The Pattern:
CO 240, make sure you’re not twisting stitches Place Marker and join in round

1st Rnd: Knit all stitches
2nd Rnd: *YO, K2tog*, repeat * * to marker.
3rd Rnd: Knit all stitches
4th Rnd: *Slip 1, K1, Pass Slipped Stitch Over (PSSO), YO*, repeat * * to marker.

Repeat 4 rows until desired width. The example scarf measures approx 60 inches around and 10 inches wide.

Just in case you’re having trouble… The number of stitches never changes throughout the pattern. Each K2tog is paired with a YO (as each Slip 1, K1, PSSO is paired with a YO) if you find that you are increasing or decreasing your stitches in anyway then you missed or added a YO. In Row 4 you should be slipping the YO from Row 2 and knitting the knit stitch. In Row 2, you should be inserting your needle first into the YO then the knit stitch for your K2tog.

1.Finish what you started (or don’t)

This year, take stock of all the projects you haven’t finished. Some of them probably only need minor work to finish them such as weaving in ends, blocking your knitting or simply doing some knitting up.

Make these sorts of projects a priority and see how many of them you can complete before the end of January.

Other pieces might take much more work to finish. Consider each one individually and decide if it is something you really want to finish. If you abandoned the project part way through because you hated the yarn or the pattern, that’s not a project you are ever going to want to finish. Bite the bullet and unravel your work. If you like the yarn but hated the project, try a different pattern. Donate the yarn if it was the problem.

If you have unfinished projects that you still want to finish, make an effort to complete them, if possible, before you start any new projects. If you started the project for an occasion that has since passed, find a place to donate the finished item.

2.Use the Yarn in Your Stash

A huge guilty pleasure of knitters is buying yarn without any idea of how or if we might one day use it. This year, make an effort to go through your stash and really evaluate each thing you’ve purchased:

Do you love it?
Do you have an idea for a project you could make with it?
Do you have enough of it to complete that project?
Is the yarn in good condition?

If you don’t love the yarn, donate it to someone who can use it (or sell it on eBay). If you love it but don’t know how to use it, check out our free knitting patterns section for some inspiration. You might find a small project you could complete with a tiny quantity of yarn, or come up with a way to work the yarn into a project that uses many different kinds of yarn.

If the yarn is damaged, there’s nothing for it but to get rid of it and make room for something else in your stash.

Once you’ve cleaned out your stash and come up with projects for some of the yarns you are keeping, resolve to make those projects. Either set a goal of one project from the stash every month or vow not to buy any new yarn until you’ve completed a certain number of projects from the yarn you already have.

3. Start Making Swatches

Most knitters don’t like to take the time to knit gauge swatches, yet we all probably have a story involving a project that we should have swatched.

My first pair of socks, for instance, ended up more like slippers because I was sure I could just knit with the size of needles that was recommended in the pattern. They were such small needles, I figured there was no way my knitting wouldn’t end up small. I still wear those socks, but often they’re put on over other socks!

This year, let’s all resolve to try to make more gauge swatches when we embark on difficult or extremely fitted patterns. Notice I didn’t say you have to make a gauge swatch for every project, or even that you have to keep them, I just said try to make them on the difficult or big projects you don’t want to have to knit twice.

Making resolutions, whether about knitting or anything else, shouldn’t be about absolutes. Don’t say “I’ll never eat ice cream again” or “I’ll always make gauge swatches and knit from my stash.” With that kind of attitude if you mess up once your resolution is gone. Instead, make a day to day, project to project effort.

4. Learn New Tricks

Every knitter, no matter how skilled, probably has something he or she hasn’t tried before. Make this the year you learn that skill you’ve always wanted to try.

Whether its felting or cables, colorwork or circular knitting, be willing to move out of your comfort zone this year and try something new. You’ll learn great things about yarn, about knitting, and about yourself. Even if it’s a disaster, it probably won’t be one you regret.

5. Make More Time for Knitting

It’s likely most of us would like to be able to spend more time knitting each day or each week than we currently do. You could resolve to do more knitting in front of the television or to turn off the TV one night a week so you can get more knitting done.

You might also want to join a knitting group so you have a regular time for knitting worked into your schedule. You might be more likely to take part if you know people are expecting you.

6. Knit More for Yourself

If you’re constantly knitting for gifts and for charity, good for you, but remember to stop every now and then and knit a little something for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.

7. Say Thank You

Finally, the greatest New Year’s resolution of them all: take some time to thank the person who taught you how to knit. We all had the pleasure of learning this wonderful craft from someone, often a family member or friend. If that person is still alive and you are still in contact with him or her, send a note (not an e-mail if at all possible) telling them what it has meant to you to be able to knit.

If you want, make them something nice to show them how far you’ve come. They’ll love it.

If the person who taught you is not longer living, pay it forward by teaching someone else to knit or helping them with a knitting skill. We are the ones keeping knitting alive. We owe it to those who came before us to ensure there are knitters after us.

Even if you only choose to set one of these resolutions for yourself, I’m sure you’ll be glad you did. They’ll make you a better knitter, and maybe even a better person. Happy New Year!

For the month of December, we are featuring two of our most popular closeout items at special holiday prices.

Coconut Palm Knitting Needles at $5.00 per pair or buy 3 get the fourth one free. Sizes 9, 10, and 13.

And our decorative scarf pins are now holiday priced supplies are limited and subject to prior sale.

Holiday prices end on Jan 1st 2012.

The Craft

Among other things, my older brother taught me how to crochet. Shortly thereafter I passed the skill onto my friends Travis and Stewart. Being avid snow sports enthusiasts, we liked the idea of having our own unique headwear on the mountain and, though it was not a normal hobby for high school guys, we reveled in the novelty of it.

Before long our creations caught the attention of our classmates and we began taking custom orders and selling our crocheted masterpieces to anyone who would buy them. It was a local newspaper in our hometown of Spokane, WA that officially dubbed us the “Krochet Kids”. At that time our only expense outside of yarn and hooks was a hot-air balloon ride for our prom dates. With that, one chapter of our story was closed.
A Dream

College found us three friends at different schools. Although there were brief resurgences of the crochet craze amongst new friends, we ultimately began exploring new opportunities — surfing, traveling. During our summer breaks we volunteered in various developing nations, hoping to gain a better understanding of the global community in which we lived. It wasn’t long before we came to realize how blessed we had been growing up. The desire was planted within us to help. To reach out in love. To make a difference.

It was around this time that an idea was born. One which involved a familiar trade. Friends and family encouraged us to teach people in developing countries how to crochet as a means of breaking the cycle of poverty. At first, I thought the world needed something more drastic than crochet, something much more profound. That was until Stewart returned home after a summer spent in Uganda.

An Opportunity

Stew told us about a people that had been living in government camps for over 20 years due to a rebel army that had ravaged the north part of the country. Entire generations grew up only knowing the camp and relying solely on the government and aid organizations for their every need. They were sick and tired of being dependent upon these operating bodies and they wanted to work and provide for their own families.

It was then that we realized the simplicity of crocheting to be its most profound quality. With hook and yarn people could make amazing products. Being paid a fair wage to do so would allow for them, for the first time, to provide for their families and begin planning for the future. By teaching these people to crochet, we would be empowering them to rise above poverty. We decided right then that we were going to do exactly that.

Krochet Kids

The Krochet Kids quickly grew beyond us to incorporate close friends who shared this desire to see Northern Uganda transformed by hook and yarn. Halfway through college at this point, we applied to become a non-profit organization and began crocheting again to sell hats and share our vision for what we planned to do.

The following summer, after countless skype meetings and late nights, we found ourselves sitting in a simple brick hut with a group of Ugandan women and bags full of yarn. What followed thereafter remains to be one of the most surreal experiences of my life, as we watched these ladies nearly master crocheting before our eyes. Tears, primarily from Stewart, were in abundance.

A Reality

Krochet Kids intl. has continued to grow and evolve in ways we never imagined since we earned our non-profit status in 2007. Today, over 100 people go to our compound in Northern Uganda everyday to work and to rewrite their stories for the better. The products created abroad have been well received here at home and the cooperation of our staff in America and artists in Northern Uganda has created a sustainable cycle of employment and empowerment.

Uganda is but one microcosmic example of what we hope to replicate throughout impoverished communities around the globe. Join with us as we continue to spread the good word of hope and empowerment …

Supplies:
1 Skein No. 312 Black.
Crochet Hook: 5.5mm [US I-9].
Yarn needle, plastic headband.

Size:
Ears measure approx 2.5″ high.

Gauge/tension:
14 sts = 4″; 8 rows = 4″ in sc. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

Instructions:
Ear (Make 4): Ch 8.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across; turn – 7 sc.
Rows 2 and 3: Ch 1, sc in each sc across; turn.
Row 4: Ch 1; draw up a lp in each of next 2 sc, yarn over and draw through all 3 lps on hook – sc2tog made; sc in next 3 sc, sc2tog over last 2 sc; turn – 5 sc.
Row 5: Rep Row 2.
Row 6: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next sc, sc2tog; turn – 3 sc.
Row 7: Rep Row 2.
Row 8: Ch 1, draw up a lp in each of next 3 sc, yarn over and draw through all 4 lps on hook. Fasten off.

Finishing: Sew 2 ears together along the 2 shaped sides leaving bottom open. Repeat with other 2 ears. Checking placement, sew bottom of ears to headband. Weave in ends.

Kohl Crecelius learned to crochet from his older brother and then taught his friends Travis Hartanov and Stewart Ramsey; the three guys sold their hats to their fellow high school students. Together, they became the “Krochet Kids.”

In 2007, Kohl, Travis and Stewart founded Krochet Kids International (KKi), a non-profit organization working with a growing number of women in war-torn, northern Uganda to create a collection of men’s and women’s crochets hats and fashion accessories. More than 85 women in Uganda are employed to create the hats, earning fair wages, training and education so they can provide for their families and begin planning for a better future.
The right fit

“Krochet Kids is a perfect fit for Nordstrom because it’s a great quality product, it’s fun and all of the proceeds go to help the women in Uganda,” said Janae Schain, assistant buyer, B.P. Accessories. “It looks amazing and you’re giving back.”

KKi believes in quality, handmade products that bring comfort and style while serving as a vehicle for social change. Introduced to a select number of Nordstrom stores in October 2010, the Krochet Kids hats were popular with customers and the product soon sold out.

“When customers hear the story behind the product, they fall in love with it,” said Janae.
Buy a hat. Change a life.

Each hand-crocheted hat features a label that is personally signed by the woman who made it. Customers can learn the woman’s story and thank her through the Krochet Kids website. That personal contact is soon going to be even more accessible.

“This year’s new line of hats will have smart phone tags sewn in the labels which will take you directly to the website so you can write a thank you note to the woman who made the hat,” said Janae.

The purchase of crocheted hats and accessories helps KKi sustain and grow current job and income programs as well as empower future generations through education.

“The cooperation of our staff in America and artists in Northern Uganda has created a sustainable cycle of employment and empowerment,” said Kohl Crecelius, CEO and co-founder.