Simply Perfect... The Simple Beret

I love knitting and wearing hats. A great hat or beret is one of the most enjoyable knitting projects for me - fun, functional, great for chilly and/or bad hair days and nice to break things up when working on larger projects. I love Hannah Fettig's patterns because they are well-written and classic in styling - there's something motivating about knitting something that is going to stand up to the test of time. The new Knitbot Simple Beret pattern is classic, fun to knit and - quite simply - the perfect beret.

The pattern includes instructions for fingering, dk, worsted and bulky weight yarns and the finished berets in all of the weights are lovely! I started knitting shop samples before the printed patterns even arrived (thank you ravelry in-store sales) and I'm just about done. I started with the bulky and I'm closing in on the fingering weight now. I posted my original yarn and color selections last week and everything has stayed the same with the exception of the fingering weight - I'm testing out another yarn option for that beret that is totally making me drool.

This is also the perfect pattern for those of us that need a 'go-to' gift. You can easily match up yarn weight with the time you have available - I knit up the bulky weight for a friend yesterday in a matter of a few hours. It's been cold in Wisconsin so I knew a bulky beret would be well received.

I'll share the finished photos of the shop samples soon. I just have to say that I've loved knitting this beret multiple times and I can't wait to finally knit one that is for me to wear!

Cheers!

Alisa

Gift Finish Line

It's the morning of Christmas Eve and I'm finishing up the last of our handmade gifts. I've posted photos of yarn for gifts 1-3 and here's 4-7:

This last week has been a lot of knitting for me and I'm exited to be  wrapping it up. We had our first Christmas yesterday and the smiling faces make it all worthwhile. I'm looking forward to all gifts being completed and gifted so I can share the details of what was made.

With needles in hand, this morning I'm clicking away on #7 with the hope of being done by noon today.

Cheers!

Do as I say...

I present to you a prime example of "do as I say, not as I do"... Every year I tell knitters and crocheters to start handmade gifts early to avoid stressing themselves out. I never do this and I know should lead by example, but there's always something else that needs to be knit for the store in my "spare" time and, really, I only have 2 hands.

For months I've known what I'm making, so yesterday I finally enlisted hubby's assistance with the final color selections.  He was very helpful and even wound the yarn for me - with the exception of one very naughty skein that is going to require a fair amount of patience and a minimum if 1 glass of wine to tame. At the end of the day, I settled in with a bag of beautiful yarn and I'm energized!

I made very good progress on gift #1 last night and set it aside this morning since I need hubby for a fit check and he's currently snoozing. Very kind of me, right? In the meantime, gift #2 is in progress.

Since I can't show the actual projects until they've been given, I'll keep you updated on progress and post photos of what I can.

The colors and yarn are lovely and I'm really enjoying taking time out to knit for loved ones. I'm optimistic right now and hoping to finish these projects today and get another 1 or 2 started and finished tomorrow.

Cheers!