Squishy Yarn Into Warm Hats

Why haven't I knit more hats? I had forgotten how quick and satisfying they are to knit. I think a couple of "gauge disaster" hats a few winters ago, when double points were challenging for  me as a new knitter, soured me to the projects, but I finally have had some success.

Husband's Hat

When a skein of MadelineTosh came up on Jimmy Bean's Wool Watcher at 40% off, I ordered without giving it too much thought. The color was called Terrarium. In the skein, I wasn't very excited. It was very dark and murky. I tossed it into the stash and thought I'd use it for a hat for my husband at some point.

I sure was wrong! When knit up, flecks of pale robin's egg blue emerged and the color kind of came alive. It is just gorgeous. The yarn itself is so squishy and warm that I am wishing I hadn't used it for myself. I chose a basic hat pattern with allover ribbing to ensure a good fit to safeguard against my problem with gauge in the past. The pattern is Sandoval Hat - a free pattern found on Ravelry.

Daughter's Hat

My daughter chose this yarn at a trunk show at our lys, Apples to Oranges, in Silverton, Oregon. It's Depoe Bay worsted weight yarn in the color Gun Smoke by Alexandra's Crafts. Alexandra's Crafts is a local hand-dyer. This is the first time I worked with her yarn and it's another "squishy" one. It was really nice on my hands while knitting. Here's a link to her website. http://alexandrascrafts.com/ 

The pattern is the Lilian Beret on Ravelry. I ended up having to frog the first attempt; it just came out ridiculously slouchy - like an exaggerated french chef's hat. So the second attempt, I still used the adult size cast on, but went down a needle size. This seemed to do the trick perfectly. The hat is slouchy, but not too slouchy and my girl loves it. I need to put a large flower on the band. The pattern calls for a large felt flower permanently affixed. I think it might be fun (& more practical) to put on a button and then knit several flowers for her to choose from. We'll see....

Only 2 more hats to knit before winter's over and the whole family will be done! Casting on.

Happy New Year!

This post is part of Ginny Sheller's yarn along. Here's the link to see all the other beautiful projects or to post your own. 

Should Be Knitting Gifts

It's late November and I should be knitting gifts but I found several skeins of this yarn in my stash and got sidetracked. This is the start of the Spritely Cape for children on Ravelry. I've knit it once before in MadelineTosh Magnolia Leaf. 

This yarn is entirely different - Simplicity by HiKoo . It's a blend of merino superwash, acrylic & nylon, which is a combination I would normally avoid as I usually avoid acrylic at all costs. However, I must have ordered it from a Jimmy Beans Wool wool watcher special and not realized what I was getting. But the hand of it is actually very soft and I am sure it will hold up to frequent washing better than a treasured skein of MadelineTosh.

The color is as teal blue as can be. My daughter's favorite color. The lace pattern is showing up so much more with this solid color and blend of fibers. The lace on the MadelineTosh version was much more hidden but it really didn't matter, as the color was a showstopper on that one.

The pattern would be a great one for a starting lace knitter. It's only 4 rows of lace and you get plenty of opportunities to repeat it and practice it, depending on the size you knit.

11/27/2013

I've added a few more repeats to the project. I only have 3 more to go and then it's on to the hood. I love the way it's coming out but I really am getting a bit bored of the repeat and am anxious to get to a few important holiday knitted gifts. Hopefully, it will be finished this weekend!

Update -12/11/13

I finished! Well, almost. In my attempt to make the hood smaller per the request of  my daughter, I managed to make it so small that it doesn't fit. After the holidays, I will rip it out back to the shoulders and redo the hood. For that reason, I also haven't blocked it or woven in the ends. I just wanted to show how sweet it turned out. Sorry about the photo quality. It is freezing here and so a quick snapshot in the kitchen was the best I could get. But it gives you the idea.

I really love the pattern of this lace. It is such a sweet knit for a little girl. My others have already put in their orders for their capes which is the true test as to whether or not it is loved.

This post is part of Ginny Sheller's Wednesday Knit along. Click on the link to see what are on other knitters' needles or get instructions to share your own project. www.gsheller.com.