hats hats hats

Hats are fun! I didn't know!

I've knitted a few, but they were not that fun.

but these two I am currently working on--FUN. FUN!

The first one is a Sockhead Hat: 4 inches of ribbing and then 9 inches of stockinette. Easier than pie. I have decided to double the ribbing so it can be folded over the ears, and I'm just about done with it (but I'm adding length because I always always seem to want more ribbing in my hats). Soon it will be stockinette in the round forever, which is by the way very soothing but also quite fast!

The second is my own design, but it's basically a dk/worsted version of the above Sockhead Hat. I cast on somewhere between 80 and 100 stitches, did ribbing for about 3 or 4 inches, and now I'm in the stockinette part. I actually had finished the top of it and I tried it on its intended recipient but he wants more slouch and I have plenty of yarn left (I used less than 3/4 of a skein of malabrigo arroyo or rios, I am not sure which). so I ripped out the crown and am back to stockinette in the round forever.

This is the one I've got pictures of:

see? not slouchy enough.

This is the type of knitting that's getting done lately, mostly because I can only squeak some knitting in before I fall asleep, while I am at stoplights, or during meetings.

other things I am working on:

-a linen-stitch-framed cowl of some sort in gorgeous hand-dyed sky blue cashmere bulky yarn that a friend gave me for my birthday ^.^

-a skinny Clapotis--I have less than half the required yarn so I've done fewer increase sections and will do fewer repeats. I always said I would never get into this trend, but the pattern shows off this gorgeous Handmaiden Casbah Sock in the Masala colorway very well, and I would definitely wear this as a scarf, so it is happening

-a new pair of socks for my twin

those are the active things. I'm also fixing stuff up:
-a pair of mittens for a friend that needs finishing. and probably another mitten, the first one was from a different ball and there's a noticeable difference in color between the two.

-a blanket that I've decided needs an edging--but the calculations are not perfect so it's in the *thinking* stage. wee ^.^

-a fiddly lace shawl that I really need to finish the edging on (meep. the beginning edge)

things I am avoiding:
-other socks for my twin
-socks for me
-another garter stitch blanket
-fixing the cat mittens
-figuring out the purple lace
-working on the unpleasant silk hankie mitts
-doing anything for two sweaters in progress

BUT. I am spinning. I borrowed the wheel from my friend for another week and I've knocked out 4.5 oz since Sunday night (so, you know, 32 hours). I am determined to spin some very lovely things but I need more hours in the week :D

Spinning Notes

**Spin the Bin 2015 Declare Post**

My list is quite short because normally I'm a spindle spinner, and a slow one at that. I wanted to keep it realistic and still play! I hope that's ok.

I am NOT in it to u.i.o.l.i.

I am borrowing a wheel for a week (late January/early February)

BIN LIST

1) and 2): 4 oz of Thunderboom from Dyeabolical on this weird portugese merino base
3) and 4): 4 oz of Starrenicht from ITW--my first batt!
5) and 6)  4 oz of Lanitium ex Machina's Ethereal on 100% lambswool
7) and 8): 4 oz of Fibernymph Dyeworks' 100% Falkland in the Storm Warning colorway
9) and 10):  4 oz of Fiberartemis (eee!) corriedale in the Lotus colorway
11) 2.5 oz of Hobbledehoy compost batts that'll be crazy as heck
12) 2 oz of Solitude wool Border Leicester/Romney/Coopworth blend that's been ... pin drafted? combed? pin combed? something... that I'll need to spin on my spindle to try and reproduce the first half of it that I played with a year or two ago.


FINISHED LIST
(as of 11 April 2015)
1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

that leaves the Starrenicht Batt, the Hobbledehoy batts, and the Solitude rough stuff! to be done by the end of the year :)


Notes at the beginning of April 2015:
-finishing spinning and plying the last 1oz of Ethereal

Notes at the middle of March 2015:
-progress: nada, zip, zilch.
-I am trying to clear off a spindle or two so I can at least take a stab at some of my less intensive stuff
-unfortunately the spindles are all loaded with laceweight and it's taking a lot of time
-will probably borrow a wheel again--once some work stuff is done.

Notes at the first week in February 2015:
-I followed up with my plan for the epic 3-braid project, and spun up the second half of the corriedale a bit plumper, then plied with the falkland for my second skein. That turned out well, and Falkland was 100% used up.
-I had maybe 1 oz left of the corriedale from the skinny ply (because I had to attach the end to the plumper stuff to maximize yardage), so I spun up a matching 1oz of the remaining lambswool ethereal and plied those together for my third skein. Corriedale is 100% used up
-random ~1oz of ethereal remaining--will spindle spin this sucker and maybe navajo ply it to use up every bit.

Notes at the end of January 2015:
-I finished the Thunderboom; I will have to try to get a good picture of it soon. Three plied it and it turned out pretty nice. Portugese merino is pretty scrunchy/crunchy/dense/fluffy/sproingy/lofty Idontknowhowtodescribeit.

-I started my big three-braid project by spinning the Storm Warning 100% Falkland. Then I spun half of the Ethereal lambswool and plied them together (not too badly matched on the amount leftover, either). Then I spun up half of the Lotus 100% corriedale. I haven't plied it with the falkland yet--I spun it rather thin and I am thinking I will do the second half of the singles, make it a bit thicker so it matches better the width of the falkland. then I can spin up the second half of the lambswool and make it nice and skinny and ply it with the skinny corriedale. This I hope to accomplish by the end of the week, as I still have the borrowed wheel and some opportunities to use it.
-but the first plied bit is underplied so I will have to send it back through soon.

UP TO DATE By the Numbers:
15.8 oz of singles spun up; 15.8 oz plied into a 2ply, for a total of 31.6 oz worth of treadling (well, 30.6, and 1oz on the spindle) (work those feet). I have three projects  left in my <del>bag</del> *bin*. I am honestly thinking about setting up a spindle-only bin for later in the year... but I'll just have to see if I ever get around to wheel spinning again.

The borrowed wheel has been returned to its owner, although I almost cried when handing it over.