Summer knits, as I have come to find, should be quick, easy, and mind-numbing. As much as I try to coordinate my yarns with the seasons, I find that so-called summer yarns (the cottons, the hemps, the linens) do not tempt me as much as their woolen cousins. This is the primary reason why the Cherry Cardigan and the linen Perfect Fit Skirt have slowed down to a snail’s crawl, because quite frankly, I just love knitting with wool. As the temperature rises to the 70s and 80s, it is easier for me to turn to miniature wool projects, like socks and hats.

Pattern: Embossed Leaves Socks, in Interweave Knits Winter 2005

Materials: Sz 1 DPNs, 2 skeins of Koigu KPM 1205

Notes: No modifications to the pattern. I love this shade of yellow almost-solid Koigu, and the pattern is easy to execute. I’m not too crazy about the star-toe, although I admit it was exciting to try something new. The socks are a little loose on my sz 7 feet, but I think it’d make a pair of comfy house socks this winter. Koigu on your feet is luxury. This FO brings a bounce in my steps!

Pattern: Felicity (PDF Pattern Link) by  Wanett Clyde

Materials: Leftover Cascade 220 wool in shade 7814 from my Biker jacket, Sz 8 DPNs

Notes: Truth be told, I did not follow this pattern at all. I loved its simplicity, and just CO 84 sts and increased to 100 sts at random and knit straight for 5.5 inches. At the time of knitting, I wasn’t sure whether or not I wanted the slouchy look that the original pattern provided, so I just did a CCD decrease (slip 2 as if to knit, k1, psso) in every round until I bound off the hat. I still like the FO, but I think I’m going to make a real Felicity hat in the future. This shortened and heavily modified version produces horns. Ha ha. This is what I get for butchering a perfectly executed pattern.

Next we have a striped beanie made from one of my secret favorite yarn. Secret in the sense that I love it, I hoard it, and yet, I haven’t made an entire sweater out of it. Learning my lesson from Felicity Shortie above, this time I wanted:

• Non-curling edges (and yet, no garter, and no knit hems)
• Stripes
• A little texture
• Easy memorizable pattern
• Not slouchy, and yet not constrict-your-circulation-tight hat

We shall discuss this Stripey Tweedy hat recipe in the next post. Until then, happy summer knitting.

The right side…

The inside…

Pattern:

Komi Hat by Charlene Schurch

Materials:

Harrisville New England Shetland (loden blue, cream white and cocoa brown), Sz 0 and 1 needles

Notes:

This is my second Komi hat. The first one walked out of my apartment with a friend who was supposed to take an action shot of the hat on her snowboarding trip to Mammoth. Days turned into months, and now that summer is finally giving way to autumn, what better way than to knit an improved version. My first Komi was a little too long and too loose, so I cast on 180 sts using Sz 0 needles and skipped the increases for the adult hat. When it came time to switch to the patterning, I just switched the needle size to Sz 1. The first round of pattern begins at the Child Size section for me. Eh voila! Much better fit.

I have finally cast on for Demi, and have finished both the front and back, and one sleeve. I love the texture, the bobbles (3-st bobble) and the color. Can’t wait to finish this one.

Sometimes you see a pattern and you think of how cool it will be after you tweak it a little, and you get cranking. And then instead of the recommended yarn, you sub it with something else that caught your eye. And then you block it and await for the final moment - the moment you stare back at yourself in the mirror.Dude that’s not how I envisioned it.
Oh well. At least the yarn was nice to play with.
Pattern: Mobius Hat
Materials: 1 skein of Cascade Sierra (80% pima cotton 20% merino wool 191 yds), sz 7 needles
And the leftovers are good for a set of 4 coasters. David the Gnome approves.

Edit to add: Front View

The possibilities are endless…. preparation for future projects
Harrisville Shetland (900 yard/cone): White, Loden Blue, Cocoa
Harrisville Shetland: Washed and wound into cute yarn cakes
Komi Cap blocking…
Words later…

I don’t know about you gals, but me, I’ll be the first to admit - my hair and I don’t get along. Some days it’s sleek and straight, other days, it’s this. Can you see the weird ass curls that seem to have a million directions? Yea, there’s no taming that. See I fall asleep in my damp hair many a nights, so the top is flat while the bottom flares like wildfire. Quick, must find a way to cover up the bad hair day. Amelia Earhart to the rescue - again. This time, in size 8’s and one ball of KFI Cashmerino in teal (55% Merino, 33% Microfiber, 12% Cashmere). This is the third time I made this hat, and I finally get to keep it. And yes, that’s Raspy I’m wearing. Loving it too.
Around 9-ish tonite.. I decided that I’m in the mood for some soup. I wore my new hat, totally working it as I walked to the restaurant for take-out, and totally working it as I drove home - window down, of course. Gotta feel the wind in my hair. Two seconds later, I discovered that I had totally locked myself out of my apartment. Oh shit. The landlord does not live in my apt complex, and I’m too cheap to call a locksmith (The last time I did that it cost me 100+ buckaroos - think of all the yarn I could have bought with that money… yes I think of money in terms of balls of yarn). AHHH… what did I do? Hm, let’s see. First, I uninstalled the mesh screen from my window (had to fight through the thorns of the evil rose bush standing right infront of it), propped the window open, and crawled through a foot long crack. Then I found my keys, went out again to re-install the mesh screen, and came back inside, relieved. Whew, that stealth operation was worth at least two bags of Rowan yarns…..
Mari tagged me for a meme. But that will have to be another post. Stay tuned….