Major Knitter

Why I Love Knitting Hats

I thought this was a simple title for a post.  Why do I love knitting hats?  It seems like a pretty simple question, after all.  But it turns out that I have a few reasons for liking hats. 

1. They're relatively quick and easy.  You know I like instant gratification.
2. They're portable.  I can put it in my purse and take it on my commute.  It's just enough knitting to keep me busy for a day into NYC.
3. I have a lifetime supply of worsted weight yarn.  I often purchase too much yarn for a project.  I know that instead of returning any yarn, I will easily put the yarn to good use in a hat.
4. Hats make great gifts.  I try very hard to make beautiful hats.  I know that sounds silly... who would make an ugly hat?  But it happens.  If it's not something I would wear myself, I wouldn't expect anyone else to wear it.
5. Hats are great items to donate.  It's cold.  Everyone can wear a hat in the winter.  I have a special charity that I know can use the hats and puts them to good use.  They are actually appreciated.
6. They also make great donations for door prizes, auction gifts, etc.  
7. Fair Isle hats are especially great because you can use up the little bit of leftover yarn from a former project.  
   
   
   

See.  It's not such a simple question.  What are your favorite reasons for knitting hats?

 

Clutter Free in 30 Days

Remember this post from last month?  Clutter Free in 30 Days

How are you doing?  Have you tried to clean up any areas in your home?

I started by getting rid of plastic for food storage. It's bad for you. It harms our environment and our health.  You can read numerous scholarly articles on plastic endocrine disruptors (I won't bore you with them here - please Google).

I got rid of the plastic food storage containers, toxic laden make up, toxic lipstick and fingernail polish and toxic food canisters in my pantry.  

*Don't worry.  I didn't throw the plastic in the landfill.  I donated the plastic storage containers to someone who will repurpose them for storage of non-food items.  

I also got rid of the toxic skincare, hair products, shampoos, and more from my bathroom.  Did you know that there are thousands of chemicals that the US allows in cosmetics that are banned in other countries?  Yikes!  That made it very easy to clear out my bathroom cupboards!

But you got to store things somewhere.  I used glass Mason jars that I already had to store food in my pantry (seeds, raisins, oatmeal, nuts, sunflower seeds, pasta, beans, rice, etc).  I purchased glass storage containers to store leftover food.  I got rid of all those plastic water bottles I had from all my years camping.  Now I use a quart size Mason jar or a stainless steel water bottle.  

I cleaned up my bedside table and got rid of the electronics.  I declared my bedroom a cell-phone free zone.  You have probably heard that it's not a good idea to be scrolling through your phone, laptop, or tablet before going to bed.  The blue light disrupts your sleep.  I am really bad at this.  I've been a bedtime scroller for years.  Not anymore.  I removed my cell phone from my bedroom and now I read a good old fashioned book before bed. My sleep patterns are already improving!  Plus, I cleaned up my bedside table and it looks so much nicer.  Since my phone isn't in my bedroom, I even purchased an old-fashioned alarm clock.

So here's my progress since I posted the Clutter Free in 30 Days challenge last month.  I've already completed more than a third of the items.  I may not be clutter free in 30 days... but my home is already a little less cluttered and I feel a whole lot better.

How about you?  Have you started?  If not, give it a try.  Pick one spot and go for it!

 

Making Something Beautiful Out of Leftover Yarn

My friend recently posted a picture of her mitered square blanket using up all the leftover sock yarn from over the years. You've seen these in the past.  They're fun.  They take forever.  They use up all that yarn you have lying around.

I was inspired and decided to use up some of my sock yarn.  But rather than just use colors willy nilly, I decided to make it more of a pattern.  I decided to make it a white blanket using up some Knit Picks Felici Bare (2.25 skeins) and using all sorts of blue fingering weight yarn from my stash.  It was a lot of fun and I'm happy with the results.

Details:
US Size 2 straight knitting needles
Approximately 225 g (approx 2.25 skeins) Knit Picks Felici Bare (un-dyed)
Approximately 200 g - random blue fingering weight yarn
Finished size - approximately 31x31 inches

Prepare to Dye!

Remember this sweater that I knit for Primogeniture for Christmas?  (Note - being modeled by Secundogeniture because he was available!)

I knit it in natural wool - because that's what I had on hand.  Primogeniture requested a charcoal gray sweater.  I asked for help in my Finish or Frog It Friday group on Ravelry and got a lot of suggestions.  My friend, upon realizing that this was my very first time dyeing a hand knit sweater directed me to the RIT dye videos.  It looked so easy, so that's what I did.

Supplies on hand:
6 gallons hot water
2 cups vinegar
Rubber gloves
1 bottle Rit dye
1 bottle Fit fixative
2 teaspoons dishwashing liquid
Sweater to be dyed
Sample knit swatch (with same wool as sweater) to test the dye

I carefully followed the instructions on the packaging and the video.  The sweater soaked in the dye for about 30 minutes (with constant stirring).  Then it soaked in the fixative for about another 30 minutes.  Then I rinsed it in cold water until the water ran clear.

I pressed out the excess water in the sink, blotted the very wet sweater in a large towel, then blocked it to the proper shape on my kitchen table.  Notice the swatch alongside the sweater.  I'll send that to my son to keep in the unfortunate event that the sweater requires mending down the road.

Now we wait a few days for this Forbes sweater to dry.  If you like this - please check out designer Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed.  

I can't wait for Primogeniture to try it on!