I decided to rip out my last attempt at Brookytweed's KoolHaas Hat (in Malabrigo Yarn Merino in Cabernet). I totally FUBR'ed the crown plus I should have run through the pattern a couple more times. It looks more like a Kufi.

When I finished my first gloves, I had some KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Evergreen left over, so I decided to knit a matching hat. So, several 2x2 rounds into it, I decided to try another KoolHaas hat. I've actually finished it once. I paid particular attention to shaping the crown this time, and it turned out great. But, I decided to work the pattern one more time to make the hat a little taller. Luckily, I had threaded a life line through the last row, right before starting the crown, so I just ripped back to there.

Another Jayne's Hat for my friend James who requested a large. I'm also making another large for my friend Nate. Plus, James' wife asked me to make one for her.

The last bottle cozy didn't out quit the way I wanted. So, I made another one. This was soom maroon Encore I had left over from my Maroon and Black Skull Socks. I wanted to knit a couple more rows at the top, but run out of yarn.

I forgot to post about my last KnitPicks order. I finally ordered a set of Harmony Interchangeable Needles. I don't have pics of them yet, but here are pics of the yarn I also ordered.


Volcano Twist


Inca Gold Essential Tweed


For some reason, I only ordered 1 skein of the Inca Gold on my last KnitPicks order, so this time I ordered another skein.

Here's a pic of the Bottle Cozy (second attempt). The spacing between the double cables is a little much, but oh well.

I finished my Dallas Stars Away Scarf. I started it on April 5th, and finished it today. And no, it didn't take me 2 months to knit a simple 2x2 ribbed scarf. It's just that I didn't work on it straight through. I knitted most of it during the Stanley Cup playoffs, but put it aside when Dallas got knocked out.

Yay!! My first gloves. The fit is a little off, but I think they're pretty good for my very first pair.

I've started over on my bottle cozy. On the first attempt, I didn't make it big enough. Also, I'm changing the pattern - the first attempt was going to be 2x2 ribbing; this time, I'm throwing in some double cables.

And, I'm practically finished with my gloves - I'm just weaving in the ends and closing up the gaps between the fingers. Pictures coming soon.

I finally decided to take on some gloves. The pattern is Kerri Cadd's Cigar Gloves but I finished the index and ring fingers.


They actually fit. And yes Jackie, they're inside-out ;-)~


I just need to finish the pinkys and thumbs and weave in all the ends

The pattern is Cheryl Niamath's Percy. But, I'm calling mine Mercy, since it's a man-purse. I can't remember exactly when I started this project; I think it was the first part of May.

I'm knitting a cozy for my water bottle because I'm tired of it sweating all over my desk at work. I have a couple other projects that I'm working on but haven't posted - either here or on Ravelry - but will be soon.

So far, I've finished 8 of the Mini-Jayne's Hat but I haven't decided how many more I'm going to make.

I had already offered to donate a few Jayne's Hats to Can't Stop The Serenity - Dallas. Then, one of organizers saw these somewhere and asked if I could make some. So far, I have made 8 - 4 on Saturday and I'm finishing up the 4 I started yesterday. It took about 4 hours to make 4 hats, knitting them at the same time, using the Magic Loop method.

Mini Jayne's Hat - hanging from the mirror in the bug

Mini-Jayne's Hat X 4

They're really easy to make:

HAT
- With Orange, CO 20 sts and join for working in the round.
- Knit 2 rounds of 1x1 rib.
- Knit 4 more rounds in Stockinette.
- Switch to Gold and work 4 rounds in Stockinette.
- K2TOG for 2 rounds.
- Thread tapestry needle through remaining stitches and tie off.

EAR FLAPS
- With Ranch Red yarn, pick up 4 sts on one side of the hat.
- Knit 6 rows in Stockinette.
- Slip 2 sts, K2TOG, pass 2 slipped stitches; break yarn and pull through last stitch.
- Cut a short piece of Ranch Red and thread through last stitch so there are 3 strands.
- Repeat on the other side of the hat.

POOF BALL
- With all 3 colors, make a tiny tassel and stitch to the top of the hat.

FINISHING (Optional)
At this point, the Mini-Jayne’s Hat is complete. You can also attach a longish piece of yarn (about 6 to 8 inches) to the top of the hat in order to hang it from a car mirror. Or, stitch a small magnet to the inside to make a ‘fridge magnet. The options are endless…

Yea for new stitch markers from See Jayne Knit.

Steampunk Stitch Markers



Skulls and Hearts Black Hearted Scoundrels

I also ordered some Harmony needles from KnitPicks.

32in Circular Needle Size 1 (2.25mm)
47" Circular Needle Size 1 (2.25mm)

32in Circular Needle Size 2 (3.0mm)
47" Circular Needle Size 2 (3.0mm)

Shortly after posting yesterday's entry, both my KnitPicks and Elann orders arrived. So, the following is a picture-heavy post...

From KnitPicks:

Wool of the Andes Red - 2 balls


Wool of the Andes Chestnut - 2 balls


Wool of the Andes Mocha Twist - 2 balls


Wool of the Andes Evergreen - 2 balls


Wool of the Andes MacGregor Hand-Dyed - 2 balls


Shamrock Reilly - 2 balls


Essential Inca Gold Tweed - not sure why I only ordered 1 ball



And, from Elann.com:

Sonata Ruby - 3 balls


Sonata Deep Black - 8 balls

My friend Jackie was giving me a hard time the other day because I haven't posted anything in a few (or several) days. Apparently, she gets bored at work and she entertains herself by reading blogs. She also gave another friend a hard time for not posting - check Lara's "suckage" entry of April 10th. Sooooooo, Jackie, what should I blog about...

Actually, to be honest, I'm bad about not posting unless I have an update about a project or I've bought some really cool knitting accessory or bought some nice yarn or something like that. I'm usually the same with my bug blog. Not a lot to report at this time though:

1. I've started a bath towel. It's based on the Dish Cloth pattern that came on the label of a Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton cone. I've made the dish cloth and a hand towel by doubling the stitches and just making it longer. For the bath towel, I quadrupled the number of stitches. People think I'm crazy for knitting a cotton bath towel - especially one as big as this - but... Oh, well.

2. I've knitted another Jayne's Hat and have even started another one. I'm donating one of the hats I knitted earlier to the Dallas Can't Stop the Serenity.

3.

4. I have a rock garden but yesterday, two of them died.

5. I recently made a KnitPicks order. Details and pics to be posted once the order arrives.

6. I don't think I've posted anything about it before, but several months ago, I started a sweater. I wanted to try a pullover sweater, knit completely in the round - I can't stand seaming - but I couldn't find a pattern I liked. So, I just started casting on until I thought I had enough to fit me, then started knitting 2x2 ribbing. I didn't even think about sleeves or anything, so once I got to the point where I needed to think about the sleeves, I put the project away until I could find a pattern that would work. But, I'll be able to use the instructions for the sleeves from this pattern.

That's all I have for now...

In addition to trying to get me to try Options Needles, Jackie has also been trying to get me to try knitting Continental and knitting with the Magic Loop method.

I just can't do it. With Magic Loop, my hands kept getting tangled in the loops and moving the project "forward" on the needles in order to work it, is just awkward.

And, as for knitting Continental, my left hand isn't coordinated enough. And, I didn't just try it for a few sts and give up. I did two rounds on a project with 44sts. It was like trying to knit with my right hand and someone else's left hand. But, I am going to try again, because everyone keeps telling me it's much faster than knitting English.

I just found this on Dark Roasted Blend.

I have a really bad habit of not testing/checking gauge before starting a project. I usually just grab some needles and yarn and start knitting. What can I say...? I'm a guy.

Wow, I never thought I would make that statement about knitting. "Sure, I leave the toilet seat up - I'm a guy." "Yes, I'm a pervert - I'm a guy." But, I just never thought I would make that comment about my knitting.

Swatches? We don't need no stinking swatches.

Edited to add: Oh, and another thing I'm bad about not doing is blocking. I usually just wash the FO and let it air-dry. And, that's only for clothing items. Stuff like cozies and such, I don't even wash them.