This week's projects

I have two more hats to show you, then I am taking a little break from hats, promise :-)

First is DH's hat in Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Chunky, shade Damp.



This took one plus a small amount of a second ball. The photo is pre-blocking, I have just washed it and it is now blocking over the glass head (Holly's bigger cousin). I'll be interested in how it looks when dry, as I was able to smooth the crown out quite flat. Good news that DH likes the hat!

Here's another 3am cable hat made in Posh Yarn Sophia 6-ply (cashmere) DK, shade Moth. I had a small amount of yarn left over from the 55g skein, which I'm not sure would have stretched to another full pattern repeat. The hat is a little bit short for me, so will be gifted to our niece.



I adapted the pattern to DK by adding another 12-stitch repeat (108 stitches) on 4mm needles. I'd say this needs at least two more full pattern repeats after those mandated by the pattern, I did one extra. However one skein of this yarn would be fine for a non-cabled hat I think.

Next up is the lovely wooden swift I received this week from Sublime Spindles:



Modelling a skein of Posh Yarn Helena DK "Jitterbug", this is a superb piece of work. The arms fold up vertically for storage, and the pegs are simply put into the relevant holes for the size of skein. I found it a lot easier to load the yarn onto this than onto the umbrella swift. To contact Sublime Spindles directly regarding swifts, drop spindles etc., you can email Moorec648 AT aol.com.

I've acquired a pile of pattern books in the last week or two. I now have Rowan 30 to 41, barring book 33 (I already had 37 onwards). Rowan themselves have a great offer at the moment, books 31, 32, 34 and 35 for ten pounds for all four. They also have three other books for 7.50 total - Cotton Rope, Beach Cool and All Seasons Cotton.

I've also bought A Season's Tale and A Yorkshire Fable from The Book Depository, highly recommended for their prices and service. I decided my first foray into Fair Isle / stranded knitting would be the beret featured on the cover of AYF. It is knit flat, which I felt might be easier for a first project that knitting in the round. I want to make the Endpaper Mitts so this should be good practice. To this end I've got a selection of Yorkshire Tweed 4ply colours from Jannette.



I also bought Debbie Bliss' new book, Summer Essentials. It contains the perfect pattern for the black Cathay originally bought for Sgt. Pepper, a sleeveless polo-style top:



There's also a pretty short-sleeved cardigan that would be a good project for the bargain lilac Cathay I got last year. I'm now going to make an effort to knit from my stash as I have a lot of PIWs! I'm not banning myself from buying yarn as sometimes offers are simply too good to pass up but I'll try to rationalise what I buy for a while. Minneimoll's latest posting about her stash really did make me think about mine!

ETA - Life On Mars is back for series 2 next Tuesday. Much cheering here! Inspired by Seahorse I have made a Gene button to celebrate, if you'd like to use it on your own blog feel free!