Elam Hat :: Knitting ::

Happy Monday everyone! I am starting this week with a finish! F-I-N-A-L-L-Y. I really needed a finish. I have so many projects started, and was no where to see a finish. So I decided to start a new one just so I could have a finish - and get some motivation to progress others. 

To ensure a finish, I changed nothing, nada, zilch to the pattern. Not even the stitches count. I did not even add a pompom - I know, I am shocked. I may have to add one at a later stage - just because my beanie hats all have a pompom, it is my favourite part of my beanie hats. 

Pattern: Elam hat by Dianna Walla

Yarn: Hand dyed organic merino silk wool, light worsted DK yarn from SixSkeins (Etsy) _I asked Stephanie to hand-dyed this lot for me, this colour was the one I used for Baby MiH's Shale blanket

Needles: according to pattern (DPNs in 3.5mm and 4.5mm)
(Future) modifications: looking at the pictures, I am wondering whether I would not make the brim about fatter. 

This is also my entry for this month's le challenge. The theme was 'round', and the hat was knitted in the round. You can check all the entries here. Next month's challenge is reading!

Also I have realised I have not appeared in a post for a long time... Weird to see myself in pictures. As you can see I am letting my hair grow and I have gone darker - I am sure you are feeling better now you had a hair update!

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. 

Steel Snow {Knitting}

Knitting a beanie hat in May may sound crazy, but looking outside right now (pictures from yesterday) and I may get to wear this little knit earlier than expected... I went through my wardrobe and I am not sure what to keep and what not to keep! Should I start knitting cardigans and jumpers? At least Baby MiH is getting full use of his cardigan. Who am I to complain, it is a knitter's weather! 

Back to the beanie, this is my second entry to knit '12 hats in one year' challenge - you can join here. 

This (free) pattern has been in my library for a long time now - and this challenge pushes me to actually go through my patterns, and knit them - I know crazy stuff! The colour is all Made in Home - I explained my first dying experiment here, including the white specks. I grew to love them in the end!

 Pattern: Houzuki Hat (free on Ravelry)

Yarn: Merino Silk DK - hand dyed

Needle size: 3.5 mm and 4mm 
Size: I followed the comments on Ravelry about the fact that the hat 
was a bit big - and I did 7 repeats rather than 8. 
It is very snug - but I think it was the right move for my head. 
Result: A great pattern, well written. It is quite easy to remember it - and makes it a perfect car project. I love the ribbing (knitting through the back loop) and the back. 
Next time I may make the decreases of the flowers 
on the side rather than in the middle - to avoid 
the 'stitching' effect in the middle of the flower. 

OK, better start thinking of my next beanie hat entry then!

Also you may have noticed my white T-shirt... More on this on Friday!