We've Got Mail!

Thanks to Janice Beaulieu of Port Charlotte, Florida for your cute hand made hat contribution! Check back later for a photo!

Charity Knitting Nights Scheduled at Close Knit Sisters in N Conway, NH

Close Knit Sisters Yarn Shop in N. Conway, NH is hosting: 

Charity Knitting Night

With Kathy Cooper

Tuesdays February 19^th & 26^th from 6-8pm

This will be an opportunity to get together with other knitters and crocheters and create for a cause! We are collecting mittens, hats & scarves for the Maine Mitten Project – or you can come and knit for your own cause!  Everyone is welcome, but please bring a project that you know how to make – Kathy wants to set aside this evening to knit, share & laugh with others.

Thank You Ladies :-) 

Mitten Pattern by Maine Author & Knitter Featured in February 2013 Downeast Magazine

I just found out that Maine Author Robin Hansen, has a pattern from one of her books published in the February 2013 Downeast Magazine. It's called Lithuanian Ribby Knit Mitten. 

You can find it on line here.

A Folklorist whose passion for knitting and fascination with the traditions of mitten making in Maine, led Robin to write books on the lore of Mittens from Maine and other cold climates, including their patterns. Many knitters are familiar with her offerings.

Here are a few of her books that can be found at Downeast Publishing:

HAPPY KNITTING!

Maine Mitten Project Donations Are Coming In.

Close Knit Sisters Yarn shop in N Conway, NH has reported that they have collected 12 pairs of Mittens, 24 Hats and 11 Scarves to date. GO SISTERS! Great job......

Here is a donation from Ann Thompson, Biddeford, Me

Thanks Ann!

Scarborough Public Library accepting Donations for the Maine Mitten Project

The Scarborough Public Library has become an official drop location for completed hand made items for the Maine Mitten Project. 

Thank You!

Items may be dropped off during regular library hours at 48 Gorham Rd. Scarborough.


Please tag your hand made donation with one of our gift tags which you can find here.

The library has copies of the free project flyer with information  and a few basic patterns. For more patterns go to our patterns page for links.

REMAX/ Country Living In Fryeburg Collecting for the Maine Mitten Project

I got this photo from Jen at REMAX/ Country Living last week. Isn't this great!

Some folks have been busy helping to keep Maine's needy warm and supporting the Maine Mitten Project! We didn't expect to get sweaters BUT are very happy to accept them and no doubt some children will be very glad for the lovely hand made gifts!

These lovely items were donated by Theresa Peavey of Bridgton, Me. Thank you Theresa! 

Thanks to all! Your efforts are greatly appreciated by all......

Crochet Hat Pattern for The Maine Mitten Project

I've been keeping my fingers busy and using up left over yarns to make hats and mittens in the last weeks. I use a basic pattern for the hat that I improvised from other hats I've made in the past. Since I am not making for anyone in particular, it doesn't matter what size it ends up being. That means I don't have to check gauge all the time. I hate checking gauge! :-) What a godsend!

Here's what I've made up lately.

You can see that one of my hats ended up being a beret. That was an oops! I increased way too much for the yarn and hook size. It would have fit Big Foot so I improvised and it turned out great!

Anyway, here is my pattern:

Use a hook that works with your yarn weight.

- Chain 3 and join
- sc 8 in the ring & mark the beginning of the nxt round
- 2 sc in ea st to the end of the round
- 1sc, inc 1 by doing 2 sc repeat all around
- 2sc, inc 1, repeat all around
- 3sc, inc 1, repeat all around
- continue working in the round increasing sc sts between increases by one for each round until you have 7sc between increases for Small, 8 sc between increases for Med and 9 for large. Keep in mind that the yarn size and hook size will affect the size of your finished piece. I have made some that will fit dread heads really well :-)

Ok so once you have decided how many increase rows you want the rest of the hat is done in sc in every st. In the first row of no increases, I work the back loop only but you don't have to. Continue to sc until the hat is the depth you want. I go at least 6". Keep in mind that the edge will roll up a bit after you tie off so you lose some of the depth. Adjust your final depth accordingly.

You can see that I also use up ends by making stripes along the way but anything goes!

The mitten pattern I use is a basic easy crochet pattern that you can find here.