Oui Oui

So, remember this skein of lovely from Hand Painted Knitting Yarns that I got at Stitches East?It's been getting increasingly cold here (not to mention particularly wet and rainy today), and I don't have any winter hats, which is quite a shame for a knitter. So, I decided to use some of my newly purchased yarn and make myself a quick hat. And, also, I wanted to find a use for one of the three skeins of varigated wool to validate said purchase (I NEVER buy variegated, usually just self-patterning or self-striping if not solid). So I chose the Star Crossed Slouchy Beret pattern, (available as a .pdf download from Ravelry), as other knitters have use variegated yarn for the project with success. Here it is:

The variegated yarn makes it kind of cute, no? It fits perfectly, and the single ply wool that it's made from is sooooooooo cozy and warm. I love it. I plan on making many more, which I would love to shape into berets. I'm digging berets right now. Maybe it's all the classic French films I've been watching. Now I just need a new winter coat to go with my knitted goods.

So after knitting this perfect hat, another issue reared it's ugly head regarding a gift I'm making for my older sister melody. Remember the issue I was having with the dye and size of the Pithy Hat? Well, I did try another round of setting the dye. It worked okay, but not completely. Also, I've been blocking the hat to get the cast on edge to stretch a bit, as it's too tight. Well, Manos is sort of scratchy to begin with. Luxurious and beautiful, but not crazy soft. So, as I'm sure you can imagine, all these issues have aggravated the yarn just a bit, to the point where it's not felted or anything, but it's gotten rougher. And it's still a bit snug. And the yarn didn't make a very airy or drapey fabric, making the hat sort of stiff.

So I'm starting over with Melody's gift. This is kind of a risk, as her birthday is on Thanksgiving week which gives me very little time, but hey, I knit the above hat in about 4 hours, so I can swing this. I'm thinking that I'll purchase some Karabella 8 in kelly green for her project, as it's crazy soft and the colorway she requested. I can't say I'm not frustrated though. ARG. I can't proclaim total dislike for Manos' 100% Wool, but I probably won't be buying it again anytime soon.

So, the question is, do I use the Pithy Hat pattern again? Or do I find a new pattern? Hmmm....looks like I have a few hours to spend on Ravelry. yes.