About the Girls' Hats

So here are the details on Christmas for my nieces.

Finished beret--aka Meret #2

First off, the beret.  The yarn was bulky (it's James Brett Marble Chunky--which incidentally is a bulky yarn, similar to Bernat's vintage Softee); so I settled on Bernat's beret from their Urban Weekend booklet.  Having made this pattern before (here and also here), I remembered that the brim was a little shallow.  I referenced another pattern I had recently made in which the brim was less shallow, the Meret (aka Mystery Beret) and lo and behold, it had the same number of cast-on stitches!  So I switched gears and worked the Meret instead (by the way, I just love my own Meret !).  

Under side of beret

Is this a recipe for disaster?  No, I say.  A thousand times no!!  First off, the yarn I used for the original Meret was on the aran side--thicker than most worsted weight.  The marble chunky yarn is listed as bulky but it's more on the thinner side--close to an aran weight.  See the confusion?  I also used smaller needles than would normally be used for the yarn weight (4.5mm and 5.5mm).  Finally I worked the smallest size listed in the pattern directions.  My oldest niece is 9 and rather tall for her age, so a child-sized hat was probably not gonna work for her anyways.  I figure better it be a wee bit bigger than too small.

Leftovers

If there's enough yardage, I'm hoping to make a matching beret (with purse and shawl) for my niece's 18" doll.  Won't that be cute?  I'm certain she'll love all of it. :) 

Yarn and pattern are ready to go . . .

For my younger nieces, I'm hoping to get them some storybooks along with some pretty hats.  How does Zeebad look?  Cute, right?  I've got some lovely Patons Classic Wool in orchid (more like a lovely raspberry, in my opinion) for one niece.  There's lots more pink in my stash, so if I run out of orchid, I can use a different colour for the second girl.

Very excited about getting started . . . 

Makin' Christmas in July?

Yup, that's right!  I'm makin' Christmas in July.  Hoping to make hats for my 3 nephews and 3 nieces just like last year--except this time I'm getting an early start.

In progress beret

The plan is to make angry bird type hats for the boys, a beret for my older niece, and eyelet- ribbon hats for the younger girls.  I've got plenty of yarn in my stash (it really is nice to go "shopping" in the stash, especially when funds are tight).

In-progress hats for nephews

Hoping to get most of the gift knitting done by the end of the summer.  If I can stick to "my plan", I may have time to make a scrapbook for the grandparents.  Haven't really scrapped in a while, but I've got lots of paper and it would be nice to use it.

Still Winter?!

What?  Winter still here?!

 Yeah, it's blustery out there today.  I dare say it is even blizzard like with all the snow and wind . . . Thank heavens my hat is finished 'cuz  I can still wear it!

Friend modeling my hat :)

I really do like the fit.  I did something different by casting on the smallest size for the ribbing, then I increased twice--once to reach the medium size stitch count for the brim/ribbing and then again as per the medium size instructions.  

Top view of my "meret"

I also made the hat a little more slouchy by repeating the simple lace pattern twice before working the crown decreases (pattern offers suggestions for making mods.  Gotta love it when the designer gives you options).  And I love it!  Now onward to another project . . . .

MIA?

Missing mojo is sucky, but I gotta confess: even though I have been absent the last number of weeks, I got over my slump.  Yes Martha, there HAS been knitting!  And really, that's all that matters.

Pretty yarn

In fact, I finished one project and am very close to finishing another one.  And surprisingly, there are a few other small projects in the works--nothing new or special, but something that is needed (more on that later). 

In-progress beret

So the hat I was working on is one that's been in my queue for ages.  It's Wolly Wormhead's Meret (aka Mystery Beret).  It's a lovely pattern with clear instructions and tips for mods (you can find it here along with other free patterns ).  Everything about this project made me happy except for one thing: I lost a circular bamboo needle.  The cable separated from one of the needles.  Thank heavens I didn't lose any live stitches, but I was not happy.

With school just about done, I hope I can get back into regular weekly blogging.  More importantly, I wanna get back to regularly scheduled knitting--as in every night, if you please.  It's a great cure for itchy fingers. ;)

Pass and Fail

The Pass: the cowl turned out lovely.  I couldn't get a good photo of me sporting it, but it does wrap comfortably twice around my neck.  I just need to weave in the ends and give it a wash.

Finished cowl needing finishing

The Fail: in the spirit of matching accessories, I attempted a beret in the same yarn.  I used a popular beret pattern online and knit along merrily.  Occasionally I would pause and try it on to ensure a good fit--and it was fitting well up until the very end.  After binding off, I attempted to try it on--and could not!  The hat would not even go over my head!!  I screamed in frustration.  Then I calmly unpicked the bind-off edge.  Staring at the live stitches without any needle, I briefly contemplated whether to pick them up or not . . . . Needless to say the "leftovers" are pictured below.  My frustration was so deep, I just kept unravelling until the hat was no more.

Frogged beret

The fault was NOT in the pattern 'cuz tons of people have made the beret (it was the One-Day Beret from Kristun Kapur).  The fault lay in my technique (the same thing happened the first time I made toe-up socks and had to bind off the cuff).  I still want a matching beret.  A search through Ravelry led to other beret patterns--ones that were bottom-up.  I might just have enough yarn to make two hats.   ;)

Barbie's new pink suit

Meanwhile here's the strappy top with matching jacket and skirt for Barbie.  I thought I should share the finished items.  I've been eyeing more patterns from the Sticka till Barbie website.  Downloaded a few patterns and even printed off a few.  Still have plenty of leftover sock yarn and I know where I can get more too.  Always good to be prepared for when the mood hits . . . 

Strappy top underneath the jacket

On the plus side, I've been working diligently on my rainbow bedspread.  Nothing like failure to help one get motivated for a "sure thing".  LOL!

Later,

A Tale of Two Hats

Having received a new winter coat, I decided to knit myself a matching hat.  None of my old hats matched properly.  I already had some white chunky yarn in my stash.  After perusing Ravelry and printing off a few beret-type patterns, I settled on Wendy Bernard's Not-too-too-beret pattern (Rav link).

In-Progress Beret

I searched for the appropriate needles and thought I had found something suitable.  Immediately I cast on.  I did not realize my error until I had finished the hat!  I even **gasp** blamed the pattern  **shakes her head in shame**

My error came from two circumstances: first, I've been working on itty-bitty needles for a while so my tactile senses were off track; second, I misread the label in my interchangeable case.  I mistook the size 10 for 10mm.  Size 10 is 6mm.  That's a difference of 4 needle sizes!  No wonder the thing came out differently than expected.

Hubby with new beanie

Thankfully hubby took the hat for himself.  And with the frigid temperatures we've faced of late, he's been very pleased with it.

As for me, I still had another ball of bulky white in my stash, so I cast on for another beret, using another pattern ('cuz at the time I was still under the delusion that there was something wrong with the previous pattern when in fact there was something wrong with my needles).  With new pattern in hand, I finished the second hat with some modifications.  (I used the 1930s-beret and have the mods listed on my Rav page).  The second hat was more to my liking.

My New Hat

Now I can survive the wintery blast that's plagued us for the past week or so (why yes, I am counting down the days till springtime). 
Later,
;)

Knitting Updates

So I finished my red mittens--yay for me! 

More Red Mittens

My only complaint wth the pattern is that the thumb runs a little long, but that's an easy fix--just work one or two less rounds before decreasing.

And I've picked up my sock again--remember that sock that was started way back when?  It's now my take-along project.  I don't have an updated photo, but I'm working the heel flap and hopefully will work through the heel turn and gusset by the end of this week.

And of course, still working on my Bernat projects, but I soooo hate the "finishing" part of any project (the weaving in of ends and the sewing of buttons).  How do I motivate myself?  I start another project of course!  That's some leftover Bernat Softee Chunky Twists (loving the colour).

Another Beret

It's the same pattern as my blue beret minus the modifications.  This beret is gonna be knit as written (I'm actually farther along into the pattern than pictured above). 

Hope you've got a great week ahead!  Happy knitting! ;)

So Bad . . .

Instead of working on something currently on the needles, what do I do?  Cast on for something new, of course!  Generally I'm a fairly monogamous knitter, with perhaps 1-2 projects on the go at most (usually something big and a smaller, more portable project).  Since early fall, I've been itching to make a particular item and I could resist no more.

While looking for scraps for mittens, I found just enough to make my desired item. Guess which yarn I'm using?  More Bernat Softee Chunky (I swear I'm addicted to this stuff.  The nicest locally-available acrylic EVER--although Bernat Chunky is very nice too). 

Softee Chunky in demin ombre

They're leftovers (about a ball and half's worth) from my modified Short-Sleeved Ribbed Cardi.  Using two circulars, I'm got a nice circle growing.

"Mystery" Project in Progress

Have it figured out yet? I'm making a beret--my first ever if you don't count the wee itty bitty one I made for one of my boys teddy bear. 

Not everyone likes to wear hats, but for me it is a necessity.  I'm still walking to work every day, so my poor old head needs protection from bitter winds (although I must confess it has been an unusually mild January as far as east coast winters go).  And at work I'm outside with my toddlers just about every day for at least an hour.  Me head needs warmth!

My current hat is also a beret that came with matching mittens (a present from my mother-in-law a few years ago). 

Pink Beret with Matching Mittens

But I grow weary of the pale pink (and the hat is itchy too). Besides, it never hurts to have an extra hat handy, as I discovered one day when the pink beret went AWOL.  So in the interest of all that is warm, soft and fuzzy, I am making a hat!

Long live hat head! :)