This hat is for my brother’s fiance, who asked me for a hat when she saw me make one for Satanski. I saw this pattern and thought it would be fun to make, and it was! I modified the pattern a bit, in that I didn’t make a 4 inch brim (why cover up this awesomeness??), and ended the hat by grafting together a total of 20 stitches, but otherwise stayed faithful to it. I used different yarns for the brim and the rest of the hat, and I love how well they match each other.

Since it’s not my hat, I just took crappy cell phone pictures of me wearing it. When T wears it, I’ll be sure to use a camera and take clear photos!

Pattern:
Swirly Hat, by TChemGrrl

Yarns Used:
Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool in Lavender for the brim
Cascade 220 Quatro in shades of purple for the rest of the hat

Needle:
Size 7 16″ circular needles
Six 6 Double pointed needles

So I made the boy a pair of socks for being an all-around good sport (plus, he bought me a boatload of expensive yarn, and who doesn’t love a generous guy)? I didn’t use a pattern, because boy socks don’t have to be that fancy, so it’s just a simple toe-up 4×2 and 3×2 rib. I started them two at a time on the same needle, and then remembered how much I hate that, so separated them. I did short row heels using Priscilla Gibson-Roberts’ method (pdf), which I really liked.

I had such a good time making these socks that I decided to make a pair of socks for myself. They’re purple and adorable. Will post photos when finished.

Which is a pity, since this hat that I knit is pretty much giant-sized. I think I must not have been paying attention when I made it. I was hanging out with a friend and we were laughing at her cat and enjoying the day. Maybe that’s why I managed to cast on an exra 20 stitches without noticing. Anyway, this hat is pretty cool, despite the fact that it could cover the national debt. I was going to give it to my older nephew, whose head is rather…large, but he’s a little sensitive about his massive cabeza, so I’ll figure out something else to do with it.

It looks okay from this angle

And then you see how much there is to this hat

Although this hat was far too large for me, I learned a couple of nifty lessons whilst making it. 1) I learned how to do an i-cord. As usual, I found a youtube tutorial that explained things to me. 2) I learned a cool way to change colors. It’s called the overcast method, and I think goodness that I found it!

I got off to a good start with the Baby Chalice Blanket for my friend, and made pretty steady progress in the weeks leading up to her baby shower. Then a crazy, act-of-god-type thing happened that derailed me for a bit, and meant that I didn’t finish the blanket until approximately two hours before the shower!! Luckily, it came out okay (Figure A), but obviously I wasn’t going to give it to my friend unblocked. I wrapped it, and let her cuddle it at the baby shower, before whisking it away with me to be blocked and prettified.

Figure A - Unblocked and bunched

Then, I was so proud of myself for having finished and blocked it that I basically sat on it for weeks. Then, when I was ready to send it, I caught the cold from hell, and I was laid up for the better part of two weeks. I actually wanted to knit then, but was so gross that the thought of knitting anything was disgusting to me; I didn’t want for me or anybody else to come into contact with my sickness germs, and I knew that no amount of washing would ever make me feel good about anything I’d knit during this time. So then I was feeling better and finally sent the blanket to be blocked, which took longer than I was given to expect (I am not the only procrastiknitter I know).

Figure B - Blocked, but on a desk & wrapping paper

Finally, it was all done (Figure B), but I’d started a pair of booties at the meeting of my knitting group, and decided to throw them in the box, as well. So of course, there was nothing to do but to finish the booties and then block them (Figure C). Then I got delayed by the storm from hell, but I finally, FINALLY mailed the package out today. I thought that I was going to be in time for the baby’s due date, but it turns out that Baby A’s sense of time is very much like my own, and he is actually several days overdue. Ooops! It looks like my blanket is going to be arriving pretty much the same time he does, since my friend was induced today.

Figure C

I have finished more objects this month (3) than I have in some entire calendar seasons. Yes, that is sad. If you count the things I’ve finished since December, then the number goes up to 5. That’s some major productivity, if I do say so myself. And I’m nearly done with the second baby blanket that I’m working on and I have to knit Satanski some stuff before his birthday in two weeks, so…yeah, I’m totally on a roll. I’ll do posts on the things that I’ve finished lately, and show my progress with the current blanket.

I’ve inspired myself so much that I am going to try to finish all of my remaining UFOs before the end of 2010. Ambitious, I know. We’ll see how that goes.

I still haven’t blocked it, but here are pictures of the Bonnie hat that I made for myself.

You can't really see the hat, but aren't I adorable here?

IMG_2987.JPG

Originally uploaded by iunfold

I have not fallen off the face of the planet. I knit a bit in November when I traveled to South Carolina for a funeral, but mostly read in my spare time, hence the lack of posts here.

Pattern: River Rapids by Sockbug

I finished these babies in less than one week! Yeah, that’s right. I’m feeling pretty proud of myself right now. They’re super cute and the pattern was a breeze. I didn’t have to pay too much attention, and even decided to spice things up with a 4×4 ribbed heel (which came out SO nicely)!

The recipient seemed to really like them, so I hope she wasn’t just trying to spare my feelings. I love the way these came out, and am fairly sure that I will be making myself a pair!

Also, I am now a rockstar at kitchener stitch. I can do it in less than 10 minutes with no mistakes and without missing anything in Batman.