I haven’t blogged my knitting in quit a while, but I have been knitting a lot. I seem to always have at least two and sometimes three projects on the needles at any given time. Perhaps I get bored easily? Yes, that, and sometimes I have a complex project going and need something a little more “brainless” to work on.

I’ve completed a number of items since my last post. Here are the photos in order of completion.

This pattern was written for straight needles as well as circular. I actually completed it on straight originally. But when I tried to sew up the seam – ARGH! – it looked awful. So I ripped out the whole thing and re-did it on circulars after I got them. It was worth the wait as this turned out SO much better. I used Red Heart Soft Yarn in Really Red on size 8 circular needles.

This is called Ribbons of Hope Hat. It’s my first attempt at cables since I’ve started knitting again. I think a few expletives escaped my mouth as I was doing the first ones, but I caught on and it turned out just fine. I used Caron Simply Soft Light in Pansy on size 6 circular needles.

This one is called The Inside Out Knit Chemo Cap. I LOVE this one and will do more like it. It is very stretchy when done and would fit just about anyone. It’s super light weight, too. I used Caron Simply Soft Light in Hawaiian Sky on size 8 & 10 circular needles.

This is the Eyelet Rolled Brim Hat. As I was working on this one, I learned that my niece was diagnosed with breast cancer, so I thought of her quite a lot while working on it. She has had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery and is doing well – they feel they got all the cancer out. It is not yet determined if she’ll need chemo – I hope not. Our knitting group went to a yarn shop where I found this great yarn. It’s Plymouth Yarn Dreambaby DK in Salmon (135). I used size 6 circular needles and the ladies small instructions.

My next hat is the Button-Tab Knit Hat. For me, the fun part with this hat is the finishing. I learned some new things in doing it. Plus, those buttons were sent to me about a year ago by my SIL, who is a cancer survivor herself. It just added to the whole project. I used size 7 circular needles and Red Heart Soft Yarn in Seafoam.

I bought this yarn with something completely different in mind. When I realized it wasn’t going to work for that project, I decided to use it on this pattern which I’ve wanted to do for a while. It’s called Art Deco. This is the most complex pattern I’ve done to date. Every row was different (it seemed) and I had to learn how to M1. Once I got the hang of it, making a stitch is actually pretty simple. I used Caron Simply Soft in Vanilla on size 8 circular needles.

This is the last of my completed caps/hats. It’s called Hurricane Hat and was a lot of fun to make – very simple, too. It came out fairly small. I don’t know if that was my knitting to tightly or what. It fit me (barely) and I have a pretty small head. If I make it again, I’ll use larger needles and/or add on a repetition of the pattern. For this one, I used Red Heart Soft Yarn in Navy on size 7 circular needles.

I have another cap on the needles, along with two scarves I’m working on. All of it will have to wait a while, though. I’ve apparently over done it and have “knitters elbow”. OUCH! I’m hoping a few days of no knitting and some ibuprophen will get me back on track. I miss it!

Until next time: Happy crafting!

I’ve come to the realization that just knitting scarves is getting old and boring. I like a little variety in my crafting and started looking further into places needing hand-made goods. One of the places I found is Halos of Hope. Their mission is:

We are a not-for-profit organization committed to providing in-need chemo patients with crafted hats donated by caring volunteers.

I started looking at their patterns and found one that I knew I just HAD to make. It’s called “Foaming Waves” and was designed by Maureen Keenan. Here’s a photo of my completed cap.

I used Caron Simply Soft Light in Pansy. I used size 6 needles (instead of 5’s) as I seem to knit a little on the tight side. I also followed the directions for the medium size cap. It’s a little big on me, but I have a pretty small head. I have confidence that it will fit someone.

I faced a few challenges along the way. I’m not an accomplished knitter, by any means. It may have been the size of the yarn, or just my inexperience with some new stitch combinations. I had trouble keeping the number of stitches right, even though I used markers for each pattern rep. I hope it will just take practice to have those issues eliminated.

The bottom row (the cast on) wants to curl up pretty badly. I attribute that to my “tight” knitting. I think if I do this pattern again, I will cast on to needles one size larger, just to get that row a little looser, then switch back to my size 6’s. Any suggestions?

I have a couple other things on the needles. I can’t seem to do just one thing at a time. I promise to share more photos as items get completed.

Till then, happy crafting!