(All manner of) Removable Pompom

My latest Just Chillin' was made for Hannah, and it has the same removable pompom as the original Just Chillin' hat pattern sample made for Mallory.

Within my Just Chillin' pattern there are instructions on how I made a removable pompom on both of these hats... 

Each of these (real) fur pompoms* came attached to a key ring with a small elastic loop. If yours has one as well, you could make your fur pompom removable for a different look, and to wash your hat. First, I sewed a large flat button inside each hat.

Then, I used a crochet hook to pull the pompom’s elastic loop (detached from key ring) inside the hat near the button. Back on the inside, I pulled the loop over the button to attach the pompom.

To remove the pompom, pull elastic loop out and over button. A crochet hook would be required to reattach it.
 

I have since given some thought as to how I would make my own removable yarn pompom. Typically, a yarn pompom can be sewn on a hat, and the hat can be washed with the pompom attached. Even so, I can imagine a hat with interchangeable pompoms, or a case when you might want to wear a hat with or without a (yarn) pompom.
 

My recommendation is to use a piece 1/8" wide elastic, or maybe a piece of elastic cord, about 8" long. Normally when I make a yarn pompom, I leave the tying yarn quite long and use it to attach the pompom to the hat.

To convert such a pompom to a removable one, thread an 8" length of narrow elastic or heavy elastic cord on a tapestry needle and draw the needle in and out of the pompom below the tying yarn.

     

Trim the tying yarn ends to become part of the pompom.

Similar to the removable elastic loop pompom, a button would be sewn inside the hat. A crochet hook would be used to pull the two elastic ends into the hat near the button. Then the elastic ends could be tied (in a bow, or with a simple square knot... in a way that could be untied) securing them to the button.

With all of this in mind, lets look at a couple of faux fur pompoms that I bought when I first caught a bit-of-a-bug over pompom hats.

The smaller one is by Lion Brand. It came with an elastic cord -- but a rather long one. This makes it like my yarn pompom with added elastic. The loop could be pulled into a hat and tied to a button.

The larger one is by Bernat. This pompom has a heavy thread that could be used for attaching. If I desired to make it removable, I would replace the thread with a length of elastic using a large needle... 'Voila' another removable pompom.
  

*Last I checked the fur pompom with, the easy to use, small elastic loop was still available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0120RL2VQ/ref=twister_B0120R5U1E?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1  
  

Snow Day -- takin' photos & bein' chill

February 9, 2017 was a Snow Day in Philadelphia, PA.

Sources* tell me, "Everyone was predicting a 'Snowpocalypse' and what we got was just a little bit of snow, in February, which is when snow is supposed to fall. But still, it has been the only real snow we’ve gotten this year, and everyone kinda wanted this to be a bigger deal than it was, so I get it..."

My son, his girlfriend, and my daughter all live within a couple blocks of each other in the Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia.

A snow day meant working from home for the day. The sun was shining by the lunch hour, and they all went outdoors -- not to play -- but, to get me some Just Chillin' hat photos.

My favorites:

Manayunk, PA, on a sunny, windy, and cold Snow Day... when they got "just a little bit of snow".

Much thanks to my most beloved young people... striding around the streets of Manyunk in their Just Chillin's... takin' photos & bein' chill...   
 
Love you so much!!!

*Read more at http://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/2017/02/09/snow-day-deals-philly-restaurants-bars/#TMqUlbrP81QG9UHv.99

Chill Happenin'

I love my friend Ann's photo of the Just Chillin' Hat that she made for her granddaughter. After Ann posted this photo, I commented that it was "the most beautiful Chillin' ever".

I made my son a Just Chill-in-Black, during the Gosh Yarn It "Summer Camp" KAL. I showed it to him, in July (when it was very hot), and I told him that I wanted a photo before I gave it to him to keep. He got his hat for Christmas, but still, no photo...

My latest (belated) gift knitting was a black cherry Just Chillin' for his girlfriend. Here is a photo that she messaged me (after I sent her belated gift).

(Aren't they a cute couple?) I finally got the photo I wanted of him wearing his hat, but hers is not totally in the frame. Would you believe that I (boldly) asked her for another? She did not seem too bothered by my request... There was mention that my daughter, who I have recruited often enough to give the title of "experienced knitwear photographer", will take one. I will share any new photos that come my way.

Speaking of my lovely daughter, she is also an "experienced knitwear model". She posed for the photos of my design sample hat that she now owns.

JUST CHILLIN’ is a worsted weight cable hat pattern with an optional pompom. You can make a pompom with your knitting yarn, or you might try a purchased (faux or real) fur pompom.The hat pattern has three sizes to fit heads of 19 (22, 24)” circumference, or to fit an average sized child (woman, man).

Look for an upcoming post all about "Removable Pompoms" -- like the fur ones on three of the Just Chillin's above.

Revisiting: Love & Prayers Scarf

To this day, I still have a side note on my blog about winning a design contest that lead to the creation of this blog... "In May of 2011, I won a scarf design contest held by Knitcircus Magazine and one of my prizes was a small ad in the online magazine. I began this blog on June 12, 2011, so that I would have something to advertise!"

The WomenHeart scarf design contest was held to promote women's heart health awareness and encourage charity knitting. My scarf design, Love & Prayers, won first place.

I am posting this shortly before the 15th annual National Wear Red Day, Friday, February 3, 2017. It is an especially good time to learn about women's heart health.

The American Heart Association states, "Heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds. Fortunately, we have the power to change that because 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action."

From WomenHeart, "[This year] heart attacks alone, will claim the lives of more than 200,000 women -- nearly five times more than will die of breast cancer." 

Knitcircus published its last issue in 2012 and my Love and Prayers scarf pattern is no longer available from them. I currently offer it free on Ravelry.

Please learn if you are at risk for heart disease; take all preventative measures possible; and learn about heart attack warning signs. Take care of your heart like your life depends on it.
♥♥♥