Kurisumasu no Bōshi {クリスマス の 帽子)

In 2015, my Hubby wanted a Santa hat for Christmas ... made out of Camo yarn! 8S

So, off I went to Walmart and picked up a skein of Simply Soft Green Camo and Simply Soft White.  I didn't find any patterns I wanted to use so, I decided that I would try to make one up.  And because of this, I started the hat, put it on my Hubby's head (more than a few times to put it mildly), and ripped it out - at least three times!  By my third rip, I learned that by gauge with this yarn is 4 st per inch and his head is 23.5 inches (60 cm) (at least I got that out of all that  ripping! :P).  So, what did I end up doing?  Well, I gave up and found this pattern: Lion Brand Yarn's Santa Hat pattern (90133AD), which I used it as a guide.  Here's what I ended up doing:

1. Using my Knitter’s Pride Cubics US 7 needles, I casted on 96 sts for a 60 cm (23.5 in) circumference and joined in the round.
2. Row 1-16 (16 rows): 2x2 ribbing (k2, p2) (6 cm (2 ½ in))
3. Row 17-81 (65 rows): seed stitch (k, p every odd numbered row; p, k every even numbered row) (17 cm (7 in))
4. Row 82: k10, decrease 1 st*, repeat * for a total of 88 sts
5. Row 83-86 (4 rows): k
6. Row 87: k10, decrease 1 st*, repeat * for a total of 81 sts
7. Row 88: k44, k2tog, k to the end for a total of 80 sts
8. Row 89: k
9. Row 90: k9, decrease 1 st*, repeat * (decreasing a total of 16 sts) for a total of 72 sts
10. Row 91: k
11. Row 92: k8, decrease 1 st*, repeat * (decreasing a total of 16 sts) for a total of 64 sts
12. Row 93: k
13. Row 94: k7, decrease 1 st*, repeat * (decreasing a total of 16 sts) for a total of 56 sts
14. Row 95: k
15. Row 96: k6, decrease 1 st*, repeat * (decreasing a total of 16 sts) for a total of 48 sts
16. Row 97: k
17. Row 98: k5, decrease 1 st*, repeat * (decreasing a total of 16 sts) for a total of 40 sts
18. Row 99: k
19. Row 100: k4, decrease 1 st*, repeat * (decreasing a total of 16 sts) for a total of 32 sts
20. Row 101-105 (5 rows): k
21. Row 106: k3, decrease 1 st*, repeat * (decreasing a total of 16 sts) for a total of 24 sts
22. Row 107-111 (5 rows): k
23. Row 112: k2, decrease 1 st*, repeat * (decreasing a total of 16 sts) for a total of 16 sts
24. Row 113-114 (2 rows): k
25. Row 115: k, decrease 1 st*, repeat * (decreasing a total of 12 sts) for a total of 10 sts
26. Row 116-117 (2 rows): k
27. Row 118: k, decrease 1 st*, repeat * (decreasing a total of 8 sts) for a total of 6 sts
28. Row 119-120 (2 rows): k
29. Row 121: k, decrease 1 st*, repeat * (decreasing a total of 4 sts) for a total of 4 sts
30. Row 122-123 (2 rows): k
31. Row 124: k, decrease 1 st*, repeat * (decreasing a total of 2 sts) for a total of 2 sts
32. Row 125: k, decrease 1 st for a total of 1 sts
33. Bind off.
34. With my Clover Pom Pom Medium sized Maker, made a pom pom using the Simply Soft White yarn.
35. Sew pom pom to tip of hat.

終わり (The End)

Here's the finished hat:

It's taken me nearly three (3) (very long) months but at least he'll have a Christmas hat for 2016! :P

Now, my brother is hinting about getting a Christmas Basketweave hat ... Hmmmm ... ;)

You know you have an awesome friend when ....

I met my friend, I-san (aka Y to me), while she was working abroad in the US to gain international experience; she worked in another section in my office.  We found that we had a lot in common and often took our breaks and lunches together with my "office gang".  She has since gone back to her home country and I have since left the office where we first met.  However, we have kept in touch over the years and often exchanged gifts and travelogues with each other.  Of the gifts I've received from Y over the years, many of my favorite ones are hand made (as she's an extremely talented sewist).  And, this year, she has topped herself by making me a knitting bag that looks like ...

 A Doll House!  

How amazingly cute is this!!  My knitting bag has ...

a handle (so I can put it in a bigger bag);

windows that ...

double as pockets!

and a picket fence!

My awesome knitting bag holds all of this with plenty of room leftover:

It's so roomy, I can even put the contents of my purse in here:

So, what's in my bag? Currently, my next sock project that comprises of:

• in the main compartment:
• 2 skeins of Regia (Arne & Carlos) yarn
• my ever handy massage ball (to prevent any knitting induced injuries ;P)
• my Clover needle holder (it's in the "pen" pocket to the right)
• and enough room for me to contemplate putting another skein of sock yarn for another pair of socks :P (or the contents of my purse as in the picture shown above ;))
• in the back zippered compartment:
• 4 pairs of US 0 needles (Twist and Spin Chiagoos, Knitter’s Pride Karbonz & KA interchangeables)
• (this is where my phone would go when my needles are in use)
• in the front "open" pockets (that actually closes with a snap button):
• a small folding (light blue) scissors (aka my knitting scissors)
• a Clover (green) needle threader (it's in the same pocket with my scissors)
• a small Addi Turbo needle gauge/ruler (in the other pocket)
• my Sirka counter
• a coin purse holding a couple pairs of 2" coilless safety pins & miscellaneous stitch markers including my favorite go-to bulb stitch markers
• in the front zippered pocket:
• a yellow tape measure
• my chain stitch markers (my "other" favorite stitch markers, especially for socks)
• and a little bag holding my lifeline "string"

Here's what it looks like - in "use" (I left my purse stuff in there):

"Walking" around with it

Sitting and knitting out of it

Spoils From Savers

Today, I visited my local Savers and amazingly, today was a knitter's paradise! :)

As soon as I walked in, there was yarn ... e-v-e-r-y where!!  There was yarn at the counter by the registers; on the wall by the windows; and more yarn was to be found at its usual location.  Yarn was literally everywhere in the store!!  Fortunately (or is it more like unfortunately?), most of the yarn were full skeins of various colours of Red Heart yarn.  There were some interesting non-acrylic yarn but most wasn't that enticing.  However, I did find this:

 Look at how much it originally cost:

What a steal!!! :D

Then, I took a look at the books (as I always do since you just never know what you'll find) and there was an amazing array of knitting books! :)  It was like someone was cleaning out their stash (yarn and books) and dropped it all off at Savers! :P

After spending almost an hour (or more like forever to my poor Hubby) sorting through all the knitting books, I ended up picking these puppies up for $2.99 each!

Man, what a deal! :)  Three (3) books and one (1) skein of super cool sock yarn - all for $15.66! :D  I soooo lucked out today (and made off like a bandit! ;))!! :)  Savers is really amazing! :P