) 6x - 78 sts

(P2, k10, kfb) 6x - 84 sts

(P2, k12) 6x

(P2, c6f, c6b) 6x

(P2, k12) 6x

            Rep rnd 16 twice more

19. (P1, pfb, k12) 6x - 90 sts

20. (P3, k12) 6x

            Rep rnd 20 twice more

23. (P3, c6f, c6b) 6x

24. (P3, k12) 6x

            Rep rnd 24 twice more

27. (P2, pfb, k12) 6x - 96 sts

28. (P4, k12) 6x

            Rep rnd 28 twice more

31. (P4, c6f, c6b) 6x

32. (P4, k12) 6x

            Rep rnd 32 5 more times

            Rep rnds 20 - 32 3 more times

59. (P4, k12) 6x

            Rep rnd 59 3 more times

* Divide for ear flaps. You will stop working in the rnd at this point.

P2, place next 32 sts on a holder, turn.

Starting with last 2 sts worked, k2 (p12, k4) 3x, p12, k2

K14 (p4, k12) 2x, p4, k14

K2, p12, k4, p2, place rem 44 sts on a holder, turn.

(Working on first ear flap only) k2, p4, c6f, c6b, k2 - 20 sts

K2, p12, k6

K2, p4, k14

            Rep rows 6-7 twice more

12. K2, p12, k6

13. K2 (p2tog)2x, c6f, c6b, k2 - 18 sts

14. K2, p12, k2tog, k2 - 17 sts

15. K2, k2tog, k13 - 16 sts ****

16. K2, p12, k2

17. K2, k2tog, k8, k2 - 14 sts

18. K2, p10, k2

19. K2, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k2 - 12 sts

20. K2, p8, k2

21. K2, c4f, c4b, k2

22. K2, p8, k2

23. K2, k3tog tbl, k2, k3tog, k2 - 8 sts

24. K2, p4, k2

25. K2, k2tog tbl, k2tog, k2 - 6 sts

26. K2, p2, k2

27. K1, k2togtbl, k2tog, k1 - 4 sts

28. K1, p2tog, k1 - 3 sts

Continue on these 3 sts on one dpn to knit a 10in i-cord.

Cut yarn and draw through sts to secure.

Work second ear flap. Return to sts on holder and with WS facing, work across first 20sts as follows:

(WS) k6, p12, k2, turn, leaving rem 24 sts on holder.

K2, c6f, c6b, p4, k2

K6, p12, k2

K14, p4, k2

            Rep rows 3-4 twice more

9. K6, p12, k2

10. K2, c6f, c6b, (p2tog) 2x, k2 - 18 sts

11. K2, k2tog, p12, k2 - 17 sts

12. K13, k2tog, k2 - 16 sts

Work as first ear flap from **** to end, finishing with another 10in i-cord tie.

Return to 24 sts on holder; beg with a WS row, work 2 rows garter st. BO.

Slip rem 32 sts from first holder to needle. Beg with a WS row, work 2 rows garter st. BO

Sew down front and back loose edges to sides of ear flaps. Make a 2in diameter pompom for the top of the hat and two 4in tassels for the ends of the i-cords; sew on securely. Sew in all loose ends. 

A Somewhat Heroic Day

I got to run a few errands today. While I was out I was walking past a grocery store and a lady's apple cider came rolling out of her cart. I rescued it from being hit by a car or shattering. I helped her rearrange her basket so that nothing else would fall out. I am a hero of cider.

I've been looking around for my blue SD reader for my laptop or my camera cable so I can upload my new pictures and edit them. No luck yet. I've searched high and low for that little sucker. I'm about to tear my couches apart looking for the blue doodle. I'm sure I'll find other forgotten treasures along the way.

I've decided to have a sale on my Elf Hats next month. I even made a cool promo picture for it for funsies!

I think it needs a little tweaking. Perhaps a black border? I'll keep playing around with it.

Indoor Photoshoot

I really, really don't like doing indoor photoshoots, but I am in desperate need of getting new listings on my Etsy shop. My room is completely filled with things that I've made for AWA. I was going to sell at Momocon, but they only have 40 tables this year and they've already filled up.

I heard that a lot of people were rejected without their work even being juried. That's lazy and unprofessional on Momocon's part. How can you insure the best art for the costumers if you just take the first few people that sign up and leave it at that. There are many talented artists out there who deserve to sell in the artist alley. *cough*me and Amber*cough* (We'll also include one of my Lolita friends Ashley in that cough because she makes the cutest jewelry.)

Anyhoo, I need to order more bronze findings to finish up the more "Steampunk" chokers. I won't call them Steampunk just because they have bronze findings, but whenever I tag them on a listing I will include Steampunk. Maybe one day I'll branch off into making more appropriate Steampunk chokers.

My Etsy shop is up to 79 sales now! I'm so excited! This Jayne hat sale was a great idea. I've been making a ridiculous amount of these hats, sure, but I've been able to afford food and more yarn. :D I think my next sale will be those Elf styled hats that are really long and striped. Usually they are $55 but I think I'll try to sell them for $40 for a month. Each month I'll try to have a new sale going on. I'm sure people are waiting for those Dr. Who scarves to go on sale, but we'll see. ;P

There was some super cute yarn with shiny silver wrapped around it so I had to buy one of each color. I bought black, purple, pink and teal. I plan to make two hats with each color; a "college hat" and a cabled slouchy hat. I've already tried this out with the black and there is just enough yarn to make two hats with the two patterns that I've picked out.

More chokers soon to come!

I did a little shopping online and bought some more resin cameo pieces for my chokers. They did so well at the last show I did that I have no choice but to make a ridiculous amount for the next show. I want to play around with a bunch of different designs on the cameos. One request that I kept getting was for bronze findings for the Steampunk enthusiasts. I kinda came out with the choker idea a little late for AWA and didn't have a lot of time to buy a lot of variety. This time I'll make a special effort to appease the Steampunk crowd.

I bought some red and lavender crochet thread as well. I figured that I should play around with the lace color too and not to limit the variety in the resin. Unfortunately, the Joann's in my area doesn't supply a lot of variety so I have to make a few stops around the city to find some other colors. I love buying at Joann's because of the value, but I always end up having to go to the more expensive hobby stores for the variety.

I found a great Etsy store that sells nothing but ribbon clamps! It's called Twilight Fancy. The prices are at wholesale level and she even sells pliers for ribbon clamps. I'm so excited to do business with her. If I could favorite her shop a million times I would.

These anchor cameos have been calling my name for a while now. I'm so excited to actually work with them.

By the way, Wholesale Flowers is the shop that I've been buying all of my cameos and settings for my chokers. The prices are crazy awesome. If you ever need resin cameos, this is a great place for them.

Fall is here!

Fall is my favorite season. Pumpkins, turkey, Halloween, leaves changing color, cider, and sweaters. It's the time of year when it isn't too hot or too cold out. I can go outside wearing a cable knitted hat without having to wear a bulky winter jacket. I can get away with wearing my fingerless gloves and scarves without looking out of place. I can kick beautiful gold, red, and orange colored leaves up as I take a stroll through the neighborhood and enjoy a relaxing cider outside while reading a book. Fall is the best season.

It's also the craziest. As soon as the calendar read October 1, my Etsy shop BLEW up! In the past week I have sold four Jayne Cobb hats, a Dr. Who scarf, a Tardis hat and a Knives Chau scarf. Not to mention what I sold at AWA.

I'm still recovering from Con Crud and I need to get all of this stuff done. I have to have a photo shoot sometime soon to get all of my fall stuff listed. The Dr. Who scarf has to be finished and out the door by next week and I still have a million Jayne hats and chokers to make.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

AWA!

I had a great time at AWA! I made back table before I even finished setting up my table. Within three hours of opening I had made back table and my hotel expenses. Overall I made around $700. I'm so proud of myself and my friends that helped me. I couldn't have done any of this without my friends or my boyfriend. The people at the con were super helpful too. There was only like one jerk who obviously had never worked security at a con before and was really rude, but aside from that everyone was amazing!

I can't wait to work the next AWA. I want to be in the artist alley at MomoCon next March. The application process isn't open until sometime this month. I can't wait to sign up! I hope I get accepted into MomoCon.

I'm also very excited to buy a bunch of stuff for my business. I'm going to get a banner, a Mystik Designs Commissions book, address labels, thank you cards and a few other awesome things. I'm going to buy some plastic containers to keep my things inside of instead of my knitted bags. I can't sell those bags at cons because I have to use them to carry all of my things in.

I got a million compliments on my chokers so I have a bunch of ideas for new ones. I'm going to start making  some brown ones with bronze findings for the Steampunk crowd. I'm going to have so much fun getting ready for MomoCon or whatever my next con will be.

Cables Everywhere!

I've been going crazy with new berets featuring elegant cables and warm Autumn colors. Expect to see some really gorgeous hats on my Etsy as soon as I can do a photo shoot.

Right now I'm working on a fierce new "Pumpkin Spice" line of products. I'm using a super soft and super warm orange fiber to create beautiful coffee mug cozies and hats. I can't wait to get some pics of these new items. It makes me want to drink some pumpkin spice cider or coffee.

I'm definitely excited for this Autumn. It's been way too hot outside! I just want to throw on a comfy sweater and curl up on the outside furniture so I can feel the cool breeze on my face. Book and cider also a must.