For my birthday Effin Guy gifted me a bunch of yarn (he’s just awesome in that way) and last week as I procraftinated, I finally worked up the pattern to go along with the two skeins of KnitCol Trends for a Hat/Cowl combo and it’s a pretty cool hat.
First, let’s talk about procraftination:
I don’t know why I let myself procraftinate. I will be chugging along, working up a yarn thing and making decent progress when suddenly BOOM! I get stuck and frustrated and avoid doing the thing I was working on. This week a cowl (sorry Kelly!) and Pop’s mittens fell prey to my procraftination. I have to frog both. The cowl has some wonky things going on with it and I am just not liking how it looks. Pop’s mittens…the Issac Mizrahi yarn we picked out for it is way too fuzzy and I don’t like the way the first mitten looks. The idea of frogging both and beginning again was just overwhelming so I pulled out the KnitCol Trends and the pattern and casted on.
Thoughts about this pattern:
- The “Sockhead” is called that because it’s made with sock yarn (duh!). It works up quickly and the KnitCol Trends is a self stripping yarn which gives your finished project a neat, clean look.
- Don’t be troubled by the amount of stitches called for to be casted on.
I had to cast on over 100 stitches and when I sat back and thought about it, that was why I waited almost two months to use the yarn! But I kept losing count as I cast on, kept running out of yarn (I do a long tail cast on) and almost gave up a few times. Don’t give up! Once I finally got it together, it went pretty smoothly.
- Use the suggested needle size!
Me, being me, was too inpatient to look for the suggested size 7 and used the size 9 circular that I had at the ready. Big mistake! My knitting tension is way tighter than my crochet tension and my hat came out too big (insert sad trombone). It is lovely as a cowl but is just a bit awkward as a hat. - Take care not to turn your work as you work the ribbing.
I wasn’t paying attentions as I worked the ribbing and turned my work. One part of my hat was all knits and no purls.
- Stitch with love.
As I stitched, I was feeling a little emotional about the Mike Brown verdict and needed something to help quiet my mind.
With each stitch I would whisper something positive and my mistakes were not so important and I was able to get this hat done in a few days.
New technique learned
I made an “I-cord” using this tutorial from Stitch Diva. I like it a bit more than using a chain as a string, to tie. it was a little more sturdier and I just liked the look.
The final look:
Please excuse the blurry pics.
Get it yourself!
Head on over to Finely A Knitting Party for KnitCol Trends and the pattern. They are closed Monday but it’s worth the trip.
On the hooks this week:
Kelly’s cowl using a pattern from The Velvet Acorn (if I ever win the lottery, I am buying ALL of the patterns from The Velvet Acorn. They are just so delicious!).
Pop’s hat. I may scrap Issac and use some worsted weight I have been hoarding, er saving. I want to try out The Ella hat Crochet Pattern and think Pop would be a fan of poms!
What’s on your hooks and needles? Share!
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