Been under the weather lately with this flu/cold bug and have just been hibernating and knitting.  So decided to give the Elizabeth Zimmerman Maltese Hat a try.  What a fun knit it is for one.  EZ suggest a size 10 1/2 needle although she does recommend that the tight knitters ease up a bit on their tension, LOL.  I didn’t have the size 10 1/2 but did have size 10.  I got the 5 1/2 stitches to 2 inches for the gauge but I do have a big head so some adjusting will probably need to be made.  So this one is knit using a size 10 needle.  In knitting the deblth of the hat she suggest knitting 10 rounds or more if you want a deeper hat.  I ended up knitting for 20 rounds and still think I’ll have to knit more to fit my head .  The area above the face is made by casting on 14 stitches and then joining in the round to knit the rest of the hat.  It’s being modeled by block head whos got a big noggin like myself.  Just a wee bit shy of 22 inches.  After knitting this hat I really like it but its too snug at the top for my liking.  So for it to fit me big gourd I tried using a number 11 needle and knitting loosly but it was working up HUGE.  So I think I’ll try it again in the size 10 needles and knit with a looser tension and also cast on 18 instead of 14 stitches giving 60 stitches instead of the 56 stithes in the pattern.  Hopefully that will give enough room for me mellon, Ha.  I might add just a few more rounds for the depth of the hat as well and then start with the decreasing for the top.  Printed out a Michaels coupon for 50 % off one item and I may venture out to see if I can find some 10 1/2 double points which would probably solve the size issue for me but will still have to add extra rows for the depth of it.  The yarn used is called BAZINGA! by Plymouth Yarn.  Bought it a while back ago to try something out in it and its great for this hat.  Was thinking it might be fun to knit it up on really large circulars and then felt the hat and see what happens there.  The short row shaping on this hat is really neat how it goes to give the ear flaps.  EZ ROCKS!

Check this out.  Ha, what are the odds of this.  On the left are these big ole marshmellows that I got for my mom for valentines day from Stellas across the street from where I work.  Then on the right is the inside of the journal I treated myself to over the holidays.  Ha, they both are marbled and look similar.  It’s the simple things in life that give ya a kick, RIGHT!  Those marshmellows were the bomb.  I love marshmellows and have always wanted to make them but haven’t yet.  Thats on my bucket list.  But when I found out Stella was making them I’ve been getting them in the hot chocolate they make then they top if off with one of their homemade marshies.   Dang  hot chocolate love.  Marioosh, makes the best hot chocolate and one time he made one with dark chocolate and cherry and one time with lavendar essence.  When I’m needing a pick me up I’ll go over there and take my knitting and get me a hot chocolate.  Went over there on Valentines day and saw Stella had made these marbled marshmellows and had to get em for my mom.  My mom was nice enought to share, LOL.  Sooooo yummy and the marbled darker part was like coco flavoured.  Also, got her some handmade whoopie pie macaroon things that were sooo goood they got eaten before a pic was taken.  I don’t eat this sort of thing that often but ya gotta treat yourself sometime, right.  Anyway, I probably look like some sort of goofball when I go in there and stand in front of the display case all googly eyed like the kids in the movie Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  I’m starting to feel sorta like my grandparents used to sound because I just don’t really go anywhere much anymore.  But when I do its out to Stellas cause its right across the street.  I’m older now and not like these youngins out and about tryin to meet another yougin, LOL.  Although I am single and wouldn’t mind meeting someone.  I’m older now and just feel outta the loop or something.  Anyway when I do get out to the coffee shope or where ever I notice all these people are in the same room and just starting down at their computers or I phones and its just weird to me.  No ones really talking to each other.  Does anyone relax any more, LOL.  Anyway, maybe its me I’m getting older and things arn’t like they used to be so I gotta get a hitch in my git along and get with the program.  Maybe I should start with getting some sort of upgrade to my phone.  A droid or something.  Ha, I got this flip phone that I’ve had for years and I like it.  Went to Joann’s the other day and had to show the guy my phone to give him the coupon number on it and he said, Woooooo, I haven’t seen one of those phones in a long time.  LOL, way tooo funny because he couldn’t have been more than 21 or so and it just made me laugh.  I miss the days when I would come home and sit and relax and have a conversation on (my plugged into the wall phone), LOL.  I’d actually sit and relax.  Now the phone rings where ever and whenever you are and people expect you to answer it no matter what your doing.  I called you, why didn’t you answer.  Well, I was in the middle of cutting my toe nails, visiting the necessary room, or busy making a left hand turn ya know, LOL.  Thats why I love my electronic secretary as I call her.  The answering service that takes the messages and then gives ya a ding letting ya know there is a message or text.  I’ve just trained myself not to go to it everytime it makes a noise, LOL. 

Here’s the second wee wearable thats come off the needles.  This is really fun to make and you just knit it on a circular and when it comes off the needles its done.  The first one I made was for my great neice and it was pink.  Ha, it was actually finished in time for her to wear it.  She has plenty of growing room for it but I’m sure she’ll be too big for it soon.  Then I had this multi coloured red/pink/white cotton yarn and thought, hmmmmmm.  So here it is and it came out really nice, I think.  Now I just want to make more and more.  I bet the local hospital or shelter could use these.  I bought some yarn from Purl and they had this pattern that you got free with it.  The pattern is called ONE.  Since you got one circular needle one button hole and ya just knit and its done.  Now I’m thinking of trying one in yellow and binding off in a picot bind off at the sleeve and hem edges.  Wouldn’t that be fun.  Now I gotta figure out how to make a wee tam to go with it.  Ha, the ideas one comes up with.  Have a great week everyone

Happy Monday!  Yesterday I made the mistake of walking in front of the t.v. and Herbie the Love Bug movie was on then I sat down and couldn’t get up till it was over, LOL, I Love that movie.  Ha, brings back soooo many fun memories.  So that took up part of me day.  One reason I avoid turning on the t.v. and try not to get onto the computer too much.  But a guys gotta be in the now, the millenium is here can’t just stick my head in the ground, Ha.  Although, with the way the weather has been and getting over a cold just makes me retreat to the man cave with tea and knitting under me covers.  Did manage to go do some volunteer work and they had this knitted owl hot pad hanging up on the bulletin board.  Ha, had to take a pic of it.  It’s soooo coool in the yellow or should I say warm, HA.  Sooooo gotta make one of those.  Someone got it for an xmas gift swap and they stuck it on the bulletin board.  I like how the handle is just knit in with it so you could just hand it as a pic like they did.  Here’s a pic of one of the coffee cups I bought at this artist consignment shop over the holidays for my mom and I.  So now its my favorite coffee cup.  Kinda reminds me of, OH NO, Mr. Bill!  It stays hot and keeps your coffee/tea warm.  Ya gotta put a coaster under it because its cro magnon rough on the bottom of it, LOL.  But its a fun cup to use.  In the store they had them made in several sizes and stacked them up one on top of the other so it looked like a totem pole of these faces going from larger at the bottom to smaller at the top, too fun. 

Wow, the ending of Downton Abbey was sad last nite and they leave ya hanging like that so you gotta tune in next season to catch what happens.  So sad the Matthew Crowley dies in the car accident just after having witnessed his son being born.  Tissue please .  The other show I like even more than Downton is Call the Midwife.  So looking forward to that returning in March.  I really like the clothing and music of the time period that it takes place in. 

Well, off I go to get me some bits and pieces.  Have a great week everyone.