Melt the ICE hat

I bought the pattern on Ravelry and figured that was what was important, as the money goes to charity. Since I have SABLE (Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy), I did not want to buy red yarn just for this hat. But when I checked the stash, I found some red yarn. So I knit the hat.

Pattern: Melt the ICE Hat, by Paul S. Neary
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash in 893 Ruby
Needles: US8
Modifications: Increased the ribbing from 6 inches to 7

Once I was beyond the 1x1 ribbing, the instructions puzzled me. Instead of decreasing at four places like a beanie, the decreases were in only two places, creating a different shape. I double checked this anomoly with a fiber friend who has knit several of these.

An alternative to the braided tassel could be a fat i-cord, but I like the braid because it is different. Were I to knit this hat again with this yarn, I would shift down a needle size, as it feels a bit loose on me (and I have a big head).

Box hat in Shetland

When I saw this pattern on Purl Soho, I had to give it a try. Instead of the usual round top, the hat has a boxy shape. I also liked the deep ribbing.

Pattern: Box Hat by Purl Soho
Yarn: Jamieson & Smith Shetland Aran Worsted, in 'Flugga White' and 'Light Grey'
Needles: US8
Modifications: None except I didn't use bulky yarn as suggested in the pattern; also, I cast on using the alternating long tail method and US9 needle

This hat is very comfortable and very warm. Unfortunately, I don't know how to do the Kitchener stitch without forming "ears".

If you are looking for an easy and quick hat to knit, I highly recommend this one.

(An aside: Purl Soho started as a brick-and-mortar shop in New York Ciy. I was there once! It was early days of my return to knitting and, even though the shop was relatively tiny, I found it a bit overwhelming and intimidating. Plus I am shy. In 2023, the owners made the decision to go online only, sad for the neighborhood, but their website is amazing. Check them out!)

Kittyville hat (without kitty ears)

Once upon a time, I knit a couple of Kittyville hats, one in black and one in pink, for others. I tried one on and thought it looked pretty good. Now that "bonnets" are in, I thought I'd knit myself one. Meh - not a good look on me, but maybe on someone else.

Pattern: Kittyville (listed as Adults-Only Devil Hat on Ravelry), by Kitty Schmidt (published in Stitch n Bitch)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, in black
Needles: US7
Modifications: Left off the kitty ears

I would still like a hat with earflaps. Maybe I can modify a pattern that suits me better, although I don't look good in hats in general.

Gisella hat

I noticed that my son's girl friend had a hat that allowed her to pull her pony tail through the top. Then I recalled that one of my fiber friends had made such a hat. It turns out the pattern is from another of my fiber friends. So I knit one.

Pattern: Gisella, by Lorinda Browning
Yarn: Jamieson & Smith Aran Worsted, in 'Flugga White', 'Light Grey', and 'Shetland Black'
Needles: US8
Modifications: Old Norwegian caston, Icelandic bindoff, down one needle size, mimicked colors in photo instead of instructions

The result is something that can be worn as a cowl or a hat or an earband. I'm not very adept at stranded colorwork, so the non-stranded bits are snugger (almost too snug) than the stranded middle (hence the shape). Were I to knit this pattern again, I would try to rectify that.

I offered up the hat at xmas, but no takers. Today was rather windy, so I wore it - the brim kept slipping down until it rested on my glasses, which was actually a good thing. Coupled with a stand-up cowl, I almost felt like I was wearing a balaclava. Almost. My cheeks still stung from the cold.

The pattern calls for "chunky" yarn, although its summary page on Ravelry says "aran", which is what I used. The three colors in the pattern photo don't match the two-color instructions. "Cast on loosely" and "bind off loosely" are two phrases I have come to dislike in knitting patterns, since there are so many better alternatives. I'm not sure how I feel about rolled brims, either. It is very warm, though.

Three Graham hats

My daughter really likes this style of slouchy hat. She already has several (including a 'Blaze Orange' one in case she is walking in the woods during hunting season), but that doesn't stop her from requesting more. This season, neutrals are "in" so cream, gray, and black were the colors of choice.

Pattern: Graham, by Jennifer Adams
Yarn: Jamieson & Smith Shetland Aran Worsted, in 'Flugga White' (107g)
Needles: US5 and US7
Modifications: None.

The white one came out kind of large with little drape, so I made some modifications going forward.

Yarn: Jamieson & Smith Shetland Aran Worsted, in 'Light Grey' (91g)
Needles: US6 and US8
Modifications: Decreased the circumference by one pattern repeat (16 stitches) while using the length for the "large" size

The gray one came out better. One more version.

Yarn: Jamieson & Smith Shetland Aran Worsted, in 'Shetland Black' (87g)
Needles: US6 and US8
Modifications: Also decreased the circumfrence by one pattern repeat, but increased the length a bit.

I asked my daughter to let me know if she likes one version more than the other, but I'm guessing she won't be able to tell much difference. I'm the one who is being picky.

My 14-year-old granddaughter will probably borrow these, as she is becoming more and more fashion conscious these days. In fact, one of her requests for xmas was a subscription to Vogue (and not Teen Vogue). At her age, I was reading Tiger Beat.

Graham slouchy hat in red Tunis

This pattern is a favorite of my daughter and granddaughter, and my daughter said she liked the red Tunis handspun, so I knit yet another 'Graham' slouchy hat. It looks more rustic than previous ones, and came out larger, so neither of them may want it.

Pattern: 'Graham' by Jennifer Adams
Yarn: Handspun red Tunis, 3-ply
Needles: US5 for ribbing, US7 for rest
Modifications: None

My handspun tends to relax a lot when knit and blocked, so I stuck with the smaller needles. As you can see, the hat expanded and is larger than one knit in Cascade 220 Superwash on the same size needles.

I've complained about the color of this yarn before, but it is beginning to grow on me. And you know what they say - if the hat fits, wear it.

Graham in natural

I tried to finish this slouchy hat before surgery, but kept screwing up the crown. I backed up to a known row and left it for later. Happily, I was able to finish it with only one oops.

Pattern: Graham, by Jennifer Adams
Yarn: Valley Yarns Northhampton Worsted, in natural
Needles: US5 and US7
Modifications: none

This worsted weight yarn is a bit heavier than Cascade Superwash worsted, so I was curious how the yarnage would work out. The numbers are: 0.71 skeins, which equals 175.4 yards (160.4 meters) or 71 grams. Definitely still a one-skein project.

Socks used to be my go-to project for portability, but hats are quicker and easier.

Graham in pink

I actually finished this slouchy hat before the surgery, but didn't get around to blogging about it. This pattern is a fave with my daughter and granddaughter, but I'm not sure what they think about pink these days. (Preferences change.) If they don't want it, it will go to charity.

Pattern: Graham, by Jennifer Adams
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, in one of their pinks, not sure which
Needles: US5 and US7
Modifications: none

I weighed the hat to see just how much yarn it took, as this pattern is great for those odd single skeins one has lying around. The yarnage came out at 0.67 skeins, which equals 147.4 yards (134.8 meters) or 67 grams.

This pattern is unisex, but I have yet to convince any of the men in my life to wear one. Especially a pink one.

Milestones

After surgery, there are milestones one is happy to reach: the day I could stop wearing compression stockings, the appointment where they remove the staples, and this past week, the news I can stop wearing the immobilizer. No more velcro straight jacket! Even though my shoulder is still rather useless, it is *great* to have two hands again. And I can drive now, too. More freedom.

The doctor okayed knitting (but not much else for a few weeks), so I immediately went home and picked up 'Graham', the slouchy hat I was working on over a month ago. Knitting involves micro-movements of the shoulder, which is surprisingly tiring when one hasn't knit for a while. Each day I can do a bit more than the day before, though.

Six weeks of *active* (as apposed to passive) physical therapy is another milestone to strive for. I'm anxious to get back to normal (or as normal as I can be), but I'm also being careful. No sense undoing the surgeon's wonderful work.

Stay warm!

Graham in Karabella

After knitting three Graham hats in a row, I think I am done with this pattern for a while. It's easy, it's (relatively) quick, it garners compliments, but enough is enough. The pix of all three look alike, but there are subtle differences.

Pattern: Graham, by Jennifer Adams
Yarn: Karabella Yarns Aurora 8, in 'Anthracite' (dark gray)
Needles: US6 and US8
Modifications: Made the hat longer, 8" total

For some reason, hats don't look good on me. Making this one longer helped, though. I meant to weigh it before distribution, but it is still under 100g. The yarn is very soft, but like the Lion Brand Cashmere Blend, it feels like it won't hold up well.

'Graham' in LB Cashmere Blend

This hat looks like the last one although I knit it on the larger needles specified in the pattern. An easy, satisfying knit, with great instructions, especially for the decreases on the crown.

Pattern: Graham, by Jennifer Adams
Yarn: Lion Brand Cashmere Blend, in black (75g)
Needles: US6 and US8
Modifications: none

This is not one of my favorite yarns. I purchased it about ten years ago to knit a pair of Mary Jane booties for my granddaughter. I never finished them - booties are so fiddly - and I discovered tinking them is just as fiddly. The yarn is soft and springy, but I don't think it will hold up well.

Graham in black Superwash

I've knit this pattern a couple of times before (here and here). My daughter said she gets a lot of compliments on the gray one and would like more, in neutral colors. I dug through my stash, looking for yarn to use up, preferably a washable yarn because I know her. Here is the first of several.

Pattern: Graham, by Jennifer Adams
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, in black (72g)
Needles: US5 and US7 circs and DPNs
Modifications: used 1x1 ribbed long tail cast on

The reason my daughter needs extra hats

I knit the medium size, which fits a small to medium adult head. The (free!) instructions are excellent, very detailed. This unisex hat is knit on the wrong side, so that the waffle effect can be achieved with knit rounds between the rib rounds instead of purl rounds. Quick, easy, and fun to knit!

Big hat for a big head

My goal in knitting this watch cap was to end up with a hat long enough to fold up a lot (if that makes any sense). I wanted the brim to look fat and to cover my ears and keep them warm. I got that, and more.

Pattern: Watch Cap, by Judith Durant
Yarn: my homespun, from Butterball
Needles: US8 and US7
Modifications: Knit first 3" with US8, switched to US7 for the rest; deeper than called for

The hat stretched out a bit from the blocking, so now it is too deep. I can barely keep it above my eyes. So I may remove an inch or so from the crown, sometime.

Procrastination hat

I have several large knitting projects to wrap up, so of course I started something new, something fun, something quick. Think of it as a palate cleanser.

Pattern: Great Horned Hooter, by Valerie Johnson
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, in 893 'Ruby' and in 871 'White'
Needles: US6 for ribbing, US7 for rest
Modifications: Used worsted instead of DK yarn, consequently upped the needle size, used two needle sizes, added a half inch of depth

My Fair Isle leaves a lot to be desired, but I do enjoy watching the image emerge.

I get a hat too

I thought I was done knitting hats, but I guess I had at least one more left in me, for me.

Pattern: Watch Cap by Judith Durant
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, colorway 901 'Cotton Candy'
Needles: US7
Modifications: Increased depth by 1"

This pattern is about as simple as can be and produces a nice stretchy hat that fits just about any adult. I made this one deeper because I like to turn up the bottom while still covering my ears.

When you SSK, do you slip knitwise or purlwise? I do the former, but wonder if the latter would be better. Comments?

So maybe I am done with hats... for now. The fact that the weather forecast calls for 60 degree temps tomorrow definitely discourages knitting almost anything in wool. Baa!

Only one day until xmas

This hat has been done since Monday as well. I started with one pattern in mind, then began experimenting: knit from the bottom up instead of top down, provisional cast on, added Fair Isle, knit ear flaps like short row sock toes, etc. I'm amazed it's finished AND I am pleased with the result (although, like some of my other Fair Isle hats, this one is a bit snug).

Pattern: Based on Amelia E., by Amy Miller
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, colorways 816 (Gray), 854 (Navy), 253 (Desert Sun)
Needles: US7
Modifications: A LOT!

Amelia E. is knit top down, but I didn't like trying to knit 8 cast-on stitches in the round. I didn't want to pick up stitches for the ear flaps, though, so I provisionally cast on 100 stitches. Then I embellished the plain stockinette with Fair Isle designs. At the crown, I decreased four stitches evenly, then started each section with a k1, ssk and ended each section with a k2tog, with a round of plain knit between decrease rounds.

Back at the lower edge, I picked up and purled a round so I could hem the bottom. And then I get confused. Somehow I ended up with a hem (good) while maintaining 26 or so stitches for each ear flap (also good, but I had to change the purl stitches to knit to eliminate an unsightly ridge). I tried knitting the ear flaps like sock toes, but there were major gaps between the fronts and backs of each one. So I reknit them, like short row sock toes, with the tip being 4 stitches wide. Then I sewed down the hem.

Instead of my usual i-cord tassels, I braided like I braided 4-strand lanyards at summer camp: wrap rightmost strand under two and over one, wrap leftmost strand under two and over one, repeat ad infinitum (or 12", whichever comes first). Each "strand" was actually two strands of yarn, with half in gray, a quarter in navy, the rest in orange.

I knit this hat before discovering this KnitPicks tutorial. Some of the floats are a bit longish. Since the yarn is superwash, no felting is going to help anchor them. Hope the recipient treats this hat gently.

And now I am DONE with xmas knitting!

Only two days until xmas

This hat has actually been done for a while, except for the pompom, which I added last Monday. And then my laptop went to Windows 10 update hell FOR DAYS. I was on the verge of taking the damn thing to Best Buy and reverting to Windows 7 when something resurrected it. I wish one of those so-called Microsoft techs (IT'S A SCAM, PEOPLE!) would call me now so I could give them an earful, just for fun.

Pattern: Based on Little Rabbits Hat, by Michael Storey, published in Easy Fair Isle Knitting (currently no Ravelry link)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, in colorways 901 (Cotton Candy) and 871 (White)
Needles: US6 (for ribbing) and US7
Modifications: Knit in the round (who knits Fair Isle flat?!?), substituted cat motif (from same book) for rabbit

The pattern calls for DK yarn, but since I used worsted, I cast on 84 stitches. BUT it is still too snug, as demonstrated by the photo below - the cats are all stretched out. Someday I will knit Fair Isle hats that fit.

My countdown to xmas may seem off to you, but my family celebrated on xmas eve (a Danish custom, I believe), so to me, xmas is on the 24th.

Only 12 days til xmas

I made a rookie mistake with this pattern: substituted worsted weight yarn for the DK called for by the pattern. But there was a reason behind my goof-up. I had been working on other Fair Isle hats and they were turning out too snug, so OF COURSE casting on 136 stitches did not raise any red flags.

Pattern: Plaid and Diamond Fair Isle Beanie, by Martin Storey
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, in colorways 854 (navy), 816 (gray), 253 (desert sun)
Needles: US7
Modifications: used worsted weight yarn instead of DK; knit in the round instead of flat

After blocking, the hat became YUUUGE. Not wanting to waste an otherwise perfectly good hat, I resoaked it and threw it in the dryer with the rest of my laundry. It is still a bit loose, but bound to fit somebody with a big head.

I haven't done much colorwork, and due to the fit problem I was experiencing, I turned to this tutorial on KnitPicks. Not only does their technique anchor floats, it evens out the knitting. I highly recommend it.

Only 13 days until xmas

This version of this pattern is actually the first one I started and was somewhat experimental, so it is for me and my hunting season hiking. I added a white crocheted border, to soften the orange, but didn't like it. I don't look good in hats to begin with, and the front flap was doing me no favors, so I removed that as well. As knit, the hat is a bit too deep for my head, so someday I may rip back the i-cord strings and flaps and about an inch of hat. Someday. Maybe.

Pattern: Amelia E. by Amy Miller
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, in colorway 1952 'Blaze'
Needles: US7
Modifications: removed the front flap; i-cord strings

Trying to start it from the top down using metal DPNs was IMPOSSIBLE. The needles kept slipping out of the initial eight stitches. Consequently, the crown looks a bit wonky. I broke down and purchased some bamboo DPNs, so I wouldn't have this problem going forward.

Only 14 days until xmas

Another "hunter orange" hat, this one for my granddaughter. I decided to add some Fair Isle, just for fun, but my floats must be too short, as the result is kind of smallish. I resoaked it and tried stretching it on a styrofoam head form, which helped but also stretched out the hearts.

Pattern: Amelia E., by Amy Miller
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, colorways 1952 'Blaze' and 871 'White'
Needles: US7
Modifications: Fair Isle designs, i-cord instead of twisted cord, added pompoms, skipped the front flap.

This hat is knit from the top down, which made the hearts look kind of odd because the V's of the stockinette are upside down in the design. My Fair Isle experience is rudimentary at best, and it shows. But I do like doing it - much less boring than plain old knit, knit, knit.

Granddaughter's favorite color is pink, but she told me the other day that she is trying to not like pink so much. Otherwise, I doubt she would have accepted this hat. She did comment on the strings - too long, in her humble opinion.