326. A Hat For Jean and More Knitting Archeology

My first hat for Jean's hat drive for the homeless is done.  Simple is really where it's at sometimes, ya know? I love this thing.

I totally have a thing for ribs.  And then there is the brown and gray combo.  Crazy-plain and simple, but just perfect.

One of the reasons charity knitting appeals to me is it scratches my Yankee frugality itch.  I get to use up scrap stash yarns and make something useful and warm.  So in this case, I had some leftover sable brown Lamb's Pride Bulky.  I knitted 'til I ran out, and then I joined in some gray to finish the hat.  A totally stylin' stash buster!

Another reason is I get to practice techniques with not so much need for perfection.  In this case, I got to prove for myself that the knitting trick I read about in a couple places really works -- the one for knitting stripes in rib without getting those weird join lines with the purl bumps sticking out like sore thumbs.  The trick is, simply KNIT all the stitches of the first row of a join of color stripe (do not knit 2, purl 2 -- just knit the whole thing).  Magically, it does not adversely affect the rib -- it still continues on in the rib, and yet makes the stripes look so much neater and prettier. Hot damn. Simple and awesome. 

This hat is knit at a tighter-than-called-for gauge for extra wind protection and warmth.  The Lamb's Pride is very warm anyway, with its mohair content (Boy, does that mohair ever increase the warmth factor), but given the way my skin has felt in the wind and cold in our neck of the woods lately, it's all I could think of was to make this thing denser and more windproof.

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While I was hunting down the charity yarns in my mess stash, I unearthed another of my knitting antiquities.

This will wake you up if you haven't yet had your coffee:

 

JUICY!  This is one of the first socks I ever knit.  It's a feather and fan pattern, in Koigu sock yarn in an incredibly potent tangerine color that was sent to me eons ago by Julie. I love it, but at the time I finished it, it was... well, it was a SOCK.  I have not been so much the sock knitter, and I am sure I nearly expired getting through this thing. 

I have really quite a full sock drawer, though.  I have knitted a few pairs myself and I've been the lucky recipient of luscious handknit socks from (in inadvertent -- or was it? -- alphabetical order:  My brain is so organized, apparently, the list came out of my head alphabetically. I noticed that was the case, and left it for our collective amusement.) Cari, Cassie, Cookie, Debi and Stephanie .... and I sure hope I haven't forgotten anybody.  Organized but forgetful, that's me.  Maybe tomorrow I'll pull them all out and show you my little array of socks. I am rich in the sock love from others (and a few from myself), and each pair is my favorite.

But I digress. 

The thing is, I have run across this tangerine orphan a few times over the years, but I had no idea where the remaining yarn was to make the second. Now I have found the lost-but-not-really-forgotten ball of yarn. This is not to imply I have the desire to make the second sock, but then again, that color sure does wake up my brain and make me happy, so you never know.

Comments

[Cari]

rich in the sock love because you're so lovable, dear.

[gayle]

That color is an eye-opener, all right! Love it.
If you wear those socks on campus, you'll probably attract my daughter - she's a student there and she's all about the orange...

[Carole]

The hat is wonderful. I'm thinking knitting a few hats will be a great way to use up some handspun from my early spinning days. Finish that second orange sock!

[Elizabeth L in Apex, NC]

Come on, do Julie the honor of finishing that second sock! Besides, one day you might just need an orange-socks-kind-of wake up call, and you will be totally prepared for it!

[kathy]

I did the reverse colorway of your hat. Just finished it yesterday. Started with the gray and ended with brown. Love the color combination. Thanks for the rib color change tip (rcct).

[Nora]

Gorgeous sock, and great hat. Maybe you could make the second sock out of Yankee frugality, as well?

[margene]

I remember the yarn but don't remember the sock was LACE!

[Jean]

Awesome! I love it! It's perfect and, more importantly, it looks so toasty warm! I love that trick for color change in rib. I think I learned it from an EZ video.
That orange is definitely an eye-opener! Juicy is the perfect name.

[Roxie]

(sings) "Tangerine . . She is all they claim, with her eyes afire and lips as red as flame! Taaaaangerine, when she dances by, senoritas stare and cabelleros sigh!" hanks for the vintage earworm.

[sandy]

Tangerines are good for you.
;D

[carol]

As per usual, you made record time on the hat. It will keep some NYer's noggin quite warm in a very stylish way. A question - I have trouble with the decreases on a ribbed hat - will you please share your technique? I make quite a few hats each year for our local shelters, and would love to make one like this with pretty decreases.

[kellys]

Love that color!
cool hat--what pattern or do you "just go around"?
:)

[kellys]

oh and hey, this reminds me--I left an orange in my backpack yesterday!! thanks!

[Lisa H.]

I've never heard that tip for knitting the entire first row when you join in the new color of yarn and are working a ribbed pattern. Thanks! I'll give it a try on my next ribbed project.

[Julie]

I wondered what you did with that pretty yarn! That pair will be gorgeous when it's done.

[Cookie]

Thanks for the tip! I love being able to use every last bit of a skein. I have some left Lamb's Pride that needs a home.

You knit a lace sock? LACE?! For some reason, I find this every interesting. Oh, and I stash sock in the sock in progress. ;^)

xo

[Doris]

Thanks for the tip. I knit hats for the eagles in our Boy Scout Troop and they are 2 x 2 rib, in 1 inch stripes in garish colors. Sounds awful, but there is a rich tradition behind them and the boys love them (as do the Scoutmasters who also earn them). Anyway, I have never heard that tip and will try it the next go round!

[Kathy]

What's the pattern for the hat? I'm curious about the crown decreases -- it looks awesome!

[judy]

Would love to knit a hat for charity - I need an EASY Patttern? Got one??

[Sarah]

I had not read of the tip to knit a plain round to avoid those other color bits. Thanks!