FO: Brite Hat

I have finished my Rainbow Brite Hat! It feels really nice to have something new for me. I may be to blame for the cold weather coming back after our beautiful weekend because I really want a chance to wear this before I put it away for the summer. I'm sorry NYC.

I followed the pattern but switch between the two Chroma yarns when I switched as I switched from knitting to purling (the last knit row before purling was always done with the blue/green instead of the pink/orange so the first set of purl bumps would match.  Despite the double thick brim, I did use a little bit more blue/green than pink/orange. I think the purl sections are a perfect match for Rainbow Brite's sleeves (or her new bracers). I love the peeks of pink/orange throughout the hat. It is exactly what I imagined, and I couldn't be happier.

Brite Wurm

From Drop Box

Knit Picks has some more rainbow-like colorways of Chroma than the two that I chose for my scarf, but I've decided to name it after Rainbow Brite anyway. I am halfway done with the scarf, but I've decided to put it on hold for just a bit while I make a hat. This way, I'm certain I have enough yarn for the hat, and I can use the very last bit on the scarf.  I have finally chosen between two different patterns. Originally I was drawn to Minty. I think I liked being having it available in two colors to look at, but in the end I think that the skinny stripes in changing colors on my head would be too obnoxious. (Yes, I am aware that I'm planning an outrageously bright striped hat and scarf set and worried about where the line for obnoxious is.) Instead I decided to go with Wurm. I'm hoping that this will result in a mostly blue/green hat with bright pops of orange and pink.  I don't have much progress to show you because I had to rip out the entire brim and start it over.

On a barely related note, have you seen what happened to Rainbow Brite? She was one of my favorite characters as kid. My uncle still loves to tell stories about my constant babbling about, "Bo Bite." I don't know when it happened, but she's gotten a whole new look.

From Hallmark

It is almost a Bratz make over. I am not too upset about changing her up, but I am really disappointed that all of her friends are gone. I especially loved the Color Kids and all that diversity is gone and it seems like the personalities are gone too. I was never certain should be Patty O'Green or Shy Violet.  Now she's just got two girlfriends, and I doubt I'd want to be either of them.  

Queued: Nouveau Bohemia

From Photo.Knit.Dog

My new friend Lina released her Nouveau Bohemia pattern just last week. I only know a couple designers, and I admire them all.  Lina came to our last knit group right after the full pattern and the different versions were all done. I got to admire the beanie version up close.

It is a beautiful hat. I love the lace and cable combination. I think my favorite is the beanie, but I may change my mind once I see a couple versions in a solid color. I've got some left over Andean Silk that I've been thinking about making a hat with. It is a solid purple, but it has a lot of bloom. This pattern might also be the perfect excuse to pick up some madelinetosh.

There are only a few projects on Ravelry right now. This is the moment to get ahead of the knitting fad. By next winter everybody is going to have one.

Queued: Bird on a Wire

From Vogue Knitting

I keep telling myself that the next time I buy yarn, it is going to be for this hat. Bird on a Wire was designed by Elli Stubenrauch and published in the Fall 2009 Vogue Knitting. That issue is full of great hats, but this pattern is the reason I bought the magazine. I don't know what my style is, but this hat fits into it perfectly. I like the large bold image but I think it is the perfect size and doesn't overwhelm the hat. I love the cute bird that looks animated, but not goofy. The very best part of it all, is that it is reversible! If that model needs to brighten up her day, she can just flip that hat inside out and it will be sunny yellow with an adorable blue bird. When I look at this hat, I imagine myself wearing it in the park and spinning with joy.

I honestly cannot give you a good reason for why I have not made this hat yet, but I can offer three flimsy excuses. 1) It keeps getting pushed down the queue by gifts that I am knitting for other people. Now that I've instituted the rule, hopefully it won't be quite as big of a problem. 2) I don't know how to double knit. I am certainly not against learning, but I feel like I should do a practice piece before I dive into a hat that would devastate me if I messed it up. I have a hard enough time gauge swatching, so I haven't been feeling like doing a practice piece. 3) I don't have the yarn. I have decided that I am going to buy something special just for this hat. I want it to be perfect in every way so I am not sacrificing on the colors to make it work with whatever is in my stash. That means I have to commit to a color combination. I just cant decide. Wouldn't it be great with red and grey, or cream and blue, or yellow and brown. Really you could just toss any of those colors into a hat and pull out a combination I'd swoon over like yellow and grey, red and cream, or blue and brown. When I make that decision, then I'll make this hat.

Just a Little Something

Inspired by Stash and Burn's Single Skein September (SSS), I decided to do some stash busting and made a couple little things for my MIL. She just received her package this weekend, so I finally get to share the projects with you. (The worst part of gift knitting is definitely the required blog silence.)

Pattern: Branching Out by Susan Pierce Lawrence

Yarn: Patons Brilliant in Mint (This was left over in my stash from my Bridesmaid Purse [Ravelry Link])

Needles: US 8 (5.00 mm)
Notes: I didn't make any adjustments to this pattern at all. In fact, it has been hanging out in the back of my head as a project to do quite some time. I thought it would be a perfect pairing of yarn and pattern for a light scarf with just the right amount of sparkle for mom, but I was always reluctant to cast on. I was worried there wouldn't be enough yarn and the scarf would turn out too short. It wouldn't be the first time I had made that mistake, so I was reluctant. I have no idea why SSS gave me the push I needed, but I'm glad it did. This turned out to be one of my first projects that turned out just a great as it was in my head.

Pattern: Quincy by Jared Flood (pattern is at the bottom of the link)
Yarn: Ozark Handspun Ozark Companion (This is a beautiful yarn that was gifted to me by some great friends.)

Needles: US 10 (6.00 mm)

Notes: I absolutely love Jared Flood's new book Made in Brooklyn. In fact, I love just about everything he does. I try to make Hubby wear his Koolhaas as often as possible because the fan-girl in me is convinced we'll bump into him while we're out, and it will be a great conversation starter. So, I never would have guessed that I'd be making a major alteration to one of his patterns. Sizing adjustments and a little bit of math reworking, sure, but dissecting his pattern to the point that my FO looks nothing at all like what he clearly intended, I did not see that coming.

I set out with every intention of making Quincy a hat just like intended. I loved every moment of the built in i-cord. I made the twist for my mobius and did the seaming.

Then, instead of moving right along and picking up stitches, I had to pause and put it on. I was struck by what a fabulous cowl it made. I turned to Hubby for his opinion, and in his adorable geekiness he was immediately caught up in the mobius fun. Once he learned that the the twist would become stationary and no longer free to move through out the strip, he was against the idea of a hat.

In the end, the deciding factor was remembering Mom commenting on my Ear Cozy during her Thanksgiving visit. I don't remember exactly what she said or what

her reasons were, but I remember her saying that she would like something like that better than a hat. It also made a great, pony-tail compatible, ear cozy. At that point, Quincy's fate was set. I've been thinking about starting another one and carrying through to make the whole hat this time, but I think I'd probably get caught up in the exact same spot. Fortunately, I have far too much baby knitting to do to even worry about it right now.

Unveiling

One of my favorite people in the whole world is (predictably) a complete goofball. One of the things that I absolutely love about him, is that he still loves to dress up in costumes for Halloween (or really any occasion he can use). Off the top of my head, I can recall seeing him as Jason, James Bond, Indiana Jones, Darth Vader, and a Jedi (because it is no fun to always be on the same side). I've seen him come up with his own super heroes to dress as, and most recently he was a Ghostbuster. So, when I saw this pattern, I knew that I had to make it, and Chris had to have it.

When he and his wife Katy announced that they were having a baby, I got to work right away. I wanted to make them something beautiful and practical and filled with my love for the two of them. I dug into my stash for the most beautiful colors I could find, and made them a diaper pad/seat cover. As soon as I had it finished, they let me know they were having a boy. I immediately took this as a sign that I need to break my yarn diet and get everything necessary to make their son a Yoda costume.

Here you can see it being modeled by one of my teddy bears since Charlie Edward Tripp has arrived yet. (Though if my count is correct, the big day should be coming soon.) This set was so much fun to make, and very simple. The only thing I am worried about, is that I don't really have any baby around for size references. I really have no idea if the hat and the robe are going to fit him at the same time. I am completely relying on the 'wrap' structure of the robe to allow it to be worn for a big enough range of time that it will fit whenever the hat does. If it doesn't I could always make another one in a better size, but for that, I'll have to wait for the time to come.

Since my friend is a great photographer, I am hoping for some cute shots of this FO on Charlie when it fits (HINT*HINT*). And finally, I have to say this: Katy, I'm very sorry if you were not wanting to be Princess Leia for Halloween this year, but please let me know if you need some help with the costume.

Ears are not stiffened in this picture
Pattern: Felted Baby Yoda Hat by Sunshyne Leland
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Avacado
Needles: US 11 (8.0mm)
Notes: No alterations or changes

Pattern: Baby Yoda Sweater by Cari Luna (PDF)
Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Cashew
Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm)
Notes: No alterations or changes.

FO: Hubby's Hat

Secret project update: All of the knitting is done. I have some unusual finishing to do and then I can send it off to the recipients. Once I get confirmation from them that they've gotten it, I can tell you all about it.

Ever since Hubby started doing the grocery shopping, I've been wanting to make him a hat. The store is not far from our apartment, and the walk there is a really nice one along the water. However, being along the water is a bit windy and it can get pretty chilly. When Hubby mentioned that he had been pulling his scarf over his head so that it covered his ears instead of his neck, I knew he was in need of some urgent knitted attention.

I couldn't decide between the Armando hat or the Koolhaas hat so I let Hubby decide. Without hesitation he requested the "KoolAss" hat so I cast on right away. While I started it with the though of him wearing it on the promenade near the apartment, I quickly started to think about him wearing it in the city. The reason is, the designer, Jarod Flood, lives in Brooklyn, and I work in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn is a pretty big place, especially compared to other places I've lived and worked. The chances of Hubby running into Jarod (we're really not on a first name basis, I'm taking liberties) are fairly unlikely. Despite that, I can't help but wonder what it would be like for Jarod in that situation. New York has a lot of knitters, and Koolhaas is a pretty popular pattern with 3,176 projects currently listed on Ravelry. What would it be like for him to run into a stranger wearing one? Would he say, "Hi, nice hat," or would he smile to himself and continue on his way. How different would that interaction be when he found out that the stranger was loved by a knitter rather than being the knitter themselves?

How would Hubby react if some stranger came up and said, "Dude, did you make that hat? I designed the pattern. That's so cool"? I guess it is not too hard to imagine Hubby's reaction (especially since I know him so much better than Mr. Flood). He'd say something like, "Hey, thanks. My wife made it. I've sworn off cabling since I made this scarf." (Which he'd undoubtedly be wearing proudly.)

What would your reaction be if you saw a stranger on the street who was wearing/holding/using something that you designed?

Pattern: Koolhaas Hat by Jarod Flood
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Onyx Heather
Needles: US 6 (4.0mm)
Notes: No alterations or changes at all. This is a very warm hat.

WIP: Hubby's Koolass Hat

Hubby and I didn't make it out of the apartment much this weekend so I don't have any FO pictures of my Clapotis for you. However I did have a modeling session with Stitch while Hubby's new hat was a WIP.
I needed stitch to wear the hat because the pattern actually stretches quite a bit and looks much more open when someone is wearing it.
It was a little too big for him even though it was just over half way done when I took these pictures.

A Match Made in Jersey

Both my scarf and its hat are finished, and I am mighty pleased with the results. The hat took about 80 grams of they yarn, so not quite a full skein. It also means that there wasn't much extra left over to add more length to the scarf. The scarf is a little short at just over 50 inches When it was all over though, I had less than 6 inches left over, and I like not having a lot of extra yarn. (Having too much extra yarn makes be feel compelled to make some teeny tiny project just so I don't waste it.) Again if you want to see the stitch patterns together you can click on the picture to enlarge and see them better.

The scarf pattern is Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks and the hat is The Amanda Hat. The yarn is 2 skeins of Manos del Uruguay 100% Wool.

A Hat Too?

I joined my second ball of yarn the to my scarf during the presidential debate the other night. (Clearly I was relieving some frustrations with my needles because I was rocking that scarf for those two hours.) When the debate was over, I noticed that I had quite a scarf pile in my lap. My plan so far has been to knit the scarf until I ran out of yarn, but I thought it might be fun to measure it since it seemed to be growing so well. It was well over 40". My general scarf goal is 60". They aren't always that size, but it is usually what I am shooting for. It started to occur to me that I had no idea what i was going to do with a 90" scarf. Something that much taller than me seems destined to be dragged in the mud unknowingly. Then I realized that this scarf had a soul mate. I had to knit it a hat.

I didn't have to do much searching for the perfect project at all. The Amanda Hat was already in my queue. It calls for a half of a skein of Malabrigo and the ones I found that used Manos said they used less than a full skein. The stitch isn't the same, but feel that it is close enough that even a knitter with a critical eye and a tendency toward perfection would bless this union. (Especially since most of the pattern for the scarf is worked in the purl stitches, and I'm knitting the hat in the round and not purling at all during that pattern.) If you would like a good look at the two different stitches you can click on the picture and check it out much bigger.

I promptly cut the ball I had just joined off my scarf, and cast on for my hat. (Note: I don't recommend going swatchless for those playing along at home, but I am a little tight on yarn for this project so I risked it.) The new plan is to finish the hat and then use whatever is left over for the scarf. The scarf is big enough right now for a good wrap around the neck. If there isn't much left at all, it will still be a fantastic scarf. The slight shortage will be made up for by its personal happiness from having a soul mate and never being lonely again.