It’s just knit in the round on with big needles.  After all this time, I don’t remember what size needles I used.  I think maybe 15, I do remember I used the whole skein.

I’m sure it will feel more like winter soon enough, and when it does, I’ll be ready with this new cowl.

It’s the end of May.

Tomorrow is the last day of school for the kids (thrilled to not be making lunch at 7 am for a while)

It seems I may finally have a handle on whatever this issue is with my stomach (once again I pause to be grateful it isn’t celiac)

We are starting the next program in cj’s listening therapy (fingers crossed for better attention and focus)

Piano and drum lessons will start soon (still need to schedule swimming lessons)

The spouse is already planning 2 trips to Argentina and 1 trip to Canada this summer (ugh)

I also have quilt blocks that need to be pieced into a top for cj’s bed (guess my new goal for that will be this fall)

I have managed to finish all the teacher gifts  (need to get pics of the two I finished yesterday)

The two hats on the ends are gifts for cj’s associates.  The middle hat was given to my super neighbor for her birthday.

tic tock

on to the next thing on the list…

At my first stop, I found the yarn.  Then came home to start knitting and realized I didn’t have a size 2 needle.  No problem.  All I had to do was walk back up the hill.  At this point, I knew I had to switch to a size 6 for the crown, but did I check to see if I had a 6 – of course not.  A couple of days later the brim was done, I was digging for 6 but only came up with 8 and 9.  No problem.  I really like having a yarn shop in town.

The pattern is “aloof” from hattitude, a book of knitted hats that a friend gave me for the birthday.

I’ve also been working on a quilt.

I’ve have definitely been eating far too many of these.

I’ve been patching jeans.

I’ve also discovered that iLs takes a serious commitment.  I didn’t really think an hour a day, 5 times a week would really bite into a schedule, but it does.

The other thing I didn’t expect was to see a such change in him, but that’s a story for another day.

There has also been play dough.  This time it’s blue.

play dough

1 cup flour

1/3 cup salt

1 Tablespoon cream of tartar

1 cup of water

1 Tablespoon oil

liquid food coloring

Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar, water, and oil.  Place over low heat.  Stirring constantly until it is the consistency of mashed potatoes.  Remove from heat.  Add food coloring.  Stir until color is blended.  Knead dough until smooth.

I just finished this hat.  It’s a birthday gift for a friend.

It’s the same pattern as this one, just done in a different color.

I used a remote to take the photos.

It was giving me fits and didn’t want to work for some reason.

After I downloaded the photos I think I found the shot that may have scared the remote straight.

I was not amused.

(p.s. yes that is a blatant Doctor Who reference)

I put off starting until after Christmas because the band looked complicated.  I followed the link in the pattern to the tutorial video and realized it was actually pretty easy.  The hat came together quickly, especially once I was past the smocking.

The pattern called for switching needle sizes, but I used 3.25 needles for the entire project.  That kept the bottom band from getting too tight.

Then came the always so anxious moment of giving the gift.  No need to worry, she loves it.

It’s the family ribbed hat pattern from Joelle Hoverson’s more last minute knitted gifts.  I used some malabrigo yarn from my stash.

malabrigo gruesa kettle dyed pure wool, super bulky thick & thin in dark earth

becomes a set of wrist warmers

chunky yarn wrist warmers

one skein malabrigo gruesa thick and thin

size 8 double pointed needles

cast 25 stitches onto needle and divide among three needles

knit in round for approximately 4 inches stopping at end of a round

make thumb hole

while still on needles, turn work inside out purl one row

turn work to right side and knit row

continue turn to wrong side purl row and turn to right side knit row for a total of eight rows

join work again and continue knitting in round for another 1 1/2″

cast off

join in ends

I made this hat for him.

baby boy hat

size 4 circular needles or dpn to start

switch to dpn when decreasing

cast on 84

Rnd 1 – *k1, p1, rep from * around

Rnd 2 – *p1, k1, rep from * around

Rnd 3 & 4 – repeat rows 1 & 2 once more

Rnd 5 – *k2, p2, rep from * around

Rnd 6 – 32 – repeat rnd 5

to decrease for crown

Rnd 33 – *k2, p2tog, rep from * around

Rnd 34 – *k2, p1, rep from * around

Rnd 35 – *ssk, p1, rep from * around

Rnd 36 – *k1, p1, rep from * around

Rnd 37 – *ssk, rep from * around

Rnd 38 – knit

Rnd 39 – *ssk, rep from * to last stitch, k1

Rnd 40 – knit one round

break yarn and weave in ends with tapestry needle

The super bulky blue sky alpacas has been hiding at the bottom of my stash basket for ages.

women’s cowl

cast on 40 stitches onto size 15 circular needles

*k2, p2* for four rounds

*k round* until of desired length (mine is 5″)

*k2, p2* for two rounds

cast off and weave in ends

I had about 5 inches left over from my one skein of yarn.

The weather for the days surrounding Christmas was rough, so all of our plans went awry.  I started this on the morning of Christmas eve and finished it up on Christmas night.  It’s knit with 2 types of yarn held together.  The off-white is a merino wool.  The dark brown is a blend of 75% bison and 25% wool.

men’s 2×2 rib hat

cast on 84 stitches on circular needle (I used size 9). Place marker at beginning to keep track of beg/end of round.

*k2, p2* in rib pattern for 11 inches

*k2tog, p2* repeat for one round

*k1, p2* repeat for round

switch to double-pointed needles

*k1, p2tog* repeat for round

*k1, p1* repeat for round

k2tog for round

k for round

break yarn and draw through remaining stitches on needle, weaving end into stitches on wrong side of hat.

weave in tail from beginning stitches as well.