Where did the summer go?

Its been a while since I last blogged. Blog Week in May left me all blogged out, and then I blinked and Summer was over and Fall is now here. So I thought I'd give a quick roundup of whats been happening.

In June I got married.

We bought a house in Minturn, CO. It needs a lot of love.

I also spent a fair amount of time on my mountain bike, in our tent at random locations throughout Colorado, and hiking some splendid mountains in the Rockies. There was some work thrown into the mix too - but unfortunately a limited amount of knitting.

However - now the weather has started to turn autumnal and the evenings are drawing in; the needles have been dusted off, the sofa has become my knitting haven and I have some deliciously chunky yarn on its way to becoming a cozy cowl!

Knit and Crochet Blog Week

Eskimimi Knits has organised a fabulous Knit and Crochet Blog Week - starting Monday. Seven days, seven topics - a community of bloggers all talking about elements of their craft in their own unique way. Should be interesting!

I'm thinking Reindeer !!!

After many hours of concentration, plenty of counting, and a few moments of stress - I have finished the lovely Olympic Hat !!!!

I am pretty happy with the way it turned out, except next time I would certainly remove a few rows - because even though I like slouchy - this hat is a little too long. I would potentially add a nice big bobble too!

The only question that remains is - moose or reindeer ???? I'm thinking REINDEER !!

The finished hat !!

Green Knitting

I stumbled across this great link and wonderful concept !!! Recycle old pieces of fabric such as T-shirts and pillow cases and reinvent them into something useable and fun !!! I will be digging through my wardrobe this weekend and Chris' (he'll be away on his bachelor party in Chicago - so while the cats away - I'll be taking his old holey clothes !!!) and I'll slice them up and make a ball of unique, one of a kind yarn - the only question is what to do with that - suggestions please !!!

Moose or Reindeer?

The first thing I noticed about the US Olympic team as they entered BC Place during the Opening Ceremony in Vancouver, were there wonderful hats - and then I spotted their horrendous turtleneck jumpers !! Fortunately my attention went back to the hat. Hat envy took over. The idea of making said hat was inconceivable. Now don't get me wrong..... I knit a lot of hats, but hats with moose on them (or are they reindeer??) - was very much outside my scope of practice !!!

It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I met a very lovely lady at the PT clinic where I work, who was extremely keen to find a pattern for the TEAM USA hat. A couple of clicks on Ravelry later and I stumbled across this amazing pattern by Helena Bristow. So delighted in the pattern, (and maybe my PT treatment ??) - she generously gave me the yarn needed for the hat as a gift, and said I should give it a go !!!!

So after a little visit to the Yarn Studio, and Cathy's marvellous tuition, I learned the fairisle/stranding method of knitting and my Olympic hat is now very much underway..............

I'm using Lambs Pride Worsted Navy Sailor and White Frost Yarn

Just about to start the moose/reindeer - so excited about how its turning out!

Knit yourself to good health !!

Who would have thought knitting would get so much good press and be so good for you? Interestingly I just stumbled across not one but two articles published by the BBC about how knitting is good for your health.

The first article claims knitting can delay memory loss, and reduce the risk of memory impairment by 40%. While the second article talks about how knitting relieves the stresses of modern life and how the repetitive action can create a trance like state which creates general relaxation and helps to reduce stress. So all this knitting not only makes me happy and relaxed, but also is stopping me from losing my marbles. Fantastic!

It is actually really interesting to read this because I cannot agree more with the second article and just hope the first one is correct. I would say knitting is like meditation but for someone who has a little ADHD. I couldn't possible sit still, meditating and humming to myself - I have too many things whirling around in my head - but with knitting, if I am counting stitches and repeating patterns I do get into a relaxed state and can empty my head of all the whirlyness !!! (not sure thats a word - but you know what I mean !!). Furthermore the joy of having made something from nothing is so delighting, that I'm sure the happy hormones are in over drive. So what are you waiting for - grab your needles and a delicious ball of scrummy wool and knit yourself to good health !!!

Knit your very own hat....

Snowboard season has arrived !!! Woo Hoo !! My favorite season of them all. On Friday I got to dust off my boots, bring out the new triple goose down mittens, and hang out with my lovely friends whilst making some turns at A-Basin . It was all that I remembered it to be - even with the big tumble I took because my jelly legs weren't prepared for the undulating terrain !!!! (Note to self - hit the gym before next winter season!). Probably should have been wearing my Bern helmet - but couldn't resist wearing my purple 'STIFFY' immidesigns hat - it goes so well with my pants !!!!

The 'STIFFY' hat is the easiest hat to knit - as long as you know how to cast on, knit, and decrease (check out 'you tube' for instructional videos if you don't know how to do this already).

You'll need 7mm straight needles, a wool needle and some lovely chunky wool - I like to use Lambs Pride Bulky yarn because it is super soft and warm.

My 'STIFFY' hat pattern is:

• Cast on 50 stitches.
• Knit 30 cms /12 inches in a simple garter/plain knit stitch (in this picture I knitted 20 rows in hot pink, 20 rows in limeade, and 20 more rows in hot pink, but you could do just one colour - like the purple stiffy).
• For the last row, knit 2 together, repeating this all the way till the end of the row - you'll be left with 25 stitches on the needle.
• Cut the yarn, leaving approximately 80 cms / 30 inches to cast off and sew the hat up.
• Thread the wool needle onto the remaining length of yarn, then thread through each of the 25 stitches left on the needle.
• Pull all stitches off the knitting needle, and pull the thread tight, so the top becomes gathered.
• Make sure the hat is inside out and begin sewing the hat together along the two edges. If you have done stripes (like in the picture) - make sure you line the stripes up accurately.
• Once the hat is completely sewn up - turn it inside out.
• Make a deliciously big bobble - either with a bobble/pom pom making kit - like this one from purl soho, or go 'Blue Peter styley' and make your own.
• Sew it to the top of the hat - looping the thread through the bobble and top of the hat several times to ensure a strong attachment.
• Put it on, stand back and admire your handy work - alternatively - if it looks bad buy one from immidesigns!!
  

Hats are a necessity, not a fashion accessory !!

This is my first blog - the inspiration for which comes from the view I have outside my window. I can just see at the top of Vail mountain - glistening white snow, covering the big old fir trees - if only it were 3-4 degrees cooler down here. Snow galore. Not to be just yet - but in less than a month the ski lifts will be turning once again and summer will be all but a memory. I love the winter - the reasons being:

• I get to snowboard
• All my winter friends return from there summer dwellings (that makes them sound like hippos !!)
• The crisp mountain air - there is nothing better than stepping outside the house in the morning and being abruptly refreshed by the delicious crisp air (a little advise though - don't breath through your nose cause your nose hairs will freeze !!!)
• I get to wear all my new pro-formed gear !! thank you Burton, Bonfire ......
• Shrimp mo boys and banana pudding for lunch or apres and $3 PBR's -
• West Vail trees - that magical place !!
• Pizza sundays at Matty J's
• Hats are a necessity not a fashion accessory - so I get to wear them everyday !!!!!!

That being said I've been busily designing a new ear flap hat. Made with super chunky wool, which equals a super speedy knit. White like the snow at the top of the mountain. Really happy with the result and think its my new favorite hat. I heart WINTER !!!!!