Hooray for Hats!
What can I say? I’m a hat girl :-) Good thing hats look good on me (at according Charla)! This week I kicked out another two hats in the evenings. Above is a no-swatch, any gauge, any size fair isle hat taking a bath in grapefruit scented Eucalan
. That was the first hat I completed this week.
Pattern: My Own Fair Isle Workshop Pattern
Yarn: Crystal Palace Créme (60/40 wool/silk, 124 yds/50 gm), 2009 Royal Blue & 2015 Henna
Needles: US8 DPNs and 16″ Circular
Size: ~20.25 to fit my 22.5″ head
Notes: Next time I’d opt for just a tad less depth. Probably as little as 1/2 inch shorter. Since it was knit top down I could have done that, but my anal side wanted a certain about of blue on the bottom and so the edges didn’t curl there is a minimum of ribbing to put at the bottom as well.
The second hat I knit last is yet another Ganomy, but this time with several mods. I want to knit a few different gauges so I’m certain my formulas for knitting it at any size and any gauge hold. I also wanted some examples of modifications that the students can see in person and handle and even try on if desired.
Pattern: Ganomy Hat
Designer: Elizabeth Zimmermann
Source: Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac
Yarn: Bulky Handspun - Frosted Pumpkin Patch (75 yds/3 oz of wool/alpaca blend)
Needles: US11 DPNs and 16″ Circ
Size: ~20″
Notes: I opted for a seed stitch edge rather than garter this time. I inverted the ssk and k2tog over the ears for a softer, less bulky line. I also increased the decrease rate on the top for a more snug fit and to use less yarn as I was nearing the end. But I really like the silhouette of the more form fitting top. I think I shall play around with that some more in the future.
I have to say I’m loving knitting hats and mittens right now! It makes me feel so productive :-) It has also been stimulating ideas and thoughts. Then there is the added bonus of it giving me something to blog about - twice in one week! Woot!
. Without surprise, both projects were quick knits that produced great results. 
, the first half of 
(from Masterpiece Theater a couple weeks ago), and many, many episodes of 
. One has to love the ability to check out DVDs from the public library! Though I have to say I am finding the way the hold system works quite confusing. I had stuff on hold that was currently checked in and several of them were check out anyway instead of going to the hold shelf for me to pick up.
and focuses on using foods as close to their natural state as possible. This means there is no white flour or refined sugars in the recipes. There is a chapter that includes info on how to stock your pantry in a natural way. The recipes are divided into four categories - grains, cooking by color, superfoods, and natural sweeteners and each of these chapters also includes more detailed info on ingredients to incorporate (or in some cases avoid) into your cooking. I’d guess if you ignore the gorgeous photography the amount of information is about equal to actual recipes.
), but it was fantastic anyway and I am thinking of ways to incorporate it into portable appetizers we can take to potlucks or game nights etc. as I think many of our friends would enjoy and appreciate this rich and complex, yet meatless dish.
