Blue Beret

I didn't know what to call this hat, but the folder in which my husband put his (lovely) pictures of it is titled "Blue Beret"-- so there you have it. It's pretty:

It was a bit cold for my coordinating outfit-- hence the red nose.

But what else does one wear with a beret?

It's the perfect size for me-- I'm tempted to keep it!

I really do have enough hats at the moment...

Project Notes

Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend. This was a random purchase long before the hat project, and I was never sure what to do with it-- apart from gaze longingly at it.

Pattern: Improvised, based on a stitch pattern stolen from this gorgeous thing -- I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview at knitting. The stitch pattern stuck in my head and would not leave until I had turned it into a hat-- this is pretty much what I imagined. I finished it in August, but I waited to post it until Leah's pattern was published.

Techniques: You can barely tell, but I used the Channel Island Cast-On-- one of my favorite things I've learned during this project.

Etc: My 52nd hat is drying in the guest bedroom. I'm not sure how I feel about this. There are so many other things I can knit now-- but last night I kind of panicked and started another hat. Well, restarted actually-- I need to redo the 1840 Nightcap before Christmas. I wonder what will happen when that is done. It's a new world...

Turn A Square-- for the last time, I promise!

It's baaaaaack:

In pink this time... because it's for a girl. Obviously.

Squares!!

Project Notes

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Donegal Aran Tweed, courtesy of the Stitchy Witch*. This yarn plays very well with Noro-like substances, AKA Plymouth Boku-- last seen in Tam C. I love the contrast between the rustic texture, the wild colors, and the rigid geometry of the stripes.

Pattern: Turn a Square by Jared Flood-- a classic. I did the decreases correctly this time, which makes me love the pattern even more. I would recommend you knit yourself a dozen or so, but I think everyone already has...

Etc: Will I ever tire of the self-striping stripes? There is such childlike glee in knitting them. My husband wants one for himself now, and I kinda do too-- hats 53 and 54, maybe? Ha!



*see this post for details-- knitting with this sort of feels like dancing on someone's grave, in a good way... well, kinda.

Rap Swap Hat

One night at work-- a long, loooong time ago, April I think-- one of my coworkers was boasting about her rapping prowess. I believe she said she could freestyle on any subject, including my knitting. So I proposed a swap-- one knitting themed rap for one hand-knit hat. I think she thought I was kidding:

'Sup DJ CJ?

Project Notes

Yarn: Berroco Sundae-- one of the few yarns I have ever bought without a purpose in mind. It just looked so plump and fuzzy. I don't knit much with bulky yarns, but there is something to be said for a two hour hat.

Pattern: Lifestyle Top-Down Hats, No Swatch Needed by Charisa Martin Cairn-- more a recipe than a pattern, but very, very useful nonetheless.

Etc: Now, I don't want to accuse anyone of fronting-- if that is the correct term-- but it's been a few months and there's still no sign of the knitting rap. Miss J, now that the hat is yours as promised, it's time to deliver the goods. I prefer the stylings of Dr. Dre. Represent.

Hoopin' at the Craft Fair

I couldn't resist posting these outtakes from Saturday's photoshoot. Leah and I planned to meet at the Waynflete School craft fair-- I didn't expect to find her hanging out with the hula hoop vendor. By the time I arrived, she had been there for fifteen minutes and was already an expert:




Having conquered the single hoop, she quickly moved on to bigger things:





I didn't quite get the hang of it on the first try:




But persistence soon paid off:





Well, that was fun. Your regularly scheduled knitting content will resume tomorrow-- though I if you look closely, you may glimpse the elusive Caller Herrin'... it's finally done!

Sarah

Saturday was the first properly cold day of the year, a perfect day for wooly hats and taking pictures of them. After wandering all over the West End, Leah and I ended up on the Western Prom-- with its majestic views of the Dollar Tree and the Cumberland County Jail. We found a nice bench, anyway:

Project Notes

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Donegal Aran Tweed-- I picked out three colors of this yarn, and this one just begged to be made into a hat for Leah. I love the dark blue and green tweedy bits.

Pattern: Sarah by Ariane Caron-Lacoste. I removed a pattern repeat because it was getting huge-- and I wish I'd knit the ribbing on needles one or two sizes smaller. But the pattern stitch is very pretty and works well with the rustic, irregular texture of the yarn.

Etc: The hats I have made for my knitting friends have caused me the most anxiety-- they can make themselves whatever they want, after all. Leah's hat made me especially nervous because she has such a distinctive style. I think she likes it-- and she has at least one outfit to wear it with!

We Call Them Pirates, Part Trois

The bright side: my brother-in-law* wears the hats I have made him a lot... which is why the first one ended up destroyed and the second one got tangled up in some clothes headed for the washing machine. So, here we go again:

Yarrrrr

Project Notes

Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash Sport. Let it not be said that I can't take a hint.

Pattern: We Call Them Pirates by Adrian Bizilia. I love this pattern-- and I know I was just arguing against large motifs in colorwork two days ago. The difference between these skulls and those (damn) whales: fewer rounds with long floats. MUCH less tedious.

Etc: I was thinking about adding an inscription to the inside of the brim-- something like "Don't #$^& This One Up!" I think Josh might actually find that funny-- but the truth is, I didn't mind making it, even for the third time. Handknits should be worn and loved-- there is no better way to return the affection with which they were made. Though I do hope that this one will stand up to a bit more love than the last...


*Whom I previously referred to as "a famous destroyer of knitwear"-- he remains a credible threat, I guess.

Whale Watch Hat

Today's installment of 52 hats is an illustration of a nearly universal principle: If a hat looks ridiculously huge on me, it will probably fit someone with a normal-sized head pretty well.

Hmmm... maybe if I was a Rastafarian?

It kind of oozes down the back of my neck

That's a lotta extra brim...

Yeah, I give up.

Now let's see it on someone with a less freakishly tiny head:

Well... it fits anyway.

No comment.

Project Notes

Yarn: Harrisville New England Shetland. I purchased a you-know-what load of this yarn to make Caller Herrin'-- evidence of which has not appeared here since August. In the meantime, I discovered I had the colors needed for Whale Watch. After completing both hats, I still have LOADS leftover. No complaints-- I'm looking forward to a few pairs of colorwork mittens.

Pattern: Whale Watch Hat by Kate Gagnon Osborn.* I was smitten from the moment I saw this in New England Knits, but I can't really say I had fun knitting it. I love colorwork when the patterns are small. I fairly flew through the Setesdal Love Hat-- both times I knit it... These whales are a different story. I had to continually re-tension my yarn to deal with the long floats-- tedious, in a word. This isn't really the fault of the pattern, just the reality of stranded knitting.

Etc: If only I could convincingly swear off knitting these kinds of patterns, I would probably cut my profanity usage by a significant percentage... but I can't deny that the result is adorable. I just need to find a head to put it on!


*I apparently love her designs-- this is the fourth I've knit for this project!