Once More with Feeling

I finished the second of the emoticon hats just as the temperature plummeted and every leaf in Chicago leaped to its death. Overnight it became autumn. The sky is grey, people are cranky, and I have gorged myself on pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks until my blood flows with nutmeg and allspice.

Thank goodness I have a hat to keep me warm!

Like I said in my previous post, when this hat finally materialized--when I finally found the right yarn and the right chart and had the patience to really work out the ins and outs of the pattern--it turned out so much better than I imagined. And the response it evokes from people is incredible. Something about the carefree silliness of emoticons mixed with the coziness of a snug winter cap catches peoples eyes. Even Eric who mocked the idea when I first proposed it has begrudgingly admitted these hats are cute!

I finally posted the pattern last night, after wading through about 20 different versions of the smiley-face charts, a million proofreads, and the other woes that come with copyediting anything. In a fit of insomnia I managed to post it on both Ravelry and Etsy so you, too, can have a smile on your face and your head!


Pattern Specifics:

Once More with Feeling:
a distinctive winter hat with modern flair

Size: one

Measurements: apr. 18" in diameter, unstreched

materials: Caron Country: 25% wool, 75% acrylic. 3 oz/ 85g, 185 yds/170m. 1 ball Claret (#0017), 1 ball Naturally #0007).

Size 3 16" circular needles
Size 3 DPNs

Gauge: 6 st and 8 rows / 1" in stockinette
Not only is this hat super cute and incredibly fun to knit, it's a great stash buster. I got 3 adult hats out of 3 skeins of Naturally Caron Country; two red earflap hats and one white beanie. I'll definitely be making more of these in the future!


I'll probably try to release a child's version of the beanie in the near future, but for now I'm happy keeping this hat all to myself. I hope you enjoy it too!

Emote

I've been house-sitting this week, and will be for a few more days. Even though I'm not working much right now (more on that later!) housesitting is a bit of a vacation. Lots of cable TV, wine, and takeout food. Most importantly, however, housesitting has allowed an idea that's been bouncing around my head for ages to finally materialize.

Smiley faces. On hats. What could be better?

Probably six months ago (if not longer!)I had the inspiration to knit a hat with emoticon symbols on it, taking the idea of a traditional fair-isle earflap hat and/or beanie, and turn it into something uniquely modern. I actually knit the whole hat, earflaps and all, in a dark blue and light lavender, which in retrospect was the start of the failure. The hat ended up too big, I hated the colors, and I frogged the whole project, forgetting about it until a few weeks ago.

I still had the emoticon symbols charted out on my computer, however, so starting last Wednesday I began playing around with a few balls of yarn. All I can say is I'm in love! The pictures here are of the beanie version of the hat; the earflap version is on the way. I've already gotten two custom orders from family friends, and I'm hoping to post the pattern on ravelry and etsy soon enough.

Stay tuned for a more detailed post, but in the meantime, don't forget to smile! (or frown, or wear sunglasses, or gasp, or cry, or be angry, or...just emote!)

I do not have cankles

Contrary to what these pictures may lead you to believe, I do not have cankles. Really. All ankles here.



But, we have a foot! Yes, my Q sock is the proud owner of both turned heel and beginning of a foot. You can see my mods - the slip stitch pattern on the bottom of the foot, and the continuation of the tumbling blocks on the top. I'm thrilled with it!

I pretty much can't wait to wear these, and I couldn't wait to declare my love to the whole world.

Q, I love you.

Q me, baby

First off, this is what four episodes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer,and three episodes of Desperate Houswives will get you (besides a headache.)


14 inches of what well may be the Coolest Sock Ever To Grace This Planet. Or, Q from Knitty.com.

I am so in love. I finished up the leg on the first one, and am ready to start the heel, but this baby needed to be blocked badly. "Within an inch of it's life" would be an apt description. So to the floor she has gone, while her mate graces my very small needles.

I also want to try to modify the pattern a bit. I don't like the solid foot and ankle; it ruins the visual flow of the pattern, so I'm going to try to avoid them. I'm thinking solid heel and toe, with the pattern continuing on the foot. I wish I had thought of this before I ordered the yarn, so to make sure I have enough of the CC (peach), I'm going to knit both legs first.

Fun fun fun!