We gave this pattern away to so many of you at Handmade the other weekend, and then I went to knit a second and found...a bunch of errors! I'm so sorry! I'd made a whole lot of fixes after my first test of this pattern and they seem to have got all mixed up when I wrote up the final version. Hopefully this is ok, but knowing my occasional inability to count to 3, there may be the odd slip-up in numbers. I'm going to re-knit it for a 4th time to check again, and will post any errata as soon as I can. Here you go!

Pattern updated 26 November 2014 for the following errata:

The row that previously directed:

Next row: p4, p2tog, p1, *k2tog, k5, repeat from * to last 6sts, p3, k3 (9 sts decreased, 56 sts remain)

now is:

Next row: p3, p2tog, *k2tog, k5, repeat from * to last 6sts, p3, k3 (9 sts decreased, 58 sts remain)

The Flat Hat by Tash Barneveld

Free pdf version available in our Patterns section.

A simple hat to practice switching between knit and purl, with the added bonus of some decreases. Easy enough for a beginner, the hat is knit flat and then seamed. The design is intended to help hide dodgy sewing skills, and make for more interesting knitting. 

Yarn: 1 ball of Zealana Rimu 8ply in Kakariki Blue R23 or 1 ball of Silver Lining in Red Triangle (coming soon!)

Needles: 4mm (these can be straight or circular, up to you)

Other stuff: darning needle, scissors

Size: adult - it's pretty stretchy, but if you need to go bigger, use a 10ply yarn and 4.5mm needles. 

Abbreviations:

K – knit

P – purl

Sts - stitches

K2tog – knit two stitches together

P2tog – purl two stitches together

Cast on 104sts

Next row: *k2, p2, repeat from * to end

Repeat this row until work measures 2cm

Row 1: p 6, k to last 10 sts, p6, k4

Row 2: p4, k6, p to last 6 sts, k6

repeat these two rows until work measures 13cm from cast on edge.

Start to decrease for the crown:

Next row: p6, *k2tog, k9, repeat from * to last 10 sts, p2tog, p4, k4(9 sts decreased, 95 sts remain)

Next row: p4, k5, p to last 6 sts, k6

Next row: p6, k to last 7 sts, p5, k4

Next row: p4, k5, p to last 6 sts, k6

Next row: p6, *k2tog, k8, repeat from * to last 9 sts, p2tog, p3, k4 (9 sts decreased, 86 sts remain)

Next row: p4, k4, p to last 6 sts, k6

Next row: p6, k to last 7 sts, p4, k4

Next row: p4, k4, p to last 6 sts, k6

Next row: p2, p2 tog, p2, *k2tog, k7, repeat from * to last 7 sts, p4, k2tog, k2 (9 sts decreased, 76 sts remain)

Next row: p3, k4, p to last 5 sts, k5 (no decrease)

Next row: p5, *k2tog, k6, repeat from * to last 7 sts, p2tog, p2, k3 (9 sts decreased, 67 sts remain)

Next row: p3, k3, p to last 5 sts, k5 (no decrease)

Next row: p3, p2tog, *k2tog, k5, repeat from * to last 6sts, p3, k3 (9 sts decreased, 58 sts remain)

Next row: p3, k3, p to last 4 sts, k4 (no decrease)

Next row: p4, *k2tog, k4, repeat from * to last 6 sts, p3, k2tog, k1 (9 sts decreased, 49 sts remain)

Next row: p2, k3, p to last 4 sts, k4 (no decrease)

Next row: p2, p2tog, *k2tog, k3, repeat from * to last 5 sts, p3, k2 (9 sts decreased, 40 sts remain)

Next row: p2, k3, p to last 3 sts, p3 (no decrease)

Next row: p1, p2tog, *k2tog, k2, repeat from * to last 5 sts, p2tog, p1, k2 (10 sts decreased, 30 sts remain)

Next row: p2, k2tog, *p2tog, *repeat from * to last 2 sts, k2tog (16 sts remain)

Next row: *k2tog, repeat from * to end (8 sts remain)

Next row: break yarn with a 40cm tail. Pull through 8 remaining live stitches and weave in the end.

To finish: Using your darning needle, seam together to complete the hat shape. Weave in the end and wear. Hooray!

For a great tutorial on how to seam knit fabric together, see Knitty’s great mattress stitch step-by-step: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring04/mattress.html

The Sunday Morning Cowl is everything you could hope for on a Sunday morning - easy, relaxed and satisfying. You could actually knit this in one morning, if you're on the speedy side. 

Yarn: 2 x Cascade Lana Grande (100g / 80m)

Needles: 10mm

Pattern: Cast on 20 stitches. Knit until you run out of yarn, making sure to leave a 50cm tail. 

Sew the two short ends together to make a loop. Weave in ends, and you're done!

Ridiculously simple, super wearable. You could also use Spud & Chloe Outer or Blue Sky Bulky for added luxury. Happy knitting!

Only a few days to go before Handmade is here! Perfect time to fill you in on our plans for the Knit Lounge.

The Knit Lounge is free entry - so even if you aren't going to any classes, you're more than welcome to join us. You'll find us in the TSB Arena at Queen's Wharf in Wellington CBD. 

The giant knitting needles are making a return - and this year, we have TWO sets! Twice the fun! If you fancy coming along to the Spin In on Sunday, we will have two wheels available for use on a first in, first served basis. 

In other super exciting Knit Lounge news, it'll be the first place Knitsch Yarns brand new Staple Worsted will be available to purchase. I've been dyeing it up over the last couple of weeks and it is simply glorious. It's 100% machine washable merino so is super smooshy and takes colour in the same bright and vibrant way as Knitsch Sock does. I'm so excited to finally have a heavier weight yarn that meets all my criteria, and it's going to be a permanent fixture in the Knitsch range.

It's going to be an amazing weekend - do come by and hang out with us. Learn something new, meet up with friends, smoosh some yarn. I can't think of any better way to spend my time!

Or, not quite Ravello as i've named it in my Ravelry projects. Inspired by a customer, Barbara, and her amazing version, Ravello was one of those 'I must cast on as soon as possible' projects. Slouchy, simple, stripy, all my favourite things right now. I figured it would be the perfect shop and knit night knitting, and so it was. 

Pattern: Ravello Size: M Yarn: Knitsch Sock in Silver Lining, Yellow Brick Road and Tennant

Except, my approach to knitting it was so relaxed that I missed a crucial step. Which worked out well, in the end.

1. I forgot to cast on the extra stitches under the arms

2. I knit an 5th stripe at the bust (there's only meant to be 4)

3. Because of 1, my FO is a little more snug than the pattern intends 

4. Because of said snug-ness, I went for elbow length sleeves to result in more of a top than a jersey

5. I like the unfinished neckline, so left it, well, unfinished

6. I moved the beginning of round marker so it was close to one of the sleeves rather than in the centre back to better hide the join for the stripes.

I was worried that because of the extra stripe at the bust, it would cut me off in a bad place. The photos show that line at it's worst, not helped by my not standing up terribly straight. It actually sits just fine, and I can see myself wearing this forever. A really great knit that sped along super fast (helped by my wanting to wear it pretty much immediately). I know lots of stocking stitch can get a bit tedious, but I think this pattern is worth it. A great project to haul around and keep you busy at times that might otherwise be boring. Or you're too busy chatting to pay real attention to what you're doing (like me). 

P.S The hat pictured is a new design i'll be releasing in the next couple of days - the Flat Hat.