Here is a second hat for my friend. I think she starts chemo round 2 this week. It's nice soft superwash merino, and I used the "Chameleon" pattern from Knitters Winter 1997. The pattern is written to be knit flat and seamed, but I made it round. No good reason not to, especially as the knit/purl patten flows nicely from row to row with no visible "jump".
I was reflecting on how I would prefer to make baby sweater gifts than chemo hat gifts. Maybe I'm at an age where birth and illness tip for the people that I know. My husband was sort of sad when I finished this too. His mother passed with cancer, as did my father. He doesn't want to see another loved one to have to go through that.

This guy is blocking on one of my cooking pots:

I used the " Cranberry Squares" pattern from Knitters Winter 2004, but, of course changed the yarn, the edges, and the triangles. Nice approach, but if I do it again, I think I'll start with the triangles and build up. Talk about short attention span knitting. Lots of starts, stops and turn arounds. At least I was able to knit in all the strings along the way.

I have some washable merino upstairs and I think I'll see if it swatches up for the "Twining Lace" hat in Knitters Fall 1995.

They will both go to my friend who started Chemotherapy this month.

Well, look who's waiting for a bath and buttons?
She's a Zimmerman. "Perfect Baby Sweater". Since I made her, maybe not quite perfect, but a nice pattern.

Now, I'm working on a hat. A sailing friend is going thru chemo, and since I can't wave my hand and make it go away, I guess I'll make a hat.

All done, and in the bath. It fits all right on my hunky man; when he loses some weight he will have proper ease, but he certainly can wear it now. I fiddled with the pattern a bit, and should have fiddled more but live and learn.

Happy New Year.
It's been quiet here in Swatchyland. Spent the holiday week between Christmas and New Years doing almost nothing. It's been wonderful. I did knit a hat for daughter, but it's pretty plain, so no pictures here. I used the Alpaca/Silk that was on elan, and it's yummers. I got enough for a few things, so I'll be able to fondle it later.

I picked up Starz a few days ago. He was in time out due to an inability to match up decreases down his arm. He was like an accordion, in and out and in and out, as I tore back, but not quite enough, knit to where it was obvious I had not done it right, and tore again. After the second or third time I put him aside as the situation was approaching insanity. I found some time when I had not been drinking, and it was not dark, and fixed him up. He's now about 3/4 of a pattern repeat an those checkers away from being done.


Now the favorite holiday gift. My considerate husband bought us a robot vacuum. It's very cool, although it does require some supervision. The best part is that he gets under our bed and eats the dust bunnies where it is hard to reach. I should name it , but nothing has stuck yet. It doubles as a dog toy. Shilo versus Roomba: