A Couple 'o Hats

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Longtime readers may remember my post about this year's Sedalia Spring Fiber Festival back in April. Way, way back in the sweet, sweet springtime, back before the earth flew too close to the sun and scorched in summertime temperatures that reached 107°F.

(Yes, that's what my WeatherBug told me we hit on Wednesday, although the "official" high was "only" 104°F. Hottest I've ever seen it get here in Rivah City. But not the hottest I've ever been. That would be two summers ago when I was working in Palm Springs, CA, when it got to 115°F every day, and it was still 100°F at midnight. Bleh. But I digress.)

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Anyway, you may recall my Spring Fiber Festival purchases:


Including some Kid Hollow Farm Wrapped Yarn:



Which, for some reason, had a catnip-like effect on my Ali:

yarn wrastlin'
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I think the residual smell of cedar on the yarn does that to cats, maybe.

So, I finally got around to knitting up that yarn into a couple o' hats for a couple o' nieces with summer birthdays. Just some simple roll-brim hats which take next to no brain power, and are therefore perfect projects for me:

Specs:

• Yarn: Kid Hollow Farm Wrapped Yarn (90% wool wrapped with 10% mohair/Border Leicester)
• Colorway: Kiwi
  
• Gauge: 3.5 stitches per inch
• Needles: U.S. size 10 (6 mm) Denise circulars & Clover bamboo 8" DPNs
  
• Pattern: cast on 70 stitches, join in the round, knit every round for ~6-7", decrease & finish according to Super Simple Hat Calculator
• Size: ~20" circumference
  
• Recipient: niece ML - 14th birthday

Specs:

• Yarn: Kid Hollow Farm Wrapped Yarn (90% wool wrapped with 10% mohair/Border Leicester)
• Colorway: Chico
  
• Gauge: 3.5 stitches per inch
• Needles: U.S. size 10 (6 mm) Denise circulars & Clover bamboo 8" DPNs
  
• Pattern: cast on 70 stitches, join in the round, knit every round for ~6-7", decrease & finish according to Super Simple Hat Calculator
• Size: ~20" circumference
  
• Recipient: niece RM - 14th birthday

And look, here's the happy recipient now! (Okay, two weeks ago.)

RM -- a little out of focus
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RM actually attended that fiber festival with her mother and I, and picked out the yarn. But I'm not so sure if she likes the hat. It's so hard to please teenagers. That's okay - I don't remember a thing I got on my 14th birthday. I also gave her a Barnes & Noble gift card to make up for any disappointment. :-)

As easy as this mindless hat recipe is to knit, it did take me four tries to get a gauge I liked with this yarn. The yarn label gives no gauge or needle recommendations, and the thick-and-thin nature of the yarn doesn't offer any clues. I was knitting these down at the lake last month, and after my third frogging I thought everyone was going to tie my arms to the rocking chair to stop me before I ripped again. But the fourth time was the charm. And you gotta know I love those colors!

A week from today (or tomorrow - haven't decided yet), I leave for my late summer vacation down at the beach, and I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't thought about it at all, which is cool -- it'll be a nice change of pace.

I mention it now because, given my slackened blogging pace this summer, it's very possible I won't have another post here until after I return from vacation. (We'll see -- maybe I'll feel chatty this weekend. There are still one or two topics I need to blog about before they become too dusty and covered in cobwebs.) This working for a living really cuts into my fun time, ya know? Since I sit on my arse all day in front of a computer to earn said living, after I'm off the clock, if I do feel like "playing" on the computer, I tend to spend that time reading blogs and playing on Ravelry.

It's not like I have whole lot to show-and-tell these days, anyway. I'm knitting, but it's just the tiniest amount you could possibly knit and still call yourself a knitter. I'm still blaming the heat. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Has nothing to do with just being lazy. Uh uh, no sir.) So, finished objects will be slow in coming. And since I'm working from home, I can go for days without leaving the house, which makes for a very boring and non-blog-worthy life. Zzzzzzzz. Sometimes I do miss the days when I traveled a lot for work. At least I had something to write about!

But there will be knitting at the beach, for sure. And maybe an FO. Maybe not. We'll see.

A momentous event occurred last month, which I failed to recognize here in a timely manner. On July 20th, I had my 2-year knitting anniversary -- my knittiversary. Two years ago on July 20th, 2005, my SIL Jenny, (who had given me a Learn-to-Knit kit three days prior, on my birthday), taught me to knit three days later on her birthday. And my life has been irrevocably changed. A new obsession hobby, a whole host of wonderful new knitting friends, a new blog. I'm so very grateful to have found this craft.

When Jenny taught me to knit, she was a beginning knitter herself, and what with her crazy-busy life, (my brother for a husband, three kids, a full-time job, training for and running in marathons, redecorating their newly remodeled house, etc.), she hasn't advanced much beyond the garter stitch scarf, (not that there's anything wrong with that). Heck, I'm not all that further along myself.

So, this year, on Jenny's birthday, (my knittiversary), I gave her some lovely yarn in her very favorite color:

Araucania Nature Wool (in chunky, I believe)
(thanks again, Gina!)

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...as well as her very own set of pink Denise Interchangeable circular needles, and a few sets of Clover bamboo DPNs. Oh, and a little "coupon" from me for hat knitting lessons down at the beach, and her very own copy of the Super Simple Hat Calculator. I'm going to make a hat knitter out of her yet! (Insert evil laugh here: Mwoooahh-ha-ha-ha-ha!)

Should be fun times, down at the beach! And if you need a reminder of what a beach vacation looks like, feel free to re-read my account of last year's vacation, starting here.

Good times!

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Burnt Orange and Chicago Maroon

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According to Virginia Tech's website, those are the official Hokie colors -- "burnt orange" and "Chicago maroon", adopted back in 1896. Didn't realize maroon was associated with Chicago, (I always think of how they dye the river green on St. Paddy's day), but, there you have it.

Anyway, I bring that up because I have a little update on the Hokie-knitting goings-on in my little world.

You may recall the Hokie Hope Hat I knit for my friend on the VT faculty. She received it back in early May, and emailed me a heartfelt thank you, and followed up with a sweet thank you card:


In her email, she wrote:

"I LOVE my Hokie Hope Hat! What makes it extra special is that you made it! I will wear it with love and pride --- you have no idea how much it means to me. I am touched beyond words! And for the blankets being knitted with the remnant yarn, I again, am touched beyond words.

Your gift is from the heart as well as your hands. You have made me smile and truly feel "happy" again. Thank you for finding such a special way to share in our loss while also celebrating our lives (and friendships)."

I share her words here not to toot my own horn, but in hopes that it might brighten the days of anyone who has been knitting for Virginia Tech and wondering if their knitting has been received in the spirit in which it was intended. Rest assured, it is.

Judi's hat was knit with some luscious Malabrigo:

purchased locally at the Yarn Lounge. And lucky for me, I still had lots of yarn leftover after the hat was finished, so I knit several squares for Mosaic's Hokie Healing blankets:

log cabin square
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two VT logo squares using Linda's pattern

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And I still have enough of the orange leftover to knit at least one more square. Last week, Unraveled's Mary Jane Watkins was gracious enough to take my three squares and several others knit by fellow Tuesday Night Knitters, and ship them off to Mosaic with other squares collected at her shop. Thanks a million, Mary Jane!

Speaking of the Tuesday Night Knitters and Hokie squares -- one of our knitters, Linda M., knit a whopping eighteen (18!) blanket squares! So many, in fact, that she won some gorgeous Lorna's Laces yarn from Phyl's blog contest! She brought it to knitting last night, but I didn't take any pictures, so you'll just have to imagine some pretty yarn....

And speaking of pretty yarn, how about some more Burnt Orange and Chicago Maroon:


After I pestered Scout for a solid two weeks, she somehow found a spare moment in her crazy-busy life to dye me some Hokie-colored yarn. (Thanks, Scout!) Both hanks are 100% superwash merino (a Louet Gems base yarn, I believe). One is a worsted weight, and the other is sold as "bulky", although I'd probably call it a heavy-worsted (about 4 stitches per inch on 9's), rather than chunky or bulky. Still lovely to knit with, and knit with it I did.

And what else would I make, but a hat:

Specs:

• Yarn: Scout's Handpainted Swag in a custom Hokie colorway
  
• Gauge: 4 stitches per inch
• Needles: U.S. size 9 (5.5 mm) Denise circulars & Clover bamboo 7" DPNs
  
• Pattern: cast on 80 stitches, join in the round, knit every round for ~6-7", decrease & finish according to Super Simple Hat Calculator; make pom-pom and attach.
• Size: ~20" circumference
  
• Recipient: either Tanya's Project Hokie Hope or the Knitting for Virginia Tech group -- whichever group wants it first
  

Yes, at the risk of ridicule, I've knit another hat. It's no secret -- I love knitting hats. Easy, mindless, quick. Only slightly more complicated than a scarf, and takes a fraction of the time to knit -- they make great gifts. My feeble, unemployed brain can handle hats, so, for the time being, I'm clinging to hat knitting for all its worth. Hats are probably the one knitted item I wear the most, (of course, not at this time of year), more so even than socks or scarves or sweaters.

But I do get teased about my constant hat knitting, and perhaps am getting a little too sensitive about that. Case in point: I may have snapped and actually told someone in my knitting group last night to "Bite me!", after being teased once again, about my hat knitting. (My humble apologies, Linda.) And I may never, ever, live that down. Sigh....

So let me change the subject by distracting you with pom-pom remnants:


So far, I've only used up the heavier Hokie-colored yarn -- not sure what I will do with the worsted weight, but am open to ideas. And anyone who snidely suggests a hat is just asking for it!

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If you're sick of seeing knitted hats...

...you've come to the wrong place.

Nephew #3 requested a hat for his birthday, and wanted solid black (snore).

But, ask and ye shall receive.

Specs:

• Yarn: Cestari 3-ply 100% merino in Bulky Black Rose from Unraveled
  
• Gauge: 3 stitches per inch
• Pattern: Cast on 60 stitches; join in round; K3,P3 for 1½", then knit every round for 4½"; decrease & finish according to Super Simple Hat Calculator
• Needles: U.S. size 11 (8mm) Denise interchangeable circulars & Crystal Palace bamboo 8" DPNs

Proof positive that I do, in fact, finish things once in awhile.

I'll have a few more FO's to share in a day or so. And they'll be more colorful, too. :-)

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Hokie Hope Hat

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At last, I can show you what I only hinted at on Saturday. It is not a blanket square, as many of you guessed. A few of you saw me cast on for this last Tuesday night, so you had advanced knowledge as to what the final product would be. And anyone who reads this blog regularly should not be surprised that it is, in fact, a hat.

It really doesn't (shouldn't) take me an entire week to knit a hat, but, then, I don't always knit every day, especially when I have things like plant sales and gardening to attend to. Also, on Sunday there was a little scare involving my dad and an emergency room (all is well, now), which sorta messed with that day's knitting mojo.

The hat was actually complete last night, I just needed to make the pom-pom today -- my very first, as a matter of fact, and I think it came out fairly well, if I do say so myself.

Specs:

• Yarn:
• * Main color: Malabrigo worsted 100% merino in "Velvet Grapes" (#204)
  
• * Stripe & pom-pom: Malabrigo worsted 100% merino in "Sealing Wax" (#102)
  
• Gauge: 5 stitches per inch
• Needles: U.S. size 8 (5mm) Denise circulars & Clover bamboo 7" DPNs
  
• Pattern: cast on 100 stitches, join in the round, knit every round for ~6-7", adding contrasting stripe(s) as desired; switch to DPNs, decrease & finish according to Super Simple Hat Calculator; make pom-pom and attach.
• Size: 20" circumference
  
• Recipient: high school friend Judi, who is now on Virginia Tech faculty

* I can't say enough nice things about Malabrigo. It is incredibly soft, a joy to knit with, creates a beautiful fabric, and I just love the mottled effect of those kettle-dyed colors. Granted, it is single-ply 100% merino, so, pilling is inevitable, but, a small price to pay, in my opinion, for such a lovely end-product.


Pom-poms are a risky design choice, and although the hat was nice as-is, I felt it needed another dash of orange. I will send it to Judi with a note telling her that to remove the pom-pom if it's not her style. Or, if hats in general (or this one in particular) are not her style, perhaps she can give it to a student in need of a little Hokie spirit.

The best part is, I have lots of leftover yarn with which I can now start knitting some squares for Mosaic's Hokie Healing blankets:

(click ^ for mailing address)

If you, too, decide to send in knitted or crocheted blanket squares to Mosaic, don't forget to also enter yourself in Phyl's blog contest!

Or, if blanket squares aren't your thing, and you'd rather knit & donate something else, check out Tanya's Project Hokie Hope or the Knitting for Virginia Tech group blog.

Linda in our knitting group has created a VT logo square for the Mosaic blankets -- I think Jane will be posting the pattern on her blog, but if not, I can post it here and/or email it to folks. And a Blacksburg knit-blogger has created a Hokie-bird intarsia chart that can be incorporated into blanket squares. Leave her a comment and she'll email you the chart.

I'm also attempting to commission a professional yarn dyer to create a custom "Hokie Hope" maroon and orange colorway. Nothing is firm yet, but if this would interest you, let me know, and also what your preferred yarn weight might be. If and when I know more, I will announce it here on this blog.

And of course, for those who'd rather donate cash, there's always the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.

God Bless knitters who are always willing to jump in and help during times of crisis.

And God Bless Virginia Tech!

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Inspiration

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Inspired by a recent book purchase:


I interrupted my other hat-in-progress to knit this one:

Specs:

• Yarn:
• *A: Brown Sheep Burley Spun in Pinetree (#BS68) - 100% wool
  *B: Rowan Big Wool in "Flirty" (#38) - 100% wool
  
• Gauge: 2.5 stitches per inch
• Needles: U.S. size 13 (9 mm) Denise circular & Brittany Birch 7½" DPNs
• Inspiration: Valery**, from Hip Knit Hats***
  
• Size: ~20" circumference
• Recipient: Niece with upcoming birthday, whose favorite color is green
  
• Modifications: **significant, in that I used the book's pattern mainly as inspiration. The original pattern instructs to knit it from the top (crown) down. I prefer to knit hats from the bottom up, which is how I knit this one. And so, my pattern is as follows:
  

1. Cast-on 50 stitches of yarn B and join in the round.
   
2. Purl 6 rounds, then K 1 round.
   
3. Switch to A and K 5 rounds.
   
4. Switch to B, K 1 round and P 6 rounds.
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 once more.
6. Switch to A, knit 4 rounds.
7. Decrease & finish according to Super Simple Hat Calculator

***Note: This book has lots of errata. If you own it, make sure you print the corrections pdf before you start a pattern from it. Also, there's a freebie extra pattern on the errata website, as a consolation for putting up with all the mistakes.

I still love this book, for all the fun and inspiring patterns within it. I may not follow each pattern to the letter, but will no doubt get some great ideas from it.

I think I'm going to wet-block this hat, because the crown seems a little wonky to me. My first attempt at the crown was even worse, so I had to rip and re-knit. I'm happier with the second attempt, but not completely. Here's hoping a good soak will resolve the wonkiness.

Speaking of inspiring knitting books, another great one I recently acquired for a (relative) song, (compared to the triple-digit going rate this book gets on ebay), is this classic:


When I grow up, I want to knit one of her patterns. For now, I'll just flip through the book, try and learn something, and remain inspired.

For more Alice Starmore inspiration, check out Laurie's Oregon Vest. She even played an evil April Fool's joke on her readers, yesterday. But all is well.

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Top o' th' mornin' to ya

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Little Brother's (replacement) St. Patrick's Day Birthday hat, completed:

Specs:

• Yarn: Malabrigo 100% worsted merino in "Vaa" (#51). This yarn is like butter to knit with -- a real joy, (especially in comparison to my last project which was knit with cotton-elastic).
• Gauge: 5 stitches per inch
• Needles: U.S. size 8 (5 mm) Denise Interchangeable circular & Clover Bamboo 7" DPNs
• Pattern: NiksKnits Irish Hiking Hat
  
• Size: ~22" circumference
• Modifications: none, at least not intentionally, although I'm not particularly crazy about how the crown shaping "in pattern" turned out -- I may very well have screwed that up, somehow. But seeing as I was still knitting this an hour before the party, I didn't have any time to fix whatever was broken.
• What I'd Do Differently:

1. Knit the 4-inch, 2x2 ribbing a few inches longer -- possibly as long as 7-8", so that the folded cuff covered more of his ears;
2. Seriously rethink the crown shaping in pattern, because I believe it could be improved upon;
3. Possibly increase up to 117 stitches after the ribbing and have cables all around, instead of alternating a cable and a knit ridge.
   

In any case, I'm glad it's done -- I can now get back to more leisurely no-deadline knitting projects.

By the way, Little Brother turned 40 yesterday:


so, to celebrate, his wife held their annual St. Patrick's Day/Birthday bash. (Can you guess what his first name is?)

I love the napkins they used:


Sister-in-law Jenny prepared all the appropriate Irish favorites, including corned beef:


Irish Soda Bread:

Yum!
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Cabbage, potatoes and a Caesar's salad (okay, maybe the salad isn't Irish):

(The shamrock warshrag, lower right, is one of last year's gifts)
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There was also a green punch:


And the obligatory green beer:


Some delicious Cold Stone Creamery ice cream cakes:



And birthday presents. Here's the birthday boy, holding the Life is Good shamrock mug I gave as one of his gifts:

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And here he is wearing his St. Paddy's/Dr. Seuss hat I gave him a couple years ago:

(Leaning against the wall is the Doggie Driver I also gave him this year.)

Oh, and we watched VCU put up a valiant effort against Pittsburgh, before succumbing in double overtime:


Despite the hometown team's loss, all in all, it was a fun evening!

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Baby Hat

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A friend of mine had her first grandchild born a couple weeks ago, so I made him this little hat, which I finished last night:

Specs:

• Yarn: Cascade Fixation (98.3% cotton/1.7% elastic) in Turquoise (#2706)
  
• Gauge*: 5.5 stitches per inch*
• Needles: U.S. size 7 (4.5mm) Clover Bamboo 7½" DPNs
• Pattern: Cast on 77 stitches, join in round, knit every row for 5", decrease according to Super Simple Hat Calculator down to 4 remaining stitches; knit i-cord for 2½"; finish, weave in ends; tie knot in i-cord.
• Size: 14" circumference (unstretched)
  

* measuring gauge with this yarn is tricky, since it's so stretchy, and the final product is also stretchy. At various times throughout the process I measured it at 4.5 spi, then 5.5 spi, then 6 spi. So knitting this was somewhat of a crapshoot, and took a couple of attempts, before settling down to something I was happy with. And row gauge is about a thousand rows to the inch, so it felt like I was never going to finish this deceptively tiny hat....

Typically, I reserve roll-brim hats for females, but since he's a newborn, I'm guessing the other babies will cut him some slack, and not question his manhood. He was born a little early, but weighed a decent 7 lbs. at birth, so I think this hat should work for his head, especially with the built-in stretch factor of the elastic yarn.

Here's the hat being modeled by an angel doll given to me by another friend, and made by her daughter, who calls her line of dolls "Savannah's Angels" (named after her youngest):

Savannah's Angel
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I'll be seeing the new grandma tonight, and can give her the hat then.

In other scintillating hat news, I've thought long and hard about what to do for Little Brother's replacement hat.

Malabrigo worsted in "Vaa" (#51) and "Verdes" (#203)
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After much googling to see how that Malabrigo worsted in "Verdes" looks knitted up, I came to the conclusion that he'd never wear something so variegated on his head. So I'm going to save the Verdes for a pattern like My So-called Scarf, (perhaps for his birthday gift next year), because that stitch pattern looks great with variegated yarns. (I even lucked out and found a version of it knit in that colorway, here).

Now that the yarn decision has been made (Malabrigo worsted in "Vaa"), the next decision became - what style or pattern to knit? More googling ensued, and again I got lucky and found great inspiration on this blog post, specifically in this picture. Eureka! The hat version of the Irish hiking scarf! I found a pattern for it here, (scroll down a bit in her right sidebar), and although it's not identical to the one in the previous picture, it's close enough.

And it's Irish!

And it will be my first attempt at cables, (let's hope I'm not reaching beyond my grasp here).

And I've got six days to knit it, so this slow-poke knitter better get crackin'!

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Cats and Hats

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HATS

Yeah, I know. Y'all are sick and tired of seeing my knitted hats. Well, if it makes you feel any better, my long list of hat knitting is getting a little smaller, as I've finished several over the past few weeks. I still have a couple of baby hats to knit, but I think that I will simplify one of them which should help me crank it out all the faster, and the other isn't due for awhile, so I can actually start a non-hat project in the interim.

Sing it with me: Hallelujah!

I hope to share pictures of the new, non-hat project, later this weekend, that is, if I make any kind of presentable, picture-worthy progress. It's a secret for now, but boy, is it going to be pretty -- just you wait and see!

In the meantime, and without further ado, I give you my latest finished object:

Specs:

• Yarn: Brown Sheep Burley Spun in Pinetree (#BS68) - 100% wool
  
• Gauge: 2.5 stitches per inch
• Needles: U.S. size 13 Denise interchangeable circular & Brittany birch 7½" DPNs
• Pattern: Cast on 56 stitches, join in round, K2,P2 for 5", decrease in stockinette & finish according to Super Simple Hat Calculator

I like this hat, which I knit for my younger brother's upcoming St. Patrick's Day birthday, but I'm wondering now if it's appropriate for him. He's a very conservative dresser, and I'm thinking that even though I used 2x2 ribbing in an effort to make it a masculine hat, it still has a feminite feel to it. He will never wear a girly hat, that's for darn sure. I've got an email with picture out to my other siblings to get their opinions. I still have time to knit another one for him, if necessary.


HAT SPOTTINGS

Recently, I've stumbled upon a few of my other hand-knit hats in their natural habitats. Take a look:

Nephew wearing his birthday Redskins hat
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Younger nephew still wears his Orioles hat, several weeks later,
at older nephew's birthday party. I asked him if it seemed too small,
but he says he likes it just like it is. I take this as a compliment.
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Sister modeling her snowman hat
(it's a little big on her, but she says she loves it)
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CATS


With warmer weather and sunshine around these parts, the cats are taking full advantage of that warm patch where the sun streams in through the storm door. Here's Casey sunnin' her ample belly:

honk-shoo, honk-shoo, honk-shoo
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And here's a little video of Ali, snoozin' and snorin' next to me as I sit at my desk. You may need to turn up your sound to hear her snoring above the hum of the computer. Make sure you watch it until the end, when she startles herself awake:

Honk-shoo, honk-shoo, honk-shoo
(Feedblitz subscribers click here to see embedded video)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Hail to the Redskins!

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Another hat for another nephew's birthday:


His birthday is today, actually, but the party isn't until next weekend, so I hope to get a live-action shot of him wearing it then.

Specs:

• Yarn:
• * Main Color: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran 55/33/12% Merino/Microfibre/Cashmere in Brick (#611)
  
• * Stripes: Elsebeth Lavold Classic AL 50/50% Baby Alpaca/Merino in Pinewood (#010)
• Gauge: 4.5 stitches per inch
• Pattern: Cast on 96 stitches, join in round, K2,P2 for 1½", increase to 99 stitches and knit every round for 5", adding stripes as desired, decrease & finish according to Super Simple Hat Calculator
• Needles: U.S. size 8 Denise interchangeable circulars & Clover 7" bamboo DPNs

The main brick color is much closer to the required burgundy, it's just a little washed out by the flash in that picture. I do wish the color of the stripes was closer to Redskins gold, but that's a hard one to nail down. This will have to do.

Here's hoping that the kid likes it!

Today I spent a large part of the day downtown at the Convention Center, attending the Maymont Flower & Garden show. I took lots of pictures, and will most likely have a lengthy report about that on my gardening blog, but the extended report will have to wait, because tomorrow, I leave for a 3-day weekend at the beach with knitting friends, where I doubt I'll have internet access, so things will be quiet around here until Monday, most likely.

Happy Weekend, everyone!

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