Introducing Knitasha

Last year for my mom's birthday, Knit Knack got a beach bum outfit.

This year for my mom's birthday, Knit Knack got a girlfriend.



Meet Knitasha. Pattern, of course, is Sheldon by Ruth Homrighaus. Needles: Size US2 dpns. Yarn: Reynolds Top Seed Cotton.

Before heading to Wooster, Knitasha spent a little time at work with me so that I could write a book for my mom about my job.

All of my concerns about whether or not Knit Knack and Knitasha would get along together were unwarranted. They took to each other like two old friends, and were nearly inseparable all weekend.

The two love-turtles also received a picnic quilt and picnic basket with the appropriate accoutrement for hours of outdoor enjoyment. (I must admit I'm particularly looking forward to the picnic adventure story!)

Looks like these two are already sharing plenty of turtley secrets.

Knitasha also came with a sun hat for picnics, in case her eyelashes aren't enough to keep out the sun. Along with the sun hat comes a pattern for you to make your very own sun hat (or Easter bonnet) for your turtle.

Easter Bonnet

Use the same needles and type of yarn that you used for your turtle. You want the same gauge. I used mercerized cotton and size 2 DPNs. I didn’t measure how much yardage it took, but it’s way less than 50 yards.

Using the long tail method, cast on 75 stitches, and divide so you have 25 stitches on each of three double pointed needles. Leave a 12 inch tail. Join to work in the round. Your tail marks the beginning of your round, or you can place a marker.

Rows 1-3: knit
Row 4: *k2tog, k3, repeat from * to end (60 sts)
Row 5: knit
Row 6: *k2tog, k2, repeat from * to end (45 sts)
Row 7: knit
Row 8: *k2tog, k1, repeat from * to end (30 sts)
Row 9-10: knit
Row 11: *k2, yo, k2tog, k1, repeat from *to end
Row 12: knit
Row 13: *k4, k2tog, k3, repeat from * to last stitch, knit together with first stitch of next round (24 sts)
Row 14-17: knit
Row 18: *k2tog, k1, repeat from * to end (16 sts)
Row 19: knit
Row 20: *k2tog, repeat from * to end (8 sts)

Break yarn and pull through all 8 stitches. Pull tight to close hole and weave yarn in on stockinette side.

Turn your hat inside out! The reverse stockinette is the right side.

Cut a piece of ribbon about 18” long, and weave through every other hole made from the yarn over and let the ends hang. Trim as you like.

Put your cast on tail on a yarn needle. Pass the needle under just one side of each of the cast on stitches as shown. Go all the way around the brim. This will help to flatten out the brim a bit. It still won’t be perfectly flat, but it will be better than it would be otherwise.

Enjoy!