Odds and Ends

I've been working mostly on larger projects for the past couple of months, but have done some smaller ones during that time, too, just to make a change.

One of the larger projects I recently finished was my blue and cream poncho. I used two fingering weight wool yarns for this and I still have more left on both cones. I decided to use some of the cream to make a lightweight hat. I have one that I made a few years ago using self-striping sock yarn (light blue, medium blue, purple, and forest green) and I wear it all the time in spring and early autumn. I expect I'll get a fair bit of use from this one, too.

To make this, I used 2.75 mm (US size 2) 16 inch circular needles and the fingering/sock weight yarn to cast on 144 stitches, placing a marker, joining, and doing 2x2 ribbing for a few inches. Then I switched to knitting around, doing a purl round every once in a while to add a bit of texture. I decided on this one to keep going further than I usually do so I could do rapid decreases instead of the more gradual decreases I usually do. This made a more gathered crown, which I quite like.

Usually for a hat like this, I would start the decreases earlier and begin by doing k10, k2tog all the way around, k around the next, k9, k2tog around the next and so on. For this one, I started with k6, k2tog around, k around the next, k5, k2tog around the next and so on.  Happy with how this came out, but it's in the drawer for now and I am still wearing heavier winter hats.

Bill mentioned recently that he would like another scarf. I nodded and started thinking. Neither of us mentioned it again, but I decided on the yarn and stitches to use and cast on, leaving it on his pillow when it was done.

It has a very autumnal feel to me. It was hard to get the colour decent in the photo--kept coming up as bright pink! For this one, I did garter stitch (knit every row) with evenly spaced purl stitches on the wrong sides. I used the same stitches for this kitchen towel, where it shows up better.

I've also done a bit of gift stitching, but that stuff has not yet arrived at its destination, so I'll leave it for another day! For now, I have 2 main larger projects on the go using more cones of yarn--one knit, and one crochet. Both can be easily picked up and put down without worrying about losing my place, so a few stitches here and a few stitches there makes some progress. And it's a really nice way for me to end my day--upstairs, listening to interesting podcasts or nice music and knitting for a while with a nice big cup of tea. Some days, I really look forward to that time!

I hope Tuesday is wonderful in your neck of the woods.

Share