DIY Network

Finishing the Beanbag, Making a Hat Finishing the Beanbag, Making a Hat From "Knitty Gritty" episode DKNG-106

Some of the colorful beanbags you can make.

When you've knitted enough rows to make a square and then knitted a second square the same size, it's time to sew the beanbag together and fill it with beans. You're almost finished with your very first knitting project!

The next project is a hat trimmed with tassels. The thought of knitting a hat may seem scary, but guess what! It's made up of squares, just like the beanbags! You'll never believe how easy it is to make.

advertisement

Figure A

Beanbag, Part Two

1. Using the yarn needle, sew the two squares together along three sides (figure A).

• To do this, first match up the sides of the squares. Be sure the right side of the knitting is to the outside on each square.

• Then put the needle through one stitch on the side of one square and then through the same stitch on the other square.

• Pull the thread up tight (but not so tight it puckers) and do the same with the next stitches, until three sides of the square are sewn up.

2. The open end is where you'll stuff the bag with beans. But first, you have to make an inner bag to hold the beans.

• Make a very tight knot at the end of the length of sock, stocking or tight.

• Fill the tube with dried beans (figure B) -- just about any kind of beans will do: mixed beans, peas, lentils, etc.

3. Place the tube (figure C) inside the beanbag to see if you need to add or take away beans. The beanbag should be puffed like a pillow, but the beans should not be bursting out.

Figure B

Figure C

4. When ready, close the tube by tying the extra fabric in a knot or tying a piece of yarn around it. Make sure the tube is securely closed.

5. Using the yarn needle, sew the open side of the beanbag shut.

	Junior Knitster Rachel joins Vickie Howell to model the tasseled hat.
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F

Hat with Tassels

This hat is made just like the beanbag, only you cast on more stitches to make bigger squares (big enough to fit your head).

Materials
2 skeins Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted, in two different colors
Size 8 or 9 knitting needles
Yarn needle

1. To make the first half of the hat, cast on 34 stitches with one color of yarn. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for approximately 9". Bind off. Set aside this piece of knitting.

2. To make the second half of the hat, cast on 34 stitches with the second color of yarn. Work in garter stitch until the second half of the hat is the same size as the first half (figure D).

3. Sew together the 9" sides of the two halves using the yarn needle threaded with one of the two colors of yarn. Now fold the hat so the edges you just stitched run up the center front and the center back (figure E). With the yarn needle and one of the two colors of yarn, sew the top of the hat together.

4. Make two tassels (see below) with the yarn you used for the hat (either two the same color or one in each color). Attach the tassels to the two top corners of the hat.

Tassels
1. Cut a piece of cardboard into a square so that each side is the length you want the tassel to be (for example, cut a 5" square to make a 5" tassel). Wrap the yarn around the cardboard until it is as thick as you want (figure F) -- the more wraps, the thicker the tassel.

2. Cut the end of the yarn, leaving a tail of about 15". Then run the tail under all of the wrapped yarn on one side of the cardboard and make a knot so that half of the wrapped yarn is on each side of the knot.

3. Remove the cardboard and cut the loops of yarn opposite the knot so that they become loose strands, then wrap the tail a few times around all of the yarn about an inch or so below the knot. Make a second knot so that the wrapping can't unravel.

4. Thread the tail onto a yarn needle and run the needle and yarn back into the knot at the top of the tassel. Use the leftover yarn to attach the tassel to your knitting.

Media Watch the Video

Knit Bit: Want to try making your own knitting needles? Watch the video at right to see how it's done!

RESOURCES :

Kids Knitting: Projects for Kids of All Ages
By Melanie Falick
Artisan, November 2003
Paperback
$12.95 (US)
ISBN: 1579652417
Artisan Books
A division of Workman Publishing
Website: artisanbooks.com

Lamb's Pride Bulky Wool
Suggested retail price: $6.50 (125-yd. skein)
Brown Sheep Company
Website: brownsheep.com

GUESTS :

Melanie Falick
Knitting expert, author
We apologize no contact information is available.