Occasional forward progress

I finally finished the slinky hat I posted the other day. It looks pretty awesome. I plan on taking pictures once I am done working today so the ravelry page for the pattern is complete. I'm pretty gratified by the response so far: 68 loves, 17 queues, and 1 other project. The people at the yarn store where I purchased the yarn (bliss yarns in Brentwood, Tennessee) liked it as well. They'll be getting more of the Zauberball in shortly, and I plan on buying a skein that is shaded black, white, and gray so I'll have a hat to go with my coat. I may buy an additional skein so I can have matching wristwarmers. We'll see.

Now that I've finished up the Slinky Hat, I am working on a pattern for a Kitteh Hat that I made my junior year of college, which was three and a half years ago. I no longer have the original, but my ravatar is a photo of me wearing it. I've gotten so many requests for the pattern that I've decided to re-crochet one and write it up. It's coming along fairly smoothly, if a little slowly. I'm so out of practice when it comes to crochet it's pathetic, and I can't do it nearly as quickly as I used to. I think I'm maybe 40% done. I've finished the crown increases and half of the ears, so it's only a matter of making it long enough.

I'd like to finish it today, but I'm not sure if that'll be feasible. I have a million errands to run, pictures to take of the other hat, and I also have a shipping deadline for the LSG traveling scarves tomorrow morning (and I haven't even started one of them. At least the other is done). Bah. Once again, I overcommit myself.

Rainbow Slinky Hat!

I have a long-standing love of slinkies, hats, and sock yarn. I designed this pattern for yarn that I fell in love with but couldn't bear to put on my feet.



Yarn: 1 skein of Schoppel-Wolle's Zauberball, or any other fingering-weight yarn with long color variegations. I imagine Crystal Palace Mini-Mochi, Noro Kureyon/Silk Garden Sock, and Kauni multicolor would work well, too. You'll need 400-500 yards, depending on how slouchy you want your hat to be.
Needles: Size 3 16" circular, size 4 16" circular, set of DPNs in size 4.
Notions: One round stitch marker.
Gauge: 28 stitches and 40 rows = 10 cm or 4 in.
Finished Size: Approximately 23 inches around, but can be blocked wider if desired.

Directions:

Cast on 160 stitches using smaller needle (preferably long-tail or tubular; the cast-on edge needs to be stretchy!). Place marker to mark the beginning of the row. Slip marker on all rows.

Work in k2, p2 rib, twisting all purl stitches, for four inches (forty rows).

Switch to larger needle.

Purl five rows.

Knit five rows.

Repeat knit and purl sections until hat is desired length, ending with a purl section.

Switch to DPNs for decrease rows:

Round 1: K 9, K2tog around. (144 st.)
Round 2: K around.
Round 3: K 8, K2tog around. (128 st.)
Round 4: K around.
Round 5: K 7, K2tog around. (112 st.)
Round 6: K around.
Round 7: K 6, K2tog around. (96 st.)
Round 8: K around.
Round 9: K 5, K2tog around. (80 st.)
Round 10: K around.
Round 11: K 4, K2tog around. (64 st.)
Round 12: K around.
Round 13: K 3, K2tog around. (48 st.)
Round 14: K around.
Round 15: K2, K2tog around. (32 st.)
Round 16: K around.
Round 17: K1, K2tog around. (16 st.)
Round 18: K around.
Round 19: K2tog around. (8 st.)

Fasten off. Weave in ends. Block to desired dimensions.

I will update this or else.

New knitting blog for my ravelry account! I know you're all super-excited.