Cast On: SSK Tweed Hat

The SSK retreat has this cool benefit that for a small donation or tip, they will wind yarn for you with some fancy equipment. I had a skein of what I thought was worsted in my knitting bag and I put into be wound.

When I got it back, I realized it was in fact NOT worsted and actually a sport weight from Red Door Fibers that I picked up from KITH KC 2024. I decided to roll with it. But that meant stopping and doing some calculations to adjust stitch count and needle size for this weight of yarn.

After some maths, I landed on 112 stitches on US 5s. Still thinking a stockinette folded brim followed by a vanilla beanie style. This hat is going decidedly slower with the smaller yarn and more stitches. I think this will migrate to being my work backpack knitting and therefore a slow and stead progress kind of project?

I have another skein of sport wound up in cake that needs knit up. So if this works, I will get that skein into my project queue.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Medusa Hat

I decided to dust off my tennis shoes and explore downtown Nashville while at SSK. I walked around the campus of Vanderbuilt and explored Music Row.

I ended up on a rooftop bar with my newest cast on and an ice cold beer. An adorable young musician was playing acoustic guitar covers and some of his originals. I sat for an hour or so and enjoyed my beverage and got my new project started.

This is my last skein of Malabrigo from my Yarn Barn trip and I am making yet another Rachelle recipe hat. This is 88 stitches on US 8s. This version will have a folded stockinette brim. This color is called Medusa so I am super originally calling this my Medusa Hat.

Love the memories that will be attached to this one!

Finished English Rose in Another Class

I finished my English Rose hat in my third and final class for SSK. This class was Bums and Bellies again by Kim McBrien Evans.

I had made some progress in sit and knit groups but the decreases were finished in the class. This had landed in that 75 gram weight so I used 3/4 of the skein. I did notice a unique feature of this skein was a line of dark pink that circled the hat in a spiral. I am now at hat seven so I am close to my gift goal.

The class was very good. I was able to get help with some tricky measurements and get some tips on how to change my sweaters to fit my silhouette. It will require a lot of math on my part and we didn’t get into that depth in the class. So there is homework I need to do but my brain was too full of information get that done in the moment.

Happy Knitting!!

English Rose In Class

On day two of SSK, I took a morning class on understanding sleeves and sleeve fit from Kim McBrien Evans of Indigo Dragonfly fame.

I had a hat in my bag and being the south….a super crispy cold coca cola. In preparation for the conference, I pulled another skein of malabrigo from my purchase last month and got another stockinette hat on the needles. This one is going to be called the English Rose hat as that is what the colorway is called.

I managed to get the brim finished, turned and started on the hat by the time class was done. I learned a ton about all kinds of sleeves and came out with some measurements and tweaks that I need for my next sweater.

More SSK goodness tomorrow!

FO Friday: Sunflower Hat

The Sunflower Hat is DONE!

Pattern: My own 88 sts “recipe” for a basic knit beanie with folded brim

Needles: US 8s

Yarn: Malabrigo Rios in the Hojas colorway

I used 80 grams of the skein and therefore eyeballed myself into using 5 more grams than the last hat. I really should never trust my eyes, lol. In the light of day you can really see the variation in this Malabrigo. I think it adds character!

Now back to the hat knitting and next week I will share some of my favorite parts of the SSK Retreat!

Sunflower Decreases

I held out as long as I can and the Sunflower Beanie has reached its decrease section.

Malabrigo Rios has a reputation for flashing and pooling. This skein definitely held that up. Last night was not great lighting but you can see the large amount of variation that exists in the fabric. I’m not mad at it, it adds character!

I just really enjoy how soft this yarn feels and warm the finished gauge feels. This is hat #5 so I am still making progress to my year end goals. Happy Knitting!!

Sonic And Sunflowers

It’s busy season at work, a stomach bug has hit our house and summer time kid activities are in full swing. This means LOTS of hydration and windshield time. PB and I ran some errands and then pick up Sonic as a treat. It was happy hour, therefore SUPER busy so I got some stitches in on my Sunflower Beanie.

The beanie brim is done. I really like how fast the folded stockinette brim works up. I am consciously trying to make this hat taller/slouchier. And for the record I got a Route 44 ice water with extra ice (because it’s the good ice) and then a kids lime slush.

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Sunflower Hay

Following my Copperhead Hat finish I cast on another beanie. This time in Malabrigo Rios in the Hojas colorway.

Not to be stuck in a rut, but this is another 88 stitch beanie on US 8s. I am going back to my stockinette folded brim. This yarn is variegated and is flashing/pooling a little bit so I am intrigued to see how this comes out.

Bonus point, this hat really blended with the sunflowers in my friends yard. So I am thusly calling this my Sunflower Hat from now on. Summer demand it!

Happy Knitting!!

FO: Copperhead Hat

After many doggo snuggles, I negotiated a truce with Duke and he let me finish my Copperhead Hat.

Pattern: My own 88 stitch beanie “recipe” with a 2×2 ribbed rolled brim

Needles: US 8s

Yarn: TreasureGoddess Warmth Worsted in Copper Cove

I did a little better working to make this hat taller as I used 81 grams of yarn total in this hat. so right at the 175 yards of yarn. And a decent sized balls to add to my leftovers. A few more hat leftovers and I can make some Frankenstein hats, lol.

So after my hat donation and all this knitting, I am four gift hats and I really need to get to 7. So three more hats it is! Happy Knitting!!

Copperhead Evening

Pretty proud of my progress on my Copperhead Hat. Duke, however, is not!

I have my DPNs installed and working star like decreases. Meanwhile, Duke would like another walk or more pets. Provided no more house disaster or new work deadlines I should have another finished hat this week.

Also, the kids arts corner is really starting to annoy me. I need to deep clean some time when they are not looking…..

Happy Knitting!!