Wednesday, October 17, 2012

First snow



Thank you for all your welcoming wishes, it sure is nice to be back!


This is what the scenery was like for our morning rounds, pretty, but I am afraid it will all be gone by the end of the week. I had tires changed into winter ones, I am all set for the coming slippery roads, although I don't enjoy driving in winter; it is not just the snow but it is so dark also.


I used my new lined hat this morning and it behaved very well. It is head hugging and warm and does serious damage (!!) to my hair, but I really don't care, walking outside with the dogs is one of the best moments of my day and I sacrifice just about anything to be able to do that comfortably.

But about the finishing of Brownie...
Once the hat was knitted, I wet blocked it and put it onto hat block to dry. 


If I want the hat to be bigger, I let it dry completely on the block but if I prefer it to be little bit smaller, I take it off the block before it is completely dry and let it dry flat. This is what I did with this, as I wanted to add just a thin extra layer. I have lined hats that are simple in shape but I really did not know how to tackle this shape. I typed "how to line a hand knitted hat", sent the phrase out and got several responses. I used this tutorial. I clicked through all the Flickr pictures and the key phrase there was:

"Trace around the hat with a marking pen."

I laid the hat on an old, black T-shirt (ill fitting one) and traced around it with white chalk adding good amount of extra fabric around, maybe half an inch. I cut out the shape, used my old serger to seam the lining, put it inside the hat and attached it with hand sewing using the herringbone stitch. Very easy, I was astonished that this worked so well and the lining came out perfect. I thought that I would need to do some serious pattern acrobatics to line this odd shape, but no, this was really simple. I highly recommend this if you need warm hats. When I make the second one, I will take pictures of the steps.


You could just hand sew the seams of the hat, the amount of sewing is so little that you really don't need the overlock machine if you don't have it at hand. 

Some time ago I bought the Alabama Studio Sewing and Design book 


and from there I got the idea of adding some decorative stitching (zigzag chain stitch - it is stretchy stitch) to the lining, not necessary, but I thought that it would add to the durability of the lining. (I am very, very slow on mending stuff.) As a final touch, I embroidered the name of the hat Brownie in the back to help me identify the back from the front quickly.

When the hat was done I cast on for another one. The blue Brownie is quite small so I am adding one pattern repeat to the length of the brim in case this new one ends up as a gift. I have not yet thought how I will need to adjust the body of the hat, but it should not be too difficult.


Do you still remember Rogue, a sweater that everyone was knitting years ago?

I knitted Rogue with this yarn in green color and bought this color to knit Eris but never got around to. This yarn has been around for a long time (since 2005) and I think I have started and ripped several projects with it. There is plenty and every time I go and rummage through the stash, this pops up. I would really like to knit it all up but one little hat is not going to do it... I know sensible me would have saved every single skein for a bigger project, but I am beginning to feel that this has been and will be around forever and it almost feels like it is multiplying because it pops up in (almost) every bin. I ought to be grateful; the yarn Gjestal Janne (85% wool 15% polyamid, 100m/50g)  is good, basic, tough beast and is most likely going to survive well in the arctic winter protecting me against stormy, northerly winds. (I try to get a picture of the hat in action, well, I did try today, but taking pictures of oneself is challenging.)

Did I already mention how much I love to be knitting again? Now I will finish the brim and then take a moment to think about the number of stitches for the body.

Wool with you,
Lene

13 comments:

  1. Lene, sometimes I get honestly alarmed because knitters around the globe seem to be on the same page that I am!!! For the past two days I have been seeking a tutorial for lined hats - my nephew is on ski rescue patrol and needs really warm hats. I landed on Zimmerman's hat, but then I saw your post and I just chuckled!!!!!
    We're all in this together, aren't we!!!

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  2. Anonymous06:46

    I AM SO GLAD you are back! I look forward to reading your posts. The best to you always, Jeanie in Montana, usa

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  3. Kimi11:25

    The snow looks beautiful! Thanks for showing the technique on lining the hat too. We are still enjoying the fall color in Michigan.

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  4. Mary in TN13:42

    Very glad you are back. Lovely snowfall. I really enjoy your photos of the beautiful Finnish countryside. The dogs look like they are having a blast.

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  5. thank you for explaining (so well) the steps for lining hats. you are always so resourceful and encouraging :)
    love love love your doggie + snowie picture. the mud slashes where the car passed too. beautiful simplicity.
    so happy to peek into your atelier. i would love to spend time with you!
    happy stitching!

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  6. Anonymous02:41

    Dear, dear Lene,

    I am happy that the stresses in your life seem to have eased and now allow you to think and breathe and make things. And thank you so much for taking time from your knitting and dog-walking to share words and pictures.

    Ellen in Conn

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  7. I admire the way you just 'go' with a design or pattern, improvising as you need.
    Glad to have you back in my inbox, you always have something interesting to say, to show or to teach.

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  8. I don't give a rip about hat hair either. I prefer to warm and sometimes a bit silly to cold and uncomfortable. If it's too bad I just wear the hat as part of my daily outfit:)

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  9. Anonymous17:25

    Lena, it's so nice to see you back online.

    PatS in England

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  10. Anonymous07:56

    you have a precious little bunny on your banner. You are so lucky to have time to knit and create. I am a teacher and spend 11-12 hours a day at school, and then am so exhausted on the weekends I can only sleep. And no money. count your blessings.

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  11. Lovely work as usual. I smiled at your reference to Rogue. That was the first pattern that I ever downloaded from the internet, joining a world of knitters outside my little city in Northern Ontario, Canada.

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  12. So glad to see you back! What a gorgeous photo of the dogs in the snow.

    The hat lining is so clever. I need to give that a try!

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  13. Hi Lena! I do not often go to blogs, but to day I went to yours. You are so talented. Your knitting and embroidery is so well done and beautifully designed, and your drawings are just the cutest things. What a childrens - or even a grown up book they would make. I admire your work! How are you - will you join the Nordic Knitting Symposium in Denmark this year?
    Vivian

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