Things I have knit recently

baby hat for my boss at Birds of Prey, who just had a baby girl! Pattern from Susan B. Anderson's Itty Bitty Hats book.

Two Marley hats from the same book--one was sent to Silio's new baby boy, and the other was given to a friend from my softball team who is having a baby boy in February.

Here's Silio's baby, Anthony! Hat is quite big, oops, but at least he can grow into it....in the Texas heat....it's the thought that counts, right?

Elf/Santa hat (forget the real name) also from same Itty Bitty hats book. 

Merry Christmas, Baby Grey!

I actually made this hat before the last hat, also from same book. I knit it while I was home for Grandpa's funeral, for better or worse I think I'll always remember that when I see this hat. Anyways it turned out really well!

cute model

just kinda cute

Same as the very first hat in this post, but made in the same colors as Grey's hat. (for Nathan, Carter's nephew)

Still just a little bit big, but hopefully it will fit him all winter. Grandma (Carter's Mom) in background.

Alpaca made from Alpaca!! I made this for Jason and his family.  Unfortunately I didn't have a finished pic, but he looked super cute with black french knit eyes and a little nose!

Here's that photo again of me and Jason and our hats. The story goes like this: last year at Christmas time he admired MY hat, the one I'm wearing in this photo, which I made from Misti Alpaca bulky yarn (I think), store bought yarn. He loved the hat and challenged/joked that I needed to make one from him from his own alpaca! Well at that time we still weren't sure how/if his alpaca wool would work out, but it worked very well and I got to give him his gift!!

Now I'm modelling it. This is seriously the BEST thing I've ever knitted in my life! I got the pattern from a knitting pattern-a-day calendar I got for Christmas a couple years ago (maybe from Mary?). I followed the pattern pretty closely with few changes, holding three strands of the machine-spun alpaca at a time (it was probably fingering weight by itself, between worsted and bulky when held 3 together)

Then I used another storebought alpaca yarn in green for the contrasting trim, then felted the whole thing in the washing machine--I was nervous it would shrink too much but I checked it a couple times and it turned out PERFECT!!! I molded it just a bit while it was wet, and actually it was still a little damp when I gave it to Jason and he wore it non-stop, which was good because I think it really molded to his head. 

It's sooooo thick and so warm! 

The only thing I dont' like how it turned out is the ends of the tassles and top tassle--they look like wet dreads, I wished they looked more yarny and fluffy. But I don't think I could add them AFTER I felted, because the hat itself is just way too thick to crochet on a border like that.  I need to think about that a little more before I make this hat again (which I plan to soon, this time for myself and Carter to share!!)

I made this double-garter mobius cowl with Misti Alpaca bulky yarn Carter's mom gifted me for Christmas--Thanks Judy! The pattern is also from Susan B Anderson (if you can't tell, I kinda like her patterns).

Here it is doubled up.

The pattern was unique, I had never heard of or tried double garter before! I love the look though, kinda criss-crossy, I hope this photo shows the pattern.

I had to block this just a little bit--I had used up ALL my yarn but kinda wanted it longer (so I could double it), so I had to soak the cowl then stretch it out to the size I wanted. It's a little more narrow than the pattern calls, but I actually think it's better this way, not as thick when doubled.

This knit from the yarn AND pattern gifted to me by Judy (also Misti bulky).  (also the head is new, just got it at Hobby Lobby! Unfortunately it's fairly small, a bit smaller than my head, so the hat doesn't sit the same way it does on me. I think it looks better on this head than my own head :-/ darn!)

before this I had only knit tight fitting beanie type hats, this was the first beret type hat I've ever tried. I really like how it looks, it's BEAUTIFUL and perfect for the yarn!

I also like the yarn over eyelet trim. So cute and feminine! Now I just have to  figure out how to wear it......I think behind the ears is better than over ears (or maybe just over a tiny bit of ear is OK), but do I show a little hair in the front? Or keep the hat down below the hairline? I can't decide.

What have YOU been knitting?

On my list are: more baby hats (I guess it's baby season again!), alpaca earflap hat for myself, alpaca shawl for myself.

What else should I knit next?