Prototype Retrofit

I'm quite pleased with myself. I had several other knits that called my name, but I was incredibly disciplined and managed to complete a two-hat commission. I don't normally make copies of my hats, but on occasion I'll do a commission for a friend.

The blue footed booby hat on the right is a prototype. After I made it, I had decided that the hat needed a white brim, so I made another hat for the pattern photograph. But this left me with an extra hat. It's identical to the final product except that the brim isn't white.

I thought I'd retrofit the prototype with a white brim. It seemed like a reasonably easy fix, but turned out to take quite a bit of time. (Doesn't everything...)

Putting the hat back together turned out to be much easier than taking it all apart. Though, the end result was exactly what I hoped for.

Of course I'm a perfectionist, so even when one stitch was a bit off, I'd take everything apart to fix the error. It took until 10pm to weave in all the ends of both hats. But what a good feeling that is! And I'm really proud of how both hats came out.

Stitches West 2011

This year was the third time I've been to Stitches West. Every year I learn something new, and this year was no exception. A group of us went in my animal hats. The amount of attention, advice, and general encouragement I received was so uplifting. I now know that I'm heading in the right direction.

I'd like to thank everyone who said "Cute Giraffe Hat" to me (or simply asked about the hats). I'll never get tired of that. I'd also like to thank everyone who came with me and wore or promoted my hats. You guys are the best. Truly.

I'd also like to mention that one of my suspicions were confirmed. If you are male and you go to any fiber event/ store/ convention, you will have all the ladies in the palm of your hand. Dad got a serious ego boost. Thanks to everyone that told him, "You are the best Dad ever." He offered to stay longer than he had planned, even though he was a grumpy sheep by the end.

And now the loot shots. Starting in the top left corner. The Lavender Merino and Teal BFL braids are from Twisted Sunshine (who were at the mill in in October). Below that are two batts and a yellow/blue BFL braid from Tanglebella, which were in the same booth as Twisted Sunshine. The ladies running that booth are an absolute delight.

Next are a pair of yellow braids and blue BFL braids from Anzula. Another booth full of lovely ladies.

The white fluff ball is a pound of BFL from Miss Babs. $20! I am a sucker for $20/pound deals. Below the pound ball is fiber from A Verb For Keeping Warm. The green is called Jade, pink is Beret and the blue is Kyoto. And down in the very bottom is yarn from the Sanguine Gryphon.

I might have bought them based on the name... proof that a good name sells. The green is "My Servant Eros" in Sappho 11 and the brown is "Painted Desert" in Traveller.

Just a few shots from Stitches. The entrance seems low key.

But once you get in.... let's just say it is worth writing a shopping list.

I wrote one and didn't follow it. But I was able to see and find everything that I wanted to.