Tuesday, August 30, 2011

little blue hat

or perhaps more appropriately, little blue hurricane hat.  this was knit over the weekend while keeping
one ear on the dreadful news reports. knitting is truly therapy, with every stitch tension melts
away and a soothing rhythm develops, very much like a meditation.
i'm joining ginny's small things again for the weekly yarn along, where it's all knitting and reading and inspiration.




this is the very funny blocking tecnique for this hat. first step, wet block and then stretch the hat over and around a dinner plate. this is important so the pattern will fully show, otherwise it looks like a lump of (unattractive) knitted wool.
next, with a piece of waste yarn, make a running stitch around the brim where the ribbing meets the cableing and cinch it tight (remove after drying). this keeps the part that fits around your head from becoming too stretched out. a brilliant idea!




reading:  i've fallen behind in this series, there is already a new book out i need to get. i have to buy them, since i love them so and want to keep and reread them. again and again. (in depth love post for alexander mccall smiths books, the #1 ladies detective agency). oh! and see my new vintage blue enamel pitcher? it's danish and i think terribly cute. it does a splendid job of holding needles without toppling over.



the pattern blooming


baby sweaters wrapped up and delivered


unintentional blurred photo, (or was it?? hmmm), i thought you may like to see the front of the hat  :)



brambles beret, ravelry notes here. happy yarn along day knitters and happy wednesday everyone!

47 comments:

  1. Great "plate in a beret" tip! I think there might even be the germ of some installation art project there... ;)

    And your blue jug... divine. I bet people keep their needles in so many different beautiful things. I know my mum uses a cylindrical box that once had a bottle of whisky in it. I use a japanese scroll-holder.

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  2. You are such a wool-wizard, Lori! Take a bit of wool and turn it into something not only beautiful but also useful! Your pictures are so lovely, you are your own best model!
    I am still fighting with my first baby sock! I happily knitted in rounds, even making little holes for a thread to be pulled through, but when I was almost finished and counted my stitches, one needle suddenly had more than it should! Sigh. So I must ribble it up again. Where should I meditate here? And THEN it occurred to me that the baby has even TWO feet! I wish you could look over my shoulder and encourage me, Professora! It always looks so easy with you.

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  3. Has anyone ever told you you suit hats? It looks great! I have a couple of his books but haven't read them yet. I think I will now as you've recommended them. x

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  4. Love the pitcher, such a cute way to store needles :)

    The hat looks fab, beautiful colour and I love the cables. I always find the blocking method for that type of hat fairly amusing ;)

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  5. That is a stunning hat! all my hats come out too big - not sure why - this is a lovely pattern and if you're sending it to NYC then it will be well used this year I'm sure.

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  6. What a perfect project you had for your weekend knitting! It is just lovely Lori and looks so adorable on you.
    I have not read any the books you posted about so I need to pick up one. I am always looking for new series to read. I like to keep my favorite books and reread them too, it's like visiting old friends.xx
    PS- The pitcher is beautiful and I love that shade of blue.

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  7. I love your picture, Lori, you are so beautiful!
    And you are really a great knitter, I love this beautiful Blue hat! And the pitcher is so , so cute!
    Wishing you all the best, to you and your daughter in NY.

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  8. You look so beautiful wearing that lovely blue hat. I'm glad that your hands had something with which to keep busy when you were waiting for news. That helps. At first I thought that was a piece of fabric lining to the hat (and not the dinner plate). I agree, the bluish vase is great! And I heart McCall-Smith books.

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  9. OMG i thought the plate was the lining! and i LOVED it!!!

    how nice to see your smiling face ♥ now nice that your fingers know how to calm your worried mind. that is a grandmother gift too precious for words.

    i love the pitcher, my favorite color yet again. and i understand a vintage provincetown post card wss found among the treasures. oooh.

    with love
    kj

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  10. That is a beautiful hat!
    I love it!

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  11. Such a beautiful hat! And love the blocking technique too, good to know, just in case!
    Happy knitting! :)

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  12. Beautiful hat..and you look great in it..smile..

    ~~Renee

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  13. Lovely hat and you look great in it! Or it looks great on you?... Anyways, I love the plate blocking idea, it makes blocking so much easier.

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  14. Lori, Always wonderful to see your beautiful face. Love the hat and your blue pitcher. xoxo

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  15. I thought the plate was the lining too... I'm not a knitter, but you're inspiring me to. That little package with the knitted leaf is so beautiful!

    What a gorgeous model, you definitely have a hat face. You know how some folks just don't pull the hat thing? You're definietly not one of them, you're a bella syren in a brambles beret.

    Love,
    Lola xxxxxxxxx

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  16. oh lori ...you are just so awesome♥ love to you~

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  17. That beret is so beautiful and I love the color. I'm looking for a new winter hat and that one is inspiring. I love the blocking technique.

    I also knitted during the hurricane. It really does keep your mind off of things.

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  18. I love everything about that beret! And I love the wrapped up baby sweater...might have to do one myself, as I just had news this morning of a baby girl's birth.

    Your enamel pitcher is charming! I keep my bouquet of bamboo needles in an old, blue Ball canning jar on the windowsill...

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  19. Gorgeous! Both you and the hat :-). I love your new pitcher, too! I love Danish housewares. Thanks for the book recommendation and earlier review. I'll look for both the book and BBC series immediately :-)

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  20. It's very pretty.

    I don't understand very well the blocking, I have never done it, I have to research on that.

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  21. I like the way you harness stress into beautiful things. The colors and the design are soothing and gorgeous. I'm glad everything turned out okay in regards to your daughter.

    Count me in as a McCall Smith fan ✶✶✶✶✶

    Happy Wednesday, xo

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  22. The hat is beautiful! You are such a fast and talented knitter. (I'm still loving those yellow baby sweaters!) Your blog is lovely.

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  23. That hat is adorable! And such a yummy color! I have to say I'm also a fan of the pitcher you have your needles in. Love.

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  24. Your beret is gorgeous & the blocking technique is genius!

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  25. That beret is lovely! I would never have thought to use a dinner plate - brilliant!

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  26. that hat turned out wonderfull!! it looks just great, you used the perfect color for it.

    I love the blue Danish vase too, it's a great idea to use for your knitting needles!

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  27. you look fab in blue, lori - what a cute hat!

    we just missed the hurricane last friday in south carolina! happy to back home now, where it is dry as a bone.....

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  28. i love that hat. it is fabulous! everyone needs a hat like that!

    :)
    jen

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  29. Oh, I love it! I am adding that to my Ravelry queue tout de suite! Yours is just lovely... xo

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  30. The hat is a winner. I'm glad you were able to produce something out of the week-end of worry. You make a lovely model.

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  31. Lovely hat! Blue is one of my favorite colours and I like the pattern as well. Thanx for your commetn in my blog - have a nice day :)

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  32. That is a stunning hat! A beautiful coloured yarn, and all done in a matter of days. Fantastic!

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  33. Lori, love your little blue hat - looks fabulous, have a nice time, Inge

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  34. Lori - I LOVE Alexander McCalls books, too (The #1 Ladies Detective Agency)!! I am behind reading them, but you reminded me to go to the library and get some more to read. I adore him and his characters! You look gorgeous in that hat. I wish I had your hair - mine is thin and wispy. :) Have a loverly day, my friend! xox Pam

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  35. Such a gorgeous blue beret! You know I am a *lilac* girl...but, *blue* has been growing on me since I *met* you and Lo...

    Your knitting projects are just infused with your joyous personality!

    Big Hugs,

    ♥ Robin ♥

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  36. The Danish really do it right, don't they? How can one little country have so much style?!! Your Irene beret looks beautiful. I pay such terrible attention to detail that I am sure that I would mess up somewhere along in the process, if not the knitting, then surely the blocking or the cinching!

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  37. The color of your hat is "terribly cute"..I love your words and hat..heehee..So nice to see your smiling face.Hugs,Cat

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  38. That is a GREAT tip for blocking berets! I will have to try that on the hat that I finished recently- Thanks!
    I love your hat, I'm slowly working up in difficulty with my knitting and think I'm going to have to try knitting cables etc soon... wish me luck!

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  39. Oh I just love your beret! The colour is wonderful and the pattern divine. Your blue jug is so happy. I am a fan of #1 ladies detective agency too!!

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  40. I love your hat. I hope your daughter was okay x

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  41. I just love it!

    I want to learn to knit so badly...I think this may be the year! Wish me luck.
    These photos are so pretty and inspiring...

    I've yet to send your postcard. Written and stamped but it seems to be too lazy to get to the post. Tomorrow I will force it...

    XO

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  42. Good morning dear Lori,

    Well, you KNOW that I love the gorgeous hat and I totally understand how your working-creating fingers will ease your worried heart. It is that way for me when I tend the garden, cook, or paint. True finger therapy.

    I second KJ and love the color of the pitcher. It is a magical color as knew the Apache, Navajos etc. I use touches of that color to bring peace to my home.

    I LOVE THE MT. KATAHDIN card...thank you, thank you...and it is in a place of honor. It came JUST after Jeff and I spent an hour looking for antique cards at a nearby co-op. We LOVE old postcards. The five we chose yesterday we framed in a long frame with five postcard size openings in the matting. It was a wedding gift for a young friend who has spent every summer of her life in Maine.

    Sending a hug and thanks and no, we don't return until sometime in October. HURRAH! Your card just arrived because it was (luckily) forwarded on to me.

    Sharon

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  43. Totally gorgeous hat and a great way to block it

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  44. The hat is like a beautiful blue mandala!!!!!
    It looks good on you!

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xoxo lori