Our weekend trip to the mountains was the perfect time to knit up some quickie projects.

 

Twiggy Bobble Hat

Pattern: From Making Things blog
Yarn: Kraemer Alpaca Co. Classic Alpaca in brown
Needles: Size US 5 circular (16″)

The hat pattern caught my eye last year when I saw Sandra’s version. I had several lone skeins of alpaca in my stash, all I had to do was choose a color to work with. This particular alpaca yarn was a gift from my sister, Mimi, two Christmases ago, and it’s chocolatey color seemed just right when I was looking through my yarns. I cast on, and quickly had a hat for the weekend. I loved the bobbles, having already cut my teeth on bobbles with my Street Smart Hoodie. I also loved the purling action - reverse stockinette really appeals to me, and for some reason, it is actually faster for me to purl than to knit, so the hat was easy peasy

Some of the bobbles get “inverted”, so the dimpling effect is still there, so I don’t mind too much. Plus, the alpaca yarn is nice and warm - and quite soft. I am particularly intrigued by the yarn; it is produced and spun by an alpaca cooperative in north-central Pennsylvania. Although the label does not state it, I assume it is undyed, using the natural brown color of the alpaca fleece.

… and with the leftover yarn, I started another little quick knit…

I was originally going for a cowl/neckwarmer, but I ran out of yarn. So, the leftover yarn turned into a simple earwarmer. It will be good for the slightly chilly days of early spring - but I need extra protection against the chills during these sub-zero temperatures!

I wanted to have a completely clean slate for knits in 2008, but I didn’t quite make it… although I got close. The only true lingering knit after I finished Kris’s pullover was the Komb Afghan. This is a big project knit, so I am not hard-pressed to finish it tomorrow. However, it does feel nice to see progress on it. I really enjoy the process of making these hexagons. I have professed to love Norah Gaughan’s patterns for years, but this is the first actual pattern I have made by her… and I am loving it. I love the whole “Gestalt”-ness of it: all the parts making up a whole.

I just finished the ninth hexagon of sixty.

I love how each hexagon is unique with the variegations of yarn.

…and because I believe it is good for the psyche of the knitter, I am also working on a few quickie projects…

The Twiggy Bobble Hat, knit in Alpaca Co. DK-weight. It is a beautiful yarn that was a gift from my sister and brother-in-law. The pattern is cute, and includes two things I really like: purl stitches and bobbles. The little stitch marker is a rosebud, and was a very sweet gift last year from Kimberly.

Baby Garter pulli for a co-worker’s baby that is due in March. I liked the little stripes and thought it would be cute for a baby boy. I am making the 3-month size, so it should fit just in time for the summer months. The pattern is from Vogue’s KnitSimple magazine, the Spring/Summer 2007 issue. I am using Sugar and Cream cotton in cornflower and yellow. Thank goodness for Flickr friends giving me advice on baby knits - I am planning to modify the pattern to add buttons on the shoulder to accomodate for big baby heads