Handspun Hat: done!

Top-Down Ribbed Beanie Recipe
US 11 and 10 needles
Jenny Neutron Star handspun, "Candy", about 80 yards

This time it's really finished - I ripped back a few rounds, then switched to US 10 needles and did 2 rounds of stockinette and bound it off. I like it better now, although I do feel like the hat is asking for more. Some buttons, maybe? A few crochet circles? I may have to just set it aside and walk away. It's already quite exuberant.

About the yarn - the jennyneutronstar.com site won't load for me, and the Jenny Neutron Star Etsy shop hasn't had any activity for over a year. Back when I first got this yarn, quirky handspun yarn wasn't as readily available. When I was asked to put together a few kits for the Alt Fiber show, I didn't have much time and I really wanted to feature indie crafters. Jenny Neutron Star really came through for me and custom-spun 3 skeins to order (although I botched the wpi - this is really more like 5-6 wpi yarn, and it's my misstatement, not hers). 2 years later, nifty handspun/handdyed yarns are thriving on Etsy, and so while I can't find a way to direct you to Jenny Neutron Star right now, I do have a couple of Etsy favorite sellers for bulky thick/thin yarns: Terra Bella Spun does handspun/handdyed, which I've used to knit up similar hats. Miss Hawklet has some "scraptacular" yarns up right now that I find especially delightful, and I used some Midnight & Lulu yarn in the Springtime Scarflette I did last year. Typing "handspun yarn" into the Etsy search feature will get you pages and pages of delightful stuff! I know I have to be careful when I do that. For the next few days, my Etsy favorites (up on the top right corner of this blog) will be featuring lovely handspun yarns. I may have to go sit in my stash for a little while to keep me from buying more.

Anne and the New Orleans Alt Media Expo

Pattern: Anne Crochet Lace Scarf
Yarn: Elann Seta Lana, 2 skeins
Hook: US L/8.0 mm

When the New Orleans Craft Mafia put out a request for swag bag contributions for the New Orleans Alt Media Expo, I did a little reformatting of the Anne pattern and sent them 30 printed patterns. The new print shop I switched to did a great job! Unfortunately, when I reformatted the pattern, a line of text disappeared. Aren't I awesome? Without that line, the first row doesn't make much sense. Super awesome! *sigh*

Under foundation: 
Chain 6.  Join with sl st to form ring. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), work 13 dc into ring.

Anne: Pattern Update

If you purchased the Anne Crochet Lace Scarf pattern between February 08, 2008, and February 18, 2008, you received a version with an error in it. The pattern had been reformatted for a print run, and in the process, a line of text was accidentally deleted. My apologies for any difficulties this may have created in your crocheting! An email with a corrected PDF was sent out; if you did not receive the email, please contact me and I will send you the corrected PDF.

Again, this is only for those who purchased the pattern between February 08, 2008, and February 18, 2008. If you purchased the pattern before February 08, 2008, or after February 18, 2008, you do not need the corrected version.

Rip. Repeat. Make cornbread.

So Sister Super Princess is heading off to Toronto tomorrow and I repurposed one of the Anne Crochet Scarf Kits so I could do a quick, chunky, waffle-knit hat for her.

Cascade 109, waffle knit (aka broken rib) on US 10.5 needles

At the most recent Aloha Knitters meeting, I started thinking it might be too big, and kept on knitting anyway. I got home, got out a measuring tape, and knew that it was too big, so I ripped back. One of the nice things about a top-down hat - I didn't have to rip the whole thing, just back to the crown and into the increases until it was the right size around.

Cascade 109, waffle knit  - reverse side

On my way to and from work today, I kept knitting and stopping to measure the length. While sitting in a parking lot waiting for my Dad, I noted with a bit of annoyance that one skein wasn't going to be enough, and that I would need to use just a little more yarn to do two more rounds and the bind-off. I bound off on the way home.

Once home, I tried it on. It's too long. By about two rounds.

I'm going to rip back the bind-off and three rounds (it will ease up a bit when blocked), then wash this and pop it in the oven (yes, it's another one of those days). Afterwards I might make cornbread.

update: after washing the hat, I ripped out about 8 more rounds. The cornbread is delicious.

Skillet Cornbread

8” cast iron skillet (all iron - will go into oven)
an uncooked strip of bacon, chopped
1 c stoneground cornmeal (1/3 cup in mixing bowl, remaining 2/3 cup in small bowl)
1/2 c boiling water
1/2 c plain yogurt and 1/2 c water blended together with 1 tsp salt

1 lg egg
2 Tbs sugar or 1 Tbs honey
1 c whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

Heat oven to 450 F with skillet (containing bacon) on middle rack.

Blend the 1/3 cup cornmeal and boiling water with a whisk to make a mush. Slowly add yogurt, beat in egg and honey (if using honey). Blend remaining ingredients in a separate bowl. When skillet is very hot, blend dry ingredients into wet just long enough to combine. Pour bacon bits and fat into batter and stir in quickly. Scrape batter into pan and return to oven for 20 - 25 minutes or until golden brown. Turn out onto cooling rack immediately and let cool at least 5 minutes before serving.

One of these days I'm going to arrange to be at home alone when making this cornbread so I can peel the crusty bottom off and eat it first, while still hot.