The Final Countdown!

The Knitting Olympics are finally over.  Whew!  At final count, I knit 11 hats in 16 days.  Not too shabby.  The modified NFL beanies got me in a stash busting mood, so the last three are all plain ol' striped stockinette hats with a ribbed brim. 

#9:

#10:

#11:

These were all made with lots of odds and ends from my stash, so it's not worth it to mention yarns because it would be a laundry list of random yarn brands.  When putting my colors together, I started with a variegated yarn and then chose other ends that matched that yarn to help create a unified color palette.  I tried not to pick more than 5 colors because I carried them up instead of cutting the yarn at the end of every 2 row stripe.  Because I'm lazy and let's face it, we ALL hate weaving in ends. 

Now, to relax my poor joints for a day or two.  Next week, I'm talking about llama!  Stay tuned!

So many hats it hurts

It's official.  I've become obsessed with stash-busting hats.  I finished two more modified NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Beanie by Hermione J. Schwartz.  #6 in Cascade 220 (White & Tutu) and SameKnitDifferentDye's Gaia Organic Worsted in Thankful:

And #7 in Knit Picks Swish DK (Marble Heather), Wool of the Andes (Avocado) and SeeJayneKnitYarns Handpainted Superwash Merino Worsted in Blue Agate Beauty:

Hat #8 barely counts, but I'll take it.  It's a simple stockinette baby hat with garter stitch brim knit with My Friend London London's Handspun in Gracie.  A special shout-out to anatomyofaskirt for my model; he is by far my favorite knitting tool carrier.  So cute!

#9 in on the needles.  I should have it completed by tomorrow.  I can't believe this hatsanity will be over in a few days!

Hatathon, Part Deux

I've finished hats #4 & #5!  Only 5 more days until Closing Ceremony, and I'm really hoping to finish 3 more hats by then.

Hat #4:

Regina by Carina Spencer knit with Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted in Stonechat and Pearl Ten.  This hat knit up very quickly, but if I were to knit it again, I think I would do so with a lighter weight yarn.  The pattern is so refined that the chunkiness of the Malabrigo seems off somehow.

Hat #5:

This is a modified version of the NFL Breast Cancer Awareness Beanie by Hermione J. Schwartz knit with a ton of leftover Cascade 220 I had sitting about (White, Tutu, Flamingo, and Magenta).  I love the look of this hat!  And I love that I can do a little stash busting when I knit it.  I'm planning at least one more of these during the next 5 days.

Happy Knitting and my the purls be ever in your favor!

Hatathon!

I finished my third hat this morning and I just couldn't wait to share it!

Indian Summer by Kalurah (Ravelry Link) made with Blue Ridge Yarns Alpaca Delight Mini in Night Light.  I love this pattern, it's so lovely and light and delicate.  Not to mention it knits up SUPER fast!

I also cast on for hat #4!  It's by one of my favoritest designers of all time, Carina Spencer!

Happy Knitting!

In my heart it will always be the Knitting Olympics

This is a busy time for knitters.  Whether you call it the Knitting Olympics, Ravelympics, or the newly christened Ravellenic Games, it's all the same; we knitters try to push the boundaries of our craft and our skill over the course of two weeks (coinciding with The Olympics).  Of course, like any good competition, there are rules (thanks to Simply Stavish for summing this up):

1. Choose a project that will challenge your knitting skills in one of the 32 events and join a team.
2. Cast on during opening ceremonies.
3. Knit like crazy during the games.
4. Attempt to cast off before or during the closing ceremonies, earning your team points and hopefully a medal.

While I didn't join a team (it's been a crazy summer, y'all), I decided to compete in an event on my own.  I am competing in a hatathon, where I will knit all the hats I can in the two weeks of the London 2012 Olympics.  I've not been as productive as I hoped, but here are a couple of hats I have been able to finish in the last 6 days.

 Alaina Beanie by Jen Eastin (Ravelry Link) made with Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted in Buscando Azul

Here and There by Veera Välimäki (Ravelry Link) made with Ella Rae Latte in 02 & 07

I'll keep you posted as I finish projects in the next 8 days.  Until then, Happy Knitting Olympics to you!