More Hats

 For the last couple of weeks, I have been busy working on a few more baby hats to add to the church's mitten tree. I took the previous items I had made last week and added it to the items that were already put on/under the tree. Actually, there are two trees and a manger. I'll try to take a picture of it to post at a later date.

The pattern I used for the hats posted here is the Fixie Hat (this is a free Ravelry download).  I really enjoyed knitting these hats! They are very quick and easy to make. The one to the right was made using left over yarn from my Newfoundland mittens, and took only a day to finish - though I wasn't knitting at every single minute of the day.

The hats to the left were also made this week. The one on the right was made last weekend, though I only worked on it very little Saturday evening and finished it up Sunday afternoon while visiting with my BFF. The hat on the left took longer as I only worked on it off and on throughout the week (i.e. a few rows here and there). I finished it up this afternoon. 

The yarn I used for the two hats on the left is Bernat Satin in the Luxury Ombre (left) and Empress (right) colourways. The needle size was US 8 (which I think is 5 mm), though I probably should have gone with the US 7 (4.5 mm) recommended in the pattern. To be honest, I don't think I have 4.5 mm straight needles...though I might and just can't find them. I don't think they turned out too badly with the size I did use though, particularly for the hat in the first picture.

In both photos, the colours aren't exact as I had to use the flash. Also in the first photo, you can see a little of the tail that I hadn't sewed in when I took the photo. I only noticed it after, but thankfully it was before I took them to church.

I think I'll work at my thrummed mittens next. I haven't worked on them since I started them as I was wanting to get some items knit up for the mitten tree. Now that I have, I can continue with the thrumming, and hopefully my experience with them will be a good one!

What are you currently working on?

Strawberry Smoothie

I know I said in my previous post that I was going to work on some thrummed mittens. Well, I did cast on and began to work on the cuff, but I felt guilty.

I've had this scarf on the needles for some time (probably since the beginning of this year, or spring at the latest), and thought that I should really finish it up before this winter came and went.

The pattern is the One Row Handspun Scarf by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, aka "The Yarn Harlot". The yarn I used was Lamb's Pride from the Brown Sheep Company, in the Strawberry Smoothie colourway (at least I think that is the colourway according to their website...I lost the band some time ago so I can't say for sure, but it does look like what they show for that colourway). I just used one skein, so it's not an overly long scarf, but should be fine. Also, I haven't blocked it yet, so it will probably gain some length then.

I've made this particular scarf two or three times before, and enjoy knitting it. It is VERY easy to make, and is basically mindless knitting. It's also a quick knit - well, quick if you don't put it down and wait for long periods of time before picking it up again! I know I'll make this pattern again at some point because of the easiness and the quickness for knitting it (hmm, does that last sentence even make sense? I "quickness" even a word?).

I am putting this scarf with the other items I'm putting on the church's Mitten Tree this Christmas. It should be going up soon, though I'm not sure when. I was looking at the items I've made this year, and there isn't much to donate - 2 scarves, 1 baby hat, and 3 pairs of baby/toddler socks. I suppose every little bit helps, though. Maybe I'll try to quickly make a pair of kids mittens, or couple pairs of baby mittens to add to the pile - or maybe another baby hat.

At any rate, I haven't really been doing any knitting lately (let alone this year) because I haven't been in the mood I guess. Hopefully that will change and it will pick up - especially with the colder weather and snow we'll get this winter. That might be what I need to get me going. We did have a little snow a couple weekends ago, and it did stick around for awhile. Today, however, it's gone - melted from some warm temperatures and a little rain. According to the weather forcast the day before yesterday, they are calling for more snow this coming week (though that could change of course).

Ok, I think I'll end this post here and go choose the yarn and pattern for the next child or baby item to make so I can add to the donation pile!

What's on your needles?