it's been awhile

wow, it's certainly been a while since i last posted.  i should probably give an update of what i've been working on or have finished over the last year.

i just finished my first ever pair of gloves WITH fingers!  my lovely friend, caitrin, gave me a couple skeins of koigu kersti merino crepe...YUM.  i used the ringwood gloves pattern from knitty.  they have such a great texture to them, i love it!  there's nothing quite like a pair of gloves custom made to fit your hands :D

i've also made a hat that become one of my all-time faves.  i used the columbia beret pattern & the ever-delicious manos del uruguay wool classica...i LOVE that yarn.  i call it "manos: hat of fate", a play on the title of a fantastic episode of MST3K, manos: hands of fate.

i'm STILL working on xmas presents for last year.  i'm so bad.  i made the mistake of taking a break from knitting BEFORE i moved, not taking into account that my knitting time would be replaced with packing/unpacking time for a few months...ugh.  at least now i'm living with my amazing boyfriend, can't complain there!

toodles!!!

panda hat

so this is my first knitting pattern that i've "published."  i hope you like it.

difficulty:
easy

finished size:
22" circumference, 8.5" height

materials:
~ berroco cuzco [50% superfine alpaca, 50% peruvian wool; 130 yd/119 m, 3.5 oz/100g] naturale, 1 skein (MC)
~ berroco cuzco [50% superfine alpaca, 50% peruvian wool; 130 yd/119 m, 3.5 oz/100g] troll, 1 skein (CC)
~ US #10.5/6.5mm 16" circulars
~ US #10.5/6.5mm DPNs
~ tapestry needle

gauge:
16 sts  and 24 rows per 4"/10 cm in stockinette stitch

directions:
CO 60 st with CC.

join in the round, carefully not to twist stitches.

k1, p1 ribbing for about 2 inches.

break yarn & switch to MC and knit in stockinette stitch until hat measures about 7 inches from cast on edge.

decreases:
row 1: *k8, k2tog; repeat from * until end of row
row 2: *k7, k2tog; repeat from * until end of row
row 3: *k6, k2tog; repeat from * until end of row
row 4: *k5, k2tog; repeat from * until end of row
row 5: *k4, k2tog; repeat from * until end of row
row 6: *k3, k2tog; repeat from * until end of row
row 7: *k2, k2tog; repeat from * until end of row
row 8: *k1, k2tog; repeat from * until end of row
row 9: *k2tog; repeat from * until end of row

cut yarn, leaving a long tail.

use a tapestry needle to slip the tail through the remaining stitches in a loop, dropping the stitches from your needles, & pull the top closed tightly.

pull tail down through the top into the inside of the hat & weave tail through nearby stitches to secure it.

weave in ends.

ears:
CO 13 stitches in CC.

knit 6 rows in stockinette stitch.

decreases:
row 1(RS): *k1, k2tog; repeat from * to the last 3 stitches; ssk, k1
row 2(WS): *p1, p2tog; repeat from * to last 3 stitches; ssp, p1

repeat until 7 stitches are left; you will end on a WS row.

purl one row.

increases:
row 1(RS): *k1, kfb; repeat from * to the last 2 stitches; kfb, k1
row 2(WS): *p1, pfb, repeat from * to the last 2 stitches, pfb, pl

repeat until you have 13 stitches.

bind off, leaving a long tail; you will be using this tail to sew up the seams.

fold in half to make the ear, inside-out.

use the tail to stitch around it into one double-layer ear.

turn rightside-out & sew it to the hat.

weave in ends.

for the second ear, repeat!

congrats!  you've now finished your panda hat!  enjoy!!!