m a k i n g : :

there have been two gorgeous & incredibly soft little orbs of alpaca laying around for just over a year. i picked them up at a favorite little yarn shop up in portland during a weekend get-a-way with friends. my intention then was to make some toeless socks to wear with my vibrams since my feet were so cold. i would cast on... cast off... cast on... cast off... you get the picture. i gave up on the yarn becoming socks and went for fingerless mitts, mittens, little leg warmers eventually putting the yarn in the corner cabinet where my yarn waits, patiently. i had a hankering to use it again recently, found this cute pattern and cast on. after casting on and off two times, i gave it one more go. third times a charm.

i did a 3x1 rib rather than the 1x1/stockinette that the pattern calls for. i did that my first go around and though it turned out cute, it was rolling (you only 1x1 the first round then stockinette the rest of the way up). the rolling was not why i frogged it out, but rather the dropping of several stitches when i went to try it on about 3/4 of the way through. still haven't mastered picking up (even easy) lace patterns.

i also knit the ribbing on US4 & the lace on US6. i followed the pattern (other than the ribbing) as is and am very pleased with the results. hands down it's the softest hat i've ever knit. i generally am very itchy when it comes to wool on my head/neck. even malabrigo can make me itch, sad, i know... but i wore this as soon as it was off the needles for the rest of the day without a twinge.

my ravelry details here.