Cast On: Copperhead

Starting the next hat now that my needles are empty from the second ponytail hat. I cam calling this one my Copperhead Hat because this yarn from TreasureGoddess is the deep bold copper color.

I was tempted for another stockinette brim but for this one I went back to 2×2 ribbing. I’m slower but I want some options for my gift hats. I plan to put them all in an open decorative basket and let everyone pick their color. Still holding strong my 88 stitch count as it seems to be my sweet spot given my gauge.

I am also working on another Jessica Flectcher novel. It’s fluffy murder mystery lit and its perfect. This one is set in a hospital and shocker, someone dies. I just need to find ways to multiple the hours so I can read AND knit.

Happy Knitting!!

FO Sunday: A Royal Hat

The germs hit our house post 4th and I was up all of Friday night and into Saturday morning with a 6 yo and watching Bluey. So I decided to power through my Royal Hat.

This was all stockinette for hours. So I managed to finish the brim and the main body of the hat while not sleeping. I was too bleary however to attempt the decreases. So I waited until some sleep on Saturday night to work those with coffee this morning. This hat is going into a different gift pile. There is a contest at my new job and I offered up this to the prize basket as it matches our organization main color theme. I hope it fits its new owner!

Pattern: My own vanilla beanie with a rolled brim (Rav link)

Yarn: Malabrigo Rios in Matisse Blue

Needles: US 8s

I was bang on size with all my other hats based on yarn usage. I used 74 grams or 3/4 of the skein so thats roughly 155 yards of yarn. It has nice stretch and the blue is just the perfect blue. And now I need to start my next one! I still have 3-ish hats to go for my volleyball team plan.

Happy Knitting!!

Finished Pony Tail Hat

The summer germs have been popping up in the house, but I still managed to finish my Other Ponytail Hat for my friend.

Pattern: My own made up pattern for a ponytail hat. I wrote some basic instructions on my Rav page located here.

Yarn: Treasure Goddess Warmth Worsted in Ghost Ship color

Needles: US 8s

In the end, I am happier with this hat as it feels more relaxed and substantial for warmth. I do plan on giving both hats to my friend for her to use and test. This second version used 82 grams of the 100 gram skein so not too shabby. I am ending up with a lot of worsted scraps so I might have some worsted Frankenstein hats coming….

Happy Knitting!!

Cast On: A Royal Hat

With finishing the Burgundy Hat, I am on to the next color in a DEEP royal blue hat.

These are still on the theme of making hats for my Volleyball friends for our holiday meet up. And in the broken record theme, this is a 88 stitch basic beanie on US 8s. Another skein of Malabrigo Rios I picked up at my LYS earlier this year.

This version will have the stockinette folded brim and then vanilla body. I’ve just got the hat cast on and working. I am trying to also work through my backlog of podcasts so my earbuds are following me around. Such is mom life!

Happy Knitting!!

Burgundy Decreases

The Better in Burgundy hat has reached the decrease stage.

When I am working my hat “recipe” I tend to use a star shaped decrease. For instance with 88 stitches I work in 10 stitch sections and the last one leaves me with 8 when I reach BOR. I then alternate stockinette rounds with decrease rounds until I get down to a handful stitches on the needles and then I decrease every row rapidly to finish.

It’s not perfect but it works for me and muggles don’t notice it’s not 100% symmetrical. It also helps that it require very little brain cells.

What is your favorite hat decrease?

FO Friday: Ponytail Hat

The Ponytail Hat is done!!

Pattern: My own made hat (88 stitch count)

Yarn: TreasureGoddess Yarn Treasured Warmth Worsted in Gunpowder

Needles: US 8s

I ended up with 4 inches of ribbing to start and then 6 inches of hat body and finished with 1.5 inches of ponytail opening ribbing. I didn’t know how high or what part of her head that her ponytail would sit so I decided to leave an opening that flexible and could support a messy bun.

I did decrease down from the 88 stitches in the body to 72 for the ribbing and then took out a final 16 stiches in the second to last row to shrink down that opening. I think the hat fits and works quite well. I should have done more ribbing as I don’t think its long enough to fold and still accommodate any decent size of ponytail. Though not bad for my first try!

Happy Knitting!!

Surprise Finish: Nickie’s Hipster Beanie

Today I bring you a surprise FO! This is a beanie that I cranked out in a single day of remote trainings. It went so fast that I didn’t even bother with photos until it was done, lol.

Pattern: My own 88 stitch beanie “recipe”

Yarn: Potion Yarns Bombshell Worsted in Hipster colorway

Needles: US 8s

I think this hat will go to the same friend who is getting the Ponytail hat. I think she should have an option for a closed top when she isn’t worried about hat hair at work. This hat used 75% of the total skein which is roughly 166 yards. So it’s decent sized.

This yarn was nice to work with and I like how the pops of color stick out from the grey neutral of the main color. OH….and I finished the ponytail hat but I will show you all that tomorrow. I can’t quit hatting…..

Happy Knitting!!

Ponytail Hat Progress

The Ponytail hat is progressing nicely.

I decided on 4 inches of ribbing before starting the main body. The stockinette DEFINITELY flys faster than the ribbing. I still have to throw my ribbing where I can flick my stockinette. So I’m getting there but I just need more practice.

Happy Knitting!!

Well, It’s A Hat

Well, the Teal Dreams hat is done and off the needles.

Pattern: My own 96 stitch “basic” beanie with folded stockinette brim

Needles: US 8s

Yarn: Lilliput Yarn Woof Worsted in the Tucker colorway

And now I present to you the glitch. When I was knitting together the folded brim, I developed a little pucker. My last few brims have been ribbed and easy to keep the edges aligned. I guess that is a little harder to keep track of in stockinette and I had more live stitches than cast on. Sigh

I didn’t notice this until I was three inches into the body of the hat. And I made the executive decision to just keep going. The hat will still stay on a head and keep it warm. It’s just not up to my exacting standards. This hat will live in the kid bin for school/sledding/etc.

I am going to start my next had to clear my palette of this oops! Happy Knitting!!

Worsted Haul

The Hat Mojo is going strong into 2024. And I have worked up almost every single worsted weight skein that is not handspun in my stash. Therefore, I got more. This time from Treasure Goddess Yarn, which is local (ish) to me.

My hat stash over-floweth here at Casa Rachelle so these hats will definitely be donated or gifted. So I went with some basic and easy to coordinate colors. I totally understand my color sense doesn’t always jive with other peoples.

The tonal black skein on the right is going to be a pony tail hat for a coworker friend. In 2023 my proverbial tanks were so low that trying to work on “duty bound” knitting really had me avoiding it. And towards the end of the year I just worked on project that were easy and gave me joy. I was much happier and more engaged. So that’s the plan for 2024.

No lists, no duty…..just knitting joy. Even if it’s 1,000 basic beanies 🙂

Happy Knitting!!