Love in a Mist Shawl

Pattern:
Love in a Mist
Boo Knits

Yarn:
Ella Rae Lace Merino
130 Multy

I loved this pattern as soon as I saw it. It looked like such an elegant and simple pattern. It seemed like the best way to show off the beautiful color shifts in the Lace Merino. However, I am not super thrilled with the finished product. The shape is a little odd and off. It's not a smooth crescent, but weirdly buckles at the top. However, the yarn is still beautiful, and I love the slight sparkle of the beads. I can still wear it, it's just not what I had hoped for.

Before and after blocking!

My Stress Snowdrop Shawl

Pattern:
Perce-Neige (Snowdrop)
Hiroko Payne/The Hare and the Crow

Yarn:
Anzula Wash My Lace
Persimmon

I love pretty much every lace project that Hiroko Payne designs. They are so incredibly unique and intricate. They don't look like anything else I have seen, and they always are a super fun challenge. I feel like I learn new techniques every time I do them. I picked this pattern because it looked like a magnificent challenge and I knew I was going to be super stressed applying for a job back home in Minnesota. I was right... This pattern was the perfect remedy, and it was perfect for working on, setting down for a bit, and picking right back up. There were a few places I would get stuck, but I was able to power through.

The yarn was a gift from my amazing and wonderful friend Barb. When I first received it, I knew that it was destined for a really special project, and I had a devil of a time finding something worthy. As soon as I saw this though, I knew it was perfect. The shawl is so gorgeous, I don't care if I ever wear it, I'm super proud that I finished it within three months of starting. I can't wait to block it!

Elise's Cognac Hat

Pattern:

Cognac

Thea Colman

Yarn:

madelinetosh tosh dk

Celadon

This was a case of me buying the yarn first. I had started to make a Pressed Leaves hat for myself, but tore it out because my dear friend, Elise was complaining that I had made something for "Everyone" and not her. So, I frogged that and bought this pattern. The interesting cables intrigued me because I love a seed stitch. I also liked that it would be a unique hat. It reminded me a lot of Elise. I am pleased enough with the finished project, but I don't know I'd buy another Thea Colman pattern. The cables are cool, but the hat shape itself wasn't the best. It's a little weirdly long without being properly slouchy. I feel like I could have come up with a better shape without spending the money. Oh well, the hat is cute and I like the cable.

The color is prettier in person

Really cool cables

Chicago Skyline Hat

Pattern:

Chicago Skyline

Me

Yarn:

Dragonfly Fibers Traveler

Riptide

I knew I wanted to make a hat that was inspired by Chicago when I decided to move back home to Minneapolis. Originally, I was going to make a hat that was inspired by the Lake Michigan coastline, but it was too subtle and not terribly interesting. Then, I decided to chart out the Chicago skyline. Usually, something like this is done with colorwork, but I wanted something that played with texture. I made the buildings in reverse stockinette, and added some interesting v's up in the sky of stockinette. 

The yarn that I picked out is probably the most gorgeous skein of yarn I have ever encountered. I want to buy more and more of it and make a sweater. I may eventually make the investment, we'll see, it wouldn't be super cheap... But, totes worth it. I absolutely love the colors of the hat, and I love to wear it around.

I love the finished hat. The only trouble is that I am the only one who knows that it's supposed to be the skyline. I need to embroider with white floss the outline of the buildings, and then it will be done. I'm really excited to see the finished product.

Caryn's Bux Hat

Pattern:

BUX

The Restless Knitter

Yarn:

Traveller

Winterfell

For Caryn's birthday, I wanted to make her a hat. She first picked out the pretty dark blue yarn, and then we spent time looking at hundreds of hat patterns. She wanted something simple, but very slouchy to accommodate her giant head. This pattern was perfect, and I really like how the lace turned out. It shows off the subtle variations of the yarn really well, and the hat is super soft.

I would definitely make the pattern again. I think I might make it for myself with some pretty pink Ella Rae Lace Merino Worsted.

Nice lace

Different brim

Rachael's Birthday Hat

Pattern:
Beeswax Hat
Amy van de Laar

Yarn:
tosh dk
Candlewick

I have been interested in this pattern for a while. I really like things that have an ultra realistic texture or aspect to them, so this hat, with it's cleverly created honeycomb pattern, really caught my eye. I love how it creates the look of depth, without appearing to be too literal. When I decided to make Rachael a hat for her birthday, I knew this had to be the pattern.

I went into my favorite yarn shop looking for a pretty yarn. This one really jumped out at my, and my roommate thought it was perfect too. I was between this and a lighter, sunnier yellow, but the owner of the shop liked this one more, and I think the darker tones will look really lovely with Rachael's dark brown hair. I'm so excited to give it to her! The yarn obviously, is perfect. Tosh yarn is always the best and shows the pattern beautifully.

I made some minor mods to the brim of the hat. It's supposed to have a ribbing that leads into the comb, but I thought it looked dumb on everyone's heads, so I made it slouchy. I took out about ten stitches from the brim and added them as soon as I finished the ribbing. It has a nice shape, and I think it will be much more wearable.

Better shape

Love the honeycomb

Valentine's Day Hat 2015

Pattern:
Valentine's Day Hat 2015
Myself

Yarn:
Araucania Huasco
116 Lavender

For Valentine's Day this year, I wanted to use the same cable pattern that I used last year, the pretty heart, but I wanted to add something more intricate to complement the fingering weight yarn. I also wanted to have a slouchy hat that would work well for the balmy spring weather. The end result is one of my very favorite hats. The subtle stitch texture is really interesting and matches the color shifts well. I also really like the floral quality to the leaf cable. The yarn is also amazing. It is so soft and comfortable, and it holds its shape well. I love everything about the hat, especially since it was a good project for me to work on while I went through a rough Valentine's Day.

Took a while to get the right slouch shape

Really pretty quilted texture

Love the cable patterns