Tag Archives: toque

A Folded Brim

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The hat I’m calling the Basic Dude Beanie is flying off my needles this week. I am at yet another kid lesson this week. Such is our life now. But at least I am passed the folded brim!

I ended up with roughly 8 inches of stockinette that folded in half for a 4 inch brim. I am now working up the main body of the hat. Just tons of roundy round stockinette that requires zero brain space.

I will do rounded “typical” decreases for this one to make more of a traditional hat. I know this coworker’s wife and I am thinking about asking if he has any patches I can add to the brim for extra flair. But we will see what is possible before I commit.

Happy Knitting!!

Spa Day

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I took some time for myself away from work and away from family this week. I scheduled a cool spa soak followed by a massage and then dinner by myself.

My Basic Dude Beanie came along with me on the trip. I managed to knit above the water and keep the skein dry in my bag. I am really coming along with the brim!

For dinner I wandered down to a Ramen shop where I got dumplings in chicken based ramen and fried wontons. I couldn’t eat anywhere near the whole thing but It was GLORIOUS to enjoy a meal and not have to parent anyone. I just ate and read my latest book.

It’s nice to find time to remember who I am aside from my output! Happy Self Care!!

Cast On: Basic Dude Beanie

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Golf lessons continue into the cooler weather of fall. This led me to want to start another beanie. My Punch Bug Vanilla Beanie is at the brim decreases and not conducive to traveling.

I had a single skein of Ella Rae Classic wool from a mystery grab bag I purchased. It’s pretty toothy wool and just 200 yards of worsted. Made perfect sense to make a hat. This time I decided on a folded stockinette brim. I am hoping this type of construction can help me maximize the full skein. No science, just gut instinct and going to knit until I get close on yarn.

The last hat was a little snug on the husband so I went up to 96 stitches on US 8s instead of 88. This should make it a better fit for a dude. I think this hat will go to live with a coworker who often works out in the cold at all hours.

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Connections Beanie (Dark)

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My Connections Beanie (Dark) is off the needles, washed and blocked. It turned out not too shabby!

Pattern: Connections Beanie by Susan Lobos Garcia (Rav Link)

Yarn: The Shepherd’s Mill 2-ply sport in Light Yellow and Aqua

Needles: US 4 and 5

Mods: One accidental error in the colorwork chart that I consciously chose not to go back and fix.

The crown decreases went fairly well. I had a few tension problems around the centered decreases. But after all the trials around this hat I just wanted to be done. This dark version of the pattern is the smaller size so this hat technically fits me it is definitely better suited for PB or Jellybean.

I would knit this pattern again, but I think I need a break to get over my frustrations around this version. Totally on me as the knitter and not an issue of the pattern. Happy Friday and Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Connections Beanie (Dark)

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So as not to lose to steam, I got my second Connection Beanie on the needles right away. This time the dark version.

I managed to get the long tail cast on on the second try and get it joined in the round without twisting it on the first try. It’s just slow going with the designers choice in ribbing. It’s beautiful but it requires me to pay attention and I don’t have a lot of that right now. It’s all a mental game and I’m doing my best not to get stalled out.

Happy Knitting!!

FO Friday: Connections Beanie (Light)

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As predicted my Connections Beanie (Light) quite literally fell off my needles. I even managed to wash and dry the beanie to even out the stitches!

Pattern: Connections Beanie (Light) – Ravelry link

Yarn: The Shepherd’s Mill 3 ply Sport in yellow and blue

Needles: US 4 and 5s

Mods: none

The slip stitch colorwork was a dream and I finished in one night. The decreases caused me a little more grief. I ended up with more stiches than I was supposed to in one of the sections. In my true fashion, I just fudged some extra decreases and made it work. You literally cannot tell!

I have quite a bit of yarn leftover so my plan is to cast on the second version in the pattern, the dark version. I just have to hype myself up for the 20 rounds of special ribbing first…

Happy Friday and Happy Knitting!!

Can’t Put It Down

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My Connections Beanie is absolutely cruising along. I am working on reading the chart and not using the written directions. It is taking my brain a minute to click in but I’m getting there.

The main body of this hat is worked on a larger needle than the brim. I actually remembered to switch! I am also being careful to not pull the slipped stitches too hard to keep the overall tension the same.

I am finding that I don’t want to put this project down. ‘Just one more chart row’ has run through my mind many times. I have hopes that this hat will be done quickly….

Happy Knitting!!

At The Patterned Section!

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I have powered through all the 1×1 ribbing and the setup for the main body of the Connections Beanie!

I thought this would be my first time working colorwork….it’s not. I got out the chart and this is just slipped stiches so its more mosaic than anything. Oh well, it will still be pretty! I am working the larger of the Connections Beanie.

I am not super great at reading charts so I am very glad there are really good pattern photos so I can tell if I’m staying on track, lol. Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: Connections Beanie

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I have decided its time to dip my toe into colorwork. I have avoided it up until now for now good reason other than I wasn’t ready to learn. But I have two skeins of DK from The Shepherd’s Mill that have been calling to me to combine.

I have my pattern printed, needles pulled and I just need to wind the skeins up. The pattern comes with a light and dark version. I plan to cast on the light version first with the hopes that I could squeak out a dark version with the colors reversed? Might be a bold plan for my first colorwork project and expecting that much yardage management, lol.

Happy Knitting!!

FO Monday? GFOA Conference Hat

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Happy 4th of July to all my American friends. The kiddos and I have plans to set off a few fireworks and make a TON of s’mores later. But for now I have Jellybean helping me model my latest finished object, my GFOA Conference Hat!

Pattern: My own 80 stitch beanie with an improvised pony tail hole

Yarn: Urth Uneek Worsted

Needles: US 8s

I didn’t use up the full skein. This hat only used 156 yards or just about 70% of the skein. So I have a pretty decent chunk leftover of this skein. Too much to throw away but not enough to make a hole project.

Now, Jellybean doesn’t exactly have a pony tail to model so you will have to use your imagination. But It’s a nice fit and I think this will be a keeper for our winter hat bin. The folded brim is keenly warm and the stripes make me happy.

Now I’m off to relax and celebrate. Happy Knitting!!