The Morgan Hat

I promised my mom that I would knit her a hat, something unique. What I cam up with is a reversible cap with a stylized brim. Decide which side you like, and wear that side!



The brim takes the most time, and, quite frankly, it's not all that tough. From there, it's just stockingette stitch with a few decreases here and there. It's also a hat that would work equally well for a man (although, not in pink, like here). I would, however, cast on 4 to 8 stitches more.

The Brim is made from a lovely reversible pattern that you can see above, and the reverse side below. The reverse almost looks like a cable, but it is just a series of knit and perl stitches.



I used a recycled dehaired angora coupled with Lion Brand cotton to create a chunky yarn. Other appropriate selections would be Extra Fine Merino Chunky by Jaeger or Newport by Classic Elite.



Gauge: 16 stitches/4 inches
Yarn: Heavy Worsted Weight
One Skein ought to do it
Needle size: one 10-1/2 circular or 4 10-1/2 dpns

ybk = yarn to back

Cast on 88 stitches.

Brim:
Rows 1, 3, and 5: P
Row 2: *P2 tog but leave stitches on LHN, ybk, Ktog same 2 stitches, rep from* to end
Row 4: P, *P2 tog but leave sitiches on LHN, ybk, Ktog same 2 stitches, rep from * to last stitch, P

Continue rows 1 - 5 for 3 inches.

Place stitch marker at beginning for rows.
Next row: *P7, P2 tog, rep from * to end
Remaining rows: P

Continue in this manner for 7 inches

Crown decrease:
Row 1: *P6, P2 tog, rep from* to end
Row 2: P
Row 3: *P5, P2 tog, rep from* to end
Row 4: P

Continue in this manner until 6 - 8 stitches remain. Run yarn through remaining stitches, ties off, and using tapestry needle, weave tail into knitting.

Viola! You are done

Note: When knitting the decrease rows, you may find a few extra stitches at the end of the row. Perl these, then continue with pattern.

Hope you enjoy the pattern, let me know if you have problems, and have fun!

New Super Yummy Yarn

I've been working hard here at Howard Knits recycling beautiful yarns.



This supersoft, wonderfully colorful yarn reminds me of party streamers. It's a cotton, acrylic blend that would make a great hat or mittens and hold its shape well because of the addition of the acrylic. 435 yards available for $9.00.



The most absolutely luscious yarn that I have ever had the pleasure to recycle, this beautiful silk / viscose / alpaca / cashmere blend will leave your fingers happy. 310 yards of this sport / DK weight yarn available for $17.50.



Buttery soft merino wool / angora / cashmere blend that would make the coziest, yummiest hat or mittens. 220 yards of worsted weight yarn for $10.00.



I LOVE this yarn! It is the perfect inky blue tweed acrylic / wool / angora blend. It's fuzzy, chunky, perfect for a great scarf or, well, anything! 425 yards for $9.00

I also have laceweight cotton, virgin irish wool, super soft red angora, and many others, and multiple skeins of most. I love this yarn, and I'm sure that you will, too!



Took some time to decorate tha mantle today. It's really starting to look like Christmas here!

Flights of nerdiness, yarniness, and general overtired momminess.

It seems like my life is endlessly busy, but I am sure that this is the plight of all moms. Yesterday, I was constantly doing three things at once - helping Tim launch his online business, No Sweat!; he manufactures what are basically cedar sachets for odor and sweat control in such items as boots (motorcycle, hockey, etc.), gloves, and helmets (they are also good as a moth repellant - I keep one with my wool fibers). Anyhow, he has gaps in his computer nerdiness, and as I am the head nerd in this house, I work on most of the online aspect of the business. Did I mention that I am studying A+ (a lot of which I already know) and trying to eventually get my Microsoft Certification?


Why yes, I am, thank you!

Then there is also the yarn recycling, which has it's own learning curve. I'm learning that it's just not worth the time to buy sweaters with machine sewn shoulders - you don't get a good amount of yarn. Angora, no matter how yummy it may be, leaves your clothing covered in fuzzies and is extremely fragile. Wool, as you know, likes to felt, and so the 100% wool sweater that looks perfect, like no felting action has ever occurred is still difficult to unravel as the individual stitches micro-felt (my own made-up term). But it is still addictive and I really like doing it, and Tim seems to appreciate it as well as he pulled out his box o' sweaters and donated a few to the cause (I made him keep his cashmere, though. I believe the number one commandment of sweater recycling should be "Thou Shalt not unravel a perfectly wearable cashmere sweater lest thou hadst the desire to suffer deep yarn remorse forevermore").

Kendall has a competition coming up next weekend in which she is skating three programs and has multiple costume changes. She has been stressing about getting everything ready for it. Last night, I cut a "Flashdance" sweatshirt for her (she is skating to "Flashdance: What a Feeling") and felt like I was back in middle school. She looks great in it, though.


You know the sweatshirt. You probably had one. Wanna make another one? There are great directions here.

And now synchronized skating season is on in full force. If you aren't familiar with synchronized skating, think synchronized swimming except on the ice. I am becoming a total skater mom, with the "my kid skates" decal on my car, the fleece "Team Chiller" pull over, and sacrificing my Sunday nights to synchro practice, which, for Kendall, goes from 4:45 to 8:00 p.m. The cool thing is that I get some kid free time to knit or read or just veg. If you think I'm totally insane and there just couldn't be such a thing as synchronized skating, watch this (it's only 3 minutes, it won't kill you):



This is Miami University (of Ohio)'s 2009 World Synchronized Skating Championship short program. Groovy, eh? Well, Kendall sure seems to like it, is excitied about the travel (Detroit! Oxford, Ohio!), and is improving exponentially the longer she is on the team. Go Team Chiller!