Quietish

from me and Luna. (Well, plus 2 hobbits who reallyshouldbesleeping in the other room, Justin who is hopefully facilitating that, 2 lazy cats not in the frame, and 2 little hotdogs. Even if we crowded around the webcam, it would be a fantastic blur.)

So my blogginess has been pretty much nonexistent this month and the quality of content for the entire year or more has frankly been questionable. I’m not sure what the future holds for Quietish: The Blog. It is possible I’ll come back in 2008 with all of my wits and a nice helping of enthusiasm, but then I may come back to post a bloggy farewell. I go back and forth.

We’re out of town for the holidays starting tomorrow before the sun is up. I hope the next week brings me some clarity. And in the meantime, I hope you all have warm and blessed holidays.

My girl hobbit leveled up became a year older yesterday. Today she brought Pokéball themed cupcakes to school, made by Grandma and Mommy.

I would show you a gorgeous photo of the new 6-year-old, but I am realizing that I need to put something cute on her and take one. Mental note made.

Also? SPS.

Figured I might as well, since I am here.

Thanksgiving this week. I think I’ll just have cake. And perhaps some mashed potatoes. Mmmm.

It’s a weird day today, but I think that will turn out to be a good thing.

Jamie has a field trip, which meant I had to drop her off early today. I hope this means I can get some more things done. I have things heaping up and while they are not huge things, well, I get overwhelmed easily. So yeah. The promise of a little extra uninterrupted time has lifted my mood already.

I’m pleasantly surprised because as recently as last night while on my walk (dude, I really need to do a Rivendell update) I contemplated shutting down all of my various internet haunts and hiding at home with my yarn, guitar, and old German textbook. This is a typical urge for me when I am feeling the previously-mentioned overwhelmedness on top of even mild general depression. I feel alright though, because I am at least aware of The Crazy.

I’m also feeling happier because I finished my Crafty Witch Project ™ contribution last night. (Note: It is probably not a good sign that I’m viewing most of my knitting WIPs as burdens. I must explore this thought later.)

Tyrolean Stockings by Ann Budd from Interweave Knits Fall 2007, knit shorter than written, in Berroco Ultra Alpaca in “Cardinal”

I also recently did a quick crocheted beanie out of Berroco Comfort.

(Late SPS, lol.)

The Quick Hat will probably be the theme of my knitting and crochet for the next month or 2. I am needing lots of instant gratification. And hugs too, really.

It seems I’m only capable of hit-and-run posting lately. Le sigh.

But. I’m here. Not only do I have a knit thing, but I have an SPS pic too. ON Sunday. Yes.

Pattern:
4.5 st/inch gauge, to fit someone like me (22 inch circumference) CO 94 with smaller needles, knit for 1.5-2 inches, purl one round. Switch to larger needles (with which you get gauge). Knit til its big enough (I switched colors every other round, folded the brim up when the hat part was the same height and knit the brim together with that next round, then kept going). Do a crown of some sort. I go “K5, K2tog around; K one round plain; K4 K2tog around; etc” until I have just a handful of stiches left then cut and pull the tail through all of the stitches. Weave in. Tada!
Yarn:
Berroco Comfort, in Bitter Sweet and Olive. This is my 2nd hat from these skeins and I STILL HAVE SOME LEFT.
Comments:
I love turned brims; They’re so finished looking. And this yarn? LOVE.

(First pic has more accurate color.)

Here, quick, have an SPS.

Love, Rosemary (who still isn’t getting a whole lot done, yet seems to have very little time for anything)

A couple of weeks ago I had a sudden desire to make a ridiculously big hat. I was at the yarn store and fell in love with a bigass hank of hypersoft yarn, despite the heat and despite being warned that it would pill like mad, I got it.

This is very simple and has likely been done many times before, but I’ll share my “pattern” anyway. (And I’m totally claiming early SPS points, as I’ll be busy all weekend again.)

Big Hat
A thick and quite large crocheted hat with a rolled brim. Fits loosely on an average adult.

Yarn: Twinkle Handknits Soft Chunky Shown in 18 French Grey
Hook: 6mm / J
Gauge: 7.5 stitches and 3.75 rounds = 4 inches

Please do check your gauge; The Soft Chunky yarn I used is VERY thick and it really will take more than 2 strands of worsted to get the same ridiculous size I did.

Chain 3, slip stitch in 1st ch to make ring.
Round 1: Ch 3, dc 11.
Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc right below chain 3, *dc 2 in each stitch* around to end. Sl st in 3rd ch to join.
Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc 1 right below, dc 1 in next st *dc 2 in next st, dc 1 in next 2 sts* around, dc 2. Sl st in 3rd ch to join.
Rnd 4: Ch 3, dc 1 right below, dc 1 in next 2 sts, *dc 2 in next st, dc 1 in next 3 sts* around, dc 1 in next 2 st. Sl st in 3rd ch to join.
Rounds 5-9: Ch 3, dc 1 right below, *dc 1 in each st* around to end. Sl st in 3rd ch to join.
Round 10: Ch 3, dc 1 right below, dc 1 in next 2 sts, *dc decrease in next 2 sts, dc 1 in next 3 sts* around, dc 1 in leftover stitches to end.
Weave in ends. Roll up brim. (If you don’t, it will surpass so-ugly-it’s-cute and go straight to friggin’-ugly.)

Oh hi. We were out of town all weekend. I am happy to report that my (late) sps once again includes Kelly.

Awesome weekend. We think that retirement in a house on a mountain in the middle of nowhere with family and friends surrounding could be a good goal to have. Mm, yes.

For now though, we have stolen weekends.
Here, have a bunch of pics. CLICK

——
I promise I’ve been knitting and stuff. I should have something to post soon.

SPS… actually on Sunday!

The fam and I went to an outdoor concert this evening. Care to guess who played?
:D :D :D

SPS. Gotta work a little harder on these. Would help if I didn’t remember this late in the evening when my creativity is snoring.