January 2022

I hope your Christmas and New Year holidays were wonderful!  I wish I had the excitement I once did.  I know the grandgirls loved Christmas!

New changes have happened since my last post.  I have retired.  With more time on my hands, I get little done.  I am sorting through all my material possessions.  I have given some items away and I sold some.  I have also added a couple of new possessions.  Here is one:  

 

My new sewing desk.  I have wanted to make this purchase for years.  I love the gingerbread trim. 

I have been knitting away on a new hat pattern.  The first hat 

came out perfect.  The second one grew when I washed it.  The third one I made into a ponytail hat and it came out great!  I did go down 2 knitting needle sizes.  

The first hat made:

The second hat made:

The third hat made:

I will be making one more hat to perfect the pattern.  What do you think of this hat pattern? 

My nephew and mom.  Mom turned 90 on 9\11.  Don't they look alike?  Yes, there is a size difference.

When I travel from my home to my mother's, I see many interesting homes.  Wouldn't you love to live on Honey Lane?  All I can think of is the song Penney Lane by the Beatles.  That song is in my head! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7syIxQCquo

This is the beautiful home on Honey Lane.  I tried to show all of the lovely fall foliage.

I also see abandoned homes.  I always think of all the dashed dreams and aspirations the people had.  What happened?  Where did they go?  Have you ever watched Youtube videos where people look at abandoned homes?  Some of the occupants left with a meal on the table.  I understand how people become ill, pass away, or maybe run from his or her past. What would make someone leave mansions behind? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qiwQjsdbDc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wLpX8mw9j8

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsMJZWLaa7E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27YB4LttlHs

Thank you for viewing!  Dawnie

lane.  

Hats, Hats, Hats!

I am continuing my hat making kick.

 I should have chosen subtle yarn so the design would show up better.

 Mohair and yarn knitted together.

My granddaughters and I have matching hats.

Thanks for viewing!  Dawnie

More hats to warm cold heads this winter..............

Thank you for viewing!  Dawnie

H A T S

Not long ago I purchased a hat kit from Jimmy Beans Wool.  It was

https://www.jimmybeanswool.com/knitting/yarn/JimmyBeansWool/BoobieBeanieHatKit.asp?showLarge=true&specPCVID=88023

This got me in the mood to make more.  I gave 4 away, so far.   Then I switched to knitting and made the rest of the hats in a version of the watch cap.  This pattern has been around for 100 or so years.  When switching from the ribbing to the stockinette or stocking stitch, I go up one or two needle sizes.  Ribbing stitching is always larger than the body of the hat.

https://seamenschurch.org/sites/default/files/sci-watch-cap-itr.pdf

I like to watch the podcast Chelsea Pearls.  They discussed making hats using a carrier yarn of lace weight mohair and silk blend.  I don't know who started the fad, but it carried on and many different wool dyers have laceweight mohair.  This is a link to a recent podcast.  Ahe has a beautiful yarn store, but it is a little far for me to drive to.  (Redbank, New Jersey)

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_2fEot3b9E

I made a hat very similar to the watch cap and used a multi-colored wool and a lace weight mohair as a carrier yarn.  On the top part, every 5th row, I only used the mohair.  This gave the hat a little-striped effect, however, it is not easily noticed.  On the next hat, I used the same mohair, but the wool was worsted weight from Plymouth and it was in the color name lipstick.  I picked this out for my grand-daughter who loves to wear lipstick and her favorite color is pink.  When these two yarns were knitted together, it made the yarn a little more of a cherry red.  I crocheted the edge in the mohair yarn and put I an embellishment on the top of the hat.

The hat I am making at this time is the Cookiegate colorway from Chelsea Yarns.  Luxe Superwash DK Merino and Luxe Mohair with 72 % mohair and 28 % silk.   Mohair without the silk added is too scratchie for me to wear close to my skin.  The hat is very, very soft.  The Merino is brighter than the Mohair blend.  The Mohair blend reminds me of antique lavender and mauve colors.  Anyway, when you use gray in a blend, it makes the color duller.  I think I could use a gray pompom for the top, or maybe a natural fox.  There is a small amount of a cherry red popping out here and there.  I may be able to even use a cherry red pompom.

What are you working on?  After the last blast of cold, I decided my close friends and family needed to have a warm hat.  Years ago I made hats for all of my friends and family every year for Christmas.  It has been at least 10 years since I made hats.  I guess it is time for me to start again.  I hope they wear them proudly.

Do you notice the stripes on the top of the hat on the right?  The kit is the one in the very center with the mauve colored pompom.

Grandbaby's hat

                     

Thank you for viewing!  I hope you all have a warm and blessed holiday season!  Dawnie

What is on your hook or needles?

What is on your needles or hook?  I am trying to make hats to warm all the heads around me.  

WIP/ Work In Progress  Tea Cozy waiting to be lined.  

Hat for a friend.  (Skull Cap)

Hat for my son.  He liked the multi-colored pom pom.

My hat.  This was a kit from Jimmy Beans.  Breast Cancer Awareness

Early fall at work.

                                     

                         Am I the only one that can't get enough pumpkin spice latte's???

Thanks for viewing!  Dawnie