FO: Zoe Hat

It's been a cold and mostly blistery winter (again) in the northern Chicagoland area. Today is the first mild day in a while (40 degrees F), and we are enjoy it every bit!

It's been dark and gloomy the past couple of days, so I've been waiting to photograph this FO in some natural light, but had to compromise with what little daylight is coming through this overcast day.

I just feels like a pour-yourself-a-steamy-cup-of-tea-and-finish-the-ending-of-your-book (which I did) kind of day.

This hat is one that I picked out for our 1/1-2/1 2017 KAL on my "Knitting up a storm, the blog" facebook page group. I have posted a video on how to work these 2-st cables without the use of a cable needle. If you attempt this pattern, or any with tons of 2-st cables, be sure to check out that video. You'll have to be part of the group first to see the video.

I enjoyed this knit. The cables were not hard, the texture is interesting. However, the hat itself is not long or slouchy. It almost needs a little bit of blocking to get more ease. At least using the yarn I did, it's almost suited more for the head size of a pre-teen.

If you're looking for a more slouchy hat, you'll want to throw in several more rounds before decreasing and/or use thicker worsted weight yarn than suggested (like an aran weight). The brim of the hat just reaches my ears.

Pattern: Zoe Hat by Alexandra Davidoff

Yarn: about 1/2 skein of Malibrigo Yarn Merino Worsted in "Mint" (approx. 100 yds used)

Needles: US size 5 & 7 (9'' circular needles), and US 7 dpns

Modifications: the ribbing-- I made a 1x1 twisted rib instead of 2x2 standard ribbing

Casted on: 1/1/17      Completed: 1/15/17

I used a fur pompom. It seems to be the all rage now for knitted hats. Ironically enough, it's hard to find at a franchized craft store. I ended up finding this pompom from HobbyLobby on a keychain, since they did not sell fur pompoms in the knitting or sewing section (No luck also at JoAnn's). 

I removed the keychain part of the pompom and no one will be none the wiser. I just wished that I could have found a natural light brown pompom that would have matched this hat a little more. I think the contrast is a little too stark for me.

FO: Antler Hat (Toque) #2

Last Thursday, I gifted my husband his very own Antler Hat (also refered as Anter Toque). I made his brother a silver one for Christmas, and he seemed to be eyeing it, so I decided to make the same pattern for him as well. I chose this color because he owns a pair of gloves that match pretty closely. This color really goes with everything.

Pattern: Antler Hat/Toque by Tincanknits

Yarn: Cascade 220 in Charcoal Grey

Needles: Size US 6 and US 8 circular needles

Method: magic loop

Cast-on date: 1/1/17         Completed: 1/5/17

Modifications: 2.25'' ribbing and only 6 antlers before doing the decreases

While at the craft store, I decided to pick up a new set of cable needles. I own metal ones in various shapes, but I find that they are too slippery and long. Clover makes a set of plastic cable needles that are a bit shorter and with a square nook to hold the stitches. I found that they were a bit easier to work cables with, even though they were flimsier.

I tried all four needles, and found with this project, the medium white cable needle was the easiest to work with, and stitches didn't slip off. I just wish that the ends were a bit sharper.

My husband is very pleased with his gift. Now that it's done, I'm off knitting something from my pattern queue: the Zoe Hat. We are doing a KAL in my facebook group during this month. Join us!

FO: Flax Light #1 (4-6 yr old size)

The first of my Flax Light Sweaters for my 6 year old twins is done! This project took longer than I anticipated (especially with me also working ony my adult "Flax Light" sweater) Here's the first post about this sweater.

Pattern: Flax Light Sweater by Tincanknits

Size: 4-6 year old

Yarn: 4 skeins of Paton's Kroy Sock Yarn in the colorway "flax"

Needles: US 2 and US 5 circular needles (magic loop method)

Started:  August 19th 2016           Completed: December 30th 2016

Modifications: .5 inches longer on the arms. 

I haven't posted much about this project on this blog, so let me share some of the sweater's journey:

It was knit mostly during late summer and fall. I thought maybe I could finish it before Halloween. Whoops.

Acutally, most of it WAS finished by Halloween (you can see that it was still warm out), but I also wanted to have my pumpkin spice colored adult flax done in time for Halloween too. When that deadline passed, then it was for "Thanksgiving." That has passed too. EEK!

The sleeves only needed about 4 more inches to be completed! So, after working on my annual "Year in Review Post" around Christmastime, I realized how I have left a project that was nearly completed alone in a bin to languish. I was determined to complete it in time for the New Year...so I knit the rest of the sleeves around Christmastime. 

I decided to work the sleeve's two-at-a-time, like my socks, so they are the same length for sure. I may have been enjoying a few treats while knitting. :)

I love watching FOs soak in the tub, and seeing the yarn bloom as the bubbles dissipate. It's the little things in life, right?

I blocked out the sweater to be just an inch larger in the body. I am so pleased with the results. The sweater is absolutely beautiful. The texture on just the sleeves is very smart---it's just the right amount of detail in the right places, and so simple. Not busy, like some sweaters. I can't wait for my own sweater to be done!

The colorway for this yarn was gorgeous too! Since the name of this pattern has "flax" in it, I happend to stumble upon that color at the store and couldn't resist! 

Here's Sam modeling the sweater for you. Unfortunately, they think it's too scratchy, and I'll have to put a colored shirt on underneath. They don't care for it much, really though. It's a tragedy. Their opinion: it's scratchy and a boring color. *sigh* Next time, I'm going to use acyrillic for them!