A New Hat for Mama

Following my frantic, less-than-relaxing, holiday knitting race to the finish...It was high time I cast on an easy peasy project just for me.  I have knit myself exactly one hat in all my years of knitting.  Who really needs more than one hat anyway?  The one I have worn every winter for the past several years is Emilee Mooney's Foliage Hat - a free pattern off Knitty.  This hat was my first lace project.  So, it holds a special place in my heart.  It was knit out of some of the softest yarn around, Misti Alpaca Chunky.  

Several months ago, I picked up a copy of Classic Elite Quick Knits from the library.  My library has a very limited selection of mostly outdated knitting books (what's up with that?).  So, this book was a lucky find.  There were several patterns that caught my eye.  Especially the Lattice Ribbed Hat by Sharon Brown.  I love that it was knit in bulky yarn and had just enough detail to keep things interesting.  While being simple enough to knit while visiting with other mom's during my son's karate class.  I finished the hat in two days (a couple of hours of knitting each day).  Yeah!  I love projects like that.  Talk about instant gratification!  I chose Luna Grey's Spectra yarn in the colorway Calm.  It's the first Peruvian Highland Wool I have found that doesn't itch.  Woo Hoo!  I would love to knit my husband a sweater out of this yarn but can't seem to find a good, raglan-style, top-down pattern.  I am 100% committed to the seamless sweater thing.  I am embarrassed to admit how many projects I have that are totally finished being knit.  But, await seaming.  I mean...some of them have been in my work-in-progress bag for years!  Long enough for my kids to have long since outgrown them.  So sad.

My Ravelry Notes

It's Good to be Back!

My Ravelry Notes

It feels good to be back in the swing of things.  Our holiday break from school meant that not much was getting done in the way of yarn dyeing, blog posting, shop organizing, etc.  Yesterday was the boys' first day back to school.  I am not sure who was more excited about it, me or them.  Either way, it's nice to have a little time to catch up on things.

As the holidays are over and all friends and family have received their gifts, I figured it was safe to share this project.  It's the Birthday Cowl by pattern designer, Nova Seals (cool name, right?).  Knit for Ms. Joy, my 4 year old's beloved Pre-K teacher.  You know you've done well when the recipient cries upon opening their gift.

What a super fast, fun project.  The yarn is Luna Grey Fiber Arts Bellona, a single-ply, worsted weight, merino wool and silk.  This luxury yarn is light as air and arguably the softest yarn I have ever knit.  While not ideal for items that will get lots of abuse (kids sweaters, mittens, etc.), it sure makes an amazing cowl!

I will be dyeing up more of this gorgeous yarn this week.  Watch for it in the shop : )

Miss Molly's Duke Thorpe

My Ravelry Notes

My son's beloved second grade teacher, Molly, is a Duke alum and a huge fan of their Blue Devil's basketball team.  Their team colors are blue and white.  So, of course we had to dye up some Duke Blue yarn for her Christmas gift.  And, knit it into a rugged hat to keep her head warm on all of her adventures.  Molly is an avid hiker. She and her husband have hiked nearly all of Colorado's 53 Fourteeners (mountains with elevations at or above 14,000 feet).  So, I am confident that this hat will get lots of use.  

Molly is very sentimental.  So, I expect a few tears when she opens her gift.  I'm more than a little excited to see her reaction!  

Man of Many Knits

Early this morning, despite being feverish and having a bad head cold, my overachiever of a husband set out to shovel a light layer of snow from our driveway.  (I had to snap a photo of how cute he looked all bundled up in his handknits.)  That man sure is prompt when it comes to shoveling.  If it were up to me, the job would wait until after I have had my coffee, my breakfast, taken a shower, knit a few rows of whatever project I am working on, started a craft project with the boys and done just about whatever else I could think of.  At which point, quite honestly, I am nearly certain that the snow will have already melted off the driveway.  Eliminating the need to do any shoveling at all.  Brilliant, right?

Although we live in Colorado, we are in the high desert portion of the state.  Which means that we get very little snow.  The snow that does manage to make its way to our neck of the woods never sticks around long.  So, it's kind of a novelty!

The hat is the awesomely fast to knit, Man Hat, by Haven Leavitt...Knit in Spectra, in the colorway, Curry.  This hat is a new favorite and will surely be knit up in many more colors, as it's just such a great fitting, warm hat.  The broken ribbing makes for a really lofty hat with lots of little air pockets to hold in heat.  Kinda like a waffle knit shirt.  The scarf is just some crazy acrylic yarn I picked up years ago in the sale bin of a little knitting shop in Salt Lake City, UT.  

On the Needles - Chloe (Part 3)

I suppose I should call this post, "Off the Needles".  As, I am finally finished with the adorable Chloe sweater I am knitting as a gift for our dear friend's eighth birthday.  Her party is a week from tomorrow.  So, I am happy to say that there will be no last minute, up-til'-midnight, frantic knitting going on the night before the party.  Wow!  That's a first.  

This was a fun knit and such a departure from my usual "boy knits" in blue, gray and brown.  It even has ruffles.  Ruffles!!!  So fun.  

My Ravelry Notes

On the Needles - Chloe (Part 2)

Reya's little Chloe sweater is moving right along.  This is good, as her birthday is just a little over a week away.  I just have the ruffle at the bottom, a bit of sleeve knitting and a few buttons to sew on.  I tried it on my son, despite his outspoken protests, and it is so stinkin' cute!  

While it's not a difficult pattern, the stripes mean that I had to tote around three balls of yarn everywhere the project went.  I am a very mobile knitter.  My knitting must be able to travel between karate practice, doctor visits, playdates, and Knit Night at my local yarn shop.  Each and every time I went to take it from my knitting bag, the three skeins managed to somehow wind themselves into a big rat's nest.  I mean, how is that even possible?  I think the next striped project I knit will be a "home" only knitting project.

I can't wait to see her reaction when she unwraps her gift on her birthday.  I am hoping that it will be extra meaningful as she had a hand in designing the sweater.  So fun!!!

 My Ravelry Notes

Becky's Blush Baby Bliss

I just had to share Raveler, Knittingma's, super cute little sweater vest/dress she knit up (lickety split no less) in just one skein of Luna Grey Orion (Superwash Merino DK) in the colorway, Blush.  Becky is an amazingly accomplished knitter whose projects are truly awe inspiring.  Her photographs are always lovely and her models adorable!  

Thanks, Becky, for sharing your photos (and your daughter's cuteness)!