More Hats

I've been on a hat knitting binge. They're fast and easy. Each one using up a skein of yarn from my stash. I didn't have anyone in mind to knit them for, I just knit them because I wanted to try out the patterns (all free patterns ). Starting clockwise from the upper left is a basic beanie. From a pattern called turn a square - the stripes make a square pattern on the crown. It's knit of Wool-Ease, a washable acrylic blend and it turned out big, which is OK. The white hat on the upper right is called Sisters Hat. I used washable wool for this one. I fits my 21" head a little snug. The earflap hat pattern is named Thorpe. Knit from Bernat chunky acrylic. I really like how it turned out, but I knit the small size, so it's for a child. The blue hat, also knit from Wool-Ease has a trellis pattern made of small cables and the ribbing makes it stretchy. It's pattern is called Claudia. So - friends and family, you may find a hat in your stocking this holiday!

Slouchy Hat

This was a fun hat to knit from a popular pattern named Star Crossed Slouchy Beret. You can't tell from the picture but it has a little slouch to it. It's 100% wool so I plan to gift this to someone who won't throw it in the washing machine. But it will be more like a Cinderella hat, given to the person it fits. I have someone in mind. If there is any demand, I have another skein of this yarn, so maybe I'll just make another.

Baby Cardigan

I'm really happy with the way this turned out. The pattern is called First Flower from the book The Alchemy of Color Knitting by Gina Wilde that I had checked out of the library. I cast on right away with some washable wool yarn I had in my stash and finished it before the book was due (except for hemming and buttons). It is knit from the top down in one piece with picot edging and three silver heart buttons. I hope it will fit you know who.

I Went on Vacation and the Only Thing I Knit Was This

A simple dishcloth. On a recent road trip, ten days were spent zig zagging across the State of California and Oregon without much knitting to show for it. I really can't knit while riding in the car, especially the roads we took. We drove to Kings Canyon, Lassen and Crater Lake National Parks, all with very high and winding roads. Not conducive to knitting. Actually, I knit one dishcloth going north (given away) and another going south. Not even a dent in my stash.

My Hex Bag

My latest felted bag. This was fun to knit and I used yarn (Cascade 220) from my stash. Only three skeins, but still it's something. The pattern is from Interweave Knits Holiday 2008. Clever construction, each hexagon is knitted from the outside edges to the center and then the next one is attached by picking up stitches. No sewing was involved.

Love It, (or) Leaf It

That's the name of this pattern (without the or) from the summer issue of Knit.1. and I think I will leaf it or rather leave it. I should have known better after reading of other knitters having problems with the hat being too large. But I picked out some bamboo yarn from my stash and knitted away, even using smaller needles to adjust for the size. It looks good and feels very soft, but unless I find someone with a very large head (about 24"), I going to rip this out and knit something else!

If It Looks Like a Duck

And the knitting pattern said it was a duck, then it must be a duck. I checked the book Knitted Toys by Fiona McTague out from the library. I thought the duck was cute, and I had yarn in my stash that would work. Of course I didn't follow the instructions exactly because I wanted to avoid sewing seams. That made it much more difficult than the skill level 1 assigned to the pattern. The only sewing involved was in attaching the arms. A knitting challenge!

A Little Shawl

The pattern is called Little Arrowhead Shawl. This was a fast knit. The yarn started out as the Branching Out scarf, which I ripped out to make this shawlette. It wasn't hard, but I did have to watch out that I didn't forget my yarn overs.

The model is my armless mannequin. I had to drag it out in the backyard to get better light.
And I did have to avoid the gopher holes.

Which One is Cuter?

Gopher

or

Hedgehog

What do you think? A lawn wrecking gopher, or a soft hedgehog knit and felted out of wool? OK, I think my hedgehog is cuter. He didn't take long to knit, though I started him last year. He was left unfinished in a bag until I found the right kind of yarn to complete the project. The eyes and nose are needle felted. Unstuffed, he makes a fun puppet.
The gopher took up residence in my back yard last week, digging his way across the lawn. He kindly posed for this picture in the middle of digging a hole. I'm hoping he will find my neighbor's lawn tastier.

Random Photos

Favorite Sign

Butterfly on Avocado Leaf

Epiphyllum