This winter I knit a new hat for my husband. I've knit him several hats since I began knitting 7 years ago and its pretty much always the same hat, knit again and again and again. Why argue with a man who knows what he likes?

Each hat has a ribbed brim, long enough for folding up AND covering the ears, stockinette body, not too loose, not too tight. I've created my own pattern for this (don't worry, I'll share it!) and its a pretty standard recipe. Yet every time I knit one of these hats, I rewrite the pattern. I make just enough changes that it feels like a different hat. My latest creation was a mix between my last set of instructions and this hat, which I sampled the crown decrease from. 

I'm very happy with how it turned out! 

And so is he!

Here's what I did:

Cast on 72 sts, with size 9US needles and joined to work in the round [please note, you may decide to use a different needle size with your choice of yarn to get a hat that will fit the wearer's head!]. 

Knit 5” of 2x2 rib. 

Switched to stockinette stitch and knit 4.5”. 

Begin decreasing: 
[another note: because the decrease instructions were written for another hat with 70 sts, there will be an extra st before the decrease in 2 repeats. i places these evenly apart - beginning and center - and you can’t even tell.]

1. Next Rnd: *k5, k2tog*, rep from*
2. Next Rnd: knit.
3. Next Rnd: *k4, k2tog*, rep from*
4. Next Rnd: knit.
5. Next Rnd: *k3, k2tog*, rep from*
6. Next Rnd: knit.
7. Next Rnd: *k2, k2tog*, rep from*
8. Next Rnd: knit.
9. Next Rnd: *k1, k2tog*, rep from*
10. Next Rnd: knit.
11. Next Rnd: k2tog until 6 sts remain. Cut leaving a long end. Weave end through remaining sts, gather together and fasten off.

The yarn I used was Cascade Yarns 128 Superwash Chunky. It's super soft, cozy, and took just one skein!

Sheepapalooza!

I took a break from city life this past weekend to visit some friends, hear some squealing piglets, pet a 4-day-old lamb and enjoy a foggy day at the farm. Nothing beats Sheepapalooza! 

I started knitting a little something green....

Audrey In Unst by Gudrun Johnston, a sweet little cardigan that I think will look great with sleeveless dresses in late summer/early fall.

The yarn is Green Mountain Spinnery Simply Fine. I don't often knit with variegated yarns, so I am really enjoying the different shades that pop up in each stitch.

The yarn is spun and dyed in Vermont -- the Green Mountain State -- and all the fleece is sourced from New England sheep. Another thing that makes this sweater "green"!

Hope you're all enjoying the first few weeks of Spring!

a flurry of hats.

This winter hasn't had much to offer in terms of snow and cold weather, but that hasn't stopped me from knitting some warm and woolly hats.

For these two hats I used Lion Brand's Chance of Flurries pattern and a combo of Cascade Yarns Baby Alpaca Chunky and Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande, both wonderfully squishy, soft and extremely warm yarns.

It's fun to mix and match colors for the hats, then top them off with a perky pom-pom!

I've also been working on Norby, a sweet little Brooklyn Tweed pattern by Gudrun Johnston. The yarn I'm using is an angora/wool blend that is soft and light with a little halo. I've had it sitting in my stash for about a year and was thrilled to finally find the perfect project for it. Don't you just love when that happens?

not much to say

....about this sweater.

The pattern, the yarn, the sweater itself are just fantastic! Acer was fun and easy to make, no modifications needed, or troubles had.

Since I finished this in December I have been wearing it an awful lot! Something about the classic fit and neutral color makes it perfect for just about everyday.

I think that the grand total cost for knitting this was somewhere under $30. Not bad for a cardigan that will get a lot of wear. Cascade 220 is a very affordable option for %100 wool lovers and holds up with quality and comfort!

The buttons were purchased at Windsor Button in Boston, MA, a craft supplier downtown that has an exciting selection of yarns (everything from Madeline Tosh to Lion Brand!) and an even more exciting selection of buttons! Their staff is also super helpful and will take the time to pull out every box of buttons that interests you from the wall behind the register. I almost want to knit to more cardigans just so I can continue shopping for buttons :-)

I'm excited to knit more of Amy Christoffers' designs, especially after my success and satisfaction with Acer, but for now I am focusing on some smaller projects like accessories and gifts (so many birthdays this time of year!)

I guess I had a few things to say after all! Hope you're all enjoy your winter projects, knitting the short, chilly days away...

winter's here... and a question about storage

I swear the next thing I knit will not be from Quince! ;-)

maybe....

I finished Agnes just before the cold weather really hit. Knit from Quince and Co.'s Puffin (colorway: gingerbread) it's a dense but comfy sweater in a simple, classic design. I should have probably knit down a size, cause this is pretty big on me, but I love wearing it like an oversized sweatshirt, sitting in my kitchen watching the snow come down!

--

Question for you knitters (and non-knitters, too!) How do you store and organize your finished handknits? Mine are in piles, baskets, drawers, and bins -- all over the place! As I finish more and more big projects and sweaters, I am seeking out some sensible, tidy, and pest-proof storage. Any recommendations for favorite systems, products, or just ideas, please feel free to share. Thanks!

think pink!

"...think pink and the world is rosey-red"

I am not typically one for cowls, but I loved the stitch pattern here and the opportunity to work with Quince & Co. Puffin, which I picked up on a recent trip to Maine. I knit this for a friend's birthday in November and really love it.

State Street Cowl pattern found here.

Quince & Co. Puffin found here. I chose pomegranate and I love the shade! Pink may be my new favorite... and it's got me singing this song!

happy new year!

Spent the last week of 2011 in one of my favorite places, reading a great book, taking lots of walks and wearing my finished Agnes sweater.

Hope 2012 brings you all continued peace, love, happiness, or whatever you are seeking.

Hooray for a new year!

...

All photos taken with iphone/instagr.am, by me.

winter knitting.

some almost-finished sweaters and an almost-snowy sky.