Hat Cast On

Honestly, a hat cast on is a big liar! You cast on, and look at the measly stitches and think, "there is no way in hell this will fit on an adult head, no way, nuh, uh!" You fret and worry, and think it's is just crazy. SO sometimes you rip it out, and re-do the cast on so that it looks like it will really fit an adult, and then you have to re-do it all anyhow for whatever reason. Sometimes though you just cross your fingers and hope that somehow it will relax and stretch and then you will have a lovely cast on that fits any normal sized adult head just beautifully.

This was one of the times I just didn't believe it, but kept going. I was dubious, especially since this is going to be slouchy in the end. It looked toddler sized...but I continued...and what do you know!

Seriously? Not adult sized, no way! Color is best in this photo.

Oh, okay. I see. Much better.

Relaxed and squishy and stretchy.

Pattern is the Belugah Slouch Hat, yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd's Worsted in a one of a kind color from their fab mill sale. Needles size 6, and size 9 US.

Excuse me, did someone say something about a mystical element known as "gauge"?

Isn't that kind of like fairy tale stuff?

For those of you who actually swatch, move along, 

nothing to see here. 

Another Hat, Another Circumstance

I recently found out that one of my coworkers is quite ill, requiring a frightening surgery.

She is young, far too young to have to deal with something as serious as this.

I don't know her, well, not at all. I am a knitter, and this is how I can express my sympathy and hope in such a situation. I have asked around and others have suggested brighter colors, so I am digging through the stash today and looking for something good, and soft, and bright. I like to use Lorna's Laces Shepherd's Worsted since it is machine washable and the last thing she needs to worry about is handwashing wool.

The pattern I will be knitting is: Belugah Slouch

Mystery Sock Still Mysterious

Spoiler Alert...if you've come this far, be warned!

I knit both of my cuffs in time, then Clue #2 for the leg clue came out. Holy cow, how many rounds?

...and then...

I got sick. A cold, the flu, I don't know.

No time, no energy, no ability to focus on charts.

Today was better, so I finished one leg AND heel, because, yes, Clue #3 came out before I had made enough progress on Clue #2.

Crummy photos, because I still feel cruddy and devoted my energy to knitting.

Lovely Lorna's Laces!

Like my fancy sock blocker/tube of hand lotion?

Mystery Sock 2013

SPOILER ALERT!

Just in case you don't want to ruin the Mystery.

I am so excited, it's time for the Through the Loops Mystery Sock once again! What?! You've never heard of it? Well then, let me explain. Fabulous designer Kirsten Kapur, of the fab Through the Loops blog, designs a sock each year with no image or sample shown.

You get a clue the first week, to start the cuff, the next week is the leg, etc.

Until 5 weeks later you have a finished sock, or two if you're really on top of the game.

Even though I enjoy the Mystery Sock immensely, in the past couple of years I have only

managed to finish 1 pair of socks. Last year I was derailed by poorly dyed yarn.

The year before I was unsure about the colors pooling, and the poor socks just languished in the UFO pile.

Keep your fingers crossed for me this year!

Adorable picot cast on, took a long time because counting is HARD!

Cuff 1 of 2 shown, but both really are done.

 Yarn is Lorna's Laces, Shepherd Sock in Fjord, a lovely, lovely light blue.

A Little Late...

Every year I make Grandma Martha's gingerbread. When I was a child I had a babysitter who was very, very old - Grandma Martha. She used to bake gingerbread, and I LOVED it. Sometimes she would have a horse shaped cookie in the pocket of her calico apron (always neatly pinned to her dress) for me,

and when she would give me a cookie, it totally made my day. 

When I got older I asked her to share her recipe with me, and luckily she did. I made some changes, tripling the spices and icing them. I later inherited her cookie cutters - a horse and a chicken and a flower.

Cooking up the dough.

Rolling and cutting, making the most of every square inch!

Fresh out of the oven, smells like spice heaven!

I have to have lots of horses and chickens.

The big snowman is another favorite.

Icing completed!

It is just not Christmas if I don't make these cookies. A little late this year, but they are here. Every time I eat one I am filled with nostalgia, and yes, they still make my day.

Happy New Year!

2013 is the Year of the Snake.

Sweet snake figurines from my dear friends in Japan

Even though snakes scare the daylights out of me, the Year of the Snake is supposed to be good. 

Snakes represent wisdom, intelligence and self-control.