Tuesday, January 13, 2009

First Knitting Project: National Championship Hat

Just after Thanksgiving, I decided to learn to knit. I liked the idea of a creative outlet that mandated sitting still for a few moments. So Rose poured me a cup of tea and taught me how. After much post-kid-bedtime swearing, I finally got the hang of it.I was ready to try a pattern. I decided to make a hat for Papa--he sort of got the short end of the crafty stick at Christmas. Besides, I knew he'd love all of my first-knit mistakes. I began this project when he was invited to the BCS National Championship, in hopes that he'd wear it to the game (because you need a skull cap in Miami, of course). I realized I had screwed up irrevocably, would never finish it in time, and unraveled the whole thing (which was oddly gratifying). I started over as we cheered our alma mater to victory, he from the stands and I from the couch. I finished it on an unexpected road trip over the next few days. It provided the perfect chicken soup for my soul.I used Alex Zorn's Hot Head from Stitch 'n Bitch, The Knitter's Handbook as a springboard. This is a simple K2, P2 rib that was very forgiving with the chunky yarn. I adapted her colorway in the name of school spirit and changed the pattern a bit.

MATERIALS USED:
--1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky yarn, charcoal
--1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky yarn, indigo
--1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky yarn, pumpkin
--size 10-1/2 knitting needles
--yarn needleSo here it is, wonky mattress seaming and all. Papa loves it, and promises to keep his ears warm on his next nighttime four-wheeler ride up north.

5 comments:

gana said...

you rock!! love it!

Corynne Escalante said...

wow! it looks great! go you! inspiring, too. i'm too timid to try to actually make something. i've only knitted in a straight line so far. :-)

Liz ~ A Natural Nester said...

Girl, when you put your mind to something, look out! I got some major catching up to do, as my needles are still resting from that first stitch-n-bitch (and I'm still bitchin'). lol.

welcome home.

Anonymous said...

Hey that looks really good. I hope to make the hubby a beanie as well..... one day....

Anonymous said...

Well done! I knew I should not have been at all surprised that you would be knitting hats so soon after calling me one day and uttering the famous words, "I think I want to learn to knit."

I started knitting myself a pair of slippers last night. Must be the cold weather that inspires cozying up on the couch with a couple of sticks and a ball of yarn.