Finished My Valentine Hat Project

Nothing much to say but "it's finished!" though a bit big... maybe I can make a smaller one.

Decreasing Time...

About four rows to completion, I discovered I made mistake so I decided to get some break.  When I return a few hours later, I found one of the DPNs has slipped off and a few stitches dropped!  Being a novice at this hobby, I can not fix it without unraveling a few rows.  Luckily, I only have to drop two rows when everything made sense again. For some reason, I had difficulty using the magic loop technique with the circular needle so I had to switch back to DPNs... or I am just trying to find an excuse to use my DPNs again.  I think using DPNs makes you feel like old school and look cooler!  Like a knitting ninja!

But I am a little bit unhappy on how the size turned out.  Well, I did knit the M/L size (96 cast on) instead of the XS/S size (84 cast on).  My first simple ribbed beanie hat was also 96 cast on and it fits nicely.  But with the pattern for this new hat, the fitting will rely considerably with the brim and should be made tighter. Maybe I will feel a little bit better after I blocked it.  Anyway, here is the progress:

K4... TOGETHER?!?!?

About a month ago, a friend of mine saw my first beanie hat project and asked me to make her one using a pink yarn. I thought of a slouchy or beret type using brioche pattern.  But I am having such difficulty knitting brioche in the rounds.  After several failed attempts without having much of a progress, I decided to search for an alternative pattern at Ravelry.com and found this one:  Ruby Red Heart Hat.  I thought the heart pattern motif is perfect for the valentine and the pink yarn.

I started the brim using US3 DPNs (double pointed needles).  But since I don't have US8 DPNs for the rest of the hat, I had to switch using my circular needles.  Then, when I was at Row 3 of the pattern, I was surprised to see a K4tog and sk4p!  I thought K2tog (knit 2 stitches together) was difficult enough to knit, but a K4!!!  The pattern must be kidding!  Well, I did try knitting 4 stitches together at the same time but after a few strenuous failed attempts, I decided it was impossible!  There must be a trick to it.   

Unfortunately, internet was down the whole day and I can not consult Youtube.  Then I remember a video I have seen before.  I think it mentioned something that passing stitch over is like knitting stitches together... or something like that.  I tried looking at samples of K2tog and tried to imagine what a K4tog would look like. After a few minutes, I figured out a way to do K4tog one stitch at a time:  K1, return the stitch back to the left needle, pass or slip the next 3 stitches over the returned stitch, the pick the K1 stitch again with the right needle.  YATAAAA!!!  K4tog without so much stress on the yarn, the needle, and on my fingers!  Well, at least I think I did it right.  Below is my progress so far:

I hope I can finish this in 5 days or less so I can make more...

Valentine Knitting Project

I have taken up knitting as my new hobby.  I thought knitting will be a great addition to the list of homesteading skills I am trying acquire.  The past few days I've been searching for a new project after finishing a lacy shawl for my sister a week ago (which I may blog later).  I think I have finally found one at Ravelry.com last night:

http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/freeKnittingPatternRubyRedHeartHat.asp

I think this will be a good Valentine project.  My brioche slouchy will have to wait for another while....