Fall Knitting Projects | Barley Hat, Belugah & Wavy Moss Hat

I cannot believe how quickly this year has flown by. It feels like only yesterday that I picked up my knitting needles for the first time.

Even though I had completed quite a few projects by this point, I still felt like a new knitter. Looking back, I think every knitter goes through that stage where you know more than you give yourself credit for, yet you still question whether you are ready for certain projects.

One of my goals for the year was to knit my first sweater. I even cast one on a few weeks earlier, but it just was not coming together the way I had hoped, so I frogged it. Sometimes starting over is the best decision.

Thankfully, I had several finished objects to celebrate instead.

Barley Hat by Tin Can Knits

The first project was the Barley Hat by Tin Can Knits.

Pattern:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/barley

This is a wonderful beginner-friendly pattern that is available as a free download on Ravelry. If you can knit and purl, you can make this hat.

I used Red Heart With Love in the Aran colorway and knit this one for Halos of Hope. The pattern is part of Tin Can Knits' Simple Collection, which includes patterns from baby through adult sizes. I have always appreciated how inclusive their sizing is.

Another pattern from the collection that had been on my wish list was the Harvest Cardigan. A group of ladies from my Thursday night knitting group planned to cast it on together, and I was excited to finally have my yarn ready.

Harvest Cardigan:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/harvest-10

I also finished the Ropes and Ladders Headband using my Delicious Yarns sample.

Pattern:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ropes--ladders

The pattern is found in the book Knitting 24/7. My local library borrowed a copy through interlibrary loan, giving me just enough time to knit the headband before returning it.

The pattern combines written instructions with charts, making it easy to follow if you know basic knit and purl stitches, yarn overs, decreases, and simple stitch passes.

I really enjoyed knitting with the Delicious Yarns sample. The little pops of color were beautiful, and I still had enough yarn left over for a small ornament or stuffed project.

One of the highlights of this project was having Delicious Yarns feature my work-in-progress photo on their Facebook page, blog, and newsletter. That was such a fun surprise...I may have mentioned that when I posted about the yarn a few posts back.

Wavy Moss Hat by Cedar Box Knits

 

Pattern:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wavy-moss-hat

This is another pattern I would happily recommend.

The pattern includes instructions for a headband, beanie, and slouch hat. I chose to make the beanie but added a few personal modifications. I worked the cabled section flat before joining in the round and knit it a little longer to create a button band. I also substituted knit stitches for the seed stitch so the beautiful handspun yarn would stand out.

The yarn was Wild Rivers Wool Factory in the Easter Egg Green colorway, part of a prize package I had won from Taiga Hilliard Designs.

I will admit that when I first received the yarn, I loved the color but was unsure about the texture. It felt fairly rough in the skein. After knitting and soaking it, however, it softened dramatically. It still has a little rustic feel, but nowhere near what I expected.

The large birch button came from Favour Valley Woodworking at Stitches South, and it finished the hat perfectly.

Belugah Slouch Hat by Kelly McClure

Pattern:
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/belugah

Another wonderful pattern by Kelly McClure.

After enjoying my Sockhead Hat so much, I knew I wanted to knit another one of her designs.

For this hat, I used Malabrigo Merino Worsted in the Mariposa colorway. If you have ever knit with Malabrigo, you probably understand why so many knitters love it. The colors have incredible depth, and the stitch definition is beautiful.

For some reason, this particular colorway always reminds me of Plants vs. Zombies, which still makes me smile.

A Few Favorite Things

Fall was almost here, and I could hardly wait.

Even though Alabama was still holding onto summer, I had started noticing a few leaves beginning to change. The stores were filling with fall decorations, Halloween displays, and all the seasonal treats that make autumn my favorite time of year.

One of my favorite discoveries that year was Candy Corn M&M's. If they ever make a return, I highly recommend grabbing a bag while they are available.

Another seasonal favorite was International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer. It was sometimes difficult to find the regular version instead of the sugar-free one, but it was worth the search. It tasted just like pumpkin pie and made the whole kitchen smell amazing.

Looking back, this post reminds me just how much I was learning. Even when one project did not work out, there was always another one on my needles teaching me something new.

I also wanted to share one of the fun surprises from this trip. While visiting my local LEGO Store, I spotted an entire herd of LEGO sheep. There were both white and black sheep, and they were absolutely adorable. Of course, I asked if there were instructions so I could build a few of my own, but I was told they were exclusive creations from the LEGO Master Builder Program. Even though I could not recreate them, I had to snap a photo to remember them.

Looking back through this post also reminds me of how excited I was to begin reviewing knitting products and books. Around this time I was planning reviews of the Namaste Harlow Bag, Jordana Paige knitting bags, interchangeable knitting needles, and several knitting books. Those reviews became another fun way to document what I was learning and share my experiences with other knitters.

Happy Yarning,

Kim