A Year of Lucky's Measurements - Head Sizes of a Newborn and the Hats that Fit

What size is a newborn's head really?  When I was pregnant with Lucky I had no concept of how big his head was and when certain hats would fit him.  I used a baby hat size chart as a guide, but many patterns still seemed pretty small to me.

I became determined to measure Lucky's head every month, both in circumference and in height.  For height I chose to measure from eartip to eartip because I could be consistent that way.  This height matters to knitters because depending on where you want the hat to lay you want the hat to be at least an inch longer than the eartip to eartip distance.  In this post you will find the results of my data collection.  I am also providing pictures of Lucky with the measurements of the hats he is wearing as a reference point. Some of these measurements were taken NOW, so they may have been smaller after they were first knit.  I hope that this is helpful, I know that I will refer back to this post myself!

5 days old, 7 lbs 3 oz. 

• Head 13.5" around
• 8" eartip to eartip.
• Feet 3" long 1.25" wide

1 week old - Newborn Owl earflap hat .  6" across (flat) and 4.25" from front edge to crown. Photo credit Sarah Severson Photography.  

1 week old - Pumpkin Hat.  6" from brim to tip (unfolded), 6.5" across.  Photo credit Sarah Severson Photography.  

12 days old (~2 weeks)

• head 14"
• 8" eartip to eartip
• Feet still 3"long

~2.5 weeks old, Newborn Owl earflap hat..  6" across (flat) and 4.25" from front edge to crown.

3 weeks old (11/1/2013)

• head 14.5" around.  
• 8.5" eartip to eartip
• Feet 3.25" long.  

3 weeks old - Ribbed Newsboy Visor Hat.  14" around, 5.5" brim to crown.

3 weeks old  - Charlie.   6" wide, 7" with brim rolled out, 6" with brim rolled.   (After months of wearing and washing, the hat now rests at 7" wide, but still is 6" deep.)   

1 month 

• head 14.75 inches around. 
• 8.5 inch eartip to eartip
• feet relatively unchanged.

1 month old - Turkey Head  7.25" wide, 6.25" brim to crown unrolled.  4.75" rolled.  

5-6 weeks old - Hungry Caterpillar Hat - 7.5" wide, 5.25" brim to crown rolled, 6" unrolled.  

6 weeks old - Pumpkin Hat.  6" from brim to tip (unfolded), 6.5" across

7 weeks (11/26)

•  Head 15.5 inches
• 9 in eartip to eartip
• feet just shy of 3.5 inches long

7 weeks old -  Charlie.   6" wide, 7" with brim rolled out, 6" with brim rolled.   (After months of wearing and washing, the hat now rests at 7" wide, but still is 6" deep.)   

8 weeks old -  Ribbed Newsboy Visor Hat.  14" around, 5.5" brim to crown.

8 weeks old - Thanksgiving 2013 - Turkey Head  7.25" wide, 6.25" brim to crown unrolled.  4.75" rolled.  

2 months old (12/9)

• 15.75 inch circumference
• 9 in eartip to eartip

2 months old - A Lucky Christmas Hat  ribbing 5" wide, stockinette 6.5" wide when flat, 9.5" long from brim to the beginning of icords.  

2 months old - Baby Marley Hat - 6.75" wide (flat after lots of wearing), unrolled 7" brim to crown.  rolled 6".

2.5 months old -  Charlie.   6" wide, 7" with brim rolled out, 6" with brim rolled.   (After months of wearing and washing, the hat now rests at 7" wide, but still is 6" deep.)   

3 months old

• 16.25" circumfrence on the head
• 9.5 " eartip to eartip
• feet remeasure - 3.75"  when toe stretched

4 months old - Hungry Caterpillar Hat - 7.5" wide, 5.25" brim to crown rolled, 6" unrolled.

4 months old (2/10/2014)

• 16.5 head circumference
• 9.75 eartip to eartip
• feat measure 3 7/8 "

5 months old

• Circumference 16.75"
• 10.25 eartip to eartip.
• Foot 3.75"

Lucky wore the Charlie and Baby Marley hats for the rest of the winter.

6 months old (4/9/14).  Lucky is 55% for height and head circumference.  

• 17.125" circumference.
• 10.25" eartip to eartip
• foot 3.875" 

6 months old - Baby Marley Hat - 6.75" wide (flat after lots of wearing), unrolled 7" brim to crown.  rolled 6".

7 months old (5/18/14)

• Head  just over 17  3/8"
• eartip to eartip 10.5"
• foot 4"

7 months old - Charlie.   6" wide, 7" with brim rolled out, 6" with brim rolled.   (After months of wearing and washing, the hat now rests at 7" wide, but still is 6" deep.)   

8 months old (6/13/2014)

• head 17.5" around (ish)
• eartip to eartip 10.5"
• foot ~4" long

9.5 months old (7/25/2014)

• head 18" (widest part)
• eartip to eartip 10.5
• foot 4-4.5"

10.5 months old (8/21/2014)

• Just shy of 18" around
• 10.5 eartip to eartip
• foot 4.25"

11 months old (9/18/14)

• Around 18"
• eartip to eartip 10.5"

11 months old. Foxy Hat 8.5" wide (above ribbing), 6.5" brim to crown. 

11 months old -  Hungry Caterpillar Hat - 7.5" wide, 5.25" brim to crown rolled, 6" unrolled.  

1 year old
head 18" (approx)
eartip to eartip 10.75
foot 4.5

1 year old - Snowy Penguin Hat - 16” around, 6.25” deep. 

Lucy is now 15 months old!  He is still wearing the Snowy Penguin Hat and the Foxy Hat.  I am not collecting as much data on his head size because as you can see the growth slowed dramatically.  The biggest differences (understandably) happen between birth and the first few months.  Ribbed hats with a rolled brim are the best gifts because they grow with the baby in terms of width and length.  

I hope this resource helps you as much as it has helped me already!   Happy Knitting!  

Another No Sew Necktie

With extra fabric in my stash from the no sew pillows I made for Lucky's Nursery and plenty of Dritz Unique Stitch Adhesive I decided to make a second no sew necktie.

This time instead of taping the pattern piece to the fabric, I used a sharpie to draw around it on the WS.  If I am going to continue "sewing" then I really should invest in some washable pens and maybe even a rotary cutter to help me cut the fabric.  It is just so nerve-racking and feels so final.  With knitting or crocheting I can unravel, not with sewing. A cut is final.

You can barely see the lines on the fabric, which is a good thing.

It was actually much easier to cut when I have the pattern piece taped on because the paper + tape gives it structure.  Oh well, lesson learned.  I glued the pieces as I discussed previously, and this time went much faster.

One of the  points is a little wonky, but I don't thin you'd even notice if I didn't point it out.  It will still be adorable on my Lucky little boy.  This time I used tweezers to help me turn these skinny tubes right side out.

I really can't wait until we move and I can have a sewing machine.  (We are hoping to get a larger place to live, and it doesn't make sense for me to acquire more stuff before this move happens.  This is why I have this "when we move I get a sewing machine" mindset.)

Two ties in 2 days!

The project was a lot of fun, and I think that Lucky will be able to wear it for a while.  I took these pictures of him just after Halloween.  

For not having access to a sewing machine, this fabric glue has served me well for a number of projects.  I still have some fabric in my stash, what else should I make?  

Sewn Mini Robot Doll

I am 5.5 years old than my brother.  When he was born, my mother got me a kit to sew him a little doll.  I remember that the doll instructions were printed on the fabric, I just had to cut and stitch the two pieces together and BOOM and tiny little doll.  Later when I was in 6th grade, I made a stuffed bear that required more cutting and sewing (dozens of pieces including each limb, ears, overalls etc.)   

When I discovered the custom fabric printing website Spoonflower, I wondered if I would be able to find any doll collections.   I found a little robot doll that I would be able to make by just ordering a swatch (8x8") of fabric and some scraps that I had left over from my no sew pillows.  

I pinned the fabrics together before I started cutting, I wanted to make sure that I would have enough for the back fabric and I didn't want things to shift as I cut.  

As I'm stitching, with project runway on in the background, I'm trying to remember the last time I sewed something.  I've sewn zippers into knit items, but was there anything that I've sewed that was a sewing project since high school?  

I tried to follow the outline of the robot with the curves and hard corners as best as I could.  I was doing a back stitch, maybe a running stitch would have been better?  (I think these are the right names for what I was doing.  One of these days I should really look up some sewing terminology rather than guessing!)  

With my teddy bear, I remember that I stuffed the instructions into the head of my bear to be the "brain."  I don't think robots have brains, but they do have circuits and instructions.  So I stuffed the "code" into Lucky's robot.  

I cut up the instructions to help the information flow through this little hard and soft body better.  

I'm not worried about the symmetry of my stitching.  The goal of this project is to sew something fun for my little boy.  I doubt he'd notice if the head isn't symmetrical! 

 

At the end, I closed up the little hole at the feet and this little robot was ready for my little boy before he was even up from his afternoon nap.  

Maybe one of these days I'll find some of my old sewing projects to show you.  I know that there is a quilted pillow, a patchwork quilt and the stuffed bear that I mentioned above.  For now, I'll just show you a bunch of pictures of Lucky with his newest toy. (I probably could have selected just one or two photos, but we were having so much fun playing!)  

I wanted to try to get him to hold the robot so I could see it, but he was interested in showing his new little friend some loving.

I just realized that Lucky is wearing a "Mommy's Little Monster" outfit for this shoot.  Am I making a little Dr. Frankenstein?  

The Dr. didn't want me to pose Mr. Robot.  "Mom, he has things to do!"

Hey, I did a sewing project that actually involved needles and thread!  Don't worry, I'll be heading back to my Liquid Stitch Adhesive for some other awesome projects!    

Free Twilight Knitting Patterns

I don't know too much about the Twilight series, but I do know that the movies feature some fabulous knitwear. Given that Twilight fans are as fanatic as Harry Potter fans, I expected to come across an explosion of Twilight Knitting Patterns based on the accessories worn in the movies.

I searched the web for designers who reverse-designed knit items shown in the Twilight movies and who have offered these Twilight knitting patterns for free. I hope that you can find the Twilight inspired knits that you're looking for!

Many of these free knitting patterns are avilable at Ravelry, but you will need to create a free account to access them.

Free Bella Swan Twilight Knitting Patterns

All of these knitting patterns are based on items worn in the Twilight movies by Bella Swan

• Bella's Green Striped Knit Hat from Twilight Eclipse
  "knit pattern inspired by the hat worn by Bella when being carried by Jacob in the Twilight Eclipse movie." - Nancy Fry (designer) Pattern is available for free Ravelry download. You just need to create a free pattern
• Bella's Cable Scarf
  Simple, two large bear claw cables running down the length
• Bella's Hat
  I'm not sure which movie this is from, but it is a fitted hat with a large bear-claw like cables
• Bella's Fingerless gloves
  Should make a fast knit! Pattern is available for free Ravelry download. You just need to create a free pattern
• Bella's Hat from Eclipse
  "This hat was inspired by the hat that Bella wears in Eclipse." - Sarah Franklin (designer) Pattern is available for free at Ravelry You just need to create a free pattern
• Bella's Mittens
  "Inspired by mittens worn by Kristen Stewart as Bella in the movies "Twilight" and "New Moon"." - Marielle Henault (designer) These are the same mittens shown in Phenomenon, and the pattern has been translated into French, Italian and Norwegian.
• Bella's Mittens
  Another version of the Bella's cabled mittens
• Bella's New Moon Vest
  This is a beautiful, Fair Isle like vest.
• Phenomenon
  "This pattern was inspired by the mittens Bella wears in the movie Twilight, in the car accident scene." - Carine Ancel (designer) Pattern is available for free Ravelry download. You just need to create a free pattern
• Twilight Bella Swan's Baseball Scarf
  "Just nine (9) rectangles and two (2) triangles and a little geometry make up this fun scarf inspired by the one that Bella wears during the baseball game in the movie Twilight." - Designer Nancy Fry Pattern is available for free Ravelry download. Y
• Twilight Bella's La Push knit hat
  Another hat worn by Bella SwanPattern is available for free Ravelry download. You just need to create a free pattern
• Twilight New Moon Eclipse Bella Green Hood Cardigan
  A buttoned hooded cardigan. Pattern is available for free at Ravelry You just need to create a free pattern
• Twilight Chunky Bella Mittens, Knitted Flat.
  More Bella Mittens (that are knitted flat) Pattern is available for free at Ravelry You just need to create a free pattern

Free Twilight Knitting Patterns: Alice, Angela and Rosalie Knitwear

Free Knitting Patterns based on other women in the Twilight Movies.

• Alice's Mitts
  "Based on the fingerless mitts Alice Cullen wears in The Twilight Saga: New Moon movie." - Emily Nimz (designer) Pattern is available for free Ravelry download. You just need to create a free pattern
• Alice's New Moon Mitts
  Another version of these mitts
• HeartFail
  Designed after a hat Ashley Green (who plays Alice Cullen) wore in paparazzi photos. Pattern is available for free Ravelry download. You just need to create a free pattern
• New Moon Angela Weber's Arm Warmers
  "This is my replica of the Arm Warmers worn by Angela Weber when she is snapping photos in New Moon." - Nancy Fry (designer) Pattern is available for free at Ravelry You just need to create a free pattern
• Rosalie Movie Beret
  A slouchy simple hat. Pattern is available for free at Ravelry You just need to create a free pattern
• Rosalie's Hat
  Slouchy, ribbed and delicate looking. Pattern is available for free Ravelry download. You just need to create a free pattern
• Twilight Alice Cullens Fieldtrip Scarf
  "This is my knit design to replicate the scarf worn by Alice Cullen in the Twilight movie." - Nancy Fry (designer) Pattern is available for free at Ravelry You just need to create a free pattern
• Twilight Angela Weber's La Push Hat (2 versions)
  Designer Nancy Fry couldn't decide which version was closest to Angela Weber's hat, so she gives you two options. Pattern is available for free Ravelry download. You just need to create a free pattern
• Twilight Rosalie Hale's Lunchtime Scarf
  "This scarf was inspired by the one worn by Rosalie Hale in the movie Twilight." - Nancy Fry (designer) Pattern is available for free at Ravelry You just need to create a free pattern
• Twilight Rosalie Hale's School Hat
  Slouchy and ribbed. Pattern is available for free Ravelry download. You just need to create a free pattern

The Men's and Misc Free Twilight Knitting Patterns - Dress Your Men!

Some of these are knitting patterns based on items worn in the Twilight movies, others are loosely based on the Twilight series itself.

• Jacob's Twilight Beanie Pattern
  This one is not ribbed all the way to the top like some of the others you'll find. Pattern is available for free at Ravelry You just need to create a free pattern
• Emmett Cullen Vest
  A simple, ribbed grey men's Vest Pattern is available for free at Ravelry You just need to create a free pattern

• Twilight Jacob Black's La Plush Hat
  A simple ribbed hat with a cuff. Pattern is available for free Ravelry download. You just need to create a free pattern
• Twilight Team Cullen Crest Hat
  You could use the crest chart for another item, too. Pattern is availble for free at Ravelry You just need to create a free pattern
• Twilight Carlisle Cullen Baseball Scarf Pattern
  "This scarf was inspired by the one worn by Dr. Carlisle Cullen during the baseball scene in the movie twilight." - Nancy Fry (designer) Pattern is available for free at Ravelry You just need to create a free pattern
• Twilight Coffee Sleeve
  "Be Safe"
• Twilight Inspired Iphone/Ipod touch sock spattern
  "Be Safe" Is inscribed on this iPhone cozy.
• Bite Me
  There is a cute story behind this scarf loosely inspired by the twilight series. You should really check it out!

-----------------

This pattern search was previously published on Sqiudoo, however with the migration of Sqiudoo to Hubpages at the end of 2014 some of the pattern searches don't work for Hubpages's model.  I have reposted the former lens/hub here.  All the research finding the free knitting patterns is my own and I wrote all of the descriptions of the patterns unless otherwise noted.  Please let me know if any of the links are broken, I am working on migrating multiple pattern searches over here at once.  

A Perfect Sweater for Indy

Last fall, I made a perfect fit sweater for Indy as part of Save the Children's Pins and Needles Challenge for Make the World Better with a Sweater Day on December 12.  I now want to share with you the details behind Indy's perfect fit sweater.  (It is not too late to make a donation to Save the Children!) 

On November 12, I started researching fun free sweater knitting and crochet projects.  Save the Children had just asked me to participate in their Pins and Needles Challenge, and I had no idea what I wanted to make.  I realized that Indy would need a sweater of his own to participate in Make the World Bette with a Sweater Day with Lucky, Keith and myself.  

I  had the perfect fit dog or cat sweater in my queue for years, and the Pins and Needles Challenge was the perfect time to start knitting it.   I selected size 10 knitting needles and some unknown fiber content yarn that I'd had in my stash for a while.  The colors would look beautiful on Indy, and I knew that the garment would not require a lot of care because Indy wouldn't wear it that often.

I haven't been able to find any information about the yarn anywhere...  The business card says hand dyed wool 18 oz on the back.  I know that my friend picked it up for me in Maine somewhere for my Bachelorette party.  

Call me crazy but I decided to knit directly off of the yarn swift.  There is just too much yarn for my ball winder and I'm feeling pressed for time.  This was the plan until the yarn started sliding down the swift and I realized that I"d better quickly just ball it.  There are numerous knots in the ball.  The resulting ball is as big as my head!!  The yarn is 15 wraps/2" so 7.5 wraps/inch.  I call this a bulky weight and therefore I decided to knit the sweater on size 10 (6.0 mm) knitting needles.  I chose this size needle for 2 reasons.  1) it would work well with the yarn and 2) i have this size in both ciruclar and dpn.  Otherwise I might have chosen size 11.

Now it is finally time for me to start knitting.  I whipped up a swatch.  9 sts/3" and ~4 rows/inch.  I calculated Indy's measurements (as a 25 lb miniature American Eskimo) as follows:

Dog’s neck: 14"
Dog’s ribcage: 21.5"
Between dog’s front legs: 3"
Circumference of dog’s front leg, at very top base of leg: 6"

Pattern notes:

• Collar - cast on 42 sts and knit ribbing for 4 rounds.  (~1")
  
  
• All increases - M1 stitch after the 1st stitch and before the last stitch of each round.  (I counted started with first stockinette round, increases happened on even rounds.)  I calculated that there should be 26 stitches increased, which would work out to be exactly 26 rows before splitting for legs.  After the 26 rows, the piece measured 6.75" from the cast on edge.
  
  
• For legs, round #27 - K4, BO 10 K to last 14 sts, BO 10, K 4.   In the next round (#28) I cast on 10 sts in each opening with the backwards loop cast on. (I can always pick up 21 sts around the leg holes.)
  
  
• Around the rib cage I might run into some problems.  I think I allowed for ease when i took my measurement of 21.5" (I can get the tape down to 19" with the fluff.)  
• Round 34 - K5, K2tog.  K until last 7 sts.  SSK, K5.  (66 sts)
• Round 37 - repeat 33.  (64 sts)
• Round 40 - repeat 33 (62 sts)
• Round 43 - repeat 33 (60 sts)
• Round 50 - started binding of for the bottom.  BO the last 10 sts of Round 50 and the first 10 sts of Row 51.  This is where I was at the time of the last update.  
• Row 52 is the first p row.  
• Even rounds - S1, K2tog, K until last 3 sts, SSK, S1
• After row 63 (WS) - 30 sts remain.  
• Round 64 - Picking up the stitches for the border. K 30, pick up 7 sts, PM, pick up 20, PM, Pick up 7
• 3 rounds of ribbing (with applicable decreases) and then bind off in ribbing pattern. 
• Sleeves - Pick up 20 sts from around armhole. 3 rounds of ribbing then bind off.    

When photographing the sweater on Indy, it didn't show up too well on my phone.  I had to keep trying on the sweater on him (using a stitch holder so it would fit) to check the length.  I'm not concerned it will be too short, but rather too long.  It is hard to gauge because Indy's fluff covers up the neck of the sweater, but I think it will be okay.  The pattern is a perfect fit, right?   When I tried the sweater on him in the middle of row 20 I knew that the length will be okay.  I should have had more trust in the pattern!  

There is a lot of debris in this yarn.  I tried to pull things out as I went, but I know I missed some pieces.  This makes the yarn PERFECT for an Indy sweater.  He has an undercoat so the roughness won't be uncomfortable at all. 

Unfortunately I HATE HATE HATED working with this yarn.  If it were in the Ravelry database I would give it 1 star for being so scratchy.  It looks fantastic though.  I think this is the first time I'll throw away remnants versus using them up.  It is too scratchy I don't even want to donate it.  I'm itching THOUGH my yoga pants from just the sweater sitting on my lap.  I used 188 g to make this sweater - 330 g remain!

I tried a hair conditioner bath to see if it would help the texture.  If the texture can be saved I'll reskein the rest of the yarn and bathe that before using it.  Otherwise, in the bin it goes.  (How is that stash busting for you?)  I put the sweater in the sink with some pumps of my Pantene Conditioner and it immediately felt silky smooth.  I remained skeptical, and left the sweater to soak overnight.  (I don't think it would need that long but I wanted to go to bed and after putting the sweater on and off Indy so many times for measurements I didn't feel like touching it any more.)  The sweater is much softer, but still a little too scratchy for me to want to use it on a human accessory, and Indy doesn't need ANOTHER sweater in the same color.  I was able to give the rest of the yarn to one of my friends in crochet club who is excited to use it.  I'm so glad that it found a good home!  

Meanwhile, Indy looks super dashing in his first hand knit sweater.  I love the way it fits him and he didn't seem to mind wearing it at all.  He loved posing for the camera!  

Now I want to design Indy a sweater... but I know that this will take some time.  Maybe I will be able to make a set so Lucky and Indy can match.  Have you ever made your dog a sweater?