Knit your own Dinosaur Hat

After knitting my first couple of pieces, I started to feel adventurous and wanted to try something a little more challenging.

I decided with it being so cold outside I would make a hat for my new nephew, but not just any hat - this is a hat that will keep all those monsters under the bed at bay

What you will need:

2 Shades of chunky wool - I got mine from John Lewis

10mm knitting needles - I got a pack of lots of sizes at a great discount from Curtzy

White and black felt

Black Thread

Large sewing needle

Scissors

Step 1

Cast on 31 stitches.

Note: This will make a hat for about a 1-2 year old. Add or remove stitches to change the size you want to make, but keep it as an odd number

Step 2

For this number of stitches, your hat needs to be about 8 inches long. I found it easier to measure the length every now and again, rather than counting the number of lines I've stitched

To get this style I did one full line of Knit and then 1 full line of  Purl and repeat until you have your chosen length, finishing on a Purl line - this is called stockinette stitch. If you forget what line you need to do next then here is a simple way to remember - If the flat side is facing you then it should be a knit line and if a bumpy side is facing you it should be a purl line

KNIT                                                 PURL

You might find the bottom of your hat rolls up - don't worry about this, it will help your hat fold over at the end

Step 3

Two more lines need to be knitted to finish off the main hat shape, 

Line 1

Knit 1
For the rest of the line Knit 2 together (repeat until line finished - you should end up with 16 stitches on your needle)

Line 2
Purl 2 together (repeat until line finished - you should end up with 8 stitches

Step 4

Cut the wool from the ball so you leave a length of wool that is at least double the length of your hat.

Put a large sewing needle on the end of the wool and then pass it through all your stitches on the knitting needle before removing the knitting needle out from under the stitches. 

Step 5

Pull on the end of your wool so that all stitches gather and and then tie a knot in the wool so that all the stitches are held

Step 6

Weave the end of the wool in and out from the top of the hat down the sides, until you get to the bottom and there you have your hat shape. Finish by tying a knot and weave the end piece of the wool back into the hat (if it's too long then just weave it a few times and cut the rest off).

Step 7

Turn the hat the right was out so any knots/weaving are on the inside. Your hat will also start naturally rolling itself up at the bottom - use this create a rim and give it a few stitches with thread to keep it in place

Step 8

Next you want to start your spikes for on top of the hat.

For this size of hat, you should cast on 8 stitches but you can do less if you want a smaller spike. Try and leave a long piece of wool at the end - this will be used for stitching your spike to the hat.

Step 9

Knit the first 2 together, then knit each other stitch in the row singly. 

Repeat this for each spike until there is only one stitch left and then cast off

Step 10

Congratulations - You have made your first spike. Now repeat to get 3 more!

Once you have all your spikes, take one and thread a large sewing needle on the end

Step 11

Weave the tail of the spike in and out the top of the hat, pulling the final stitch through to the back and then weave the remainder on the inside of the hat to secure it.

Step 12

Repeat for the other 3 spikes, leaving more room at the front than the back. I also followed the stitched line done the back of the hat to help cover it up

Step 13

Next we need to work on the face.

From the white felt cut out 2 large circles and some teeth. From the black felt, cut two small circles

Step 14

Stitch the black circles to white ones - I did them slightly off centre, but play around with them on the front of the hat before stitching to get your positioning right.

Step 15

Stitch the eyes to the front of the hat, slightly under the rim. Make sure you don't do the stitching too tight otherwise there will be no give in the hat then you are putting it on.

Step 16

 Stitch the teeth on the inside of the rim, making sure the stick out on the bottom - again don't stitch too tight!

And there you have it...one dinosaur hat, ready for any adventure out.

I'll be back xx

Upcycle with a little help from my friends

This weeks upcycling theme has had me searching high an low, all over the web for some inventive tutorials for you guys. As I was searching a massive grin came across my face every time I found a tutorial that reminded me of one of my loved ones so I'm going to share my favourites with you!

First one is for my awesome sister Kerry. She loves her cats (as do I) so as soon as I saw this tutorial, I started looking into parts so I could make one for her. Once I track some cute suitcases down, you can expect one of these in your house Ker!

Cazza - I can just see pop pop in one of these as well  :)

Cat Bed - Mother Earth Living

My brothers are mad about their record players! They have vinyls everywhere and are always ready for an open mic night, singing their blues songs and playing guitar. I thought this would be a great table for a record player and crazy simple to make as well so even they can do it!

Record Table - Kt Bing via cut out and keep

Loopy Lorna is the name of a lovely little tea room in Edinburgh but it's also the name of my fab mate from Uni. Whenever we find a a new fruit tea we like, we bring it round to the others house and when she moved out of her last flat she offered me a few teapots for my crafting cupboard, knowing that I'd find something to do with them. Well Lorna - your new house with its amazing garden and your teapots inspired me and I went searching for a bird feeder. 

Lorna has a mini wildlife park in her garden which is a means for fun stories every time we meet (especially those mental bunnies) so here is an idea for your garden which made me smile

Bird Feeder - Intimate Weddings

Last year my gladiator of a mate Tatum, cycled all the way from London to Paris! I know - how impressive is she!!!! When I lived in London we were always working on some new crafty idea for our houses and this one made me think of you hun. I'm sure your lovely fiance won't mind you borrowing one of his wheels...

Bicycle Wheel Clock - Upcycle that

When I think of my friend Lucy, two words spring to mind - Dinosaurs & Baking. Could this tutorial be any more perfect!

Dinosaur Serving Dish - Three Little Monkeys Studio

Every year for my boyfriends birthday and Christmas his eyes light up as he knows his Jack Daniels stock will be replenished and before you know it the empty bottles start piling up as we all help him drink it through the festive periods. I will definitely be making this soap dispenser for my kitchen - it's quirky and a great way to recycle those empties...guess what you are all getting for Christmas next year :)

Soap Dispenser - Curly Birds

Since I was a wee nipper, my best mate Louise has always been there for me so I was over the moon when last year I could repay the favour and be her bridesmaid.

Louise planned her wedding to a T and it all paid off as it truly was a fabulous event! Her mum was like a crafting superhero and worked tirelessly to make her little girls day memorable and one of my favourite memories was the wedding breakfast. I remember walking into the room and being wowed by the amount of effort she had gone to and how beautiful the table looked. I especially loved the tissue pom poms she made and these coffee filter ones reminded me of them

coffee filter flowers - a subtle revelry 

Fireman Neil is my geek mate. Be it music, computer games or the new Game of Thrones season - he's round on our couch in a flash to geek out and unwind after a hard days work, so when I saw this picture I thought of you...

Skyrim Picture - Insomnia Studios

An NHS trolley upcycled with vintage magazines - this could only be for my brain box bestie who has worked up and down the country to help keep improving the health care we all receive. I can just imagine Catriona and her gorgeous girls baking on top of this.

NHS Trolley - Handmade & Vintage

You know that friend who is always there ready with a glass of wine when you have had a horrible day, well mine loooooves giraffes! This is an awesome tutorial for an awesome friend and I can't wait to keep collecting those corks with you Corinne.

Cork Sculpture Giraffe - Lil Blue Boo

Last but far from least a tutorial that reminds me of my best friend in the world - my mum!

When I was little my mum was always making things for or with me and I owe my crafting skills to all the encouragement she has given me over the years. From letting me paint my own mural on our playroom wall to cutting up her own wedding dress so I could play dress up with my friends, my mum had an endless supply of ideas and activities which meant life was never a dull place. 

I remember one of my primary school friends was leaving for OZ and was having a woolly jumper party. Everyone turned up in their best jumper but I stood out from the crowd in my brand new dress - made from one of my mums jumpers. This one reminded me of you mum, love you a million times over xxxx

Jumper Dress - Make it Love it

I've had the lovely walk down memory lane as I was looking through these tutorials and I hope you have enjoyed a little insight into my life and the amazing people I have around me. Of course, I couldn't mention everyone I love, but don't worry - I'll be blogging about you one day, you can count on that!

My plan was to inspire you with the people who inspire me - so get searching on the web for tutorials that remind you of your loved ones and make them something really special this year.

I'll be back xxx