What's all the "hype about hats?"

Day 2 of blogging and finally the answer to the pressing question,
yes what is all the hype about hats? and just why do I choose to
knit/share/review hats on my blog...Here is my personal top 10 list
in no particular order:

1. Hats only take one skein of yarn...generally...that makes them
faster, and unlike with sweaters, I do not have to go out and
buy yet another skein because I am short on yarn (yet once again).
2. Hats are the only item I actually ever sold in my Etsy Store
(*however worth noting, hats are the only category of knitting
I've actually posted there).
3. Hats are the one request people ask me to knit for them.
4. Hats are the single knitting category I've definitely made
the most of, so I can speak of them in greater detail....
(i.e. I know them well).
5. Hats are my go to charity donations.
6. Hats challenge me as I was formerly challenged with socks,
i.e. cables, bobbles, lace, fair isle...hats have it all....
7. Should be no. 1 probably....I actually look good in hats...
many people think they don't but I am a hat wearer, so can
personalize however I want.
8. Hats generally economical to make as they do only take one
skein of yarn.
9. Hats, especially made of wool (lined with more wool) are
very very warm and I live in VERY VERY COLD NEW ENGLAND!
10. and the top ten reason for choosing hats for my month
long subject is WITH HATS THERE IS NO SECOND HAT SYNDROME.....

Speaking of which...the hat of the day was a special request
from my son in Ohio...he sent me a photo of this hat...no pattern
for hat of course, but would like one in same style and same colors....
so matched it up best as I could from photo with yarns...and came up
with a pattern...however when needed to measure hat, realized the head (his)
was located in Ohio, so luckily his dad has similar sized head and this
worked out fine....overall, son is happy with special request hat and
as far as I know hat is still happy and well and residing with my son
in Ohio, another really cold place in the winter time.



Also thought I'd start a Blog of the Day post...will peek at different
blogs and pass on a site to check out if you are inclined.
Today's featured blog is a funny new knitter friend of mine...even though
she has not knit for very long...she keeps challenging herself with socks and
all kinds of projects I never attempted in the beginning and is doing an
awesome job. Rae lives on the opposite side of the country from me in Washington
which fascinates me, as it is a place I've never been to, but sounds so lovely.
....she is a member of NaBloPoMo, which is 30 blog posts in 30 days...
so cheer her on in her quest! Hooray Rae. She can be found at:

http://rknwa.blogspot.com/

She's Back.....with a hat challenge

Hi everyone...finally back...a really funny knitting friend of mine, Rae
is doing a special blog project for the month of November called NaBloPoMo
which is National Blog Posting Month where you have to blog every day for
a month.
As everyone that knows me well, I love a challenge and will try most of them
that come along.
found out about this one too late...but if it gets me blogging again,
I will do it for 29 days or into December...
seems like the other bloggers are looking for topics or a theme to last a month...
and it did not take me long to come up with mine....
HATS....staytuned to my reasons tomorrow for picking hats.
I also plan to recap Rhinebeck 2008....lots of news from that one...
also photos and update on my new best friend... MY LENDRUM DT
and other exciting recaps....
have loads of knitting FINISHED stuff to share.

DAY 1, actually Nov. 2 (but who's keeping track...
am blogging finally again right)

Hat #1 is the Rolled-Brim Hat by Vanessa Montileone
I love new knitting books...and often will take them out of the library...
then drool over photos, perhaps knit a project and return them...
and often turn around and buy the must haves for my own collection....
one of these that I prerequested was:
Vogue Knitting on the Go: Cables: Mittens, Hats & Scarves



Although there were several projects in the book I liked...
I was drawn to the cables and bobbles of the hat...
an interesting challenge. This was a really fun and a great
hat to knit...the intricate cable with bobbles hat band is done first
and then stitches are picked up around top of band and knitted
in the round to the crown of the hat...
Lately it seems like a lot of our local yarn stores are going out of
business very sadly...
and this hat has actually turned out to be knitted from
the result of two of my favorite stores final discount yarns....I used Naturally
Nazareth yarn by Kraemer (one of my favorites, as it felts beautifully) for the base
from Wright's in Sturbridge, MA...a lovely store, sadly missed...and the top part was Cascade 220 wool from Fabric Place in Framingham, MA...soon to be gone and another great loss for the community...this trend seems to be occuring everywhere.
Anyway, came out awesome...love this hat, and plan to keep this one for myself...it's all wool so will be great for COLD New England weather.





tomorrow is Day #2 blogging...with Hat Story #2

CGOA & TKGA Conference

CGOA & TKGA Conferences,
Plus CGOA Chain Link Special Annual Events
July 25-27, 2008 (Fri., Sat., Sun)
PDD event is Wed. July 23
Education begins Thur. July 24
Radisson Hotel Manchester at
The Center of New Hampshire
Manchester, NH

Okay just back from 3 full days of classes in Manchester, NH
I joined the Crochet Guild of America...as I hope to get my
master license for Crochet, as I don't have a prayer of getting
this in knitting. Crochet for me is easy and I can do pretty
much anything from pineapple doilies (can't spell it though), to
hairpin lace to 3-D stuff...Knitting is loads of fun, and a
tremendous challenge to me....yes I can knit and purl too...but
the scope of how far it goes is beyond me...
also by joining either guild, you get first dibs on signing up
for classes and discounts with your membership. (some of my
classes were completely sold out.)

Took loads of photos...wish I had brought my camera to all of my classes.
Took a class with Edie Eckman on Intarsia Without Fear...no photos...
she is a sensational teacher and would not hesitate to take another
class from her...I do feel that I am ready to take on any Intarsia project
now, and actually would like one, just to practice my new skills.
next class was knitting with copper wire with Nancy Wiseman, and all I can
say is WOW....I finished my necklace all beaded...and need to get some
photos for a future posting...then I did a freeform all day workshop
and also a Creative Knittng Class with the famous Valentina Devine.
will try and post some additional info. on my next posting....
but wanted to get in some sites and sounds from the show on this one.











this was a back view of a lovely embroidered sweater...most of
my photos are backviews, as personally I hate my photo taken,
and that's why you never see
photos of me on my blog...so I always ask people if they mind
if I take a photo
of the back of their outfit. Sounds odd, but they never turn
me down that way.



a lovely beaded shawl. Click on photo or zoom in for a close up
and hopefully you can see the beads



Precious Pals a Charity project at the Market Place




There were lots of free classes at the Market Place....




a view down one row of the Market Place



needlefelting in the Market Place; sunflowers and making pumpkins.







OH and HABU from NYC was there in the marketplace...so oh yes,
I had to buy the
pineapple that had been made into yarn....

Have you tried knitting on size 50 needles, they are also megalong besides
being so wide.



Of course since there was going to be a Ravelry meetup there had to be
a Casey & Jess sighting...but no Bob...where was Bob?
Does he have a Bob sitter?







Now there's a great bag...just gotta get me one of those....




Lots of pins on the Ravelry table...I finally got mine!



Margaret Hubert, my oh so very wonderful teacher, is modeling her own jacket
of scrumbles...this was my favorite of all the ones she had brought...
she kind of had her eyes closed, so I hope she does not mind this photo...
but her jacket is absolutely stunning, or at least in my opinion.
I ran around the Market Place buying lucious yarn in purple hues,
just to try this one out myself at some future date.



Another sneak peak from the yummy scrumbles class...of course our focus was
on purses...could not help turning around in my seat to take a quick photo of
girl behind me & her classwork project...she was very new to this and could not even crochet...she had
a friend do her crochet homework, but look at this arrangement.



Off to SPINNING CLASSES on a Lendrum...went from sock obsession to my
new Ravelympics KAL



I am on the shawlrelay team...Knitter's start your needles
but not until August 8 with the opening ceremonies...What will be on the
needles...no secret....my first shawl....the beloved...clapotis
made from Dream in Color Smooshy...have dreamed about it, and obsessed about
this yarn after reading about all the love it generates on Ravelry, and it was
at the market place at the convention...of course in purple hues. close up below as taken from Knitty site where this great pattern originated.



But this spinning thing...could have an effect on my current knitting/crochet
works. I've heard spinning is rather addictive, and there are only so many
crafting hours in a given day....
but then...sleep is so overrated!

WWKIP Belated Update

I hope most people got out to knit in public back on
JUNE 14. There were 13 locations in my state alone of
Massachusetts...It's an annual event and so much fun.
I brought 2 girlfriends with me and we chose a spot
closer to our house in Bellingham, Mass....
we were a small gathering, but
I knew no one there and met some really lovely people
and made some great new knitting friends...
The weather was perfect and we were located on a town
green complete with bandstand with nearby (across the
street) coffee shop and bathroom.
http://www.wwkipday.com/






The whole event was put on by a wonderful "LLL" from Ravelry
"Lovely, lively, lady" who brought a tent all decorated with knitting
items to help attract potential knitters over to our spot.

Thanks Mimi for all your organization of a great event...we'll be
back next year!

52 Pair Plunge Sock Update...
knitting fast and furious...finished Campfire Socks by Cider Moon. Absolutely
loved this pattern...





Had leftover yarn so made a little boy's hat. Used a
brand new cast on for this hat...The Stretchy cast on done with a crochet hook
and knitting needle, perfect for kid's projects that require lasting stretching.
see Utube for how to do this by Scarletzebra.com....she explains it perfectly!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAaOQb03wec&feature=related
Had leftover yarn still, so made a pompom using all the colors that were in
the socks for the pompom for hat. Another great charity project.



and of course had more yarn left...so started a rug on the style of
braided rugs, but using soft cording I bought at a local upholstery department
and a crochet hook. Since the sock yarn is lighter weight...I crocheted it
double stranded. Plan to keep adding to my rug as I finish up sock pairs...
and so far I am using up each skein to the very end with no leftover thanks to
all these cool side projects that use just the scraps.



The coiled rug pattern can be found in Knit Simple Magazine Spring/Summer 2008 issue.
The cute baby hat is from http://www.knitfoundry.com
The Pom Pom how to is from http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/tips/pompom.htm

A Tribute To Brenda Dayne

Anyone familiar with knitting podcasts has probably heard of "Cast On"
a very popular podcast with fellow knitters. Well at the end of every
podcast, Brenda always closes off her podcast by saying, "And remember,
If you are cold...put on a sweater, that's what they are for."
She is always so supportive and encouraging to knitters to try and knit a sweater...and though I have tried and tried in the past to make a sweater...
I always got stuck somewhere...mostly at the seaming point,
or I ran out of yarn, or the sizing was wrong...but this time I persevered
and with a lot of help from my knitting guild friends I was able to seam,
do a button band, and collar, and amazingly the finished product
really fit me just right and I love it....so thanks to all of my friends
who helped me particularly with the button band, and especially
to Brenda for your monthly words of wisdom and encouragement...
and if I can do it then I think anyone can successfully knit
themselves a sweater too! I live in New England, a sometimes very cold
place, where I will put on my new sweater, that I made because that's what
it's for...Thank you Brenda.







Also some improved photos (or at least not scrunched into my scanner!) of the blueberry picking time socks I just created for the 52 Pair Plunge II KAL
on Ravelry right now... and my very first toe-ups...hurrah!

Blueberry Picking Time Socks

Hi, it's been such a long time since my last blogging...
and so many things to share...between me working almost
every day, and the weather being mostly overcast or rainy
(so no photos)...it's hard to share all my new knitting...
I have to admit I love, love, love the 52 Pair Plunge challenge...
it is a little nutty knitting so many socks...
but the way I approached it, has made ALL the difference!
I am trying hard to make new patterns, and have a huge list of
techniques I hope to accomplish before I reach either my 52nd
pair or the time I finally call it quits and raise my little white
flag (knitted of course).
My knitting want list for socks is to knit first ever toe-ups,
socks on circulars, two at a time socks,
cable socks, lace socks, round toes, other toes, assorted
heels, my own original sock pattern, and as many cast-on's and off's
I can come up with.
And so far....I am thrilled....the very best part is I now just pick
a skein of yarn from my STASH, and go to Ravelry and see which socks are
possible...and once the sock is finished...the new rule is to use up
every last scrap of that yarn before going to the next sock...
So another great feature of this challenge is that I have turned it
into an AWESOME STASH BUSTER as well....
photos as soon as rain stops of things to do with leftover sock yarn...
But for starters...I have started the Babette Blanket, a Crochet project,
and also a braided rug (GREAT for sock yarn), another crochet project...as
well as baby socks and baby hats. (all to charity of course)
Today's sock...since it's blue scrap yarn, which is blueberry colored, and it's
now July and Blueberry picking time here in Massachusetts...I did as my first
ever toe-up sock...yee haw! this is my second attempt and it WORKED!
when I got to the leg of sock, I thought I can knit whatever I want...so I did
a bobble blueberry motif with leaves and named it the Blueberry picking time socks.
I did a lace cast off, as they were my first toe-ups and really did not have
a clue as to how people go about casting off for these.
No good photos unfortunately...my usual squish the finished product
into my scanner and hope for the best.
If tomorrow is sunny...will photo sock and other 4 pairs and my finished
sweater tribute to Brenda Dayne.

Just Plunged Off the Deep End

A good friend of mine-who is also one of the biggest Boston Red Sox fans that I know
told me the other day that she's joining a brand new KAL "Knit A Long".
Which knit a long is this I asked? Why the "52 Pair Plunge 2" on Ravelry. Basically the challenge of this Kal (52PP II for short) is to Knit 52 pairs of socks in one calendar year (midnight 1 June 2008 - midnight 1 June 2009).
Socks may be any pattern, any yarn, any size (baby, child, adult) – leg warmers, knitted boots, slippers, etc. do not count because they are not socks!

That's CRAZY I thought....so of course....I SIGNED UP.


My First Entry....think that's 51 pairs of socks to go, 51 pairs of socks
on the wall, 51 pairs of socks, take one down and pass it around...
you get the picture...if you know the rhyme...
I look at this as a challenge to learn toe up for the first time,
2 socks at once on circulars, and some good charity knitting!

Spinning...or as my friends would say, sucked into the vortex

Either you view it as crossing to the dark side...
or I've gone Little House On the Prairie...
I've just discovered a whole new way to blow
a yarn budget and a whole new stash to acquire
to excess...
I have roughly half a sheep stored in --my soon to be home --
college son's room
(so just where do you hide your new yarn purchases,
other than your car trunk of course)
Note: not my trunk, see haldechick's post on Flicker for this one



........raw merino wool
which now only needs washing,
carding, spinning, and plying oh my....

For anyone in the Boston/central Massachusetts area,
I would recommend Fiber Loft in Harvard, MA...
as they teach all day classes and have you start with
wool straight off the sheep...and teach carding of the wool,
spinning in the grease, plying, etc...there are also many
wheels to try out to see what fits best...with loads of
valuable advice as to easiest fibers to spin, how to wash wool,
use of Niddy Noddy, etc., etc. We also tried spinning fiber
that was all ready to go had been carded & cleaned,
a ready to knit once spun fiber.
Great spinning books were reviewed
and a list given of must-have books for new spinners.
A really thorough and incredible class.

I would recommend a spinning class for any die hard knitter/crocheter...
it is a whole new take on the whole process...
whether you continue on with a more natural and less expensive way of producing your own yarn
or at least learn how your stash became a skein,
essentially from sheep to shawl...I truly recommend it.
For me, I have discovered I am a process crafter,
and consequently far more interested in how
and why things are done, rather than the end result...maybe that's why I have so many UFO'S...sounds
good in a sentence here, but then probably not a really good reason.

For me, there's something rather unique in knowing
my next knitting project has been contributed directly from Molly
the part Merino/part Corriedale...who grazed tranquilly
in the fields of NH.



So yes, I think I am hooked...
Oh and if you have read the past two blog entries...
you will note no real roving for spinning purchases so far...
But recently attended yet ANOTHER
Sheep & Wool...Yes, call me obsessed,
it's true, that makes 4 wool festivals...
and now have lots of lovely fiber pix from that one too, stay tuned...

Oh and from my prior postings, finally...the spoils of
the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival...or at least the ones I am willing to acknowledge and post for anyone in the world to see...

The annual T-shirt design (it changes every year here)...
actually had to wait 1 1/2 hours in line for this one,
as well as for my other
souvenir goodies from Maryland
and by the way, that line never seemed to get any shorter all day-
they just ran out of popular t-shirt sizes over time.







Button, button, who's got the buttons. some from Maryland,
and some from elsewhere...the collection is growing...




My 3-cool sheep ceramic coaster



Of Course it's not a sheep & wool with out a sheep purchase
for my own personal collection...
like any of you could pass
this cutie up



and here's a close-up...



And The Yarn Goodness that came home with me in my car....

my first Socks That Rock... and yes...those hand-dyed colors rock my world...
wow and it's so soft....



Ellyn Cooper's yarn sonnet hand dyed yarn. could not get a good photo..
It has strands of sparkling glitter type yarn within the skein.





2 skeins of JaggerSpun Superfine Merino from Australia for my new summer shawl project in a gorgeous teal... Yum



and finally
Tilli Thomas beaded silk yarn sprinkled with glass beads...oh yeah...this one is exciting...