Jules & Julia (Crochet Hat Pattern Set)

Both worked in lightweight 100% cotton yarn, these warm weather hats are quick and easy to crochet. Jules is a short beanie-style cap and Julia is a sunhat with gently flared brim. Both hats have the option of a cord threaded through eyelets for a snugger fit or just a different look. Meant to be casual and easy to care for, these hats are easy to fold or roll up and toss into a bag. Julia’s brim can be smoothed out to a gentle, even flare, or allowed to ruffle gently. For a stiffer, sturdier brim, you may want to include millinery wire in the last round or two of stitches.

Two versions of the pattern are currently available: one using North American (Canada/US) and one using Canadian/UK crochet terminology. Both versions give measurements in metric and non-metric.

Sizes: xs (s, m, l, xl) 18 (20, 22, 24, 26”)/46 (50, 56, 61, 66cm)

Crochet hook: E/4/3.5mm or size to get gauge

Gauge: 20 sts/14 rounds = 4”/10cm in half-double crochet (UK: half-treble)

Yarn:

Jules: S (M, L, XL): 1 (1, 1, 2) skein(s) each Color A and Color B

Julia: S (M, L, XL): 1 (1, 2, 2) skein(s) each Color A and Color B (M will use just about the entire skein of Color B; you may wish to have more yardage on hand just in case)

Color A: Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Skinny Cotton (100% cotton 150yds/137m), Birch [undyed creamy white] (or color of your choice)

Color B: Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Skinny Cotton (100% cotton 150yds/137m),

Sprout [spring green] (or color of your choice)

About the yarn: Skinny Cotton is a dk/sport weight/3 Light yarn (Australia: 8-ply) composed of 8 strands of tightly spun 2-ply which are then spun together fairly loosely. It makes a firm, slightly stiff fabric that is soft against the skin and which resists pilling. Possible substitutes for Jules include Blue Sky Alpacas Handspun Organic Cotton DK, Cascade Cotton Rich DK, Classic Elite Provence, Ella Rae Baby Cotton, Hemp for Knitting allhemp6, allhemp6Lux, Cashmere Canapa, and hempton; Rowan Pure Life, Tahki Cotton Classic DK, and Vickie Howell Collection Craft. Possible substitutes for Julia include Hemp for Knitting allhemp6 and allhemp6Lux, and Tahki Cotton Classic DK. For Julia, getting a fabric stiff enough so that the brim will stand away from the face is more important than getting exact gauge.

Abbreviations Used

ch = chain

st = stitch

sl = slip

sl st = slip stitch 

dc = double crochet (US/Canada: sc = single crochet)

htr = half treble crochet (US/Canada hdc = half-double crochet)

inc 1 = increase one stitch; for this pattern, work 2hdc into 1 st (Australia/UK: 2htr into 1 st)

rnd = round

instructions for different sizes given as XS (S, M, L, XL)

Currently the pattern has written instructions only. Schematics and charts will be added at some vague date I call "the future". With that in mind, the pattern is currently priced at $3.75 USD and available as an instant download through Ravelry (please note that you do not require a Ravelry membership to make purchases). If you purchase through Etsy or this page, your name and email will be added to a list so that I can send you the charts and schematics at no additional charge when they become available. Ravelry members who purchase now will automatically have an updated version in their Ravelry personal pattern library when it becomes available. This means that if you buy now, you will eventually have the full pattern, which will sell for at least $5.50!

RAVELRY

(both US/Canada and UK/Australia/NZ versions included)

Scraptacular Magpie Crochet Scarf

 Let's just say that Viv stopped by yesterday in the late afternoon, right around the same time I opened a package from misshawklet. I'd been eyeballing one of the Scraptacular skeins in the misshawklet Etsy shop, and finally went ahead and bought it even though I had no plans for it - maybe a Top-Down Ribbed Knit Beanie, a safe fallback for handspun yarn. I've been working on another crochet lace scarf, similar to Anne in that it is worked from end to end and is really quite simple but needs clear instructions, as well as being done up as a sample in Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton. Right after I ripped the tape off the box and pulled the flaps back, I reached for my box of crochet hooks and a bag of small yarn oddballs. The yarn has little glints of metallic thread in it, which I'll try to take better photos of - scarf still needs to be washed and blocked too. The randomness of the color changes is part of the fun, but I did snip out about a yard near the end, where it was a mix of dark gray and black and just didn't quite work for me (if that raises your eyebrows - the idea that I'd work up this exuberantly bohemian Crazy Cat Lady scarf and think that a small block of sedate color would be too much - you oughta see some of the paintings I did back in art school). So far I have resisted the urge to add fringe. Viv may revisit the idea after I wash and steam-block this. It is currently quite long and wraps around the neck a few times. Tim Gunn might politely suggest that "it's a lot of look," especially to be wearing next to the face. That's fine by me. I stopped coloring my hair (have done many of the colors and shades seen in this scarf), and still want to accessorize with bright colors.

misshawklet Scraptacular handspun, assorted fibers, variable aran - chunky weight, 126 yds. Size L/8.0mm crochet hook. Edging done with random scraps of assorted worsted weight yarns, including Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton in Lemongrass, Shell Pink, Poppy Orange, and Sky Blue.

Books & Music (Used): O'ahu

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I read a lot. With the sheer volume of reading that I do, buying new books would outstrip my income quickly. I am a big fan of the public library system, and borrow a lot of books. I also have a tendency to run up a lot of overdue fees, and there are also the times when I want to take a book to the beach, or on an airplane, or be able to just toss into my bag and not worry about too much. This is where used bookstores come in. I like bookstores that carry new books too, and it's nice to be able to walk into a bookstore, look up a title, and get it off the shelf quickly. The lifespan of a book can be very short when it is new and quickly disappear from the shelves of the big shiny bookstores, yet have a relatively long life cycling through the stacks of used bookstores. When I travel, I like to check out the used bookstores (which is how I wound up reading Langston Hughes' The Big Sea while in Dublin); used bookstores tend to be small and quirky, with no two being the same (and then there's Powell's City of Books - huge and quirky).

The Google map I've put together includes more than just books - there's a lot overlap with books, music, comics, and games, so Stylus (music and clothing) winds up on the map even though there are no books there. This isn't a complete list of all the used music/book stores on O'ahu - I'm limiting this to the ones I go to and can give at least a partial review of.

Jelly's Comics & Books
'Aiea (Central O'ahu)
98-023 Hekaha St # B1-9
Aiea, HI 96701
phone: (808) 488-5245

Kaka'ako (Honolulu)
420 Coral Street
Honolulu, HI
phone: (808) 587-7001

The 'Aiea location is big, with a mix of new and used music, books, games, and comics. The book buyer is selective, which I think works well for the mix of books on the shelves, but also means that it would be a good idea to call ahead if you have books you'd like to sell. There is a craft section, and I've found a few knit/crochet books there, but it's a small selection. The fiction/literature selection is good, and there's a shelf of seriously marked down books that can yield fun items like an Italian phrasebook from the 1940's.

I haven't checked out the new location in Kaka'ako; I think I'd like to do so on a day off when I can also have lunch at the medical school cafeteria (the desserts are excellent). I've heard that it's big and airy, with a music section reminiscent of Amoeba.

Rainbow Books & Music
Honolulu/University
1010 University Ave
Honolulu, HI 96826
phone (808) 955-7994

'Aiea (Central O'ahu)
9-185 Moanalua Rd # 100
Aiea, HI 96701
phone (808) 487-8867
website: www.rainbowbookshawaii.net

If you like sifting through stacks, you'll like Rainbow's. When I say stacks, I mean as in stacks of books on the floor, books shelved two deep, and piles of books that creep into other sections. They also do some business in previously owned magazines. They buy books (including textbooks at the University location). Both locations are small and densely packed, so you'll want to be prepared to scoot around for other customers. Parking is tight at the University store; you can pay for parking in the Puck's Alley structure across the street or the Varsity parking lot. The 'Aiea location has a parking lot behind the building. Please note that both locations have an adult section; the 'Aiea location has it curtained off with a sign, and the University location just has it down at the end of the same aisle that carries best sellers.

Book Rack
4510 Salt Lake Blvd # C7
Honolulu, HI 96818
phone (808) 487-8350

Located in Stadium Mall, the Book Rack is convenient to Pearl Harbor, COMPACFLT, and Camp Smith. You can trade in books for credit towards more books based on price and category (they do only trading, no buying of books), so some of the books will come back into the store repeatedly. The selection includes lots of mystery/crime, sf/f, romance, military history, and westerns. It's a small family-run operation; the patriarch is a charming conversationalist on just about any topic and can make recommendations if you aren't sure what you are looking for. There's a table of books on sale for less than a dollar each - great for finding something to take to the beach.

Bookends
600 Kailua Rd # 126
Kailua, HI 96734
phone (808) 261-1996

I don't go to Kailua very often, and I've only been in the store a few times. There's a larger selection of children's books than I've seen elsewhere, and a bit more space to move around in than most of the other stores.

Gecko Books & Comics
3613 Waialae Av
Honolulu,Hawaii 96815
phone (808) 732-1292

Primarily used and new comics and graphic novels, as well as collectibles. I haven't been here in a while, because I am reminded every time I do that I stopped buying comics and graphic novels for financial reasons. My budget just can't handle it.

Other Realms Ltd. The Comic and Game Specialist
1050 Ala Moana Blvd # 2300
Honolulu, HI 96814
phone (808) 596-8236
website: www.other-realms.biz
Their name says it: comics and games. Miniatures and supplies for painting/modding them are also available. Located in Ward Warehouse, upstairs in a fairly quiet section of the mall. The staff is friendly and helpful - they are even nice to kids.

Stylus Honolulu
2615 S King St # A301
Honolulu, HI 96826
phone (808) 951-4500
website: www.stylushonolulu.com

No books. None. Music, yes, including very deeply categorized and sub-categorized vinyl, and a selection of new and used clothing that includes Threadless t-shirts, local/indie handmade/reconstructed items, and most of the previously owned clothing is under $10. Buy, sell, or trade clothing and accessories (no shoes). The clothing buyer is selective, so don't go in with an armload of worn-out schmattes. The result is that what you find on the racks is clean, in good condition, and stylish. The people behind the counter are also the owners, both with a lot of experience doing what they are doing. The building has validated parking.

Yarn Shop Map!

I'm going to tinker with this a bit before I insert it into the longer blog post reviewing the shops. If I missed a shop, please let me know!

Hawai'i Yarn Shop Google Map

Edited: I removed the embedded map and replaced it with a link; the embedded map is problematic for some web browsers. The map includes craft shops that carry yarn and shops of potential interest (needlepoint, fabric, quilting, beads and a Japanese bookstore that carries knitting/crocheting books).

The list of yarn shops is still available as a free PDF download too.