Mostly finished hat

I showed pictures last week of a hat I was working on. I am 95% finished with it, so I had to share. Ta da!

Here it is on my head. I probably should have made it a little longer, but this works, too.

The incomplete 5% is the little hole at the top. I'm not sure the "right" way to sew it up, so I need to investigate.

It's soft, colorful and my new best friend. I'm already working on another one to give away as a Christmas gift. Hurray!

A Yarn Good Time

I've been getting my knit on lately (a highly technical term). I still love crochet, but I decided to whip out the needles and re-learn to use them properly. This is the first project I created, destined to become a Christmas or Hanukkah gift:

It's just a basic knit stitch throughout. I then added a fun, sorta ruffly crocheted edge. The yarn is Sensations Angel Hair, which is ridiculously soft, especially for something you can find at any basic craft store. Here I am modeling it, just because, with my newly rebrowned hair:

I should admit that the true inspiration for this scarf was the prospect of learning to knit a hat -- yep, in the round! Though I learned to knit and purl seven years ago, I've never been able to do more than just a basic scarf. Andrea, our talented STICKS leader, told us what to buy (which I screwed up, of course) and then patiently showed us the steps. It's actually pretty easy once you get the hang of it. Here's what I've finished so far:

Do you see those three, double-pointed needles? The process actually involves FOUR! See here:

What have I gotten myself into? But seriously, I'm having a good time rediscovering and expanding my knowledge of knitting. Since I'm doing 90% handmade this holiday season, look for more soon.