I’ve wanted to make this hat for a very long time! I originally cast on last winter with borrowed needles, and then had a terrible time with it. Long story short, I frogged the half of the hat I had managed to complete (certainly *not* while cursing and fussing at it, I assure you) and gleefully stuffed the yarn back into the stash for later.

The needles I had been working with were *just* big enough to go round the hat, which made knitting ever so difficult. There was much smooshing, pulling, and frightful language. I went ahead and bought myself some new tips to go with my KnitPicks Options set, and cast on again last month. Oh, this hat just flew by; I had an extra long cable and just pulled the extra cable out between two stitches as I went around the hat. Lovely! My only issue when working with this hat is that I start thinking that knitting through the back loop is normal… and that’s fine, unless I’m also working on something else. So, I didn’t; problem solved!

I’m looking forward to cooler weather so I can run about in my hat. One of my boys keeps stealing it from me; perhaps I have another Koolhaas in my future. Hey, at least I have the needles. How about you – any new favorite knitwear or quilts to keep warm this winter?

Details:

Started:	12 Sep 2009
Finished:	26 Sep 2009
Pattern:	Koolhaas by Jared Flood over at Brooklyn Tweed
Yarn:	Valley Yarns Northampton – Dark Green Heather. It took less than a skein.
Needles:	KnitPicks Options in US 4 (3.5 mm) and US 6 (4.0 mm).
Notes:	Ravelry Link for the project.

These socks have been done for a while now, but under wraps until I could deliver them to my sis. They are a basic 2×2 rib sock pattern, worked toe up with an eye of partridge pattern on the heel.

I worked toe up so that I could make ridiculously long cuffs without fear of running out of yarn – K. likes to roll her cuffs down.

2×2 patterns are nice and stretchy, so it’s almost guaranteed to fit your recipient. I was nervous with this pair, because they almost fit me, and my sis is a size and a half up from where I am. However, the fit was great! Simple ribbing is great car or conversation knitting. I was also not about to do complex lace or cables with this beautiful, busy yarn. Why put in the work if no one can SEE it? That said, I moved right on to some cables on my next project so as to wake up a little.

I had to throw one more photo in – this is a detail shot of the eye of partridge heel. I love this heel pattern with handpainted yarn!

Details:

Started:	21 Aug 2008
Finished:	2 Aug 2009
Pattern:	Toe-up, 2×2, eye of partridge heel, gusset increases done as in Hubby House socks. See notes section for numbers and measurements.
Yarn:	Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino (yum) in Tropical Storm
Needles:	US 1 / 2.25mm
Notes:	I have detailed measurements jotted down on a piece of paper somewhere; I’ll add them when I find it!