Hat #2

Seth really liked the hat I had made for the neighbor girl from the left over yarn from his vest. I tried to convince him that a different pattern, color or yarn would be a good idea but he didn’t buy it. The first hat I had made barely fit on his head. Any growth what so ever and it would pop right off. So without consulting, I made the woman’s size. This is basically the same hat with one extra repeat for added length. Had I to do it over again, I would have increased the width by one repeat and only increased the length by 1/2 a repeat. But I’ll leave it as is because this way I can wear it too.

In order to prevent confusion over who’s hat is who’s on play dates I crudely embroidered his initials on the inside. In green, of course.

Pattern – Hermione’s Cable & Eyelet Hat by JL Yarnworks

Ravelry – here

I’ve heard him, no less than 3 times in the last 2 days, exclaim how much he loves his hat. So nice to be appreciated. If only he felt that way about some of the bigger projects I’ve made him, like that vest. I had a hooded vest planned for him but maybe I should stick to smaller projects for now.

Vest to Hat

Finished this vest up last month but couldn’t get a model at 1st during the warm temps. Now it’s the perfect weather for it.

I did make a fortuitous mistake in the beginning when I did one repeat too many of one of the center cables.  I had been fretting over the fact that most children’s sweaters seem to be too wide and too short and was worried that this pattern was no different. I kept thinking I should have altered the pattern and was seriously contemplating ripping the whole thing apart and starting over. Then I realized my mistake and the fact that my mistake actually compensated for the too wide/too short issue. Perfect! I continued the mistake through the rest of the pattern.

Details:

•  Pattern – Pembroke from Petite Purls (a cute little online knitting mag)
• Yarn – Ella Rae Classic Superwash
• Ravelry details here

Skills learned:

• Cabling without a cable needle (thank you Jess & Sarah!)
• V neck ribbing
• Reading charts! (really, this was my 1st time)

What I would change:

• Keep my extra middle cable repeat mistake
•  Knit in the round vs. panels

About a week ago I was under the weather and found a a little more than a day to myself with only enough energy for couch activities. I bumped something and a ball of yarn rolled out from under the end table. It turned out to be the left over yarn from this vest. I had recently seen this post on Chickpea Sewing Studio and happened to know a little girls who’s birthday was that week and who happened to be a Harry Potter fan. It was meant to be, right? Apparently, because it whipped up in no time flat and was a complete success. I even included a picture of Hermione wearing the hat in the gift bag to ensure comprehension. The fact that it cost me absolutely no money was a complete bonus.

Pattern – Hermione’s Cable & Eyelet Hat by JL Yarnworks

Modifications – 12 rows of 1×1 twisted ribbing to start with as suggested by Chickpea and Sketchbook.

Skills learned:

• 1×1 twisted ribbing – nice pronounced ribbing that I swear knits more quickly than normal ribbing
• Cable cast on – awkward and slow, but stretchy and totally worth it 

Seth very reluctantly modeled the hat for me. It was a teeny bit small on his giant head but fits the recipient perfectly. Afterwards, he took it off and sat staring at it for a bit. 

Seth “This is the same yarn as the vest you made me!”

Me “You’re right!” (feeling very impressed and flattered)

Seth <sniffle> “It matches my vest.”

Me “Yes”  (a little more tentatively this time)

Seth <more sniffles> “I want you to make ME a hat that matches my sweater!!!” <tears>

He’s never asked me to knit him something before. You don’t think I could say no to that do you? Today I showed him several other potential hat options. He emphatically declared that he wanted that hat – same color, same yarn, same pattern. Looks like I’m headed to the yarn store tomorrow. And guess that 1st hat really did cost me a ball of yarn.

1st Hat – Again

I did it. After my first annoying attempt, I completed my first hand knit hat. I even messed with the pattern. Yeah!

Yarn – Rowan Big Wool, 100% Merino Wool

Pattern – Chunky Knit Beanie by Leslie over at a friend to knit with (Thanks Leslie!!)

What I did:

• Knit on dpn instead of straight needles
• Due to knitting in the round I dropped 4 stitches off the cast on (thanks to the advice of Martha)
• The first version didn’t cover my ears as much as I wanted it to, so I lengthen the portion where you decrease stitches. Instead of knitting 2 together for the last two rows, I started to knit 2 together, knit 2 stitches and repeated until I got down to less than 10 stitches. Now it covers my ears and there aren’t any gaps from reducing so quickly!

This is a really quick and easy hat. Perfect for a 1st hat. Supposedly you can knit it in a night, which for a mom of little ones actually  means 3 nights. At least for me anyways. What’s even more fun? Doing it with a group. Each person with their own choice of yarn and ideas on how to alter the pattern. Here’s Martha’s and Jen’s. Still waiting to see pics of Sarah’s and Dana’s.

1st Hat

This is the first hat I’ve ever knit. Can you believe it? I’ve knit toys, baby clothes, children’s sweaters, ponchos, bags, scarves galore, but never a hat. Until now. And I ripped it all apart tonight.

See that funky V just above the right side of my eyebrow? It was driving me nuts. Nuts I tell ya! And there was another one just like it on the other side. I know exactly what happened. I remember dropping a stitch twice and pulling it back up with my fingers. I must have done it the opposite of what I needed to. (In stockinette instead of garter for those of you knitters out there.) I didn’t even see it until the day after I finished it. Tried to live with it. Couldn’t.

Little Packages

I love getting mail. Not just any mail, mail from people I actually know. The best mail these days is actually addressed to my kids but I love it all the same. There were two pieces in particular in the last week that were extra special. One came from my sister-in-law Diana and her family; a book for Eleanor and a couple activity books for Seth. Included was a Valentine’s card for each of them. It was so sweet. We can never have enough books and Seth can never have enough to keep him busy. He was particularly interested in the coloring book with stickers while I can’t wait for him to try the painting with water book. I had forgotten about those books preprinted with ink dots that bleed when wet.

The second package was from my mother, who is truly amazing. She knitted Seth a new hat, in green stripes of course. For Eleanor she whipped up this adorable blankie using flannel and minky squares with satin trim. So far Eleanor just likes to throw it around, one of her favorite past times. I’m curious to see if she’ll start carrying it around by the little tab handle my mother sewed into one corner. It’s hard to see in this picture but she even signed the bottom corner, a perfect touch.
Boy do I feel loved.