Eye Candy

We have a bowl of alpaca pom poms from Handworks NW. They are like fluffy little clouds! If you are looking for that floaty look to finish off a handknit hat, these might be just the thing. Here's a little info how how these come to be, if you are interested. They are not produced in the same way as the alpaca yarns we love.

Pom Poms

I was a little nervous about making these. 

I can't stand an anemic pom pom. They are supposed to add that whimsical pop of fun to the top of your hat, and a limp pom pom is just sad.

I made these guys pretty hefty, and I feel like I could have done even more! I wound the pom pom maker until it seemed to just close, but next time, I will keep going.

I made a multi-green pom for my Shibui Mix No. 24 with a few different shades of green. I used a smaller than-called-for gauge for the bonnet, so it came out a little small. It's destined for the head of a young friend, who I hope will love it. I'm skipping the tassels this time, but they are really cute.

I attached the pom pom with a button through the top of the hat. I remember my grandmother doing this, and it seems smart for washing.

The white angora pom pom graces the top of my Advanced Beanie, knit with Bumblebirch Forage in Dandelion. This one is all mine. The angora pom is developing a nice halo as in relaxes.

These guys turned out pretty well, but I have learned that more is more with pom poms. Just keep winding!

Blue Sky Fibers Bulky

I am loving these new labels for the Blue Sky Fibers (formerly Alpacas) Bulky. The yarn is the same lovely stuff we have come to know, and we have a little stash of our favorite shades in the drawers.

I was poking around the new Blue Sky Fibers website a bit, and I found this awesome free hat pattern using two skeins of Bulky. If you love the three-color pom, you can find a great little tutorial on their blog as well. You'll just need a little bit of the contrasting colors for the pom. Find a friend and trade scraps, perhaps?

Photo borrowed from BSF site.

The new blog is really lovely and well worth a look. The Strand represents the joining of the forces behind Blue Sky and Spud & Chloe. They include tutorials, free patterns, and knit-a-longs, as well as interesting articles on organic fibers, sheepy travels, and design inspiration. If you love fiber and yarn, I highly recommend taking a look!

Easy Eight Hour* Hat

Looking for a simple hat that will keep you warm this winter? Here's an idea for an easy eight-hour project. The pattern is called Elizabeth, and it features a straightforward rib and cable design. The hat can be worn slouchy, or, with the ribbing folded up, in a more traditional, fitted style. It can be made with or without a pompom and is designed for a woman, but would fit most men as well.

I've knitted two of these hats in two lovely, bulky yarns that we stock at close knit. The first with Rowan Cocoon, in the Crag colorway:

Rowan Cocoon is a lovely, lovely yarn spun of 80% merino wool and 20% mohair and comes in many gorgeous colorways. The Rowan website describes it as "rugged and luxurious", which is an apt description, I think. This yarn is sturdy, yet the mohair gives it a soft glow. Best of all, you need only one ball.

I made my second Elizabeth with Malabrigo Chunky, a wonderfully squishy, kettle-dyed three-ply superfine Merino wool.

I know that many of you are Malabrigo fans, and I must say that this is my favorite Malabrigo yet. I used about 1.25 skeins for my hat. With two skeins, you will have a bit of yarn left over for a small project, and with its incredible softness, it would be suitable for a baby hat or booties.

The designer of Elizabeth is Jane Richmond and you can purchase and download the hat at Jane's Etsy site or on Ravelry. The pattern consists of a large band of ribbing, followed by a simple cable design and calls for US11 needles, but I used 10.5. Please do a gauge swatch! Even with a hat project, a gauge swatch can make the difference between a hat for your grandpa and a hat for your newborn. Different yarns (even yarns that are listed as having the same gauge) will knit up differently, depending on fiber content, loft or how tightly you knit.

This hat is a great project for beginners and seasoned knitters alike and would be a fabulous first cable project. I highly recommend this pattern and both of these yarns. It is a fast, straightforward knit - perfect for a last-minute gift for yourself or someone special.

*estimate only...actual knitting times may vary