The Vortex Shawl

I finally finished my first shawl, it took awhile, mainly due to my knitting ADD. I had gotten this really nice Blue Heron Yarn from my local yarn store.

I had tried to make a sweater with it but I didn't like it and ended up ripping it out. Then I thought of making a shawl but my first attempt ended up being a small lap sized square that couldn't even be passed off as a scarf. So I proceeded to rip it out again. I finally decided to look up a pattern (something I should have done in the first place) and I finally found this gem on ravelry. It is the Vortex Shawl. It was easy and fun to work on. I took it with me everywhere, I didn't have to pay close attention to the pattern since it repeats itself constantly. I eventually ran out of the beautiful blue yarn and had to run to the yarn store to get more. Since they did not have the same color I got a variegated fiber from the same company that had the same blue in it. It is now finished and I am so pleased with it. This was a fun project!!!

Knitting a Hat 101

Time to learn to knit a hat!!!! Knitting a hat has different techniques because hats are knit in the round. First we need to learn how to join our yarn in the round. To start we need circular needles (a cable of smaller than 16inches) you also need the yarn you would like to use. Also if you don't already have one get  stitch markers. There are many different types but anything similar to these will work.

Alright now it is time to learn to knit in the round. Before you attempt your hat just master knitting in the round. 

After you are comfortable doing this you want to find a easy hat pattern online. We can use this one for example. The only other new technique you need to learn is decrease. 

Know you know everything you need to know to make a hat. Eventually you will be able to make fancier hats, with different size needles and different yarns. Share your first hats with me by commenting below! And remember to always have fun.

Happy Knitting!!!!