Hat & Hoodie

Finally, I can blog about the hoodie project I worked on for LornasLaces - did you know they are expanding their colors to the Green Line - that's their organic merino wool. I was provided with some of the worsted weight in the "Beverly" colorway, which is just stunning! It was great shades of blue-grey-green. It was wonderful to work with - the sample I knit for them the "Little Cable Hoodie" by Gardiner Yarn Works (details on my ravelry project page) What a fantastic pattern! I love love love this pattern and will make it again, as I was very sad to ship this off. On to the photos!







I was a bit stressed about sewing in the zipper. It really wasn't bad once I got going on it - however, I did make a bonehead mistake. I bought an "all purpose" zipper, not realizing I should pay attention to the zipper style - so I had carefully sewn in a bag style zipper and I needed a jacket style zipper. In the end, not a big deal, and I have learned my lesson.

A few more close-ups:


I'm noticing a trend lately - seems like most of the projects I've got on the needles or recently finished involve cables in some form. Love them. 2009, the year of the cable.

I finished up a Capitan Hat, (my ravelry details)

Cute. I'm already wearing it now and plan to for the rest of the day (I have hat head hair. oh well). It's warm and I really like the yarn I used - Berroco Cuzco - so wonderfully squishy!

My favorite part aside from a)This is a really quick knit, b)Uses less than one skein of yarn, c)has cables - is the buttons!

Coconut buttons, found with the yarn (on separate occasions!) at The Yarn Basket.

So, that makes Hat #4 in the 52 Hat Challenge and 1 more ball of yarn used up. I need to go back and check on the # of balls out of 100 I've done. I've decided that the ball will be considered "used up" if I have less than 50 yards of yarn left over.

Handknits in Action

Quickly, I finished a hat today (so that's #3 for the 52 hat challenge and two more balls done for the 100 ball challenge and one less WIP on the shelf.) - It was for Hat Attack back in the Fall of 2008. I withdrew because I just couldn't get going on this. And it's done. I don't really love it, but it's very warm, and will match my coat.

Meh. I don't really feel like talking much else about this hat.

I'd rather share the photos from today when the Lorax and I got some fresh air. She's doing better with her walking (even if she's a bit wobbly) - it was sunny out, so I bundled her up and we were outside soaking up the sun for about 10 minutes, just walking up and down the driveway.



(She's still wearing the hat! Yay! Though, I think she did a near faceplant right after I took this photo...)


My point of view.


Odd shot, but she was kindof balancing on one leg and laughing.

Two Tops

It's so icky out today - I tried to "shovel" the front walk a bit and it really was just pushing slushy water to the side. Weather reports say snow is coming maybe tomorrow and later on in the week / weekend so maybe I'll actually get a proper action shot of Lorelai in her newest hat.

Toasty Topper - knit with Ella Rae Classic in a purple-grey color, it's quite warm and even seems snug on her head - it did stay on when she pulled at it (mostly). If she's distracted by the snow / cold / wind it just might work.

Look at that she already knows how to pose.


This is my head. Or, Mom, why am I wearing a hat inside?

Costume Change!

"Amelie" is finally done. I bought the yarn and book for this project back in December 2007, Lorelai was weeks old. I planned to make the 6 month size, figuring I would be done before she outgrew it. I just made it. She's 13+ months now and can wear this as a top I think.



This FO doesn't count in any of my yardage counts - it's been finished with the knit part for a long while - just needed the buttons. And the hat (while it counts for yardage) only used up ~0.8 of the skein so I'm trying to decide if I will count that as a ball used up or not. It does count towards a new challenge I've got. Hats.

So, I'm challenging myself (not Knitting A Long with anyone. Challenging myself, there is a difference) to the following:
Knit 100 balls from the stash (so far: 1 / 100 unless I decide the Topper hat counts)
Participate in the LimeNViolet 2009 Sock Marathon (Goal: Knit 2 miles, starts in February.)
52 Hat Challenge (so far: 2 / 52)

I've got my own little cheerleader, how bad could it be?