Watercolours | Finished Beanie Hat {Knitting}

Me: 'Look at my new beanie hat'

Mr MiH (not looking up): 'Yeah yeahI know, it is really good, but I have seen it many times you know'

Me: 'Really, because I have just finished it and you have not seen it finished'

Mr MIH (finally looking up): 'What? you have finished it, but when?'

I like how Mr MiH is always surprised that I can finish projects - every time it is a revelation to him that I can start many projects AND finish (some of) them (not all, otherwise he may have a heart attack). 

Pattern: Framed Slouch by Tanis Lavallee

Yarn: TFA Orange Label Cashmere/silk Worsted (in Mosaic)

Needles: DPNs 4 mm and 4.5 mm
Size: one size fits all

Modifications: None (needed to focus on the cable work), but if I were to knit it again I would knit the brim with even smaller needles so it is tighter. I would not want to lose this hat. Also I only had DPNs to knit it, and it was a bit of a nightmare - basically too many needles. I would buy circular needles, totally worth it, and would make it a much quicker knit. 

Result: The slouch is not too slouchy (some Ravelers have decided not to knit one repeat, I knitted the whole pattern and it is fine). I love the colours (should work with any outfit, hopefully), and the cable work is amazing, especially at the back. I think it would also look great in grey - here's a thought...   

Although you cannot get the pattern until next year, you should definitely think of getting a skein of this beautiful yarn. It is soft, not scratchy and a dream to work with. The colours will make any project interesting. I am just inspired by some of the colour combinations that you obtain throughout. I am not even sure how you end up with such colour on a skein - very clever. 

Looking quite scared - probably because it is
7am and I had 4 hours of sleep..

And my contribution to the knit 12 hats in one year!

Thrilling Mittens + a Giveaway | Le Challenge {Knitting}

I know I say this every time it comes round, but every time it is a last minute finish, and I am surprised I have an entry for le challenge. To be honest for a while I thought I would only make one mitten - at the end of the day Michael Jackson (Thriller - easy link right) only had one glove - but I always thought that was a bit weird, and not really useful if you intend to wear them. 

Unfortunately this is not a crystal-encrusted glove and it is unlikely to fetch $200,000. I did try to replicate the sparkling effect though thanks to the Anchor Metallic thread. The mittens are a bit fancier with a lace pattern - adding a thrilling element, don't you think? 

Pattern: Cafe au Lait mittens (free pattern on Ravelry)

Yarn: 3-ply white yarn that I had in my stash without labelling but probably Sidar (half a ball) and 1 and a bit Anchor Artiste Metallic ball (shade 301)

Needle Size: DPNs 4 mm

Modifications: Made less repeats of the pattern but added some ribbing rounds at the top - similar changes for the thumbs. Ribbing is ktbl1, p1. 

Difficulty Rating: It is an easy pattern although you need to pay attention. It is a quick knit (I finished a mitten in one afternoon). 

Result: I love the lace pattern, I will be using it again - I am not sure where but the result is amazing. My biggest issue is the size. I have small hands, and I know that (I usually take child size glove) and I should have adapted the pattern accordingly. After a lot of Umming and Arring I followed the pattern, and I should not have. So the downside is that I have to make a new pair for my freakishly small hands, on the upside you get a chance to own this pair!

You have 3 chances to enter the giveaway:

1. This giveaway is open to my followers only - old and new. 
Let me know how you follow my blog in the comment box.

2.  Like the MiH Facebook page - and leave me a second comment. 
3.Follow me on twitter, tweet about the giveaway, 

and/or follow me on Instagram (natmadeinhome) – 

and come back to leave me a third comment

The giveaway ends Monday 21 at 10am (UK time). Please, please, please leave me a way to contact you if you are a no-reply blogger. I will send internationally. Good luck!

You have until Wednesday 16, 11 am to enter a thriller-inspired project (big or small) for a chance to win a $25 fabric voucher, so get involved! 

Thriller | Le Challenge {Knitting}

As I have started my le challenge entry very early this month - ie a week before the deadline, I can actually show you what I am up to. 

It is knitting, on DPNs and very sparkly... and that is as much as I am willing to tell you until next Monday. 

It is progressing well so far... In other news I am nearly finishing my thriller (did you see how it all fits in?)- la Verite sur l'Affaire Quebert. If the book ever gets translated, get it, it is amazing. 

Are you joining le challenge? I just wrote my inspiration post - you still have time to start your entry and finish it by 15th, and get a chance to win a $25 FQS voucher. 

Starbust {Knitting}

It has been hard to motivate myself to knit a beanie hat this month (i.e. June) - even though I chose to make a baby hat. However the rain in the last couple of days have helped me finished it. It also means that Baby MiH is finally making an appearance on the blog. 

The starbust hat is a free pattern on ravelry, this is supposed to be pre-schooler size, but it may seems to be 6 months in Baby MiH's world... I just have to hope that it will still fit comes September/October.

 Pattern: Starbust Hat (free on Ravelry)

Yarn: Merino Silk DK - hand dyed

Needle size: 4.5mm DPNs
Size: smallest, hoping it would fit for this Autumn - not sure it will. I would make it deeper, as it happens it only just covers his ears. 
Result: A great pattern, well written and very easy to follow and quick.  

The hand-dyed yarn, with its white spots, works again very well for this type of hat. It adds a bit of texture and interest. 

I do love the top of the hat. I was worried it would look too much like the top of a pie, but it does not in the end. I will probably make more of this type for the winter. 

 You may be interested in a couple of related post:

- the hand-dying process is here.
- joining when knitting in the round is here. 

And this is my (late) June entry for 12 hats in one year. 

How to Sunday - Joining when Knitting in the round {Knitting}

Knitting in the round is something I end up doing a lot - for beanie hats (here, and here) and jumpers (here) - and every time there is the issue of joining all these stitches (on DPNs or circular needles). Is there a right way or a wrong way to do it? Probably not, but you know when it is wrong, well I certainly do.

But the 'knit two together' method is fairly simple and gets me a nice result every time - and therefore has not stopped me looking (and making) projects knitted in the round. Here is how I do it... I am sure other knitters have other methods - please let us know in the comment box, would love to try other methods as well.

You must first cast on (or pick up stitches) to have a foundation of stitches on your double pointed needles or circular needles just as you would for straight knitting. Evenly distribute your stitches over 3 or 4 needles. 

Cast on the number of stitches your pattern calls for, plus one (ie, if the pattern says to CO 72, you'll CO 73).

With the cast-on edge pointing away from you, slide the first cast on stitch to the end of your left needle, and the last cast on stitch to the end of your right needle, so both are ready to be worked.

Slip the last cast on stitch off of your right needle back onto the left needle.

Knit those 2 stitches (the last and first cast-on) together. This will bring your number of stitches down to the correct amount. 

Place a marker so you can easily identify the beginning of the round. Begin Knitting!

Preparation time {Knitting}

How early do you start preparing for Christmas? Because Baby MiH will not have his passport by the time we get to Christmas,we are hosting Christmas eve at ours - and this is in fact my first Christmas Britain! We do have some decorations, but hardly worth talking about (I think it amounts to 6 baubles, and 2 garlands). So let's face it, we could do with getting ready. 

Last year I was planning to make some knitted Christmas baubles from Arne and Carlos' 55 Christmas Balls to Knit. I bought the book, and left it there until this morning. I wanted to see how easy/hard it would be to knit one of those. Well, it involves DPNs, colour work and increase and patterns being knitted simultaneously (but written on different pages of the book) - so it is slightly intense. Two hours later, I am at this stage of the first bauble - hmmm..  

I do like the shape the bauble is taking however, and I am hoping it is a case of getting acquainted with a new pattern - and that it gets easier as I knit more of these. 

 Pattern: From 55 Christmas Balls to Knit, by Arne and Carlos

Yarn: SIRDAR Country Style, Wool Blend DK (40% nylon, 30% wool, 30% acrylic)

Needle size: 4mm DPNs 

Modification: only changed the knitting method, using 3 DPNs and markers rather than 4

Just in case you are considering buying this book, well from this morning experience I would say buy it now so that you can start asap. I am even wondering whether I did not leave it too late - all depends on how many I want make I suppose. 

But there are so pretty! How could I resist knitting them! It is retro Scandinavian, love it. My colours scheme is a bit different - white, blue, teal, black - no green or red (too predictable, of course). 

I may have to add some touches of gold though... 

Well that is provided I finish my first one of course. 

  
So I officially declare the Christmas preparation season started at the MiH home!