A Winter's Tam . . .

It's still winter in my part of the world (honestly, I cannot begin to tell you how sick I am of winter.  If I see another snowflake, I swear I'm gonna scream!!).  The only good part about the chilly weather is the necessity for winter gear.  That's right!  I've got a lovely tam--a colourful tam!

Finished Tam

I just love the colours!  It's cheery and looks great with my coat (I still can't believe how well the hat colours match up with the coat).  My only complaint is that the hat is a wee bit loose--that may be the fault of the corrugated ribbing.   If I make another version (and I may very well try another), I may have to substitute with real ribbing that's more stretchy or subtract a few repeats for a snugger fit.

Wearing the Tam

I must confess that my fondness for the pattern has inspired me to use the chart for a matching cowl.  I cast on but have yet to start the colour portion.  

Beginning of Matching Cowl

Maybe winter is waiting for me to finish and then spring will start in earnest?  Ha!  Maybe not . . . 

Two Stitches

Tam Progress

That's the number I was off by in my stitch count.  Two measly stitches.  So even though I love my hat, there's a section that's a tad messy.

Notice the "messy seam"?

Where the rounds change, there's a bit a mess.  How does it look?  I asked my hubby and the boys and none of them could see it.  Most people won't see it.  

Close-up of "the mess"

Only other knitters will see my mistake--and I don't know too many knitters in my neck of the woods.  I think I'll be safe . . . Besides, a few duplicate stitches and a good wash should tidy things up a bit--I hope.

More Colour

That's what I need: more colour!

So for Christmas I got a new winter coat--more of a ski jacket in bright teal with neon lime trim.  How to accessorize?  I had been using white, but it couldn't compete with the flashy teal.  Then a happy accident occurred.  While shopping, I tried on a pair of inexpensive purple gloves--whilst wearing my coat.  Viola!  I was in love!  Teal and purple looked awesome together.  Throw in some neon lime and it still works.

Vibrant Colour Combo

Now that I had the perfect colour combo, I had to find an equally awesome pattern to showcase the colours.    Knitty to the rescue!  The free pattern (Three Tams by Angela Sixian Wu) is a beret-like hat with a deceptively easy two-colour pattern.  My only mod was to alternate the second colour with the third while keeping purple as my main colour. 

Start of Colourful Tam

What do ya think?  Nice?  I love it. The vibrancy and vividness is just what this girl needs in the middle of the dull, grey days that accompany February's wintery blasts.

Hat Details

I just hope there'll be enough yarn leftover to make a matching cowl ('cuz a scarf might be too boring).  And maybe even some mittens?  Now that would be nice.

About That Sock . . .

Remember that modified Aquaphobia sock from the holidays? It's been slow going ('cuz I only work on it at naptime), but slowly the sock grows.  

Colourful Sock

It started off badly: my first attempt was a misread; the second attempt failed in the mathematics department; my third attempt was too big and loose.  Fourth one was the right one.  

Detail of Slip-Stitch Pattern

For a yarn that pools badly, this pattern is doing wonders.  Seriously!  It looks like colourful crayons stacked neatly.  Very pretty (if I do say so myself).

Close-Up

I've stuck to my usual 32-stitch flap-heel.  I think the slip-stitch heel adds strength to the heel, although I am intrigued by short-row heels (not enough to work short-rows with wrap-and-turn stitches).

Sadly I've got other projects on the brain, so my sock may take a backseat.  That's okay.  It's all good, right?

Later,

It Grows (or Learn to Love the Curl)

I was gonna write about my lack of knitting this week, but in truth I've been working on my silky-alpaca scarf.  A little knitting during naptime, at lunch and in the evening as the boys got ready for bed.  Sure enough the thing has grown to approximately 37".  Not bad for a few days of sporadic knitting (Christmas knitting and Bernat knitting momentarily on hold).

At one point I frogged what little I had for fear that it would be too short (after all, I only have 175m worth of yarn.  I think that works out to just over 191yds).  Promptly I cast-on with 24 stitches instead of my original 28 stitches, eliminating the 2-stitch garter edging on each side.  The edge was curling just the same, so what the heck?  Eliminate it and learn to love the curl.

Two things I'm loving: the feel of the yarn in my hands and the colour effects.  The green pops out against the blue.  It had looked lovely in the skein, but not as pretty when wound into a ball.  What a pleasant surprise to see the colours mingle and coalesce as the eyelet curves to and fro across the scarf: bright greens, deep aqua, navy and cerulean--almost like blue waves over tropical sands.  Very pretty.

Here's hoping you're happily knitting on something special too. :)