Makayla’s Knit Panda Hat is the next project I tackled. My niece absolutely loves Panda Bears! She had asked if Aunt Mindy could make her a panda hat. Well, what does a crafter love more than special requests?!! Knowing you can make something for someone that they really want and will love is all the motivation you need to pull out your yarn and needles (or hook). I had already made her brother his Yankee Hat that I knew he would love, so it was really great knowing I would be able to make something for her as well.
This project was a little more tricky because she sent me a pic of what she wanted and I couldn’t find the exact right pattern that I wanted to use to make it. I ended up having to bits and pieces from several different patterns and creating a little of it on my own as I went. I do not even know if I could make this hat exactly the same again since it really was especially made just for my niece from a bunch of different sources.
*This post may include affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure for more information.*
Yarn Info:
This hat was mostly stitched using Caron Simply Soft Party yarn in the colorways snow and black. You could use any worsted weight size 4 yarn to stitch something similar. Great yarn websites to check out would be: LoveCrafts, Lion Brand (my favorite being Vanna’s Choice) , CreateforLess, Knitpicks/We Crochet and Knitcrate.
Stress Relief Gloves
If you are like me and you knit and crochet a lot, something that I have found is useful at times is a pair of stress relief gloves. I own a few different kinds, but I do think any of them is better than not using anything at all if your hands and wrists are bothering you. I’ll include a few links for you to check out.
Knitting Needles and Tools
My favorite brand of needles to use are the Knit Picks brand. They are so beautiful and well made. I have so many of their hooks and needles and tools. I love their website!!! You can always find other brands to purchase on Amazon , other craft websites or your own local craft store. Whatever you do, research a little so that you can buy something that will last you a long time. I bought my Knit Picks set and I haven’t NEEDED another needle since. It doesn’t mean I didn’t buy any….just that I didn’t NEED any. LOL
If you are just starting your stitching journey, chances are you don’t have tools yet. I highly recommend doing your research and reading reviews to figure out what you like best. I will include my recommendations, but definitely read and find what works best for you.
Still Need Help??
Maybe you’re completely new to knitting and don’t know how to do it at all. I taught myself a lot of how to knit and crochet through a kit. I posted a link to one that is similar to what I bought years ago below from amazon. There are also a LOT of online resources that can help you, such as Annie’s and Crafty online classes I’m posting below. You can also find your local yarn store and check out what they have available. There are almost always options there to learn.
