A question of Quantities {knitting}

Last week I did not get a chance to show you the middle twist of Nord, but here it is:twists and the start of the v-neck shaping. Isn't it amazing?

I have never knitted v-neck shaping before so that's interesting and fun - and hopefully will make me knit this up a bit faster. 

My real problem now is that I may be running out of yarn. I have found my spare skein BUT that skein was awful and split in zillions of places (I complained to the Knitting shop - no response and now they don't sell it!), and I had left out that skein on purpose... But it will be handy (and very annoying) in the end. 

This is the actual colour - the previous picture was edited on IG

Running out of yarn is not something that usually happens - because I am usually generous with the number of skein I buy - usually one more than I think I will need, in case all the UK (and French) retailers run out of the specific yarn (yes this is happening right now with Cascade eco Alpaca!). How much yarn do you buy for a project? The exact amount or more? 

Linking up to Ginny's today and interested in your thoughts. 

Autumnal Study {knitting}

This Autumn beanie hat was finished just in time for the wind and the rain, and the wind and rain to come. Actually this was the incentive to finish it so quickly. I waited outside the train station last Friday night and got so cold that I thought that was it, I needed the beanie hat ready right NOW!

An interesting pose

I have changed nothing in the pattern - even when I thought I would (at the end) I did not. The 'yarn' (two strands of lace yarn) is probably as close as it could be to the recommended sport yarn, and I had checked the gauge was OK. I wanted a slouchy hat that would not be too slouchy (like this cashmere beanie hat from COS).  

I love the texture of the hat, there is the brim in garter stitch which is actually beautiful, the cable work (at the front in my pictures, but should probably be on the side) and the overall pattern stitch. It looks difficult, to knit but honestly it is not that hard (was watching TV whilst knitting it). The only thing you have to remember is that two different charts are being worked at the same time (the cable and pattern stitch) - ok that might sound difficult but it is not. 

Pattern: Contemporary Beanie Hat by Veera Valimaki (there is a cowl pattern included as well) - available to purchase on Ravelry

Yarn: Variegated Merino Tweed Sock Yarn 100g from Whaferdale Woolworks) and 

Laceweight yarn in black from The Gossamer Web

Needle sizes: 3mm circular (brim) 3.5mm circular body of the hat

Size: fits my head

Had to crop the picture or you would have thought I wanted to show my cleavage

Difficulty: intermediate with not too many cups of tea and biscuits involved - to knit in front of the TV - just beware of the two charts (especially the cable one) 

Blocking: no blocking for this one, you finish, weave the ends, wear it

Result: Looks as if it had been bought and was expensive (thanks to the final decrease chart) - a construction to keep for other beanie projects (can be easily adapted)

The part when I nearly gave up. 

So decreasing to 27 stitches (the pattern says 26, but I think it is 27, because mathematically it would not make sense otherwise) was a bit of a chore on circular needles. I thought I would stop before the end, and then you see it, what Veera is trying to achieve and you carry on - because that makes the final beanie hat look so NOT handknitted. 

You could make it less slouchy (other Ravelers have done it). I may just do that for another one, but that was not the look I was going for this time. 

As this is my last day before maternity leave (I did mention that, didn't I?), I thought I would leave you with a picture that does not show at all how big I am right now - rubbish picture, but the only one I have so here we are.. 

So I shall enjoy my last day of work or not. You guys should get ready for the GIVEAWAY tomorrow by staying tune and following me so you don't miss out!