Angelarae Knits

Thanks, Ya'll!

Must give a hearty thanks to everyone who commented re: my design attempts for a ski hat.   I received outstanding advice from each person and input that I really needed.  Some very fine lessons have been learned so far.  For example, swatching is playtime...quite right.   Thanks, Jolene.  All of your ideas about what kind of edge to use, swatching the stranded knitting, increasing just before beginning stranded knitting...and your encouragement are all very much appreciated.  I tell you, blogging is the best!  Such wonderful people out there:)  No strangers.  Only friends:)

Regarding the hat, I am still working on it.  I have been busy with family and I had to finish the Irish Hiking Scarf for my Uncle Jim. ( not to mention a little Calorimetry for me) Now, I am starting over on the hat.  I am re-working my swatches per Jolene and Maia.    Once I do that,  I can recalculate stitches, pattern and will be able to begin knitting.  (I hope). 

This is work, people.   This is work.  But also, a joy!

Ang

Slight Problem

I have run into a little problem with my ski hat. (I'm sure this won't be the only time you hear this)
It's too freakin' big.  Seriously, I could wear this as a necklace. (click on pic to enlarge)

I know what you're thinking...'she must not have knit a gauge swatch...'  Ah! but I did.  Here it is:

Again, click on this pic to see the detail...I get 5 stitches to the inch.  My fat head is 22 1/2 inches around, give or take a 1/4 inch.   I stupidly rounded up to 23, due to the fact that I am using Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns to back up my numbers. I also had to consider that my motif is a 14 stitch repeat and I was thinking that the cast-on should therefore be a multiple of 14.
So,  23 x 5 = 115.  Ann Budd's cast-on with a gauge of 5sts/inch and 23 " head is 114, pretty damn close.  Also, the closest multiple of 14 is 112.  So I cast-on 112 stitches.  I thought that, probably,  the one stitch difference between Ann's chart and my calculations was her allowance for negative ease.   I've been reminded that stranded knitting does not stretch like one color pieces, so that the gauge would have to be close.  And, since mine was even 2 stitches less, I figured it should be about perfect.   Wrong.  Okay.  Well, since I feel I am tied to multiples of 14 (if anyone finds this laughable because they know better, please clue me in) the next one down from 8 repeats and 112 sts, is 7 repeats and 98 sts.  So, that's what I am going with.  If it doesn't fit me, it will fit someone.    You know how I love to give these things away....(sigh)

Also:  Ann's book gives several options for a hat edge; rolled, ribbed, hemmed, picot.   It's between hemmed and rolled.  Please vote:)

Design Progress

Pictured here, you can see my final graph for the color pattern on my very first design...a ski hat.  (click on pic to enlarge)  I used my Stitch and Bitch Knitter's Design Journal.  I am assuming that this is knitter's graph paper.   The design to the right is my experimentation and the one to the left is the 'scale' design, meaning, I tried to be as exact as is possible for me, leaving a one stitch cushion around each motif (snowflake, line, zig-zag)  and trying to graph out a repeatable pattern.    I also used dots for the snowflake so It would be easier to count stitches when I actually knit this patterned hat.

For inspiration, I looked at Sandy's Hat several times, Googled ski hat images (saw some interesting hats and designs that way) and searched through a few available free knitting charts.  This is what I came up with.   

I think the only thing I have left to do now is calculate the gauge and number of stitches to cast-on.  I believe I will be using a size 7 needle, the smaller of the two recommended needle sizes for this yarn, because I am thinking that the smaller gauge is better for color knitting.  I read that somewhere.   I am certainly open to any suggestions anyone may have.   On to swatching, and think I'll read a refresher on stranded knitting for good measure.