how to properly knit a ski hat

September 24, 2012 by 7 Comments

I’ve had a bit of success with the ski bonnet!  About time, too — this is attempt number 4.  I figured out how I needed to knit the band.  First, I knitted the first few rows on double points, because it was easier for me to keep things from getting twisted that way than it was with the magic loop method:

I’m liking the magic loop method much better now.  It feels less like I’m wrestling with a large wooden spider and it’s going quicker.  I’ve gotten 24 rows done so far, and you can begin to see how the pattern will look:

The yarn looks extra pink here. The first picture is more accurate color-wise.

So far, no mistakes (that I know of).  I’m crossing my fingers for continued success, because I wouldn’t know how to go back to a previous row with this pattern of complicated cables and twists if I did mess up.  Well, it’s complicated to me, at least.  But hey, I wanted a challenge, right?

I am actually worried that the band is too narrow — I believe it should be about 4 inches wide and mine is about 3.  Maybe once it’s blocked?  PLEASE don’t tell me that  I should start over and go up a needle size.  Well, actually, do tell me if I should, but don’t expect me to be happy.  What do you think?  I don’t want to redo it, but I do want it to be perfect!

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frustration wins this round

September 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

While I’m happy with how my blogs are looking after some changes, I’m frustrated with the ski bonnet.  Last post I mentioned that I ripped out my first attempt (which was only about 13 rows but actually took a long time.  Well, here’s my second attempt, using scrap yarn so that I could get the pattern down:

I messed up the twists in the bottom right corner but it got better.

As you can see, I chose to use my double points instead of the circular needle.  Crazy as it seems, it feels less cumbersome to me (especially when starting off).  So after achieving satisfaction with the sample, I brought out the magenta yarn again and tried for the real thing.  Again I got to about row 13 and realized I made a mistake in row 5, and I had no idea how to go about fixing it.  So I’ve done rows 1-13 three times now, none of which have been satisfactory.  I considered just keeping going, but I want this hat to be perfect, so I frogged it again.

Maybe 4th time’s the charm.  I’m going to try to be less distracted by other things while I’m knitting this time so I can follow the chart properly.  No more Japanese anime with subtitles!  Maybe some good ol’ Harry Potter audiobooks.

Wish me luck, and thanks for stopping by!  Hopefully I’ll have a photo worthy sample soon.

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ski bonnet: begin!

September 22, 2012 by 7 Comments

Remember that awesome ski bonnet that I wanted to make?  Well, I’m gonna make it!

I’ll be using 3 skeins of Berroco Vintage in their Dewberry shade, which I had to purchase today, even though I said I couldn’t afford yarn this month.  I swear, this yarn was the cheapest yarn in the store that still felt soft.  I’m gonna just say this is my birthday present to myself.

So I started the pattern, and I was immediately struggling.  I know how to do the magic loop method but I’m still not good at keeping the breaks between the sides tight and even, so that was all over the place.  Maybe I should try it on double points, which I’m more used to, so I don’t have those “wings?”  In row 1 I immediately had to learn two new things, as well: the Left Twist and the Right Twist.  I think I’m doing them right.  (Check out those links for video tutorials on YouTube.)

In the end, my first 6 rows looked so shabby that I frogged it.  I think I’m going to practice with some spare yarn to get the hang of the pattern first before trying it again with my nice magenta yarn.  Anybody have any advice for me?

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unspeakably horrible

September 21, 2012 by 14 Comments

I’m out of yarn.  There is nothing usable left in my stash of leftovers anymore.  It’s very upsetting.  Look at this:

I have those, but not enough of any of them to make anything.  OK, I could probably make a simple hat out of that bright blue one, but that’s no fun — I have tons of hats and I’m not making any for Christmas presents this year.  I don’t think the other ones could even make a hat.  I’d make a scrap something, but they’re all different brands and weights and fibers, so that’s no good.  Here’s my second drawer:

Again here, I could make a couple of hats with those two fun textured ones, but that’s no fun.  The sock yarn in the corner is unappealing to me — I don’t know why I bought it in the first place.  The gray stuff is usable, but I don’t know what to make with just two skeins.  I’m considering unraveling this:

That thing is older than this blog.  I meant it to be a wrap, but I couldn’t afford the yarn to finish it up.  I hesitate a bit to unravel that one because the yarn got kinda moldy once, being stored in a damp place.  I washed it, of course, but I wonder if washing will make it hard to unravel.  This next thing is the same (although without the mold and wash):

I think that one was going to be a blanket, but it’s so old I don’t even remember.  Both of those projects are made with soft worsted cotton.

So should I unravel those last 2 projects?  Do you think either of them would make something like this shawl?  I think it would make this.  Maybe I could combine them and make another Christmas-y dog sweater for my sweet puppy (my first attempt got immediately mangled in play due to the loose stitching).

OK so maybe I do have some yarn… that gray stuff and those two projects.  *sigh*  I just don’t know what to make with any of it.  I guess I can go ahead and unravel those things and assess my yarn quantities then.  I think I need a ball winder…

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finished: Luna scarf

September 20, 2012 by 9 Comments

In less than 24 hours, this scarf was finished.  Again, here’s the pattern.  I used an E hook instead of a G because all I had was some leftover yarn, and it was thinner than what was called for.  It matches my knitted Hermione hat though, so that’s awesome.  My changes did result in it being a tad short, but it’s still totally cute and wearable.

So that’s it!  An easy one-day project that turned out very pretty (and just like the scarf from the movie).

Thanks for stopping by!  Sorry for barraging you with multiple posts all of a sudden — I just like to post them as soon as the project is done. 🙂

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