Hats are some of the easiest and most fun things to knit. They’re mostly knitted in the round, with only two ends to seam (the tail from the cast on and the end when you draw the crown closed). The brim is usually ribbed for stretch and fit and the body of the hat is where all the action happens.
My latest hat project is a test knit for a dear frined, Preeti. Just like her, this hat is simple, fun and highly practical. It starts with a twisted ribbing at the brim.
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It’s been a while since I tested a knitting pattern for anyone. I kinda miss it – didn’t think I would, but I do.
So when I received an email from dear Lindsay asking if I wanted to test knit a new shawl design, I jumped from the get-go. I was so happy that she designed a DK weight shawl because it gave me an excuse to try out one of soon-to-disappear Luxe DK yarn base. And pssst…..the sale is still on over at my Etsy shop.
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Blogging has been very spotty these past few weeks. I’m sure I will get back on my regular schedule but need time to save up drafts and schedule them for publishing so that I am in no hurry every time to post.
In other news, I have re-joined the workforce and will be up early again every day from now on. My children will be happy to know that their weekly allowance and Christmas gifts are safe and on hand this year!
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It’s been a quiet week. Kids are busy with school. I’m trucking along at home, knitting every chance I get and catching up on TV shows like Psych, Rizzoli & Isles and re-watching old favourites on DVD. This weekend is going to be busy because my favourite TV shows are coming back for a new season.
Supernatural, Fringe, Glee…oh how I missed them all!
But first, some knitting news.
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Before I show you the FOs, just wanted to say something about the Doctor and Amy and Rory and, while we’re at it, let’s throw in Gwen and Jack and Rex and Esther. And yes there will be spoilers, so if you have not seen any of the current season episodes, look away now.
I love that the whole storyline about River Song is now established and she can go back to her own timeline and jail cell for now. And I love that we are now back to all the travelling and running and dodging out of sticky situations that those crazy young lovebirds get into. Did you see the sneak peek for next week’s ep? The Angels are back! Yikes and Yay!
As for Jack and Gwen, well, it was One…Long…Freakin’…Season…and I am glad it’s over. I did not really like the whole Americanization of the series. No offense to Americans. It’s just that the feel of the show shifted so much and Rex, with his brash CIA tactics was like nails on a chalkboard. Did he really have to be that rude? To everyone?
And Jack, God love him! The whole bartender and Angelo Colasanto scenes could have been done without showing any skin. Did John Barrowman write it into his contract that he gets to take off his clothes and kiss and feel up his handsome male co-stars? My kids watch Torchwood, for crying out loud! Anyway, glad that whole season is over so please, Mr. Davies, can we go back to the regular scheduled programming for next season please? Thanks.
Okay, rant over, now on to the knitting.
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Why does blogging feel like such a chore for me these days? So I skipped a few regular posts and then I hit a slump. Oh I’ve been updating sporadically on Facebook, Twitter and Ravelry but a full-on blog post seemed like hard work. Not that I don’t enjoy it, I still do! Very much. It could be this darned PC which uses wireless connection to our router so that I end up having to pull my hair when it comes to uploading photos. Darned you IO error!
Anyway, speaking of finished knitted objects, I want to show you this little thing that my daughter Eibee made. It’s a pouch for her Blackberry Torch 9800. She did this so quickly using leftover of the Plucky Sport which I destashed from Irishgirlieknits a while ago. The colourway is called Sensibility and it is beautiful.
Eibee also made a pair of fingerless gloves which she sent to her big sister in Manila. We failed to take a photo before it went in my husband’s luggage. The next project she has her eye on is a pair of Georgia Sleeves for herself. She chose the yarn for it too, a skein of Twisted Fiber Art Duchess Striping from my stash.
Okay then, off to my latest FOs.
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My daughter Viel and I are big fans of Harry Potter. It started when I bought her the first book as a late birthday present. This was two years after the book came out and I had no idea about the hype it had already created in the UK and the US. She passed it on to me after reading it saying it was a great fun read.
The rest, as they say, is history.
So when Dani of Sunshine Yarns announced a special Harry Potter update on her online yarn shop, I just had to pop in and see what it was all about. You would have seen my eye-candy Friday post about it. Now here is a finished project out of one of the most vibrant and interesting colourways of that line-up, Neville.
The colours are stunning! The repeats are short so no chance of pooling anywhere even if you were working on a tighter gauge. The yarn itself is gorgeous, smooth yet strong.
The vest was a quick knit, as with any baby-sized items, and thoroughly enjoyable. Perfect partnership of yarn and pattern I think. This little garment is Manila-bound on Monday morning, hitching a ride in my husband’s luggage. I hope to have some modelled shots soon. My one regret is not being able to deliver this in person and finally meet my grandson.
Project: Nash-ville (Raveled!)
Pattern: Baby Professor Vest by Sam Lamb
Yarn: Sunshine Yarns Merino Worsted
Colourway: Neville (Harry Potter series)
How much: 0.85 skeins (148.8 yards)
Needles: US8 – 5mm
Cast on: 5 Aug 2011 (12 noon)
Cast off: 5 Aug 2011 (5.30pm)
Notes: Great quick knit for that special baby in your life! I will omit the slipped stitches though if I were to do this again, which is more than likely.
PS: WP/FB problem seems to have resolved itself for now. Maybe my rant helped?
When the sock knitting bug bites, it does not sting.
My love affair with knitted socks has barely scratched the surface. One thing I love though for sure is Irish Girlie Knits and her wonderfully delightful Cotty Socks. I have done four pairs so far and it doesn’t look like I will get tired of this pattern any time soon.
I present to you Cotty Socks #3 and #4.
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I finished a few projects recently, which surprised even me because they went really quickly and didn’t stay long on my needles. They were still very enjoyable though. I am not publishing this on other social networks because these are supposed to be gifts to a friend. Unless she reads my blog, then the first time she will see them will be when she receives them.
Teaser:
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I have been stashing The Plucky Knitter’s Primo yarn for a while. While that sounds bad, I actually only have 7 skeins in stash. One does not count because it was a gift from Carrie. When Carrie asked me to test knit a new shawl design in Plucky, I chose these two colourways: Sticky Toffee (her gift to me) and The Hills.
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