Two hats in one

I love the way that this cosy knitted hat from a Argyll yarn pattern can be worn in two ways: firmly pulled over the head for maximum warmth, or perched on top for a more cheeky gamine/blimey-my-ears-are-cold sort of look.

Yarn: 4ozs DK. It's knitted in doubled-up double knitting yarn for extra warmth - you're knitting with 2 balls of yarn at the same time.

Needles: pair of No 4 UK needles.

Tension: 3sts and 7 rows = 1 inch squre measured over pattern.

Note: Wind 2 balls of yarn together before commencing. Using No 4 needles cast on 27 sts, and k 1 row. Commence pattern: -

1st row (right side): Sl 1, * k into st below next st on needle, slipping st above off needle in normal way (called K1B), k1; rep from * to end.

2nd row: Sl 1, * k1, K1; rep from * to last 2 sts, k2.

These 2 rows form pattern.

Shape top:

1st row: Sl 1, * K1B, k1; rep from * to last 2 sts, turn.
2nd and every alt row: sl 1, * k1, K1B; rep from * to end.
3rd row: Sl 1, * K1B, k1; rep from * to last 4 sts, turn.

Continue in this way working 2 sts less at end of every alt row until "sl 1, * K1B, k1; rep from * to last 12 sts, turn" has been worked.

12th row: sl1, * k1, K1B; rep from * to end.
13th and 14th rows: Work in pattern across all sts.

Rep last 14 rows 9 times more. Cast off in pattern.

To make up: sew together cast-on and cast-off edges, leaving centre of crown open for pom-pom. Press. Make a pom-pom, insert through hole in corwn and sew centre seam.

Haven't tried making this hat yet - let me know how it turns out.

Video tape bag now finished

I'm very pleased with the way this turned out and have been getting lots of lovely comments from admirers. Video tape crochets up a little like raffia. Only it looks really gothic and sinister.

The inside lining of the bag is made out of an old shirt and I've managed to position the shirt's old zip-up pocket to make a little change pocket inside the bag. I'm feeling rather smug about this.

Crochet video tape bag

I'm currently working on a black crochet handbag. It's half made out of video tape, salvaged from a tape that my video player chewed up last weekend, and half made out of some black 3 ply wool (used double) salvaged from an aborted 1940s bobble hat project.

The pattern is based on a bag from the rather disappointing book Crochet Bags! by Candi Jensen. I dislike the over-enthusiastic exclamation mark used in the book title. Is it supposed to suggest an element of surprise? You've found a book called Crochet Bags and -- golly -- you'll never guess what's inside -- patterns for crochet bags. Or is it, as I prefer to think, Candi Jensen barking out an order? Crochet Bags! Yes, Ms Jensen. Right away, Ms Jensen.

In the book, this bag looks grimly hippy-ish, crocheted in rather horrible brown, pink and white cotton yarn.

The video tape crochet looks surprisingly sophisticated. In the dim light of my basement, rather like jet beading. This probably doesn't come across on the photo -- that's the joy of taking pictures of an item made out of two kinds of black. I need to make 12 of these squares and then decide on what to do for the handle.