So, that was a long blog break. Since I last blogged in 2014 I have aged, moved to another state, moved house twice, started a Ph.D. program, finished the coursework for said Ph.D. program, sat for my comprehensive exams, sat for sub-field oral exams and started writing my dissertation (I am still doing that, it's not as glamorous as I thought it would be. And I did actually think it would be glamorous. I know). I did all of this while working, presenting at conferences and mothering, wife-ing (is that verb-able? Sure.) and making few things here and there. So there, we're all caught up.
My dissertation committee chair recently told me to enjoy the process. And while I am pretty sure that he meant this in academic terms regarding the process of writing my dissertation, I figure he probably wants me to make things too because that is when I am happiest. So I made a thing. I hat, specifically. Have you seen Hilary Grant's Knitting from the North? It's beautifully styled and the finished pieces look worth the investment of time. I was especially drawn to the Barley Hat. Some people may like this hat because of the colorwork, and while that is appealing, I just really liked the pom. I had a pom-pom maker in a box that I purchased 6 years ago, I figured it was time to use it. I am all about using things in my possession this year--it's not a resolution, I don't do those, really. In any case, pom. The pom is brown, not very peppy. It might be worth knitting this again just for the sake of a peppier pom.
I made this with some Knit Picks Palette I had in my stash. The yarn is probably 4 or 5 years old, so it was probably time it got used for something. This hat didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would. And I blocked in on a balloon, which was a first for me. I have never done this before and I am not really sure why, I have never had a hat fit so perfectly as this one, so I will probably now block all hats on balloons--even though trying to get a wet hat on a balloon is a ridiculous process, I am not going to lie.
It has been an age since I have done a "finished object photo shoot." I was almost deterred by the weather. Also, lack of time is a serious issue. I started taking pictures in the grocery store thinking, done is good. But, that seemed a disservice to the hat, which I kind of love. So, photo shoot. At sunset. In a field. In twenty degree New England weather. If you remember Little Sir, who is now 11 (and kind of a grumpy and angsty tweener), he took many of the pictures, he captured the moment best: "Oh, we're doing this again." I appreciated that it wasn't a question so much as a woeful statement of fact. Yeah, we're doing this again.
The Thing: Barley Hat
The Thing's Designer: Hilary Grant
The Thing was made with: Knit Picks Palette, Oyster, Garnet Heather and Merlot Heather
The Thing was Knit on: US 4.0 needles (I went up for gauge, that's how I roll)
I'm SO excited to have read this post, I can't even put it into words. :)
Posted by: carolyn | January 14, 2018 at 11:48 PM
It's a lovely hat, and why do we raise children, if not to make them photograph knitwear once in a blue moon?
Posted by: Ingrid | January 15, 2018 at 05:35 AM
So happy to see you out here again! And Not so Little Sir's statement about the FO shoot is priceless!
Posted by: Amy | January 16, 2018 at 09:52 PM
Ya know, I've never blocked on a balloon before, either! It does look really neat, no fold lines or anything. I should try that sometime.
Posted by: grumperina | January 17, 2018 at 11:34 AM