Hats Again?

  If you are wondering to yourself as to why I started another hat after the hatathon is over and I still have my Radiata to work on, you are not wrong to wonder.  The Radiata is at a point where it is getting a bit too cumbersome not to put on a table.  Each row is taking long enough that they need some time dedicated to them.  I needed something to take with me that was easy to pick up and put down since Miss Spud and I were at the church for our craft group.  I will keep working on it when she is napping, so I hope it won't take too long to get it finished.  I wasn't sure what size I wanted to make, so I let the yarn decide.  I think I have enough to make a medium.

  I can also feel a case of startitis coming on again.  I want to try and made a chunky side to side crochet rib hat, try a knitting machine technique on a knitting loom, start a second Radiata, work on worms and octopi for T.A.P.S., start a knit brioche hat, another Jason's Cashmere Hat, and the rainbow side to side crochet hats.  Of course all at the same time.  I'm going to try and put them into an order of importance.  Finishing my current WIPs are on the top followed by easier things.  I'm going to hold off starting the second Radiata until I have some of the quicker things out of the way.  Once I figure out how many single crochets I need for the crown, the chunky hat will work up quickly.  The chunky knit beanie might not even count since it's back-up easy knitting, though I have a non-chunky knit beanie that could also fulfill that need.

  The startitis isn't limiting itself to my crafting either.  I want to listen to my book on Julia Child's life, start reading the Mercy Thompson Series, and also start The Parasol Protectorate series.  The Julia Child book is so interesting, so I'm doing okay sticking with that.

Yearly Yarn Tracker:

Yarn In: 10 (0)
Yarn Out: 12 (1)

Total: -2

Whimsical Hats: Part 4

  February Hatathon 2026 has come to a close!!

California - 29/26

• MinnieMay9 - 9/6

• tangodancer - 6/6

• LisaDP - 3/4

• majmlj - 5/4

• lizcf59 - 3/4

• landandwater - 2/2

• suchahappyknitter - 1 (last minute member)

Pattern: Jingle Jester Hat by me - Yarn: Baby Bee Sweet Delight Prints in 324 Sprinkles - Hook: 4.5mm

  I was able to get one more hat done for the hatathon when I was at my Saturday group on the 28th.  Everyone loved it and requested to see it on Miss Spud.  I made it sized for her on purpose, I just wish I could convince her to wear hats.  I was able to distract her with raspberries and the fact that it jingled long enough to get a few pictures.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out and I even have some charts made, but I want to keep messing with it a bit more before I put anything out there.

  I was trying to see if I could make the pattern easier.  A two row repeat is a lot easier to keep track of than a 6 row.  Though you could also say it is a simultaneous two and three row repeat happening respectively.  However, the shorter half-double crochets changed the angle of the increases, and I didn't like it as much.

Faux Black Caviar, made based off what you have:

Everything:

• 2 tbsp chia seeds 

• 2 tbsp sesame oil (olive oil works as well)

• 4 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

• 3 tbsp water

• 2 tbsp kelp powder or 2 sheets of nori blended into a powder

 

Mix together and let sit at least 4 hours

No Kelp/Seaweed:

• 2 tbsp chia seeds 

• 2 tbsp sesame oil (olive oil works as well)

• 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

• 2 tbsp water

 

Mix together and let sit at least 4 hours

No Oil:

• 2 tbsp chia seeds

• 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

• 3 tbsp water

• 2 tbsp kelp powder or 2 sheets of nori blended into a powder*

 

Mix together and let sit at least 4 hours

 

Pattern: Jingle Jester Hat by me - Yarn: Baby Bee Sweet Delight Prints in 324 Sprinkles - Hook: 4.5mm

  Since I got the urge to publish the pattern, I knew I had to finish this one so I could include the granny cluster option.  It makes the pattern easier since wedges 2, 3, 5, and 6 are the same for every row.  For an even number of rows, it actually ends up the same size as the more solid option.  I wanted to make a pony-bead star to show some other fun options for ear/horn decorations.  Getting them attached was an adventure.  I didn't want to buy jump rings I wouldn't use for anything else, so I went looking for what I have.  I still haven't found the package that Blue Moon had sent me.  I also thought of the chainmaille supplies I have but also can't find.  I have some random rings from bracelets I've made and a scalemaille flower kit that is also hiding.  The funny thing is that I remember finding the flower kit when looking for other things so many times.  I tried the keychain sets I got, but the ring was a tiny bit too small.  I ended up using two eye pins and wrapping the wire myself.  My round nose pliers were too small, but I made it work.

  Since I'm done with this hatathon, I'm back to working on my Radiata.  It's big enough that I both love how long the sections are and also getting impatient with them.  It wouldn't be as much of an issue if I didn't have to work around Spud's nap time.  I know she would love to help me with the project, but she's not quite coordinated enough to not make it more work in the end.

Yearly Yarn Tracker:

Yarn In: 10 (0)
Yarn Out: 11 (0)

Total: -1

Whimsical Hats: Part 3

Pattern: Crochet “Sun and Moon” Granny Square by Creggy’s Crochet - Yarn: Premier Just Yarn Worsted Yarn in Yellow, Cream, Turquoise, and Classic Blue - Hook: 5.5mm

  I was watching Kira (PricklyAlpaca) on YouTube and she fairly recently learned how to crochet and made some sun and moon granny squares.  I liked them enough that I wanted to make something with them too.  I have also half paid attention to ads for the Arkyve Holly Bloom Crochet Cat Hat, which are pretty cute.  I thought it would be a fun idea to combine those ideas together.  Since the sun and moon granny square is pretty large, I wouldn't be able to use 4 for each half of the hat if I wanted to make it a kid's size.  I also wanted mine to be more unique and only get inspiration from the one I saw. 

  I started out with the “Sun and Moon” Granny Square.  Once I got it squared off I started working back and forth around the sides and bottom.  I tried so many things to keep it as square as I could.

  The best result I had was from alternating rows of double crochets and treble crochets on the bottom, and always working half-double crochets on the sides.  To keep the counts the same I added two half-double crochets in the corners of the sides and only one double/treble crochet in the corners of the bottom.

  This is a chart of how the bottom would be worked.  The grey stitches are from the original square, so they might be different if you are trying this with a different starting square.  The blue are the first row, which is different than the following half-double crochet rows.  The red stitches are to let you know to just keep working plain along the side.  The reason I have both chains and half-double crochets next to each other is because I usually work a standing half-double, but most people like to work a turning chain.

  When the piece was almost big enough, I did a final row of double crochet all the way around with two double crochets in the first stitch of the first side and the last stitch of the third side.  I put double crochets spaced evenly along the top to match the count on the bottom.  I once again used the Crochet Tight Join As You Go Method by Hooked by Robin on the last row of the second square.

  If I make this or something similar again, I would only chain three between the sun beams before the background color is introduced, mine has too much sun color peeking through.  Another option would be to make it smaller one by just putting five double crochets in the spaces and not work the single stitches for the sun rays, though it wouldn't change the finished size of the square.  To do that the squaring off row could be worked on row as well.

Pattern: Jester Style Crochet Hat by Alison Russell - Yarn: Lion Brand Yarn Mandala Baby in Honeydukes - Hook: 3.75mm

  I don't know if I mentioned the things I have been doing differently on these than when I made my regular granny squares.  For the first row I have been working groups of two instead of three because even if I'm working groups of three later, this lets you tighten the center magic ring easier.  I have also been working a chain 1, sc as the last chain of the row.  That way you end in the middle of what would normally be a chain 2 space.  I like being able to work the entire first wedge without turning or trying to squish everything backwards.

  The Wednesday evening group looks to be dying down again.  A lot of the older ladies meet earlier in the day on Wednesday, so they don't have to drive in the dark.  One of the people moved, so if she works on Wednesday then she's too tired to hang out and also drive herself home after.  I've been trying to get more people I know to go, but I've not gotten anyone to come consistently.  The younger people have also been meeting on Saturday mornings, which I wouldn't mind going to, but I also have my Saturday afternoon group.

  We were glad they have some indoor seating and even a highchair at Mary's Botanitas weekend before last.  I got sopes with chicken for Miss Spud and soft tacos with chorizo and al pastor with regular horchata to drink for me.  The horchata came out in a large soup to-go container.  Their hot sauce wasn't too hot, but had a lot of flavor.  The chorizo came with some nice crispy bits and the al pastor was very moist and tender.  I do want to go back at some point and try more options.

Pattern: Jingle Jester Hat by me - Yarn: Baby Bee Sweet Delight Prints in 324 Sprinkles - Hook: 4.5mm

  I wanted to make a version of the jester hat that was a combination of the first few and the blue/white one.  I'm trying to decide if I want to post the general pattern for this on here or on Ravelry.  I could do both.  It is easier to just post on here because Ravelry needs more information, though more people would see it on Ravelry.

  It was a busy day at the cabin on this past Monday.  Around 9am the Internet guy showed up.  He said that whoever installed our phone didn't install the battery backup they provide.  We have one of our own, but they installed one anyway.

  The people bringing the new refrigerator were supposed to let Bill know about half an hour before they arrive.  However, half an hour away from the cabin doesn't have cell service.  He was worried that they wouldn't find the place, but the cable guy and all the Amazon trucks have been able to find us.

  They got to us and didn't have any real problems getting the old one out and the new one in.  They had to take the handles off the old one and the interior door of the cabin off, but that wasn't a big deal for them.  The handles for the new one came inside, and it was easy getting it in place.

  It won't be dying down there any time soon because we have the windows coming later this week and the heating and cooling systems sometime later this month.

Yearly Yarn Tracker:

Yarn In: 10 (0)
Yarn Out: 11 (1)

Total: -1