Quiet Sunday, and the End of the Month

I started the hat for the whole blue multi set. It seems that I'd rather add short (less than a whole ball) bits of yarn in the scarf rather than the mitts. I'm probably not going  to be able to avoid using more than a skein of yarn for the hat.

So, anyway, I want to do the mitts before I get too far into the scarf. So, naturally, I cast on the hat (my plain watch cap pattern from the sidebar), and have gotten the ribbed edging done and about 4.5 or 5 inches of the hat. There's not much more to go before it's done. Mitts are next.

I have 8 balls of yarn and I don't think that the hat and mitts are going to take more than 4 balls. Since I've knitted a whole ball into the scarf, I know that it makes about 22 inches of length for the scarf. If there's yarn left over from the had and mitts, I'll add it to the scarf for a really long one. 

I like really long scarves. I used to have a navy maxi coat, and Mom once said (looking at Tom Baker on TV) "No wonder you like Doctor Who. He dresses like you." Oh, and I like hats with big, floppy brims, too.

I have been goofing off on the form filling out, but I have been getting a steady stream of forms filled out and mailed. The big problem with this is that almost every time I pick up my mail, there's another form or two to fill out. So, I'm hoping to get all the current ones out in the mail later today.

And get my library books returned. And stop by Safeway to take advantage of one of their sales (if they have anything to buy). Usually, when they have a sale, there's a limited amount or selection available to get on sale. It's very frustrating.

What a quiet end of the month day.

Have fun this weekend!

Watch Cap

This is a cap you can pull down over your ears and keep warm! It works especially well with the dickie pattern, which can be pulled up over you face almost to your eyes. With the addition of the cap, you have something that resembles a balaclava, but is more comfortable when you don't need quite that much warmth.

Materials and Supplies

A bit over 200 yards of worsted weight yarn.

16 inch circular needle, size 6

16 inch circular needle, size 8

5 DP needles, size 8

Measuring device (Only needs to be 6 inches long)

Stitch markers

The tapestry needle and scissors you need for every project.

Gauge

4.5 stitches per inch on the size 8 needles in stockinette stitch

Start Knitting

Cast on 96 stitches using the size 6 needle.

Place a marker and work in rounds in 2 x 2 rib for 4 inches. Be sure to check that the knitting is not twisted on the second round.

Change to size 8 needle and stockinette stitch and work even for 6 inches. Somewhere along the way, prepare for the decreases by placing 7 stitch markers, one after each 12 stitches around. Make sure that you have a marker that is different at the beginning of the round.

Dec Round

*K 2 tog, work to next marker* around.

Work a dec round every other row, switching to DP needles when the circumference gets too small for the circular needle.

When you get to 16 stitches left, start working k 2 tog around with no even rows between until there are 4 stitches left. 

Using 2 DP needles, work 3.25 inches of I-cord. 

Cut yarn and thread through a tapestry needle, run through all sts of the I-cord twice, and bury the yarn in the middle of the I-cord. Cut excess yarn and tie the I-cord into an overhand knot.

Darn in ends, and you're done!

Variation: Instead of doing the I-cord knot, you can run the end through the last few stitches and crochet a loop that can be used to fasten it to a button on your coat so you don't lose it!

If you want to make this a school cap, you can do it by adding a 3 round stripe of the second color when you're about 5 inches from the end of the cuff, knitting 6 rounds of main color and 3 more rounds of the contrasting color before going back to the main color and decreases.

Colors are: 

Gryffendor: Scarlet and gold

Hufflepuff: Black and gold

Ravenclaw: Book, blue and bronze; movie, navy and silver

Syltheryn: Green and silver