Finished #6

I finished #6 of my Ravelympic projects. Its the last in the "Hat Dash" category. Its a greenery hat made from Cascade 200 wool. Its a fun pattern to work and its very well written. I have just 2 more projects to finish and I am done.


I did learn a valuable lesson from knitting this hat. Do not sneeze while holding a metal cable needle in your mouth. It can inflict damage!

Finished Ravelympics Project #4

Well #4 is now in the books. I am halfway there. Project #4 is called "Hermione's Cable and Eyelet Hat" and is based on a hat from stills from the upcoming Harry Potter movie "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince"

This one took a little longer due to the fact that its on smaller needles and I made some slight modifications to the pattern. (I made it bigger to fit my melon head)


The pattern for the hat can be found here. I cast on an additional 22 stitches for 2 more cables. I also modified the decreases as follows:

Followed decrease pattern for decrease tows 1-4
Row 5: K6 K2tog around
Row 6: K5 K2tog around
Row 7: K4 K2tog around
Row 8: K3 K2tog around
Row 9: K2 K2tog around
Row 10: K1 K2tog around
Row 11: K2tog around
Row 12: K2tog around

This left me with 6 stitches at the end. Had maybe 10 yards of yarn left on skein.

#3 is done!

Finished project #3 last night. Its an Irish Hiking Hat for the "Hat Dash".

Chuck's hat

Just before Christmas, my adopted son, Chuck, (Not really adopted, not really my son, but that's another story) began whining for me to knit him a hat.

"What color would you like?"

"Oh any color is fine."

"How about this yarn."

"I don't like that color." (Repeat about 40 times)

He finally decides on Bernat Denim style in faded khaki (green, since he is an A's fan).

I start the hat and add it to all the rest of my Christmas knitting. I finally get it done and give it to him just after Christmas.

"Oh, this will be so great to wear at work and keep my head warm! Thanks Mom!"

Next time I come to the warehouse to pick up Bob, there is Chuck. Not wearing my hat.

"Where's the hat son?"

"Oh, I forgot to wear it." "Its at home." "I'm saving it for good."

This goes on for a couple of weeks until one night at bowling he admits that he lost the hat. Or, his psycho ex-sperm receptacle took it when she moved out, he's not sure. (I do not like her, can you tell? I think women who break windshields and run naked through parking lots may have a few screws loose)

For a non-knitter, this may not seem like much, but it is. When you take the time to craft something for another person, its a labor of love. You put a lot if time and effort into a project. As I knit I think about who I am making the item for and I really try to make something they will really enjoy.

I told him I was disappointed that he lost the hat. His response "Does this mean you aren't making me something for my birthday next month?" I exercised a great deal of restraint in not strangling him.

Yesterday, a miracle occurred. He found the hat and started wearing it. Good thing too. I made a resolution not to smack the crap out of people who really deserve it and he was pretty close to making me break that one!

Easy 8 Hat

This is the most basic hat pattern there is. Easy to do and easy to remember!

You will need:

1 sk worsted weight yarn (about 125-130 yds)
Size “8” 16’ circulars
Size “8” dpns
A stitch marker

Cast on 80

Do K1P1 or K2P2 ribbing for 1-2 inches
Switch to stockinette and knit until total length of hat is “8” inches

Decrease:

K8 K2tog – repeat to end of round
Knit next round
K7 K2tog – repeat to end of round
Knit
K6 K2tog – repeat to end of round
K
K5 K2tog – repeat to end of round
K
K4 K2tog – repeat to end of round
K
K3 K2tog – repeat to end of round
K
K2 K2tog – repeat to end of round
K
K1 K2tog – repeat to end of round
K
K2tog – repeat to end of round

Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches. Tie knot on inside and weave in ends. Block.

Be creative! Add a pom-pom! Add stripes. Use self striping yarn. This formula is easy to remember!