This is what disappointment looks like.

Why is this hat so disappointing I hear you asking.

So I'll tell you. I've been dreaming of this hat for over a year. I could see myself shoveling our driveway this winter in it. I got this book 'Pretty in Punk' with the pattern in it for Christmas and continued to dream about it. I had never knit intarsia before and I had never felted before. Funnily enough I was more afraid of the intarsia bit that the felting bit. The intarsia bit went quite well. I won't say I did it perfectly, because I didn't, but for a first attempt, I don't think it was half bad. I spent a month of my life working on it and then I got the the part when I had to felt it. The directions told you to put the hat in a hot wash in the washing machine. So I did. The idea was to shrink it a little to help hide the joints and give the Mohawk it's distinct look. Unfortunately it shrunk a lot. So much so that it fits my 22 month old daughters head perfectly, but not at all on mine. Of course little Miss. I is not interested in wearing it. Maybe come winter she will change her mind. I think I will have to try to make this hat again eventually, but for now I have other plans. I can't help feeling sad about it.

What's in a name!

 I love names, names of paint colours, car names, mine and my kids names, and the names of colours of yarns. I was thinking for a while I needed to make a scarf for my S.I.L. Mrs. V 40th birthday. I came across Lion Brands Amazing in the colourway 'Joshua Tree'. After my husband I think she might be one of the biggest U2 fans I know. It seemed like it was meant to be. This beautiful patten is called Argosy and is found at http://www.kitty.com/. 

I really love the way the colour changing yarn knit up. It took me two or three tries to get it started, but once I got the lace pattern memorised there was no stopping me. I thought about blocking it, but last time I tried to to wet block something it didn't really work. I figured it was because it was 100% wool and neither is the Amazing yarn. I decided to try ironing it on the lowest setting with just a touch of steam. I did half at a time and just let it cool off on my ironing board. It worked really well, so I will probably be using this method again.

Happy Birthday Mrs. V.

My biggest fan!

 My sister Miss C. is probably the biggest fan of my hand made things. She is always letting me know that she wants me to make her this and that. She is a fun person to make for because I know she will love and use whatever it is I make her. This year for her birthday I was not sure what to make her. Not because there wasn't anything she wanted, but because I'm always seeing things I'd could make that I know she would like. A while back she mentioned that she wouldn't mind a new apron (I made her one quite a few years ago). In the past when making aprons I haven't used a pattern and made it up as I went along. This time I decided to use this Simplicity patten which I got for $1, I love a bargain.

I picked pink girly fabric, covered in fairies. She used to be quite into fairies and I'm thinking their having a come back. I'll be honest, even though I was a sewer before I became I knitter, I much prefer knitting. This came out great though, so maybe I'll try doing a bit more sewing in future. Happy Birthday Miss C.