Free knitting pattern: hood designed by Leanne Dyck

A toque can give you hat head, but Guna won't. 

This knitting pattern uses the 3-needle bind-off technique.

Guna
Yarn: one skein of worsted weight yarn
Needles: one set 4.50 mm (US 7, UK 7)
two double-point needles
Stitch pattern
seed stitch (over an even number of stitches)
Row 1: knit one, purl one--to end of row.
Row 2: purl one, knit one--to end of row.
Repeat rows 1 and 2 for pattern.

Stockinette stitch
Row 1: knit
Row 2: purl
Repeat rows 1 and 2 for pattern.

Cast on 90 stitches

Establish pattern as follows: work in Stockinette stitch for 10 stitches, seed stitch for 70 stitches, Stockinette stitch for 10 stitches for a total of 90 stitches.
Work in established pattern for 10.5 inches (26.5 cm)

Fold in half, width-wise
Cast off using the three-needle bind off technique, weave in ends.

Make two I-cords
Using two double-pointed, cast on 8 stitches and work for 10 inches (25.5 cm) or desired length. Use a darning needle to collect stitches and secure. Attach I-cord to hood.

Every attempt has been made to ensure that the instructions are clear and correct. Please notify me of any errors so I may correct the pattern immediately. ldyck(c)2/8/2008

Whacked out Knitting (short story)

"I found this in the charity box. Don't you want it?" A middle-aged woman asked her teenage son. She held a sweater.

That thing she wants to know if I want that thing? Andy wondered. She needs to get her eyes checked. Why would anyone want that weird thing? The sleeves are too long, the body's too short, the turtleneck's too wide and the colour...I'll go blind. "That, ah, no, I don't want that."

"Do you remember who knit it for you?"

"Great Aunt Margaret," they said together.

Great Aunt Margaret had appeared on the scene mere weeks after dear old Dad flew the coop, Andy recalled. Appeared like a tornado appears on the prairies--you can see it coming, but there's nothing you can do about it. "She was a strange old bird."

"Andy!"

"Come on you can't deny she was a little off. That sweater is proof. And you--"

"Yes?"

"You made me wear it."

"It made her happy."

"Yeah, too happy."

"What do you mean?"

"I think she knit it like that on purpose," he said, with a twinkle in his eye.

They burst out laughing.