Blocking a Hat, Again.

And you thought I forgot about knitting. . .NOT!

I finished my Don't Sit Up, Slouch Hat and got it blocked. I used the same method that I did on the Matching Ginkgo Hat -- stuffing it with grocery bags and setting it on an old wine bottle. For the little tail, I got dark wood beads to use as a decoration. I think it will be really cute. As it is a gift for a friend, as soon as I can get pictures of her wearing it, I will post them.

FUN FUN hat to knit. The pattern was challenging enough that I didn't get bored, but it was easy enough, I could do it while watching TV or listening to a pod cast. I think I may knit one of these for me, too!

I do have some of my own designs in the pipeline. I have ordered some fingering weight yarn in order to knit some test samples. Can't wait to get started.

Should be fun!

Happy knitting!

Slouching into the New Year.

I started a new pattern on Saturday night. It really was just something to fill the time while watching a Middle School Boy's basketball game. If you have ever watched Middle School Basketball, you won't blame me for needing something interesting to do. But sometimes a last minute, lark turns out to be a great decision. Slouchy('s no Slouch) is a free hat pattern that I found on Ravelry by Lea Kobayashi. (Free is good -- Remember?!) I have been looking at the pattern for the last few weeks and I even saved a PDF of the pattern on my computer. So, of course it was a natural when I needed to make a quick choice.

I have been working the pattern over the last couple of days worth of commuting and have made good progress. At this point I am almost through the 1st of two skeins of the Knit Picks' Wool of the Andes that I had left over from my Avocado Carnaby. As I said then, the stitch definition of this wool is excellent.

The hardest part about the hat so far was knitting the cables -- not actually knitting the cables, it was getting under the seat on the train to pick up the cable needle when I lost control of it going over a bump. The cables were a ton-o-fun to do. I have not done any in a long time -- and these were small and easy. Forming ribbing, they are both lovely and useful. I also like the detailing formed by the SSK and the yarn over. The combo creates an interesting spiral to the ridge of the hat. The hat is topped off with a quick i-cord and a decorative bead.

I am nearly to the point of decreasing for the crown of the hat. The knitting has been so easy that I have yet to grow tired of it. This may end up being a "go-to" favorite for gift making.

Happy Knitting!!