Car Line Knitting: Hat Adventures

Now that my Knit Socks are finished I needed different car line knitting. So the Hurricane Hat for Jellybean became just the thing. (And yes I know my check light is on. It’s for low tire pressure and they are just going to have to wait there turn in my to do list…it’s 2020 and I can only handle so many dumpster fires).

I’m a little bit nervous about this hat. The yarn has a lot of tooth to it and it is not next to skin soft in my opinion. Jellybean really likes the swirls in the purls but I have a feeling this won’t get much wear. I may have to break out my Tuft wool wash that has lanolin to block this to see if I can add some softness.

I’m holding DK weight yarn double so the project is really flying! I might even have a FO this week depending on how long the car lines are this week.

Happy Knitting!

Cast On: Hurricane Hat

Jellybean was side eyeing PB’s recently finished sweater and made the comment that I hadn’t made him anything in awhile. So we sat and talked about what did he think he wanted? He muddled it for a bit and decided a hat. So we went to my stash and I showed him some yarns to pick from. He ended up picking my West Yorkshire Spinners Aire Valley DK.

And then he promptly went off to play. I did make him come back and feel the yarn to make sure it was soft enough. This yarn has a little tooth to it and it’s definitely not merino soft. He still said yes this is what he wanted. So I took off to Ravelry and found an easy but yet cute hat.

I chose to hold this yarn double to get aran weight and knit the Hurricane Hat by Andrea Guldin (ravelry link). I’ve obviously made it super far into the ribbing, lol. But Jellybean seems delighted just to see have started. Eventually this hat will have a purl bump that spirals up the body of the hat ending nicely in the decrease. Or it will if I can correctly follow the pattern!

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Big Comfy Chunky Hat

Tah dah!! I have a finished super speedy bulky knit hat. I completed my Big Comfy Chunky Hat in own hand dyed Feast yarn by Nomad Yarns.

Pattern: Big Comfy Chunky Hat by Erica Kempf Broughton

Yarn: Feast by Nomad Yarn in the color Spice Box

Needles: US 11s

Mods: I added some extra rows to the crown decreases to use up the whole skein.

This hat turns out to be reversible because it is essentially all ribbed stitch. Which I think is kind of a sweet design feature. I very carefully wove in the ends so I could fully turn this both ways.

This hat really worked up quickly as promised. I think I finished in two sittings over two days. So maybe roughly 3 hours? I had some tension issues with the crown as I chose to magic loop it instead of getting off my rear to find double pointed needles. But in the finished hat it does not show.

It is a little small for my noggin (which is larger than most) but Jellybean has proclaimed it to be perfect for his head. So this will be one of the hats for our winter hat box by the front door. I need to sew a name tag into it before it leaves the house…you just in case the six year old set it down somewhere, lol.

Happy Knitting and Happy Halloween Eve!!

Zoom Went The Hat

This is one sitting’s worth of knitting on my Big Comfy Chunky Hat. I managed to find US11 needles and a decent length enough cord to knit this hat in the round. So I took off and got to knitting last night.

I blasted through the brim ribbing and I’m into the main hat body ribbing. It is really nice intuitive knit that is great for TV watching. I’m also loving how the colors are stacking up with this hand dyed yarn at this gauge. It is very fall appropriate.

I really think that if I buckle down that I can finish this hat in one more sitting. The hubby is in charge of bedtime tonight so I’m hoping to get some dedicated time tonight. But 2020 seems to laugh at my plans this year. Though this is a fairly short term goal so I’m hoping I can squeeze through, lol.

Happy Knitting!!

A Quick Hat

I’m already digging into my retreat yarn I recently procured. Kansas saw its first snowfall of the year just yesterday. It was more or less “snowy” depending on how far west you were but flakes fell nonetheless. It really got me thinking about hat and glove weater.

I pulled the skein of Feast yarn from Nomad Yarns. The best analog I can give is this feels and has roughly the same put up as Malabrigo Rasta. This colorway is called Spice Box and is autumn in its full glory.

I plan to cast this on and finish this week at least I hope too, fingers crossed. I chose a pattern from the same designer that dyed the yarn. It is the Big Chunky Comfy Hat by Erica Kempf Broughton. I was promised this was a three to four hour project at most. It’s a free pattern on Ravelry with good reviews and over 2,200 projects completed.

Stay tuned for a finished hat! Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Prism Break Hat

I got fed up and no shocker, I decided to finish my Prism Break Hat. I didn’t get to the pattern recommended length but I got to “good enough” and put the decreases in. I was ready to have a finished object, lol.

Pattern: Sockhead Slouch by Kelly McClure

Yarn: Wichita Woolery 100% Merino 4-ply in Prism Break Colorway

Needles: US 2s and US 3s

Mods: I got bored and didn’t knit to the full “traditional” slouch length and just finished the darn thing.

I am really pleased with how the colors pooled on this project. I got a really cool micro-stripe effect with the gauge I settled on. And the hat fits pretty nicely as well!

I only used about 60% of the skein of yarn. So I have plenty of yarn for my memory blanket and maybe even a contrast color for a second project? I have made like five of these hats and I have a full hat drawer but I can’t quit this pattern. It’s so soothing when my brain needs some auto pilot.

Bonus….I get a cool hat when I’m done!

Topping Off My Prism Break

I have a conundrum….I have a yarn I adore and a project I am bored with.

My Prism Break hat is really awesome. And it has got me through some really touch times during COVID19 and crazy work environment. But I’m honestly ready for the project to be done. I think I’m far enough that I can add decreases and still end up with a decent hat. Just maybe not as slouchy as the designer intended.

Do I power through or finish the damn thing? Pretty sure I’m going to finish the thing, lol

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Fluffy Sockhead Slouch

My Fluffy Sockhead slouch is done just in time for the temperatures to hit 70 degrees here in Kansas. Oh well, it’s super soft and a nice treat to tuck into my cedar chest!

Pattern: (Heavily Modified) Sockhead Slouch by Kelly McClure

Yarn: Apothefaery Fabrications Halo Brushed Suri and Middle of the Road Sock, held together

Needles: US 3 and US4

Mods: I used the basic stitch counts and decrease instructions, but otherwise I did my own thing with length of brim and length of slouch

I may have gone overboard after my too tight Everyday (Not So) Slouchy Beanie. This one is WAAY big on my head. It is a roomy fit for sure. It still is a functional and VERY warm hat. But I might have over corrected and gone too big. Nevertheless, I’m not ripping it out as I like the color blocking and it feels to good to empty a pair of needles.

This hat is for sure destined for the gift bin as the perfect head will present itself in the future. Maybe my next hat will be Goldilocks and fit JUST right?

Happy Knitting!!

Ready For The Fluffy Decreases

I have added the third and last color block in my Fluffy Sockhead Slouch hat and I’m ready to start the crown decreases! It really didn’t t take that long to finish the main portion of this hat after getting the latest color of suri alpaca yarn added. There is a big difference in color but I really like the contrast.

I’m loosely following the Sockhead Slouch pattern by Kelly McClure. I am not doing the full prescribed length of the pattern. I have been trying this hat on and I am shooting for a small amount of slouch instead of the prescribed extra slouch. The fabric is super super soft and this has been really zen knitting wise. The decreases really shouldn’t take that long and I’m excited to get another FO under my belt during this time of self isolation.

I wish you love, light and a big hug from my little corner of the world! Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Fluffy Sockhead Slouch

After last week’s less than spectacular execution of the Everyday Slouchy Beanie I decided to get right back on the horse. I had more than half the sock yarn plus the coordinating mini. but I have less than half of the suri alpaca laceweight. So I’m taking a gamble on another hat…

I used the coordinating (and darker) mini and cast on the brim. I upped my stitch count and left the needles the same so as to avoid my previous situation. I worked the brim for as long as I thought looked good and then added the main yarn for the body of hat. I think it’s almost fade mixed color block kind of strategy.

This is a very stretchy hat at this gauge and stitch count. So there’s no way this hat will be too small, in fact it might almost to big! D’oh!! But I have a coworker who might need a pandemic pick me up and she has glorious natural big hair that a large hat would be well suited for.

I am starting to play yarn chicken with the suri alpaca and I’m not sure I’ll be able to finish the hat. But I think I may use some of my other suri/silk yarn in my stash to continue the hat in a third fade color at the top. I might marinate on this one for a day or two.

Happy Knitting!!