Diana, Finally

Last year, just in time for our Wine & Wool in the County knitting retreat, I finished a little hat I was working on. I figured it would be perfect for spending most of the weekend in an old drafty building. You know…just a touch of extra warmth when you don’t want to add another sweater. To my surprise, many of the participants really liked it! I thought at the time that I’d write it up and make a pattern available. I had a test knit made, but one thing and another came along and somehow I didn’t manage to finish writing it.

The “Diana” hat got much the same reaction at CreativFestival a couple of weeks ago, so I thought I’d really better get at it. Since it has been a while, I figured I ought to knit one up to remind myself of a few things…

Actually, I ‘pretended’ to myself that I legitimately needed to knit another (third!) Diana hat, but really, I was in love with this new colorway, “Sedum”, that arrived recently in the shop. I got enough to knit the matching gloves also. (Pattern for those coming soon too, I promise!). I’ll make this hat pattern available on Ravelry on the opening day of the retreat, November 6.

Somehow, I just love knitting cables in the fall 🙂 It brings to memory the long walk home from piano lessons in the big fisherman’s sweater knit for me by my Mom. And how I hoped to be able to let the sweater pass for a coat as long as possible, mother nature permitting. So, despite all the other things I should be doing this week <mild pang of guilt> I cast these on for Carl.

I swear, I am SO good at rationalizing…I told myself I needed to practice my toe-up skills before teaching at the retreat next weekend. What I really wanted to do was make my hubby the warmest, prettiest socks possible 🙂 I utterly love this color. I got this yarn from Needle in a Haystack right here in Picton. This is the jaggediest-ass yarn ever; hand to heart, it’s taking my skin off! Boy is it pretty though and oh, so Canadian…Briggs & Little Durasport. I’ve worked them very tightly and a size too large so he’ll be able to wear a cotton sock underneath. It’s hard to keep toes warm in steel-toed boots, but I bet these will help!

In other news, Teddy is trying out his new Thundershirt today. The weather is really wild (as only island weather can be) and so far, he seems to be fine! No panting or pacing, no hiding behind the piano and he’s been mooching apple slices, which is just as it ought to be 🙂