Project #11

December 19, 2008
It's the first snow storm of the year. I am sure it will not be as beautiful as last year's snow thunder storm that I very accurately photo documented. Besides it's only a snow storm. I almost feel like last year meteorologists did not accurately identify the phenomenon. My building is perched on a hill and I can see the storm very well outside my living room window. Anyway project #11 is for my friend Masha. I don't have the yarn yet. It's a lacecap from knitty.com by Adrienne Robson but my instructor changed it around. I feel like she just does it because she simply cannot not change something around. With her everything is removed and rearranged, buttons are ripped off and new ones are sewn on, pieces of sweaters are removed and new ones are added and she has this one sweater where I have no idea what she did to it. She flattened it or something, or maybe it was a shawl and she made it into a sweater. Anyhow this is the pattern.. sl1, k1, psso, yo and k4. I should stop while I am ahead because I said I hated k2tog and I hated ssk so she actually made it psso. Except I said I hated #9 needles and I hated plastic and she totally did not accommodate for that factor. In addition she said had I paid attention in class I would have known that after #8 needles start being plastic because they are too heavy to be metal which only confirms the fact that even needle makers do not like to go past #8. I said I do not remember her telling us this, and Heidi said "Why?" and it was funny because then I said "Why don't I remember?" She actually wanted to know why #9 were plastic but Heidi is a teacher so "Why?" coming from her could only mean one thing in my mind. Anyway I left Heidi and the instructor and went home. The instructor said that it would not be as much fun without me but she was not saying the truth, besides Heidi and her will manage just fine.

January 4th, 2009
Hat. I started it again for the millionth time. I hate the yarn but I am on Row#5 of pattern and did not make a single mistake so this is keeping my motivation in check.

6:04 PM
I am hating this hat. I had to undo everything because I cannot see enough to put the stitches back on after I make mistakes.

January 5th, 2009
I restarted it again, I don't even know what time this is .. it's definitely over 20 times. I did 5 holes and then I am not sure what the instructor wanted me to do. I thought the holes would continue to slant, but the way she has it for me, they start a little away from the 1st set but like to the right and not in the center.. so not sure what she meant, wanted etc as usual. Will ask tomorrow if I go.. well actually today since it's 1:08 AM on a Tuesday the 6th already.

January 15th, 2009
I tried this hat again. I have to say after knitting with discontinued Berroco Mohair, this yarn suddenly seemed really great. I tried making the holes bigger and screwed up but before I screwed up, I did not think they looked so great anyway. I cannot figure out why they look so good on the scarf and so bad on this hat.

January 18th, 2009
Started the hat again. I think I can finally do it. I can now stop anywhere and know exactly where I left off. I am wondering if I have to relearn that every time I do a similar project. It's been exactly a month since I got the yarn. It's like everything fell into place but only today? I moss stitched the bottom in my poor attempt to defy the instructor who asked to rib the bottom. Anyway it's like some magical intervention took place. I don't even hate the yarn..


January 19th, 2009
6:00 PM



This is not bad at all. I hope I do not jinx this whatever that means. Note the opening photo in this blog.. what was that all about? And "that" lasted almost a month.

January 20th, 2008
Done. The top is goofy because I ran out of yarn.. plus I spent 5 hours doing 10 rows over and over again. Long story. The hat is adorable, as always. My friend R said that the instructor and I have a "ridiculous dynamic". I think this is the best description yet. I started on another hat and the instructor told me not to come back until I have 5" done. I am wondering what have I said today? I feel like I there is a choice of several things. Masha said a new hat from an old friend is just what she needs. I guess this means post office for me.

Pattern:
[This is the first full pattern by my instructor that I have here] Wonder if anyone can follow this..
4.72=1 on 8"
Cast on 92 for the above gauge
Multiples of 6 plus 1 knit on each edge for sewing
Make a rim of some sort: k1, p1 or garter or something that would be tighter then the body of the hat
Row#1: *sl1, k1, psso, yo*, k4
Row#2: purl
Row#3: k1 *rep*, k3
Row#5: k2 *rep*, k2
Row#7: k3 *rep*, k1
Row#9: k4 *rep*
Row#11: skip the 1st hole [there is no room to make them]
Row#13: same as Row#1
Continue the above until the hat measures about 6".. I think we did a little less.. maybe 5 and 3/4th

Decrease:
Stop 1 stitch before the slip stitch, slip 3 onto the right needles knit wise and knit them together then yo and knit 3, on the next RS you will have knit 2, next RS knit 1 and next RS knit 0.
We did this but then at some point there was not enough yarn so when there was nothing left to knit after the 3 slip&knit stitches [the path was knit 3 together, and then you subsequently had 3-2-1 to knit before you got to the next 3 together ..] we stopped making yo.. and as a result the top is wavy. After we stopped the yo on the next RS row we knitted 2 together minus the 1st and last stitch, and were left with 16. I think normally you would continue to yarn over until you could not do that anymore and then the top of the hat would not wave and you would be left with less then 16.

Finishing:
Pull the top in tightly and sew 7-8 times in and out at the stop going in a star motion. Then sew either from the top down or from the bottom up depending on where you have left over yarn. Make sure the hole designs form a continuous line when you put the seam together.

Yarn info:
Smart Mohair by Berocco
I did not like knitting with this at first because it has a tendency to split
FIBER:
41% Mohair, 54% Acrylic, 5% Polyester

BALL WEIGHT:
1.75 oz / 50 g

BALL LENGTH:
108 yds / 100 m

GAUGE:
4 sts = 1"
16 sts & 20 rows = 4" (10 cm)

NEEDLE SIZE:
10.5 (US) / 6.5 mm

CARE: Turn sweater inside out and place in sweater bag. Machine wash on delicate cycle in lukewarm water with mild detergent. Lay flat to dry.

January 20th, 2009
I tried to take photographs of the hat. Not very photogenic as usual.




January 21st, 2009
5:44 PM
Shipped the hat to New York about an hour ago. All I have left are these photographs. I really hope it fits. In conclusion I would like to say that after this project I lost my fear of knitting hats on straight needles. I used to think everything I made would come undone and if something could be done on round then I would chose that option but knitting hats on round needles is absurd. I think this blog's direction should be changed.. as in more useful and less blabber.

10:25 PM
Hat is in the mail.. I really really hope Masha can wear it, that it's not too wide, too short and too cold and that she does not notice the waves at the top. I told the instructor that the hat is cute and she said ".. and you gave me such a hard time about this hat!" .. and that I did do.