Category Archives: knitting

My CCM hat

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9

When my brother and I went to the League of  New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair in Sunapee last August, I fell in love with the felted hats made by Carrie Cahill Mulligan.  So I bought myself a belated birthday present last November: A Felted Pillbox Hat pattern and yarn kit from Carrie Cahill Mulligan.

I had other knitting to do and kept putting off the hat knitting.

Until Saturday.

Nothing like waiting until Spring to knit a wool hat.  But considering we didn’t really have a winter here, I’m still enjoying this quick knit.

The colors I’m using are Bronzed Metal (bluish) and Sycamore (greenish).

The kit came with two skeins of Classic Elite Montera yarn in my choice of color, the pattern and coordinating satin ribbon to sew on inside the brim for comfort and stability.  This is the first time using this llama and wool blend and it is heavenly.

I usually start out on double point needles as I find it easier to keep my stitches from twisting for the first 2-3 rounds then I switch to circular needles.

As of right now I am almost half way done.  The blue Bronzed Metal is almost used up and I have about 4-5 rows done with the green Sycamore.  If I would have remembered to bring my knitting bag home with me today, I’d be working on it now and have a better photo of my progress.

Reconsidering

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7

Remember when I made the first tablet cover for Mr. Aitch and it was too small?

Well, I’ve been using it as a temporary-but-too-small cover for my iPad.

Several people commented about knitting and felting my own cover but the sting of the failed attempt was still too new to consider that.  I was going to sew one as it would be a much quicker process.

Have I sewn one yet?

No.

I love the feel and protection of the felted cover and am reconsidering making my own.  But it has to be something more than blue and gold.

Mr. Aitch’s tablet and my iPad are almost the same size so I can use the same stitch and row counts for the second cover.  I just have to decide on colors and possible color work.

Any suggestions?

Deserving

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My new knitting tool arrived two days earlier than expected.  I have been wanting one of these for at least a year and a half.  Didn’t get it for Christmas.  Didn’t get it for my birthday.  Didn’t get it for Valentine’s Day.  Thanks to these two posts, I decided to buy one for myself.  When you read my personal engraving, you’ll know why.

Engraving:

Tablet cover take 2

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Remember when I made the first tablet cover for Mr. Aitch’s e-tablet?  It was too wide and too short.

I finally finished it this afternoon.  It seemed like this took F.O.R.E.V.E.R. since I already made one.  It took awhile to get motivated to start it all over again.

The pre-felting size was 11 inches wide by 23 inches tall.  I had already sewn one side when I remembered to take that picture so just imagine that it’s really 23 inches tall.  The all important pocket was 11 inches by 10 1/2 inches once it was all sewn together.  I added a solid blue edge and checkerboard row to the top of the pocket area as well as knitted it longer.  The back is solid navy blue and I didn’t take a picture of it since it was boring.

I soaked it for about an hour in a vinegar and water solution before felting so set the blue dye so it wouldn’t run into the gold.  I didn’t add enough vinegar this time since it did run a little.

Post-felting measurements were 10 inches wide  by 8 inches high for the pocket.  That was the most important measurement.

The lining was hand sewn using some microfiber suede cloth I got on sale at Joann Fabrics. 

Perfect fit.

Blood, sweat and tears went into this.  Blood: when I stuck my finger with the needle while sewing the lining.  Tears: when the first cover didn’t fit.  Sweat: while felting this and wondering if it would fit.

Mr. Aitch is happy.