This has become my default hat pattern and if you want to know the particulars, just contact me. I love figuring out new stripe configurations, in shades of gray of course. Although I must say, the weather here has been positively summer-like, but who’s complaining.

After:

Before:

After:

Talk about unfinished, this particular project has been YEARS in the making. Either that or a really long hiatus. I’m so excited to finally bring it to completion and doubly excited to be felting again. For the record, the fiber is Patons Classic Wool Merino.

The weather has been amazing lately but a cold snap is predicted for the week ahead. It’s time to finally finish this scarf for there might be an opportunity yet to actually wear it soon. The problem is this: It never seems long enough. I even finished it once – I mean I actually cast off – but then I undid it and knit a few more stripes. I’m still unsure whether it’s long enough. Right now it’s about as long as I am tall. Like a good book, I don’t want it to ever end.

And that NEVER happens.

It’s cold. Even for California. Last night I wore my new black/grey hat, here modeled by Alejandro, to the playoff game last night against Alameda. We won, of course. Now it’s on to the Huskies at home on Saturday. Woot woot.

It was pointed out to me that the hat features Oakland Raiders colors even thought I swear my allegiance to the 49ers (I’m on the wrong side of the Bay obviously) but I just love the combination of the two colors. Also, it’s a light but very warm hat.

Alejandro liked the hat fine but he didn’t really care for the long “stem” on top. I confess that I might’ve gotten a little carried away there but I like it and I *love* the hat.

So where do ideas come from? Funny thing about that. When I was still working at REI, I saw a customer wearing a very simple, yet a very lovely black and grey hat. I quickly sketched it out on a hold tag (the equivalent of the proverbial cocktail napkin) knowing full well that I would forget.

That was a few months ago.

I have now started that hat.

Last Sunday, my sister Liz and I took Dad (aka “Opa”) along with super-boyfriend Kerb to the town of Bolinas on the Northern California coast. I received a tip from someone in Portland who had recently visited and she recommended this place highly. It’s an amazing locale and you really should visit if you ever get the chance.

I couldn’t get over how lush and green it was.

The beach we visited is called Agate Beach which is also home to the Duxbury Reef Reserve and as luck would have it, we arrived at a point of very low tide. There were many people out on this warm January day exploring the tide pools rich with sea life.

Alas, though, no agates to be found this time of year.

I also had the foresight to throw my latest hat in the car, a hat which I am calling the “Explorer Helmut” in honor of my sister’s love of nature and exploration.

Kerb looks a bit perplexed or perhaps askance. Always difficult to read Kerb’s poker face. It was really too warm for this hat which will work nicely on a chilly, snowy day – if I ever experience that again. I dunno. Maybe Ashland.

Bolinas and the surrounding beaches are not far from the city of SF. You can even see Sutro Tower in the distance. This is the view from the Muir Beach overlook down Hwy 1 a few miles.

I can safely say that I am past the hat obsession and well into my newest one: baby socks. Stay tuned.

These have got to be the ugliest slippers on earth but they were requested by my mother as a Christmas gift for my father. My mother was disappointed when they didn’t materialize on Christmas Eve but hey, what can I say? I didn’t even find the pattern until Christmas Day.

Then I got to work.

I started the slippers on December 28 and they were finished on December 30. They’re so simple that they really don’t need a pattern. I wrapped them up and presented them to Opa who was pleased…I think. Here’s a shot of Opa with his best bud, Tony D.

Tony is from Poland and comes over most Sundays after church to have a drink with Opa. This is about as cheerful as it gets around here. I love Tony because he always says “Hi gorgeous!” every time he sees me.

Today I took Opa to the beach. More on that later.

At our recent visit, Nancy brought along a stack of swatches – BIG swatches. I was especially attracted to this, the lovely scroll pattern knit in a beautiful hand-dyed koigu merino. It looks as beautiful from the front

as it does from the back.

Nancy explores different and often obscure stitch patterns from the Barbara Walker stitch dictionary series. If you’re not familiar with the genius of Barbara Walker, these books are definitely worth checking out.

Nancy shared her most recent project: Double Knitted Gloves. These gloves, of which she only had one finished are knit beginning at the tips of the fingers entirely on TWO NEEDLES. You heard right. No more futzing around with four (or five) double pointed needes. I suppose you could use magic loops but the prospect of knitting gloves on two needles is very exciting to say the least.

The lovely gloves are designed by Judy Wilcox and are taught in a class by Judy Taylor. Check with Close Knit for details. Nancy used Karabella Silk Merino Lace which I think was the perfect choice. Nancy gives more details about these gloves at her blog.

Lastly, Nancy also shared with me one of her free patterns, the Long Scalloped Adrienne glove which is convertible and can be worn as a wrist/arm warmer

as well a fingerless glove.

The fiber used is Rowan Tapestry, a verigated soy/wool blend. There’s a very detailed tutorial and pattern at Nancy’s blog so go and check it out.

Thanks for checking out my interview with local knitterati and until next time, Happy Knitting!

Of course, most everyone knows by now that I’m a huge fan of Jared Flood aka brooklyntweed and sometimes I think my mission in life is to knit every single item that he has ever designed or knit. Back in September I cast on the Urban Aran Cardigan and it has been slow going since then. I already had the booklet, Street Smart, from which this pattern is derived, and I’ve made the Must Have Cardigan which I found (surprisingly) easier than the UAC. Unlike the MHC which is easily memorized, for the UAC you have to keep one eye on the pattern at all times. The cables are not as intuitive as with the MHC.

In any case, I persevered and I pushed on. I finally finished the two fronts the other day and immediately set out on the task of piecing this mother together. And oh what a mother! When Elizabeth Zimmerman says that knitters hate to sew, I think know she was talking about me.

To my credit, I have taken the time to baste the entire garment before actually sewing the seams. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending upon your viewpoint), basting has allowed me the chance to try the jacket on and I think it’s too small! I can barely get the fronts across my big boobs! Oh well. I’m not one to give up on a sweater just because it doesn’t fit. I can always find someone to fit my hand knit sweaters. I knew that a ribbed sweater would fit snugly and I do own several already.

And did I mention that it still needs a zipper and that I’ve never installed a zipper before?

Stay tuned. This saga continues.