Baby Squash Hat

I spend the evening watching The Killing and knitting a Baby Squash Hat.



the pattern is from 101 Designer One Skein Wonders edited by Judith Durant.

I adjusted the pattern to fit my yarn. The pattern calls for size 6 needles but I didn't have a set available. I used Lily Chin Designer Collection Grammercy (this is how it is spelled on the label) on a size 5 needle. The pattern calls for cast-on of 64 but I added 8 sts to make the hat large enough for a baby.

It was a quick knit and I like the look of the hat. I have a few skeins of this yarn that I've not used. I got it on deep discount 4 years back. The "Lily Chin Designer Collection" yarn didn't sell very well. It was pricier than comparable yarns. The yarn split easily and untwisted as I was casting-on. Once I got into the knitting, the yarn didn't split.

I have about half the skein left and plan on making a second hat because it was such an easy and quick knit I could have it be my travel knitting.

I picked up the yarn to knit socks. I still might knit a pair but on a size 3 needle.

addendum:
here are some photos of the finished hat.

I liked this hat pattern enough to make a similar hat but adding further "knitter's choice" to the pattern. Blogging about that hat soon. 

Serpent Mound

knitSB and I traveled to Serpent Mound on Sunday for a nice day together. The mound was enjoyable, the weather pleasant and the company wonderful.
The video sound is low, so you'll need to turn it up a bit.  Sorry about that.  :)

4 hats and a Shawl

I've been busy knitting hats out of the Berroco Vintage Wool. I finished two other hats in the last few days. One additional hat is a going away gift for Bill S who leaves for his Masters work in theater. I promised to knit him a hat as a going away gift. I also knit a baby hat for Baby McC. The expectant mom reads the blog, so I'll post pictures after she receives the gift.

My brother has been working on his TV room and recently added a HD Epson projector that is a 5' X 10' screen. I've been trying to knit while watching some videos in his new space. Let me tell you, the great screen distracts me from my knitting.



The Fleece Artist Thrum Mitten kit details are here. LittleWit on plurk gave me the suggestion to make all the thrums first. I've done this and hope it will make it easy to knit.

My vacation with my brothers has been great. We've got this down to a science. We can each do what we want to do without worrying about the others. The typical teasing and arguing got heated up on Saturday morning to no harm to anyone. I like my brothers. How often can people say that about family?

The video that's paused is Erasure "Sometimes." I couldn't find this version on YouTube. I remember dancing to this song out at the bars when I was in college. A great song and great memories. I think I dance like Andy Bell. LOL

Vintage Wool (baby) Hats

I'm really enjoying the Annual Boy's Fishing trip for 2009. I've been knitting up a storm. I finished the test knit socks and will post about those soon. I got permission from Laura to share information about the "beta sock knitting" that I was doing.

These two hats were knit using Berroco's Vintage Wool. I was really pleased with the way the yarn knitted up. I avoid knitting with any yarn that has too much acrylic in it and this yarn has 50% acrylic, 40% wool and 10% nylon. The yarn felt very sock and wholesome in the hank. It is a four ply yarn and I didn't have any trouble with splitting. The price point on this is really, really good at $6 a skein from the Knitters Mercantile booth at Knitters Connection 2009. The yardage is 217 yards. I've still got lots of yarn left over! Vintage Wool will win over Encore.

I got two skeins that were "expectant mother approved," Color 5185 (Tide Pool) and 5175 (Fennel). Tide Pool is a much darker, jewel-toned teal than I see on Berroco's website. I rather like the two colors together.



Now, this other expectant mother that I know with the initials MM....I'm pointing at you Michelle! Do you think these colors would be a cute hat for Mr. Baby? And do you like this hat style?

Baby Snuggie

Ugh. knitSB couldn't help himself and bought on of these. It was on SALE! *face palm*

I knit another baby hat out of Rowan Calmer. I'm rather fond of the inside of the hat for it's reverse stockinette row when I changed colors. I'll be using this design feature the next time I knit another baby hat. Or a hat for me. I have enjoyed the simple design of this hat. It knits up quickly on a size 5 needle. K2P2 rib is not the fastest knitting for me in the round but the stretch of the pattern is quite pleasing.




The idea of knitting a plain round in the new color comes from an Elizabeth Zimmermann book when she's talking about knitting some socks with replaceable soles. The stretch of the K2P2 rib was not impacted at all.

Calmer Baby Hat

I was glad to be invited to a baby shower that happens this week. I do like to provide a hand knit item to welcome the baby to the world.


This knit was quick. Knit out of Rowan Calmer on a size 5 nylon 16" needle.
I simply cast-on 80 sts and knit in a K2P2 rib until I was almost out of yarn. I did an elastic bind off to create a straight top for the hat. When I changed colors, I knit a plan round to avoid the purl bumps showing up. I thought they would be very distracting. Each time I changed colors, I knit a plain row. This does NOT interfere with the stretch of the hat at all. I topped the hat with a blanket stitch in the green.


This is my sister holding her granddaughter, Quinn. The hat is cute, but not as cute as my great-niece Quinn.
Here's a picture of the hat in progress. I do think that Quinn likes to be photographed, don't you?