Wrappin' it up!

Here we are at the end of June, and I thought we'd go out with a freebie.  I've worked up an easy to follow set of instructions for a somewhat quick project, and thought I'd share.  This is a perfect Beginner pattern to learn, and even better for the yet-to-begin-ner, so if you've been too timid to give knitting a try grab some needles, and let's go!

We're going to be making, what I call, the Pouch Hat since it looks a little like a sack to stow some treasures in.  It's a bit of a throw back to 90's fashion - Grunge, but cleaned up!  While I know not everyone shares my obsessive love of floral dresses over long sleeved t-shirts, clunky boots, and vulgar amounts of flannel, this hat easily coexists with trendier pieces in even the most updated wardrobe ... and is soon to be my newest favorite!

Yarn: Cherrycola by Red Heart

Materials:
Knitting needles size 9 (5.5 mm)
Yarn used in photo: (1 skein per hat)
Color: Marrakesh by Red Heart
Color: Oatmeal by Vanna's Choice for Lion Brand
Large-Eye Blunt End Needles 6-Pack

Cast on 84 stitches.

Work entire piece in Garter stitch (knit every row) until it measures 12.5" from needle to cast-on edge. 

Bind off. 

Next cut your yarn leaving a long enough tail to sew up your seam once you've folded your work in half with the wrong sides facing each other.  (How can you tell if it's the right or wrong side?  Look at your cast-on row, the right side should lay nicely with your other rows in a tight little twist.  The wrong side is "loopy" looking.)

Sew your seam, but reverse it for approximately the last 3" of your piece by turning your newly formed tube right side out, and finishing the seam from this side.  This will give you a finished looking cuff when you fold it up.

For the cord to cinch your hat, crochet a single chain, or create a single row of successive slip knots using your fingers.  The length depends on how large you want your bow to be, but a good starting point is approximately 24.5". 

Thread the tail of your cord through your large-eye blunt needle.  *Measuring down 2" from the bind-off end of your hat begin feeding your cord through the hat, skipping over 3 or 4 stitches.  I rock my bow to the side, so I didn't begin feeding my cord through the dead center front of my hat.  Using your seam as the center back guide to your hat, measure in about 5" and begin feeding your cord. 

*The cord for the oatmeal colored hat was started 1.5" down from the bind-off edge of the hat.

Weave in your yarn ends, and voila!  You've got a new hat!

Did Somebody Say...

SUMMER?!?!

The weather this weekend has been exceptionally gorgeous, and you know there's only one thing to do on such an occasion (in my book anyway)! 

That's right! Load up and hit the beach, even if it's just a little sliver along the Sound. People 'round

these parts KNOW you don't waste a sunny day inside, no matter what.  No, that's not me on the sailboat -- I wish, I'd be having a total Duran Duran, Rio moment if I had one (when I have one).  Knowing how to sail might be slightly important though...

We were landlubbers this time, well for the most part, that is!  My dad's wife teases me -- when I see a beach I act like I'm about five years old.  This is no secret!  Shoes off.  Pants rolled up.  Soaked by a rogue wave.  Not only do these things happen every time, it's just expected by now.  I wouldn't have it any other way!  Besides, Puppy couldn't have ALL the fun...

xoxo

I Scream

Admittedly not very effectively whilst shoveling this into my gullet, but still...

Sometimes vanilla ice cream just seems to solve all the world's problems ... but make it vanilla caramel swirl ice cream topped with piping hot, home made applesauce, and you've got a transcendental experience on your hands!  There's a lot happening in the bowl, and I had to be quite quick on the camera's trigger since the whole point of this dessert is for the applesauce to be hot like a fresh pie out of the oven, but to eat it before the whole thing melts into a weird sugary soup. 

I happily report: crisis averted!

Everything's Coming Up Roses (fooor meeeeEEEEeeee!)

I've never really been a roses kind of gal, but I could be if this keeps up!

The picture isn't doing it justice, trust me, the bloom was larger than my outstretched hand (spider's legs fingers included).

I had an uncle who loved roses, I'm not really sure why.  He never told me.  I never asked.  But we all knew he thought they were beautiful, and they were his favorite of all flowers.  I think I can see why, now. 

There's something so safe in the reserved nature of a tightly rolled bud.  Long, and sleek; protected.  In full bloom there is also much to appreciate.  Vulnerability at its best, I think.  Delicate, open, and unafraid all at once. 

If "HERE I AM!" could be screamed without causing a sound, I think she's figured out how to do it.

By the way, if you want lots of little deliveries you're not supposed to talk about go here, and see if you qualify!

Christmas in June

Sneaking a peek at a partial Winter 2011 color pallet

I've had several deliveries this week ... one I'm not allowed to talk about (what a tease!), one I'm not ready to talk about (just a little longer), and the one seen above!  It's felt like a veritable Christmas Day around these parts, which is pretty appropriate since this last delivery is all about preparing for the holiday season on Etsy.  What has hot-pink, hairy, Muppet-like yarn got to do with Christmas, you ask?  Well, my deahs, just yoo wait and see! ;-)