The 2012 Christmas Hat Review

Last year I decided I needed to learn something new; a new hobby.  Glass is what I do for a living and jewelry making is kind of a part of that but I needed to do something different. 

I had tried crochet when I was young and my grandmother tried to teach me.  I remember going home with a big skein of peach colored yarn and crocheting until I thought my fingers would fall off just so my grandmother would be impressed with how much I had done.  Unimpressed, she immediately noticed a mistake I made, way at the bottom, like in the third row.  She then helped me by ripping out all of my work back to the place where I had made my mistake and handed it back to me.  I handed it back to her and told her I didn't think I wanted to crochet anymore.  I also told her that I didn't want to go to church anymore either.  I thought it was as good a time as any to mention the church thing since I was talking about things I didn't want to do anymore but I must have seemed like a strange kid to her. 

Anyway, I took up knitting last year and set a goal to make scarves for everyone in the family.  You wouldn't believe the knitting resources available online.  If you are interested in learning, I recommend Ravelry (www.ravelry.com) for projects and patterns.  The website lets you filter through several criteria to choose the best project.  Also, Very Pink (www.verypink.com).  When you look at knitting patterns and come to an abbreviation that you just can't picture, go to Very Pink, type it in the search box and you will probably find a nifty video of Staci demonstrating and explaining the stitch a couple of times until you get it.  She also has some great project ideas.

The goal for this Christmas was hats.  It was a good challenge; circular knitting, increases, decreases, not twisting at the join.  Plenty of new skills to master.

I posted on Facebook about these but couldn’t include pictures since they are gifts but here they are now as well as a few jewelry items to help keep the handmade emphasis.

The yarn hoard.  Don’t judge me!

 

For my red-loving hair dresser, Pam Tibbot, a lovely red cowl and red hollow transparent earrings.

 

My youngest niece, Megan’s, candy colored beanie.

My sister loves bright colors and I think this beret has them.

Nick’s (who turned 18 this year) plain beanie which is light turquoise blue.

 

The last part of this year’s goal was to manage a pattern hat.  I made a navy blue feather and fan pattern scarf for my mom for Christmas last year so I thought I would try a complimenting color hat in the same pattern for this year.

 



A close up from a different angle...

 

 

I forgot to get a picture of my oldest niece, Jessie’s, blue sparkle beret before I wrapped it but I also made her a wire wrapped horcrux pendant which turned out kinda cool.

 

Merry Christmas!!