Patterns available on Ravelry: Brixel Cowl & Brixel Hat as well as on Etsy: Brixel Cowl & Brixel Hat.
UPDATE: The Brixel Cowl now includes TWO pdf files for you to download. One is the original version of the cowl shown in the post below with five mini skeins and the other is a modification that features six mini skeins instead!
I've been itching to play with some mini skein sets for quite a while now, and although I spent some time looking at a few online, I was never quite inspired enough to purchase one. Enter Little Fox Yarn and her trunk show at my LYS Yarn Matters earlier this year. All it took was me seeing this little set in person and I knew exactly what I was going to make with it!
I'm beginning to think there's actually a little spark of magic when I touch certain yarns with my very own hands. They whisper to me hints of what they could be. And who am I to deny that siren song!?
Of course, if you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, you probably know that this isn't the only mini skein project I've made recently! One evening when I was working on the cowl, I was feeling rather cold and so I popped it on my head while I was taking a short break. Lo and behold, it fit pretty well as a hat! It was also super warm and cozy. And so that got me thinking that I should do a sister pattern.
Boy did I get myself in over my head!
But after some trial and error, lots of patience, and some toddler free time to buckle down and work out those last kinks (and do the ever-dreaded math), I finally sorted out a way to write instructions for decreasing in the round in linen stitch in multiple sizes. Whew! It wasn't as simple as I wanted it to be, but it works. I may never ever write another hat pattern, though! If I do, it will most certainly be from crown to brim, like the sane person that I apparently am not. O.o
It DOES let you maximize using those minis, though! And that was the whole point, so I'm glad I stuck it out. We shall see what the rest of the world has to say!
My favorite part about these two pieces is the way the colors pop and fade from one to the next. The basketweave pattern created with post stitches adds some scrumptious texture, but it also makes simple stripes look like more complicated colorwork! And it would work almost as well with a self-striping yarn for those of you who hate sewing in ends as much as I do, ha ha. Ah, but it was worth it for these two!
I've also started working on an infinity scarf type version of the cowl with a heavier weight yarn, so I'm excited to see how that turns out. It'll be a bit more subtle with the colors I've chosen, but I think it's going to be a fun reimagination of this design.
The patterns themselves include color-coded written and charted instructions (except for the decrease rounds on the hat) with stitch counts as well as photos to further illustrate a couple of the techniques used. Here's a look at what you'll need to make your own!
Suggested Materials:
Little Fox Sampler (5 mini skeins of Mighty Little Sock) by Little Fox Yarn (20g, 87 yds each) Fingering (1) Weight: Falling Leaves Gradient for Cowl; Colorway No 3 for Hat
Stitch Marker(s) (optional)
Skills you’ll need to know or learn:
Decreases (directions given in pattern)
Gauge:
Before blocking: 28 sts and 23 rows basketweave = 4 inches for both cowl and hat.
Cowl was aggressively blocked to make it a smidge longer around. Before blocking, the finished piece measured approximately 20" around and 7.5" wide; after blocking it measured about 22” around and 7.25” wide with a guage of 26.5 sts and 22 rows basketweave = 4 inches. Guidance is given in pattern to modify length.
Hat Sizes: Baby (Toddler, Child, Adult S, M, L)
Approximate Finished Hat Circumference: 16.5” (18”, 19”, 20”, 21”, 22”) Finished Height: 7 – 8” (guidance in pattern on making shorter hat)
I even did this cute little baby headband/wrap with my leftover yarns from the two sets! <3
Oh and I almost forgot! The name for these pieces came about because the colorwork reminds me of pixel art and if you’ve never heard of BRIXEL art, you should definitely check it out. It’s pixelated artwork on BRICKS. It's super fun and there should be more of it in the world!! Here's some brixel art by Cedric Tai and if you're a Pacman fan, you'll like this one! And if you REALLY want to get lost for a while, you've gotta check out this tesselation generator at www.makebrixels.com by Daniel Marchwinski and Cedric Tai. It would be a super cool way to plan some real colorwork and the possibilities are absolutely endless!
I also have to thank all the wonderful ladies who tested out these two patterns for me, including Danie, Shelly, Trish Herbers, Stacey Linder, Natishia Curry, and Naquita. They truly make my patterns better!!
The Brixel Cowl and Brixel Hat patterns are both available in my Ravelry shop; be sure to use coupon code Brixilation to save 20% when you buy them both together!
UPDATE: both patterns are also now available on Etsy: Brixel Cowl & Brixel Hat
Happy crocheting, y'all!
