More Hats, Plus . . .

Six more hats . . . I think that brings us to twenty hats done? So maybe 1/3 of the way? I'm really not sure anymore -- although I once estimated that I had 66-hats-worth of the mohair, I've lost some to waste, fraud, abuse and experimentation.

Individually, these go very quickly. Like a little knitting snack. Maybe two hours per? I think probably less.

But on the whole . . . Well, I'm considering joining the Slogalong. For moral support.

For the green hats, I've used Cascade 220 Superwash. The yellow and red are in Lamb's Pride. I think that the Lamb's Pride will ultimately be warmer, but it has less yardage per skein, so there's always a danger of running out before the second hat is finished.

And here's the plus:




Posy?




Blocking?

Haaaaa! Take THAT, Japanese Lessons!!! (I should probably admit that I made no progress with the Japanese the entire weekend. The Japanese and the fancy knitting really do seem to be mutually exclusive.)

I'm still a little worried that I'll have a Freya Redux.

I'm pretty sure that I knit the right size this time. (Or at least chose the correct size to knit.)

But knitting Posy requires that you have a very special relationship with your tension. She is lace, so it is a little difficult to re-check your tension whilst knitting.

I did do a swatch, all those months ago, which was absolutely perfect.

And Posy's back looks to be just right.

But over time, I must have knit tighter and tighter, because the front is simply not as wide as the back.

Again, Lace. So there's perhaps more forgiveness in it than there otherwise would be.

But still . . .

If it doesn't fit me right, it will probably fit Mom perfectly.

Again.

I suppose blue is her favorite color . . .

Gah!

Hat!

I think this is #14?

Hat!

Well, That's It, Then

The Resolution? Kaplooey!

As you well know, I haven't really been working on those Dulaan hats.

But I keep plodding along with the other knitting. (I think I'm finally down to 10 ongoing projects, although I won't swear to it.)

And I got to thinking, "Gee, whenever I *do* finish Posy, I'll want to start a new sweater for me."

And although I have *plenty* of yarn for about a billion (okay, okay, 30. yes, seriously, 30) sweaters already in the stash . . .

Well, the sweater that I really want for myself right now (and have wanted for a good two months, so I figure the love is real) isn't something for which I have stash. (Probably because the yarn, she is not cheap.)

And I've held off and held off and held off on ordering the yarn, you know, because a.) not cheap, and b.) I'm supposed to finish those Dulaan hats first.

But still I don't knit the hats!

I give up!

I ordered the yarn.

(And then, floodgates open, I ordered other yarn that I've been thinking about forever, too. Kureyon 170 . . . delicious!)

This time around, I just not feeling the resolution. (Probably because I'm working hard on that new "will you just *try* exercising, damn it!" resolution.) So it really is over.

But I'm going to see how much headway I can make on those hats before the new yarn arrives.

Certainly, I won't be done with them.

Unless my bad karma strikes again and the yarn is stolen? (*WHY* did this not occur to me before I ordered it?)

Think I can refrain from casting the new stuff on until the hats are done?

Hrm.

Anyway!

In other news, those Hokusai socks are almost done. I rushed through them because I was afraid I would run out of yarn (same yardage as Socks That Rock), and I wanted to buy that last skein at the LYS if I needed it. But if I didn't need it . . . well, this yarn too is not cheap. So they're all done except for the kitchenering and the ends . . .




And LO! I'm sick of them. Back to the project pile with you!!!

In *other* other news, its probably time for you to meet the cotton garter squares baby blanket.




This is an off-and-on project started last fall during all the crazy. Now it only needs sewing together and borders. And ends woven in. So it might be a while yet.

Guess how many "ongoing projects" I have in the hopper that only need finishing details and their ends woven in?

THREE.

(Unless I've forgotten something, which seems likely.)

Might be a pattern here . . .

It seems to be all-socks, all the time around here:




I really like this yarn -- Great Adirondack's Silky Sock in the "Stormcloud" colourway.

I think it might fade a bit, though, because it is turning my needles just a skosh blue. Erk.

And it probably should be handwashed. Double erk.

But I still like it.

Reminds me of Hokusai.




Why so many socks? And why are they so . . . plain?

Well . . .

My brain is gone. (Yes, dears, I had it removed. So refreshing!)

I'm even having trouble with ribbing.

(Took me TWO DAYS to get through that heel you see up there . . .)

Normally I wouldn't bring non-knitting stuff into the knitting blog.

But it is clearly affecting the knitting.

So, here you go.

Apparently, the part of the brain that manages the fancy knitting is the same part of the brain that one uses when learning a new language.

Japanese, this time.

Not that it is going well, but it could be going a lot worse!

We'll see how long this phase lasts . . .

You might never hear about it again, because right now, about all I can do is ask you where the train station is or invite you to have a drink 'at my place.' (Yeah, smarmy.)

On the other hand, maybe someday everything will just click, and I'll be able to translate all those tasty crafting magazines.

But for the time being, I am nearly incapacitated, knitting-wise.

Maybe "they" should do a study? Develop a miracle pharmaceutical? I'd pay good money to get my mojo back . . .

Posy is just sitting there, nearly done. Nearly! But I can't touch it. Because if I can't handle "Knit 3, Purl 1," I definately can't handle Posy.

Argh.

In other news, those clogs took forever to dry . . . but they are really toasty!

You know, you think, oh, these are made of wool, probably they'll be warm . . . .

But you have no idea how warm until you try them on.

Very nice.

And just in time for winter, eh?

Spring Has Sprung

And I am back. Mostly, anyway.

There has been knitting. I finished all of the remaining pairs of socks I began last fall:

From left to right: A modified "Gentleman's Fancy Sock" from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks in Trekking 100 (took more than one skein, can you believe it?); Feather 'n' Fan in a Meilenweit cotton blend (can't find the ballband); plain ribbed oversocks in another Trekking Ombre (another missing ballband); and Elfine's Socks in Koigu.


Sadly, not one of these is for me! Two for Mum, one for the Doctor, and one for Someone Else.

These, however, are for me:

(Dry! Dry, Damn YOU, DRY!)


Pattern is Fiber Trends' Felted Clogs; yarn is Lamb's Pride.