Stages
There are several common stages in the creation of a hat. The tricky bit is that they don't come in any particular order, so you are likely to be surprised by them, no matter how many hats you've knit. For me, there's almost always a 'this is way way too big' stage. It's often followed by a 'this is too small for any living human' stage. Popular variants on those two include 'it's too short' and 'it's too tall.' You may also encounter 'I bought way too much yarn' or 'I'm so totally going to run out of yarn' somewhere [...]
Uncharacteristic
So you know me. You know I knit with skinny yarn. Skinny gray yarn (with occasional hints of grayish blue or grayish brown for variety). I knit small things, mostly tubes, and on dpns. Which makes the appearance of this at the top of my stash somewhat perplexing. And the slow emergence of this doubly so. Not quite sure how I feel about this development, I'd better knit some more to check...
Seasons
So it seems my domestic urges are tied to the calendar. In the dead of winter, I preserve lemons. In the middle of summer, I make herb salts and syrups. Once it's properly cold, it's hot chocolate paste. And when fall starts to set it, it's shrubs. I went to the grocery store, found figs on sale for some ridiculously good price, bought pounds and pounds of them, and made a huge batch. It's percolating on the counter right now, all bubbles and good smells. And before you ask, yes, it does seem ever so slightly gross to think about [...]
Perseverance
So I want a nice deep folded brim on this hat (skinny ones make me look like a fire hydrant, if I'm going to fold a brim, it's going to be deep). Alas, that means I have to knit about fourteen miles of ribbing. Actually, it's something closer to five inches, but it might as well be fourteen miles. I want the brim to be about two inches deep when it's on my giant melon head, which means it needs to be about five inches high on the needles (2 inches folded up, the 2 inches that covers up, plus [...]
Scatterling (plus giveaway)
Sometimes, you just want a big cable. A big, bold cable that knows who's in charge and isn't afraid to boss you around a little bit. Scatterling fits the bill, and I'm delighted to have them back out. These are one of the very few projects I've ever knit twice. I made the first pair for my grandfather way back in 2009. Then I made a second pair for the initial pattern release in 2010. There's just something about the big cables that sweet talked me into being willing to do them again. (Someone else was kind enough to make [...]
Second verse, same as the first
Yup, yup it's gonna be a second hat. I'm intrigued by the idea of a cowl, but I don't really have enough yarn to do it the way I'd want it to be done. I do have enough to do a hat. A hat and maybe just maybe some cuffs (no promises, I'll need to sneak in and do some math when the hat is all done). For now, I'm sticking with the hat plan. And, on the off chance you hate hats and prefer socks (or even if you don't), Scatterling are coming back out tomorrow. There will be [...]
Frosted
I don't think I've ever seen a knitted thing that reminded me so much of spreading frosting on a cake. And yes, frosting is rarely gray. I get that, I do. But there's something about the way this one drapes and swoops (especially now that it's had a bit of a soak) that just feels like frosting a cake. Is it time to take the proper pictures for these yet? Because I'm getting unreasonably antsy about them! This is going to be way more fun than work has any right to be.
Sooner than you’d think (plus giveaway)
I think yesterday may have been the last really hot day of summer. Which is actually rather excellent timing, as I am well and truly sick of hot weather. Now, that doesn't quite mean I'm ready for woolly sweaters (actually no, that's a lie, I'm totally ready for snow and wool and thick socks and blankets, but I know everyone will throw things if I say it too loudly). But it does mean it may just possibly be time to start thinking about winter knitting. I'm actually something of a rarity among knitters. I don't do Christmas knitting. None at [...]
Be Honest
This is the whole reason we knit hats, right? Tell me it's not just me. I can't be the only one entertained by the swirls. And I'm still undecided as to which side I like better That one up there is the outside while I'm knitting it, but the inside looks kind of nifty, too. I also still have some yarn left, so I suspect there is going to be a companion piece for this. Any strong opinions on whether you'd rather have a coordinating hat or a cuff? I could totally go either way.
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