Better

Things at home have been much better. And peace is starting to come over this family of mine for a little bit, at least.

Tonight, I was browsing some shops of aquaintences and I saw something that has made me upset. Legally, there is nothing I can do about it but still it is upsetting and disappointing.

I'll move past it but I am allowing myself to feel upset and giving myself the right to be upset. I am human, after all.

Look What Came From the Mail Fairy!!!

So today my post lady has been promptly been named the mail Fairy!!!! This is 3.32 oz of yummy Angora goodness from Handspun Harvest ! And yes, even though I currently have 3 spinning WIPS (one reason why I am not allowing myself to buy anymore spindles) I just had to start spinning it. I have spun angora before but not by itself. I have spun a superfine merino/angora/silk/angelina mix that I handcarded at one point before I sold my handcarders. But it takes a little practice spinning 100% angora. But it is so so soft!

I love you Pineapple!!! And I covet all of your and your brothers and sisters lovely fiber goodness! OH so soft!!!! I intend to ply it with some other roving I have here. Not sure which. I have quite a bit to choose from. But I still have so so so many more Christmas presents to finish knitting and crocheting!!! I just wish I had more time.

Dear Love,

I know you feel I ask/expect too much from you. But the task set before us is great and requires much strength of heart and mind. I never ask or expect more than I expect from myself and if you could read my mind.

Then you would understand that what I expect from you is so much less than what I ask of myself.

Please try harder love. For all of our sakes.

Love always,

Rebecca

Under the weather.

Well, everyone is not feeling well today. My DH is sick with some stomach virus and is running a fever (yuck, am not looking foward to washing the toliet). And I am not feeling 100% . Very tired starting around 7ish instead of 9ish and my stomach has been queasy. And both girls fell to sleep early and even my 5 yo was complaining of being tired around 2 pm.

So I hope they, at least, do not wake up pucking their brains out at 2 am like they do when they get a stomach virus. And I plan on working on these hats and scarve sets until 10:30 ish and then it's off to bed.

Angora

Because my DH pissed me off. I broke my no spending vow until after Christmas and bought 3 oz of Angora from Handspun Harvest .

Isn't Pineapple beautiful???!!!!! Did you see that gorgeous fawn colored fluffy goodness. I ADORE ANGORA. I think I will try and grab Mary's fiber in December too.

Mmmm, I wonder if she would ever consider doing a rent a bunny type thing like they do with sheep where you pay so much and you get all of the bunny's fiber for a year.

That would be sooo cool since we are not in a position for me to care for rabbits and I am terrified of the possibility of wool block. That is what is stopping me from buying one.

Well, at least we are alive.

Inspired Hat

This is a design I made inspired by the Kiwi Hat. It came about because I love baby cables and also I was attempting to make the Jack Hat which would have been my first top down hat ever but I got frustrated and discourage with the whole top down way and said hey, I can make it up and go bottom up. Well, I know with my gauge and how I wanted it to fit an adult and what started out as a Jack Hat from the bottom up turned into something else so here is what I did.

Please bear with me I did not take notes and am attempting this from memory.

My gauge is 26 stitches x 18 rows = 4” x 3” in 2 x 2 ribbing with worsted weight yarn and sz 8 circular needles.

Cast on 84 (long tailed cast on) with sz 8 16” circular needles.

1) 2x 2 ribbing for 18 rows.

2)*Skip first stitch, knit 2nd stitch (leave stitch on left needle), knit skipped stitch, slide both stitches off left, p2* repeat around.

3 & 4) k2, p2 around

5-10) repeat 2-4 twice.

11) Repeat 2.

(You can make the hat smaller by decreasing the number of k2,p2 rounds)

(I am still working on this section, I forgot what I did, so it looks like I have to knit another hat to remember how I did the shaping. )

Shape Crown

12) K2, p2,k2,p2,k2, p2tog around (77)

13) K2,p2,k2,p2,k1,k2tog around (70)

14) Skip first stitch, knit 2nd stitch (leave stitch on left needle), knit skipped stitch, slide both stitches off left needle, p2, Skip first stitch, knit 2nd stitch (leave stitch on left needle), knit skipped stitch, slide both stitches off left needle, p2, k2tog around (63)

15) k2,p2,k2,p1,p2tog around. (56)

16)k2, p2, k2, p2tog around (49)

17)Skip first stitch, knit 2nd stitch (leave stitch on left needle), knit skipped stitch, slide both stitches off left needle, p2, Skip first stitch, k2tog (leave stitch on left needle), knit skipped stitch, slide both stitches off left needle, around. (42)

18)k2,p2,k2tog around (35)

19) k2, p1, p2tog around (28)

20) k2, p2tog around (21)

21)k1, k2tog around (14)

22) k2tog around (7)

Cut about a 6 inch piece of yarn and thread it through the rest of the stitches. Cinch up hole tight and finish off.