Linking up with Ginny for her weekly Yarn Along of current books and projects. (Pretend there's a crochet hook stuck in that sweet little graphic she made.) I've been busy making more hats since last week's post. First up is my new spiral hat in cream wool, inspired by the ones Justamouse made. Don't you love the green one she did? The free pattern is here: Divine Hat Pattern. It's very clever and it was so fun to work up and watch the spirals form. It's also nice and roomy which is good for me as I don't like anything too snug on my head.
At the same pattern site I saw this Lattice Hat (also a free pattern) which looked kind of cool. Mary Rose said she would like one, as hats are currently in fashion at my house, so this is what I'm working on right now. I actually was almost finished with it but wasn't pleased with how the lattices turned out, so I went back and looked at the pictures and realized I was doing them wrong. The directions are very clear and there are helpful pictures, but I hadn't previously looked at them. (ahem) So I ripped it back and started them over, and this time I've got it right.
I've just started reading Never Too Late by John Holt which I 'just happened' to come across. It immediately caught my eye as I often the lament the fact that I have no musical talent, having never studied music as a child. The book is a memoir of the author's early musical influences (or lack thereof) and leaning to play the cello in middle age. So far it has been interesting to read of how this man had so little music in his early life, yet remembered so well the tiny bits he was exposed to. It has me contemplating my own childhood musical memories, and wondering indeed what the possibilities are for learning music later in life.
And back to the hats, I said I'd show you Jonathan's new hat this week which is now finished. Since the striped hat didn't fit him I offered to make him something else, and he requested a slouchy beanie rather than a close fitting hat. After searching a bit for patterns and looking around on etsy for inspirations I decided to just make it up as I went along. Half double crochet crown, mixed with some double crochet for the body and a single crochet brim. It got super slouchy as Jonathan kept requesting the brim wider to cover his ears snugly and so it got longer than I anticipated. But I love the look.
And when his brother saw it he said, Dude, that looks cool. It's kind of medieval. I want one! How could any crafty lady refuse that bait? And so I made slouchy hat number two in the same light brown wool as Mary Rose's. Josiah wanted a brimmier looking brim so I used alternating front post/back post double crochet. This one is all half double crochet and it's very warm.
Both guys are happy, and so is their crocheting mama.
Do visit Small Things for more Yarn Along goodness, and thank you to Ginny as always for hosting.
I love the boys' slouchy hats! Una has been requesting one and that will be one of my next projects--as soon as I finish Adrian's birthday pullover.
I just finished Holt's How Children Learn, and found it wonderful to read the words of a man who so delighted in children and in spending time with them (I was raised by a mother who found babies and toddlers tedious and exasperating--and still does!). As for picking up things late in life, I think I mentioned that I am trying to learn the penny whistle, as I never had any music making in my childhood, although I had a lot of music listening. And I still hope to learn to crochet some time (if you lived nearer, I would trade bookbinding for crochet lessons!)
Posted by: Nadja | January 19, 2012 at 09:46 AM
Great, great hats, Kimberlee. I knitted my oldest a balaclava for Christmas, in dark grey and it looked a lot like chainmail. Reminded me of your boys. You should try one in crochet!
(Pic: https://picasaweb.google.com/m/zoom?uname=108704381122809587250&aid=5689083677673352721&id=5689083677855739778&viewportWidth=320&viewportHeight=416
Posted by: barbara | January 19, 2012 at 10:47 AM
Nice looking hats. I don't know how to crochet, but I like the ribbed brim of the 2nd hat. Glad that both boys enjoyed their handmades.
Posted by: Ellen | January 19, 2012 at 12:28 PM
I love all of the hats, but my favorite is the fpdc brim slouchy hat!
Posted by: Marie/Underground Crafter | January 19, 2012 at 10:25 PM
Love them all but the lattice hat is my fav!
Posted by: heather | January 20, 2012 at 05:54 PM
Oh, I love all the hats too Kimberly. I think the lattice is definitely my favorite, but to borrow your son's comment those slouchy hats are "cool" too!! I can knit but not crochet, but your projects always make me wish I knew how.
I have read most of Holt's work and my non-musical self was encouraged by his mid-life cello learning as well.
Posted by: Katherine | January 21, 2012 at 07:01 AM
I will be printing those patterns as right now hats are very much in vogue here in Alberta, as it was 30 degrees below zero this week!!
Posted by: Theresa in Alberta | January 21, 2012 at 08:57 AM
There it is, and I love it! Yours looks exactly like the pattern authors hat! That's amazing. Hats are in vogue, aren't they? My kids wear them in the house, all day long.
And I'd like to put in a request for a pattern on that medieval had you hookied up there. That one is very wonderful. I would be very willing to purchase it from etsy. :-)
Posted by: justamouse | January 23, 2012 at 10:49 AM
Oh, your hats are beautiful! I think my son would also love that hat.
Thank you for sharing the links.
Posted by: Plain and Joyful Living | January 26, 2012 at 03:26 PM