Happy Tuesday!

I know most of my readers are well into the early winter cold already.  Here in Houston, it is in the mid-40s this morning, but we’re heading for an Arctic Blast in a couple days, down in the mid-teens overnight Thursday.  Actually the 10-day forecast says Thursday’s high will be 63, then dropping down to 19!   Ohhh, br-r-r-r-r-r!  I’ve heard rumors that ERCOT – Electric Reliability Council of Texas (a misnomer if ever there was one) – is supposedly prepared and ready this time.  We will not soon forget the fiasco from a couple years ago when virtually the entire state lost power during a similar Arctic Blast event.  I only lost power for about 36 hours, while others suffered multiple days if I remember correctly.  Landlord says the pipes have been wrapped, and goodness knows I have plenty of blankets, scarves, sweaters, hats and so forth, and there’s plenty enough to eat as well.

There’s no way I can ship new yarns in time for Christmas anyway, but I hope to get this week’s offerings into the mail by Friday or Saturday.  I’ll let next week deal with itself when it arrives.

This week I received a small shipment of Superwash Merino worsted weight yarns (210 yards/skein) and decided that because I’ve been using some leftover of the same base for making hats I would dye up some yarns in a similar technique.  I really like the monochrome solids with random flashes of more saturated bits looks on the hats.

The yarn I used for the hats was leftovers from a custom job that didn’t quite turn as as expected, but it looks good here. While I can’t guarantee exactly similar results, I incorporated random flashes of extra color so that when you knit up a hat similar to mine, you should get similar random flashes of deeper color.   I’ve included the instructions for my Simple Watch Cap pattern down below.

Obviously, while I’ve tried to dye yarns for this style of hat, not everyone will want to knit a hat just like mine.  Many of the colors shown here will definitely work together in something like a baby blanket or perhaps mittens, scarf, etc.  There are no Twinsets this week.

All of these are Superwash Merino, worsted wt., and will be $27.50 when they are processed and put onto the Blog Reader Specials page.  For Tuesday and Wednesday, you may claim any of this new collection (BRS22 – #970 – 993) for just $25.50 each.

To claim the ones you want, just send me an email with your numbered requests.  When I receive your request, I’ll mark it off on the Available Yarns tally chart below, and send your invoice.  Upon payment I will purchase and print your shipping label so that when the yarns are all processed, reskeined, and labeled I will be able to ship without delay.  As mentioned above, I hope to be able to ship out on Friday and/or Saturday.

Available Yarns: 
Rack 1 – 970, 971, 972, 973, 974, 975, 976, 977, 978, 979, 980, 981
Rack 2 – 982, 983, 984, 985, 986, 987, 988, 989, 990, 991, 992, 993

Super Simple Watch Cap

• Knitivity’s Superwash Merino, worsted wt. (about 3 ounces should be sufficient)
• Size 7 needles (for ribbing)
• Size 8 needles (for body and crown)
• Stitch markers (optional)

Needles – I used a 16-inch circular for both the ribbing and the body, then switched to 2 circulars for the decreases in the crown. You can use whatever method you prefer for knitting in the round – i.e., one or two circulars, or a set of double-pointed needles in either size.

Cast on 96; without rotating stitches, join into circle. I always cast on one extra, then move the last cast-on stitch from the right needle to the left, and then knit the last and first stitches together.

Ribbing: Place end-of-round marker. On Size 7, *K1, P1, repeat from * until ribbing measures 2 inches deep, slipping marker after each round, ending the round at the marker.

Body: Change to Size 8 and knit one round while increasing 8 stitches evenly around. Easiest way: *K7, Kfb, repeat from * 7 more times. (104 stitches). Slip marker and continue knitting.

Continue to knit evenly around until work measures 7 inches from cast-on edge (2 inches ribbing, 5 inches body)

Crown Decreasing:

Decrease Round 1: *K11, K2tog, repeat from * 7 more times. (96 stitches)
Rnd 2 and all even rounds – Knit around.
Rnd 3 – *K10, K2tog, repeat from * 7 more times. (88 stitches)
Rnd 5 – *K9, K2tog, repeat from * 7 more times. (80 stitches)
Rnd 7 – *K8, K2tog, repeat from * 7 more times. (72 stitches)
Rnd 9 – *K7, K2tog, repeat from * 7 more times. (64 stitches)
Rnd 11 – *K6, K2tog, repeat from * 7 more times. (56 stitches)
Rnd 13 – *K5, K2tog, repeat from * 7 more times. (48 stitches)
Rnd 15 – *K4, K2tog, repeat from * 7 more times. (40 stitches)
Rnd 17 – *K3, K2tog, repeat from * 7 more times. (32 stitches)
Rnd 19 – *K2, K2tog, repeat from * 7 more times. (24 stitches)
Rnd 21 – *K1, K2tog, repeat from * 7 more times. (16 stitches)
Rnd 23 – *K2tog, repeat from * 7 more times. (8 stitches)

DO NOT KNIT the next round. Cut tail to about 12 inches, and thread onto blunt-tipped tapestry needle. While leaving all 8 stitches on the knitting needle(s), thread the tail through all 8 stitches loosely twice around. Remove knitting needles, carefully snug the woven tail to draw the last 8 stitches together to close the hole in the center. Weave in tails. Wear with pride.

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