Brick Sidewalk Beanie from fibre space--Day 2

What’s better than a hand-knit hat?

I’ll tell you—it’s a hat knitting pattern that is clever enough to escape boredom, yet simple enough to allow easy memorization.

In this case, done and done. There’s enough basic stockinette to make this a thing of ease. Still, the line of “bricks” that adorn the brim and a “sidewalk” up the rest of the hat keep things from feeling monotonous. The brick motif is easily memorized. Especially for meeting or TV knitting, I love not having to whip out a pattern or fear annoying my companions with clicks of my row counter.

I wish the camera captured the color better...

And then there’s the fiber. This yarn from Neighborhood Fiber Co. is nothing short of splendid.  There’s something about a really good wool, isn’t there? Nothing else has the spring between your fingers, the clarity of stitches, or the ability to hold such lush colors. Even before this blog, I was—and am—a yarn snob. Whatever I work with has to feel luscious between my fingers. It’s too much a part of the process for me to slog through something that doesn’t offer the tactile pleasure I seem to need from knitting.  

I once met delightfully outrageous knit designer Steven Be at a yarn show in Chicago.  He was clad in a sweater famously knit from a Willie Nelson eight-track tape.  Fascinating, impressive even, but totally unappealing to me.  Plarn—yarn made from shreds of plastic bags—never calls to me, either. I understand the functionality, I support re-purposing, but those things are not why I knit. 

Well, I suppose it’s yarn functionality isn’t a value for me. Item functionality is another matter. I think mittens are functional and I enjoy knitting them. Granted shawls—my personal favorite—are mostly decorative, but when some restaurant’s air conditioning is making your teeth chatter, they feel mighty functional to me.

All this is to say that while I’m sure I (or someone I love) will use the hat, it’s most important to me that I’m enjoying knitting it. I enjoy knitting this, and for that I’m endlessly thankful to fibre space.

Brick Sidewalk Beanie from fibre space--Day 1

Switcheroo...

For this DestiKNITion, we’re going to tackle the project first, and then feature the store and adventures.

Project first? Why’d I switch things up like that? 

It’s because fibre space, our DC yarn shop, is in the middle of a location change. It didn’t make much sense to give you all the information in the midst of their move, so we’re going to give them some time to settle in and introduce you to the shop and its neighborhood afterward.

So, on to our project.

I love hats. I’m not especially fond of wearing them—they always do terrible things to my hair—but I do love to knit them. Their short, sweet, and stylish, less complicated than socks or mittens, but just as fun to have around.  In a town like Chicago, a good warm hat is a marvelous thing.  One that recalls a fun adventure is just that much more marvelous.

The Brick Sidewalk Beanie launches with something a step up from ordinary ribbing. The fisherman’s rib, with its alterations of knit/purl rectangles between ktbl rows does indeed give you the feeling of a brick sidewalk—especially in the reddish brown color of Neighborhood Fibre Co. superwash marino yarn I’ve chosen. 

This texture detail will continue up just one portion of the full hat, but circles all the way around the brim.

This yarn represents the first time I used my new swift and ball winder—purchases from Stitches Midwest. I loved being able to make my own ball without endless hours balancing a hank on my knees or imposing upon my husband to hold his hands up.  I’ve wanted to own one for years, and was delighted to finally make the purchase.

Who knows? Maybe this will become the first hat I love to wear.

"Hatapalooza" hats from Great Yarns - Day 5

A tale of three tails…

KnitCol cap duly finished, it was time to top the thing off with its trademark curly-cues. Oddly enough, I thought these little squiggles only doable by crochet, but this hat taught me they can be achieved through continual knit-it-front-and-back stitches.  It makes perfect sense now that I think of it, and makes me happy because despite many attempts, I just can’t take to crochet. (Don’t post mean comments, okay? It’s just the way I’m wired.)

I decided I wanted my hat to have a bouquet of unique curlies, so I planned three different variations of the pattern.  I did one according to pattern instructions—a bit thin for my taste, and not quite curly enough.  

Craving something a little thicker, I added a second row of knit-in-front-and-back stitches to achieve a bigger, more tightly wound spiral on the next version.  

For the third I went for something in-between, adding a second row but only increasing every other stitch—almost as thick, but not as tightly wound.  And in all cases, lots of colors showing up everywhere.  I like the variety I achieved.  I also varied the length by casting on different numbers of stitches.

With all the parts complete, it’s time to block my hat. The headband refuses to stay down right now, insisting on flipping defiantly up, and I’m hoping blocking solves that.  Then I’ll attach my curlies and turn my attention to the final stretches of cable on the Knotty but Nice.

"Hatapalooza" hats from Great Yarns - Day 4

Charting my course...

Ah cables.  They require attention to detail between a lot of stitch patterns that look dangerously similar.   Cables to the front look dangerously close to cables to the back, and messing them up results in squiggles rather than clever cross-overs.

I’ve done cables in written directions, but this is the first time I’ve done complicated cables from a chart.  And I tell you, those pesky little squares with all those angles look far too much alike for me to be confident as I waffle back and forth between chart and key.

After making a significant gaff a few rows back, I decided it’s best to stack the chart in my favor.  I now go through each row before I start and write the stitch on top of the squares in question.  Hopefully this will keep my C4BPs from becoming C4FPs and other unfortunate slip-ups.

In to save my embattled confidence comes the simple but adorable KnitCol hat.  Stockinette and decreases are firmly within my skill set, and this self-striping yarn is doing all the work for me.  I’ve made it to the finished hat, and now I get to make all the silly curly-cues that give the hat its charm.

"Hatapalooza" hats from Great Yarns - Day 3

Wait and stitch…

After a flurry to meet a bunch of deadlines last week, this week has been all about the wait.  

And I rot at waiting.  I am by no means a “sit tight” kind of gal.  

This week I’m waiting on publisher’s decisions, waiting on important phone calls, waiting for other people to do their part in projects so that I can take my next step, waiting for data to make a crucial decision, waiting for the next seasons of Longmire and Poldark to begin…lots and lots of cooling my heels.

What’s a fidgety gal to do?  Knit, of course.  Lots of knitting.  Engrossing knitting like the interwoven cables of the Knotty but Nice hat (row 9 is a killer!), calm easy knitting like the stockinette rounds of the curly-cue Knit Col hat.

At many times in my life, knitting has been as much consolation as it has been craft.  I laugh and say it is my coping mechanism of choice, but the statement is absolutely true.  Well, knitting, lemon meringue pie, and chocolate.  The knitting is the healthier of the choices, to be sure.

So I’ll keep waiting and keep knitting.  Because good things come to those who…knit, right?

"Hatapalooza" hats from Great Yarns - Day 1

I’ll see your Hatapalooza and raise you a pair….

This is a fun new dynamic—a pair of projects for a DestiKNITions feature!  That short attention span of mine likes the duality, and I’m intrigued as to how I’ll plot this pair of projects out.  After all, there are so many options:

1)  Hardest first

Knock the tough one out so you can play with the easier one.  It’s a tried and true productivity tactic (“Eat That Frog!”).  But this isn't productivity, it’s creativity.  Still, I like the idea of tackling the cable challenge before I have all that easy stockinette fun.

2)   Easiest first

Especially when writing episodes, I often find it’s helpful to do the easiest or fastest project first so I can get ahead of myself work-wise.  You never know what will go wrong—in life or in knitting—so stacking the breathing room in your favor is always smart.

3)  Both at the same time

This works particularly well when one project is easy and the other requires concentration.  I’m not sure I could do cables in a committee meeting.  On the other hand, I could probably stockinette my way through oral surgery.  Do I make the easy project my travel knitting while saving the harder one for at home where I can concentrate?

After much deliberation and a cup of very good coffee, I chose option 3.  The curly-cue hat will travel around in my handbag while the Knotty But Nice will live on my coffee table.

DestiKNITters, which tactic would you have chosen?

LAS VEGAS, NV

When you think of Las Vegas, yarn isn’t what comes to mind first.  But where people are, knitters are, and there are fiber finds even in Sin City.  So when a book event called me to Vegas this spring, I went. Okay, the chance to see Penn & Teller may have added a bit of motivation, but hey, can you blame me?  

Lots of people I know go to Vegas frequently, but I’m not a casino person.  Still, I can appreciate the drama and theater that the strip offers.  So while you’ll see a bit of casino attractions that are my favorites listed, this post is like every other DestiKNITions adventure: just fun things to do, eat, and knit.

We always start with the coffee, so head down off the strip for a little local java fix:

Grouchy John’s

8520 S Maryland Pkwy

Las Vegas, NV 89123

702-778-7553

grouchyjohns.com

Most of us can find the chain establishments in many large hotels, but I always seek out the indie spots.  This place serves up good coffee with a funky, geeky vibe that I really enjoyed.  Let’s face it, we’re living in the golden age of the geek—why shouldn’t our coffee come along for the ride? Lots of art decorates the wall, with most of it for sale.  If you’re a StarWars fan, this is definitely the spot to grab your java (or should I say Java the Hut??—sorry, couldn’t resist).

Onto the fiber:

Sin City Knit Shop

2165 E Windmill Ln

Ste 200

Las Vegas, NV 89123

702-641-0210

SinCityKnitShop.com

Debbi McCarty and yours truly

Owner Debbi McCarty is a tiny woman with a king-size personality.  She opened the store four years ago in another location, shifting here after two years to accommodate “the crowd that packed in from day one.”  

It was packed the day I got there, too, with lots of lively conversation and yarny friendship.  Debbi recognizes her tourism-based clientele with lots of different kinds of yarn and  a big selection of chairs to sit down and make new friends.  “Pilots even come here to knit on layovers,” Debbi says.  She specializes in one- or two-skein projects that make excellent gifts or prime travel knitting.  

Like most great yarn shops, Sin City boasts several elements beyond just retail.  I love that they keep a “Knit Doctor” on site several days a week to help you with your problems. Got a group of 10 knitters or more?  Debbi will host a “field trip” for you, with meals and discounts to make your visit a full-scale event. The shop produced an anniversary pattern book with some of their staff and customer favorites. Best of all, you don’t just get a discount on your birthday, you get a discount your whole birthday month!  It’s worth noting that fiber became a family affair as Debbi’s daughter Laci launched TINK hand-dyed yarns.

Here are a few projects worth your exploration:

Maria’s Bracelet Class

Ideal for gift-giving, this lovely loop combines yarn, beads, and a button in any variety of ways.  This Christmas you could make a dozen different bracelets a dozen different ways.  I thought it would make a clever personalized bridesmaid gift as well (if any upcoming bride actually has time to knit…or just needs time to knit to calm down.)

Christmas Machine & Hand-Knit Scarves

Speaking of Christmas, here’s one of the most unique holiday items I’ve come across.  Sin City has an on-site knitting machine that can help you get a leg up on your holiday project.  Save your fingers for the decorative elements and get all that stockinette mechanized by booking time on the knitting machine.  Ingenious.  Plus, how adorable are these for the kiddo in your life (or someone who just acts like one)?

Double Down Hat and Cowl

This store exclusive pattern takes 2 skeins of Cascade Pure Alpaca and swaps base and trim colors to create a pair of hats and cowls.  “Double down” is a gambling term for a Black Jack player’s chance to increase their odds of winning on a hand by doubling their bet in exchange for one additional card.  So this pattern set is thematic:  You double your bliss by getting two items with a variety of style choices to get just the pieces you want.

Knit A Long:  Willow Cowl

This well-designed Ravelry pattern by Amelia Lyon tackles one of my pet peeves of cowls:  how they flop aimlessly around your neck.  Clever edging and ridges enable this accessory to lie in elegant rings around your neck and shoulders.  I’ll be using merino-nylon-stellina glam sock yarn by local firm Downtown Dye Works, but 350-420 yards of any sock yarn will do the trick.  With just a bit of sparkle in my “Red Rock” colorway, this one promises to be a pleasure to stitch.

If you’re ready for lunch, here’s a local favorite you won’t find in any guide book:

Boulevard Bar and Grille

9860 Las Vegas Blvd S

Las Vegas, NV 89183

(702) 939-2583

boulevardbarandgrille.com

The gaming restaurant is a Vegas staple.  This unassuming eatery is a favorite of Sin City locals, boasting super-friendly servers and a huge, diverse menu.  Not much snazzy decor or bright lights here, just good food served up nice 24 hours a day.  They’re famous for their eggplant parmigiana appetizer and “real” New York style (i.e. super thin) pizza.  I opted for a spinach salad with truly splendid dressing while watching the Chicago cubs play baseball on the huge wall of televisions that lines one side of the restaurant.  Tons of homemade desserts can round out your meal, including huge chocolate and carrot cakes, but I can also recommend the Kahlua cheesecake.

For dinner, here’s another place that locals favor:

Sicilian Ristorante

3520 E Tropicana Ave

Las Vegas, NV 89121

702-458-2004

sicilianristorante.com

There’s something so engaging about “old school” Italian restaurants.  Our server, Louie—really, that was his name—struck me as what Al Pacino would be like waiting on your table.  A total character who made our meal a memorable experience complete with running commentary and wise-cracks.  I kept waiting for Dean Martin to hoist a cocktail from the next table.  My dining companion, who really knew her Italian cuisine, said the food was top notch, and my bruschetta bore that out.  Photos of Italian scenes fill the walls.  This is as authentic as it gets!  The desserts are good, but save yourself for one of our next stops.

Now we’ll default to the strip.  I like early evening—dark enough to let the lights work their magic, early enough that the crowd’s most colorful elements aren’t quite in play.  If you’re not staying at one of the strip properties, then the good (and free) parking at here makes it an excellent launching point:

Talking Statues at Caesars Palace Forum Shops

3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Las Vegas, NV 89109

866-227-5938

The walk through the Forum Shops shopping mall to get to the fountain is entertainment enough (the overhead painted sky changes!), but the over-the-top drama of “The Fall of Atlantis” played out by the 9-foot animatronic statues is not to be missed.  Is it cheesy?  Absolutely, but that’s part of the charm.  Plus, there’s a 20-foot winged dragon, so there’s that.  The show plays every hour on the hour, but get there a few minutes early before the crowds thicken and have your camera ready.

Erupting Volcano at The Mirage

3400 Las Vegas Blvd S

Las Vegas, NV 89109

702-791-7111

mirage.com

I give credit to the guy who can make lights and water look like erupting lava.  This outside show sends fireballs and “lava” so high into the sky you can feel the heat even if you’re standing at a good distance (so stand at a good distance, okay?).  While spectacular to watch, the event’s mesmerizing score takes everything to the next level. If you want to get up close and feel everything, sources say the best spot is right in front of the hotel.  Eruptions take place at 8pm and 9pm nightly, with a 10pm addition on weekends.  Seriously, you’ll be tempted to bring your marshmallows.

Fountains at the Bellagio

3600 S Las Vegas Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 89109

702-693-7111

bellagio.com

I’m torn if this attraction is better at sundown or full night.  Both are surprisingly peaceful and entrancing.  The shows start at 3pm and run every 30 minutes until midnight, with different songs for each presentation.  The sheer numbers are impressive:  8.5 acres of lake, over 1,200 jets shooting up to 24 feet high maintained by a staff of 30 working 24/7 to keep the aquatic ballet going.  This, in my view, is a can’t-miss.  While you’re at the Bellagio, however, walk through the exquisitely decorated Conservatory as well.

For me, there’s only one place to end the night (and you’ll be back near your car if you parked at Caesar’s Palace):

Serendipity 3

3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South

Las Vegas, NV 89109

Yes, you can eat actual food here, and I’ve heard it’s good, but for me, this place is all about the dessert.  No, DESSERT—this selection deserves all caps.  My mom took me to the original Serendipity in New York City as a child, and I have fond memories of the place.  I’ll tell you, I loved it just as much as a grown-up. There are a selection of I-dare-you-to-finish-it size sundaes in decadent flavors, but the signature sweet is their frozen hot chocolate. Nothing else tastes like it in the world.  Go ahead, you’ve maxed out your FitBit pedometer steps today anyway.  And it is the perfect—if sinfully hypoglycemic—end to a fun day in Sin City.

Next up, we’ll cast on the Willow Cowl.

Sandy's Art Yarn Hat from Orange Kitten Yarns and Homestead Wool and Gift Farm

Crazy...

How can you not enjoy knitting yarn from a sheep named “Cosmo”?  No doubt about it, “Cosmo’s Crazy Quilt” yarn is a one-of-a-kind fiber.  While Sandy's Crazy Quilt Art Yarn comes in a variety of colors, Cosmo's version is a simple white with all kinds of goodies mixed in.  I found silk flowers, ribbon, sparkly tinsel-like fiber, silky sari-like fiber, pearls, as well as a variety of colored wool fibers.  A veritable carnival on my needles!

 The New York City Handspun Bouquet scarf was the last time I got to enjoy a “one night” project, where I sat down with a ball of yarn and ended the night with a finished product.  There’s something wonderful about the “I made something from nothing” feeling a quick project like that gives you.  It makes me feel like some kind of wool wizard.

Quick, however, didn’t mean completely easy.  Wrangling all those textures made for some tricky knitting and times, particularly the ribbon.  I admit to some worry as to how comfortable something with all those “additives” will be on the young head that gets this hat.  

I do take pride in finally managing a respectable pom-pom.  I’ve made some mangy ones in the past, but this one turned out rather nicely.  It might be a little large, but since the rest of this hat is over-the-top, why not the pom-pom as well?

Right now, I don’t have anyone in my life the right size to wear this.  Size aside, this hat has to go to some child with the personality to match--a loud and lively little lady.  So I’m going to tuck it away and trust that the right head will present itself sometime in the future.  Every time I have done that, the perfect moment to give it away has always come along.  It’s part of the wonder of handcrafting, don’t you think?

Next up, the Nordic cozy from The Sow’s Ear.

Smocked Slouch from Genuine Purl - Day 1

Squishy Satisfaction...

I find hats even more satisfying than socks.  Mostly because there’s only one of them, so when you’re done, you’re done.  Hats also seem to offer a wide range of structural options, where socks pretty much are...foot-shaped.  Granted, both leave lots of room for creativity and both are marvelously portable.  Still, I maintain that hats offer the most bang for your creative time (shawls, while my absolute favorite, do seem to take longer).  Plus, when you live in Chicago, a winter hat is pretty much a survival tactic.

I’ve been looking forward to working with a chain-construction yarn.  While I’ve also such yarns in large scale versions--finger-thick, rather like knitting with an giant's i-cord--this one is tiny.  On the upside, it makes for an incredible loft and softness.  This is some seriously squishy yarn--perfect hat material.  On the downside, it’s like working with six-ply, which gives you millions of splits to avoid.

The smock stitch is a smart addition to my knitter’s toolbox.  It looks complicated but is rather simple (my favorite kind of yarn trick!).  Like most stitches, it’s best learned in person or on video, but I did manage to pick it up by the written directions--the second time.  I won’t lie that it took several attempts to get it right.  I’m glad I had a photo of the finished band to guide my exploration.  

I do like the texture and the bit of panache this ads to an otherwise workaday hat.  So far.  Only a few inches in is no place to declare your affection (or lack thereof) for a knitting pattern.