Pumpkins, Cactus and Succulents

My littlest niece turned two last week and for her birthday I decided to knit her a hat. So feeling the fall I went with a pumpkin hat. It was a quick little knit with a simple rolled brim pattern and a 7 X 1 ribbing. I did adjust the pattern to decrease alternately between K2Tog (just before left side purl) and SSK (just after purl on right side). I felt so funny, well almost ashamed, buying the yarn for this project but it was the colors that looked the best for the pattern. It's Lion brand 100% Wool in Pumpkin and Patons Merino Wool in Olive Green. But I do have to admit the colors work really well.

The thing that I found the weirdest about making the childs size hat is that the average 2 year old's head is 19". What's so odd about that? I measured my head and it's 20". I thought that was just insane that a two year olds head is just 1" smaller then my own.

Not so much knitting but....I think they're really cool. I took some pictures this weekend of my newest cactus and my Lithops (Living Stones).

Cactus

3 Lithops aka Living Rocks

When Knitting Fights Back

This is my second (see below for the details about the first) Mystic Earth Swatch on Size 4 Bamboo needles.

Well I had a really rough night on Thursday. Well my day was great, I had a fantastic day at work. That isn't that common either, but I did have a spectacular day at work. Then I went home all excited to swatch out my Mystic Earth Swatch and that is when trouble began. I did the entire swatch on size 3 needles and was binding off when I realized the BO was way too tight so I began to undo the BO but the combination of the metal needles and super fine lace weight yarn made for a disaster. Stitches dropped and the Swatch died. It completely unraveled before my sad eyes.

So, very frustrated for spending a couple hours on that I decided to pick up the sweater and calm myself with a little sweater knitting....and disaster strikes again. I accidentally repeated two rows in the pattern. Now I was on the edge of tears. I took the needles out of the sweater and pulled out the two rows of knitting to get back to were the pattern was correct.

(Corrected Sweater)

All in all not a great knitting night. But I survived.

Gretel, Ohio and more...

So I have a FO to share. I started and completed my Gretel Slouchy hat. I love the pattern, but my tiny head is not fitting in the hat so good. It's just a little too big. But I can still wear it and I will. The pattern is beautiful, but you have to HAVE TO read the directions carefully. I had it happen a couple times where I didn't read the directions as good as I should have and had to tink back. But it still is a nice looking hat.

I also finished the Punk Rocker Girl Socks. I love them. But the weathers been a little too warm still to use my hand knit socks. I think in a couple weeks I'll be wearing more and more of my creations.

I've started the Green Gables (mines a Golden Gable) hooded pull over from Vogue knitting fall magazine. I love it. I've got through the first pattern repeat and the sweater is about 8inches or so. It's knitting up fast and not too difficult, however the pattern and key had some issues but once I checked out the errata it was all good. The yarn is cool and funky and knits to gauge beautifully.

I've not been blogging recently for a couple reasons. Firstly I got sick. So for three or so days I was in rough shape. Then once I got better I had to go to Ohio on business. The trip went well and the training I gave was great and provided a little time one day for some sight seeing. So I've attached a lovely picture of one of the lighthouses on Lake Erie.

News: I've got a message from one of the members of the SnB that this weekend the farmers market in Coventry is having a "Fiber Twist" so there will be vendors with fiber goodies. I think I'll head out for a look and hopefully some good local treats. I like being able to get locally grown produce.