The medals are shining bright for Canada! Our athletes have now graced the podium more than eight times as we swoosh past the halfway mark at the Winter Olympics. A colourful wave of red and white knitwear is blanketing our country from coast to coast with souvenir scarves, toques, and mittens flying out of stores faster than delivery trucks can bring them in. Even Oprah caught the ‘red mitten fever’ as she opened her Friday Live show wearing a pair, sharing her enthusiasm by handing out Olympic mittens to each audience member. Knitters who choose quality over quantity are creating their own original versions to celebrate the spirit of the 2010 Olympics.
The excitement of the Winter Games is still here for another week, plenty of time to knit more Olympic Gear. Last week, knitters who finished a pair of Maple Leaf Mittens had wonderful comments to pass on- one mom who knit three pairs of mittens in less than four days remarked, “my teenage son asked me to knit these mittens, and wears his proudly in front of the tv, its his way of cheering on Team Canada in the hockey games.” Its not the gleam of medals on the front page of the morning paper that will stay in our memory, its the incredible smiles of our athletes, the bright light that radiates as they grin from ear to ear, arms raised to the sky, sharing their moment of victory with us.
Share the warmth, share the spirit……..
Maple Leaf Earflap Hat
MAPLE LEAF EARFLAP HAT
Size: Adult Medium
Needles: 4.50 mm Crochet Hook: 4.00 mm
Yarn: 100g Galway #44-MC, and 100g Galway #1-CC
Tension: 20 sts and 24 rows = 4 in/10 cm in st st
Earflaps: Cast on 5 sts in MC. P 1 row. Cont in st st, starting with a K row, inc 1 st at each end of first and every following alternate row until 19 sts. Work a further 11 rows in st st. Cut yarn and leave sts on a spare needle. Make a 2nd Earflap to match, do not cut yarn, cast on 10 sts, turn, K across these 10 sts, K across 19 sts from Earflap, cast on 32 sts, K across 19 sts from 1st Earflap, cast on 10 sts =90 sts. Work 5 rows in st st , starting with a P row.
Next Row-K 45 sts in MC, PM (place marker on needle), work 17 sts from CHART with colours as shown in photo and using bobbins for each colour change, PM, K to end. Cont to work in st st as set until CHART has been completed. Cut CC, and cont in MC. When Hat measures 5″ from top of Earflap ending with a P row-
Shape Top:
Next Row- K1, *K9, K2tog*, rep *to*, end, K1
Next and all Alternate Rows- P
Next Row- K1, *K8, K2tog*, rep *to*, end, K1
Cont to dec in this way having 1 st less between decs on every K row until 10 sts remain. P 1 row.
Next Row-*K2tog*, rep *to* = 5 sts. Cut yarn and thread through rem sts. Tighten and secure. Sew side seam. Make a 3 in/ 8 cm pom pom with MC and CC held together. Attach to top of hat.
Edging: With 4.00 mm crochet hook, work 1 row of single crochet around edge, alternating MC and CC for each stitch.
Design by: Michele Meadows
