If These Socks Could Talk...

They would probably grouse about being schlepped from place to place to place, on the chance that I might knit a round or two. They would tell you that I misplaced them for several months and had given up ever finding them, but then I did. They would tell you about the doctors' waiting rooms, movie theaters, and restaurants where they sat patiently in my lap; the soccer games where I clutched them in sweaty hands, but worked hardly a stitch.

However, they can't talk. They can just cover my feet in all of their lovely handknitted-ness and make me happy that I finally finished them.

Pattern: Thuja
Yarn: Nature's Palette in "Dark Indigo," a gift from Hilary ages ago ...
Needles: US # 1 dpns
Modifications/notes: The pattern was written for a heavier yarn, I just massaged the numbers a bit to work for a regular sock yarn. I cast on 56 stitches. I like my sock feet on the snug side.
The weird thing: I thought I couldn't wait to be done with these, and now I'm wondering what socks to make next ...

Year of the Hat

In all my years of knitting, I have not knit as many hats as I have knit in the last few months. And just when I thought I had knit my last hat of this hat-wearing season, Max came into the kitchen on Friday morning, pointed at his father's hat-clad head and said, "You should make me a hat like that." His sudden hat desire might have been fed by the weather which looked something like this on Friday morning:

Our digital thermometer actually read -18 that morning.

Next thing I knew I was rummaging through my stash and trying to pick out yarn that might meet the very particular requirements of my 14 year old.

Then on Friday afternoon, we got a phone call informing us that his status as "alternate" goalkeeper for Team Alaska for the Arctic Winter Games had been upgraded. The keeper originally chosen is no longer going. Instead, Max is going to Yellowknife! The temperature in Yellowknife on Friday was minus 35 Fahrenheit. Must. Knit. Warm. Hat.

I started knitting on Saturday and finished Monday morning. In between, on Sunday afternoon, Max had to meet a friend at Skater's Cabin to work on a science project that involved tromping across the frozen lake. It was getting warmer by then, but snowing like crazy and both boys showed up in handmade hats.

Boys in handmade hats!

That's my guy on the right rolling his eyes, but his friend, Alan? Alan is wearing a hat he crocheted himself! How cool is that?? AND I heard him tell Max he couldn't find any string (needed for project) so he brought along a ball of yarn. I love Alan!!

By the time I finished the requested hat, temps were in the mid-30's, skies were grey, and rain was falling. Terrible photo weather, but this post has waited long enough.

Max's Beanie
Pattern: Just a basic 2x2 rib, I cast on 76 stitches
Yarn: Mostly Merino (black) and Morehouse Farm Merino (oatmeal), held together.
Needles: US Size 7 (2 circulars)
My Favorite thing about this project: He likes it!

Happy Groundhog Day!

Much as I like my recent flap hats, I've got to admit that when the temperature dips into the single digits (that's single digits Fahrenheit), there's nothing like a snug watch cap to keep your ears warm. I know this because it's been mighty cold for the last week.

Gale made a couple of beauties a while back that I can't get out of my mind. I totally copied her idea, and for the very same reasons. (Those Noro scarves! I can't make myself knit one, but they're SO very lovely.) Anyway, Thanks for the inspiration, Gale!

I started playing around with some leftover Silk Garden and miscellaneous black stash yarn, but I just wasn't sure. I feared the darkest colors in the Noro would get lost in the black. Next I grabbed some heather grey Cascade 220. Bingo! I love the way it makes the Silk Garden POP.

Nick's Newest Hat

Pattern: Basic 2x2 ribbed watch cap, a la Gale.
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden and Cascade 220. Less than a skein of each.
Needles: US size 6 circulars (I used two) and dpns for the last few rounds.
Size: I cast on 108 stitches for Nick's very large head.

Nick's hat at work.