Bamboo stitch beanie

A few weeks ago I started experimenting with the knitted bamboo stitch.  I really liked the look and decided I wanted to translate its beauty into Tunisian crochet.  Once I got it down, I made a hat in the round using the stitch and two complimentary colors.  I really, really like it!  So, I want to share it with you!

Bamboo Stitch Beanie

Materials:
Patons Silk Bamboo (DK weight, 70% Bamboo
30% Silk, 102 yds/2.3 oz per skein) – 1 skein Sea (MC), 1 skein Sapphire (CC)
US J (6.00mm) double-ended hook
Tapestry needle

Gauge: not especially important, and will be determined by yarn and hook choice.

Abbreviations:
tfs = Tunisian full stitch (insert hook in space between vertical bars and draw up loop)
y/o = yarn over (increase made)
sl st = slip stitch
ch = chain

Special Stitch:
Bamboo stitch = y/o, tfs in each of next 2 spaces, pull last two loops on hook back through y/o, at the same time.  For a video tutorial on Bamboo stitch, click here.

Notes:

• Any yarn/hook combination can be used with this pattern.
• All return rows are as normal: ch 1 for first stitch, y/o and pull through 2 loops for all subsequent stitches
• All stitches are created knitwise, meaning the hook is inserted from front to back, through the fabric.
• This pattern can be made in 2 colors, as shown, or using one color throughout.
• Pictured hat is made extra long for slouchy look, but can also be worn with a fold-up brim. Note that the bamboo stitch is not very stretchy. It is recommended that a test swatch be done in desired yarn.

Pattern:

Ch 75 (or any odd number of stitches, enough to loosely fit around your head). Join with a sl st to first ch. Do not twist chain.
Row 1: Pull up loop in the back hump of each ch around.
Row 2: Work bamboo stitch pattern

Repeat Row 2 until desired length is reached. Hat pictured is 9” tall.

Finishing:

Pull the last CC stitch through final forward pass stitch. Cut both yarns, leaving about a 10” tail of CC. Thread CC through tapestry needle, weave in and out of the topmost stitches, pull tight to gather the top of the hat, and secure the yarn. Weave in ends.

Special thanks to Chaitanya Muralidhara for her technical editing expertise!

More video tutorials!

It's almost 2:30 am and I *should* be asleep.  Instead, I am uploading videos.  Um, Houston, we have a problem.  Anyway, I hope you enjoy these!  I finally figured out how to take a better quality video by putting the tripod between my legs rather than behind me.  Makes a world of difference!

This first video is on right and left leaning twisted knit stitches...

And here is a video on the bamboo stitch.  I've never seen or heard of it being used in Tunisian, so maybe I actually came up with something new!  That would be so cool!

And last, but certainly not least, what's a person to do when they find they've dropped a stitch?  Frog it all back?  Throw it in the fire out of frustration?  No!!  Here is a little video on how to repair knit and simple stitches.  Hope it helps someone else as it has helped me.  Keep in mind that this is my own repair method and that someone else out there may have something even better.  :)

Kokopelli Stole

Well, after much deliberation, I finally decided to enter two items into the CGOA Chainlink Conference design competition.  Now, if you see this year's winners, and take some time to check out last year's winners, you will know that the designs are out of this world.  I never expected to win, or even place for that matter, but I was so proud to even enter.  Maybe next year I will win something!  Of course, that means I would need to start designing right now to stand a chance.  LOL!  There are some AMAZINGLY talented designers out there!

And here is one of my entries!  My Kokopelli stole, all Tunisian lace with a bit of beaded trim bling.