It's Been A While...

Since I last made a post ( or at least it feels that way).Yesterday I finished another hat, Star Crossed Slouchy Beret by Natalie Larson. Really quick and satisfying knit, although I did decide to use smaller needles as I didn't want it to be too big on my head.I used King Cole Fashion Aran in colour 162 Heather and 4.5mm & 5.5mm circular needles.

I've also been working on the Renee Leverington Winter Mystery Shawl 2008, I'm now on clue two. It's a bit slow going due to the beads (my first beaded project) but I'm enjoying the process and don't feel the need to rush it.
I also started another jumper (this one for me) using Ann Budd's book, I'm using the same mohair yarn I used for the Kiri shawl as I've shed loads of it :-) I've finished the body and have started on the first sleeve, it's not going to be overly fitted but will hopefully be flattering. I may even try to work in some interest around the yoke, but that will depend on if I can find anything that captures my interest.I've also been working on a pattern for a matching hat for the Twisted Seedling: Fingerless Mitts, hope to have the pattern ready by next week.

Breeding Hats!

I seem to be experiencing a bit of a hat obsession at the moment and spent last night knitting another tam/beret.

At the age of 35 I've suddenly come to the conclusion that hats are great and they keep you feeling so much warmer, not to mention if you're having a bad hair day you can just plonk a hat on your head and you've got instant chic.

Anyway, I was in Lidl yesterday and they had 600g of bulky yarn for £6.99. Okay, it's only 20% superwash wool but the pack did come with free 8mm circular needles and 4 free patterns and the yarn does feel very soft and fluffy.

I used Sarah-Hope Parmeter's bulky tam pattern and size 6.5mm circulars. This was such a quick and simple knit, only took 5 hours and that was with interruptions.

I did find the ribbing on the brim to not be quite tight enough so had to run an elastic round so that it wasn’t so big and would fit my head. Perhaps using a smaller needle or a 2x2 rib would be better.

I was surprised that it took only one ball of wool, I even managed to make a small pom pom.

Lace Beret

Woolly Wormhead posted a mystery beret on Ravelry, I've now completed it. It was a quick and satisfying knit with easy to follow instructions.I originally made this beret for my daughter as one of her birthday gifts, it's turned out so nice I'm not sure if I can give it away :-)
I used James C Brett Ripple in H1 and 4.5mm needles. The ball of yarn is a true representation of the colour.

Ribbed Hat

I wanted to work on something pretty mindless today and this pattern filled the bill.

Worked on 6.5mm circs, I made another hat from the Wendy Fusion for my eldest daughter.
A simple 2x2 rib that took next to no time to knit up. There is still most of one ball of the yarn left, just have to figure out what to do with it.

Super Droop Jellyfish tam.

My eldest daughter asked for one of those hats that droop, but she wanted it quite large. Hmm, the jellyfish tam v2.0 (the super droop) must be what she's after says I.

Boy I couldn't have been more wrong, the thing was huge. You could fit two whole heads in this thing. Would have been great on a Rastafarian with crap loads of dreds, but looked, well, ridiculous on my daughter.

So I ripped it back to the point where the v2.0 pattern deviates from the original pattern and carried on from there.

Much better and bonus, she likes it. I'll believe her when I actually see her wearing it hehe.

I used Wendy Fusion in Bouquet Garni and size 4.5mm and 10mm DPNs, think I'll definitly be using the Fusion again as I really like how soft and quite it is to knit up, also has a nice drape.

Matching Russula Cap

Hmm, I think I may have gone a bit too far with the eye popping yarn. I've knit a beret to match my daughter's fingerless gloves. Because of the colours I'm not sure if she'll ever be able to wear both together, will just have to see what she thinks when she gets in.

It's the Russula Cap by Sally at Wicked Woollens, it's a great and simple pattern that looks much better in the yarn she chose LOL.

Cherry Tree Hill Hat.

I've never knit a hat with such light weight yarn before, I've always used DK. But when I saw this Cherry Tree Hill yarn called Sockittome it didn't scream socks, it wanted to be a hat and scarf perhaps a set of fingerless gloves as well.

The instructions were very simple although they didn't mention if they were to be knit on circs or straights, I chose circs but towards the end had to change to DPNs. The pattern is called Avatar hat by Barbro Wilhelmsson it was a nice easy knit and the sock yarn gave me a lovely shmooshy hat that is really light but warm.

I quite pleased with how the colours pooled, they seem to have a slight spiral to them. Just now have to find a nice scarf pattern to go with it.

New year knitting.

I knitted this for my youngest daughter on New Year's Eve. It's a Drops design that can be found here.



I made a scarf to go with it.