Another Pumpkin Hat

And here's the next one, modeled by a very well-behaved peanut butter jar:

Pumpkin Hat

One pumpkin hat done! Pictures to follow as soon as I get more batteries for the camera...

Now, pictures!

Skull Hat, Part 3

Here's the final version:



I like the skull pattern. I'm not too pleased with the size/shape of the hat. And I don't like the extra thickness from the inner earband - it's too visible. Mind you, it's being modeled on a HUGE head, so it may look better on someone else.

At any rate, I'm going to make another one with blue skulls and a black background and see if it's better. I'll skip the earband on this next one, and make it out of a wool/acrylic blend instead of pure wool. We'll see how it goes...

Skull Hat, Part 2

Progress! It's way cool. And there's an extra layer behind the skulls to keep one's ears warm - neat technique.



(Pattern is from here: Skull Hat.)

Skull Hat

I got bored waiting for the Booga Bag to dry, so I've started one of these hats: Skull Hat. I'm doing mine with a black background and red skulls. I'll put up some in-progress pics when I get home...

The Long and Winding Road

A. got free tickets to the Chihuly exhibit at the DeYoung museum in San Francisco a little while back and invited me. So I went. Because Chihuly is that dude whose glass flower/amoeba thingies we'd always go visit at the Bellagio when A. and I would go on road trips to Vegas to visit Granddad. The Bellagio is also where we'd walk around the indoor garden then order Margaritas in our favorite lounge, sit and watch the people go by, and then steal the glasses.

When A. and I got to the DeYoung, we found out the morning showing was closed and we'd have to wait for the late afternoon one. Naturally, we went to get tea at Samovar, and then went to the knitting store across the street, Imagiknit. Then we went back to the DeYoung early because we knew it was going to be crowded.

Being early, we checked out the other exhibits. There were some spiffy bits of glass (pics or links soon) and other stuff including African and Mesoamerican art. I walked past the figurine I'm currently obsessed with, and then had to walk back and take a picture. After that, the Chihuly exhibit (pics or links soon). Way, way too crowded for my taste, but I enjoyed it. Which is quite a tribute in its way.

The little Moche figurine has stuck in my mind. Specifically, his helmet. How cool is it? It's all spirally. And wavy. And 2-colory. It must be knitted. That is all.

Which of course means lots of thinking and visualizing and what's better for that than searching the Internet and asking everyone you know, online and otherwise, what they think would work? I'll be learning how to crochet a 2-color spiral, because it's a possible solution. Crochet seems chunky to me, and I want the hat to be smooth, but what do I know about crochet at this point? Not a whole heck of a lot, that's what. So I'll learn.

And I need to do something with the wavy hat. Obviously, I need to knit it and get a feel for how its structure really works. But then I'll be wanting to draw out ideas about it. And I'll want to put those images on this blog. But alas, I have no Photoshop. Sure, I could draw on paper, then scan the image, but only have a scanner at work. People at work wouldn't mind, but I hate having to depend on that. Besides, it's cheating. So I downloaded GIMP tonight, and I'm reading the user manual and looking at some tutorials. Learn, learn, learn.

"The way you do anything is the way you do everything." I don't know who said that first, and I don't always believe it. But tonight I do.

And did I mention that A. had me drive from home to Golden Gate park in S.F.? First time since learning to drive stick shift. We made it without incident. This may have been helped by the fact that I hit all green lights on the one steep road we went on, but whatever. Luck is acceptable.

Hat, Hat, Hat!

Oh my gosh. Check out this hat.

And check out more variations.

I think I can do something with this. More to follow.

The Hat I Want, 3

Here are 2 excellent links from Amy - they're cut off in the comments in the post below, so I'm reposting them: How To Crochet a Three-Color Spiral and Kneeling Warrior image from the de Young's website.

And here's another vessel that's kind of similar. (You can see the back of this one.) From what I've been reading, that thing on the back is a stirrup spout, but I have no idea why you'd make a spout that shape. Does it serve a practical purpose, or is it a matter of style? Anyone?

Also, I don't know what period the first one is from, but this second example is from between 400 AD and 1000 AD according to the de Young's website. They're both Moche pottery. Neat stuff.

The Hat I Want, 2

So I'm thinking the hat is a 2 color spiral, like this.

But how to get that effect in knitting? Ponder, ponder. Any ideas? I could crochet it, of course, as I have an excellent crochet tutor! And maybe knit the border. Huh. That's an idea. I still want to try to knit it, but heck, I could do 2 hats. Because learning to crochet that would be very cool.

The Hat I Want

It's not that I'm obsessed with stripes, although the last few posts might certainly create that impression. It's just that stripes are following me around at the moment. The pic below is from a Meso-American exhibit at the DeYoung museum in San Francisco. I should have gotten more details than that, but I just want to knit a hat based on the helmet he's wearing. How cool is that going to be???

Followup to Conversation with M

I showed the picture below to M today while we were hanging out at a bookstore. Although I like both the hat and the scarf, I was secretly hoping that M would give me another bit on post-apocalyptic grannies. But no. This hat meets with his approval. There's just no knowing, is there?

[From "The Knitting Man(ual), by Kristin Spurkland.]

Conversation with M...

...while watching an episode of "Inpsector Lynley."

Me: Ooh, look Sweetie, this guy's wearing a cool knitted hat. Come look and tell me if you think it makes him look homeless.

Most knitted hats that I like, M hates. Says they make him look like a homeless person.

Him: Hmmm. Let me see it in action.

Me: OK, I'll rewind it a bit...

Him: After watching. Definitely makes him look homeless. Well, maybe like a homeless guy whose nice granny knitted him a hat.

Me: So you mean he looks homeless and he happens to be wearing a knitted hat?

Him: Yes - but the hat makes him look even more homeless.

Me: How? It's got cheerful stripes!

Him: The shape of the hat is too utilitarian. Like a bowl.

Me: So if it had a pompom on top it would be all right?

Him: Well... it would be better. Or if the brim folded up or something.

Me: I still don't get it. How can it be too utilitarian?

Him: Look at it. It's just a hemisphere.

Me: But it's a hemisphere with cheerful stripes!

Him: That's where the granny comes in. Looks too post-apocalyptic.

Me: With stripes??? Multi-colored cheerful stripes? Knitted by a granny?

Him: Maybe she's trying to cheer him up. Or maybe her mind is gone and she doesn't know the world has ended and that's the way she knits hats.

Me: ...

FYI, the hat had a ribbed (2x2? 1x1?) brim and stockinette body. It had chocolate brown stripes alternating with colored stripes - from bottom to top, muted red, light green, cream, light yellow, light blue, and muted red again. Brim and crown were brown. Hat went halfway over the ears. Stockinette part looked a little blurry, so maybe wool? I think I'll make one just like it for myself, and not share it with M. So there.

And here's the best picture I could get - camera used to take pic of tv, high-tech stuff! The colors are off, of course.

Baby Hats & Blanket

The shawl is taking a break for now. We moved to a new apartment a few weeks ago, so no energy for complicated knitting.

But it's just as well, since a couple of friends are going to be having babies. One is due around Hallowe'en, and the other in mid-January. So lots of baby hats! These 5 are for J.'s kid. I may be making more hats for for P.'s.

The hats are knitted from the top down, and I made up the patterns as I went along. They were all done on US 10 1/2 size needles, using the magic loop method. I used Vanna's Choice 100% acrylic in various colors, although the yellow is in Vanna's Choice Baby, also 100% acrylic. The two blue hats are actually a bit darker than they appear in these pics.

P.'s kid will get the black and white blanket that's on the needles right now. (See last pic.) This blanket is from this spiffy pattern: Op Art baby blanket pattern.

I'm doing it on US 7 size needles. I started it with the magic loop method, switched to knitting in the round on two circular needles, and now am working on one circular needle. The yarn is Plymouth Yarn, Dreambaby D.K., 50% acrylic microfiber, 50% nylon.

Click the link for videos of the magic loop method and knitting in the round on two circular needles.

Grey Hat

Hats are a good project when I want to relax and not think too much about the knitting. And when they're done I can always save them for the Dulann Project if I haven't got another home for them.

Here's my latest hat. It's done in 1x1 ribbing with more of the grey mystery yarn from Mom, which is approximately DK weight. I think I did this one on US5 needles. I mostly used DPNs, but I also experimented a bit with the magic loop technique.

Hat! (Friday, February 22, 2008)

Almost forgot about this one - a hat for A. made from dishcloth cotton. I think the hat looks especially cool on her cat. FYI - I used this pattern. Didn't quite manage to follow the pattern, but my version works too.