Escape to Rocky Mountain

It has been so insanely hot here in Colorado that we decided to escape to Rocky Mountain National Park. It is only about 60 miles from our home. We met our son here on Sunday and drove up to the higher altitudes in hopes of temperatures lower than the high 90's and low 100s. 

Well, kind of. The temperatures at the top were in the low-80's. But the scenery was worth it. The elevation is around 12,000 feet.

It was also our son's birthday, so it was a wonderful way to spend the day. These pictures were taken at Rainbow Curve on Trail Ridge Road.

Even the elk in Estes Park thought it was too hot! Can't wait for fall.

Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright

 

"Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright" is the first line of a poem by William Blake. I have always been a fan of tigers. They are so beautiful and so fierce. So the closest I want to be is the yarn in this hat. This is the Opal line of sock yarn from KickPicks, and it was perfect to make a Musselburgh hat. Still on my hat knitting kick.

Chick-a-dee potholder

 After listening to a chickadee in the tree outside my living room all week, I finally had to knit her into a potholder. Instead of black and white though, I used light blue and navy and really liked how it turned out. I did it in double knitting and cotton. Sing away little bird!

More scrubbies

 Yeah, I made more. Lots to sell at the Christmas craft fairs and gifts for family and friends.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/garter-stitch-round-scrubby

Also making some face cloths

 While on my kick for quick and shorter projects in between my hats, I have also been make face cloths or dish cloth, depending on where you use them. This is my own pattern, but since it is similar to many other pattern, it is free. I change the colors of the yarns as the mood hits me, so have fun.

Using a cotton light yarn, cast on 40 stitches, place marker, cast on 1 stitch, place marker, cast on 40 stitches (81 stitches).

Row 1: K.

Row 2: K to marker. Slip marker (sm), purl 1, sm, k to end.

Row 3: k to 2 sts before marker. SSK, sm, k1, sm, k2tog, sm, k to end.

Row 4: K to marker. Slip marker (sm), purl 1, sm, k to end.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until three sts are left. K 3tog. Cut yarn and pull through remaining st. Weave in ends.

Back to some scrubbies

 I needed some quick and colorful projects that I can complete in a day. I have been making lots of hats so I complete two or three a week but I wanted to do some more. So here are some scrubbies I have completed. I could make three in a day but I usually only do two at the most. The pattern is included below. It is fast with one color, variegated yarn, and two colors.

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/garter-stitch-round-scrubby

Hot Pink Hat!

Hot pink sock yarn in superwash. This color is ever brighter in real life. 

 

 

A Slight Break from Hats

 

I got back in touch with an old friend from my working days in law firms and we met for coffee. I remembered that she collected owls, so I took a break from my hats to make a gift for her. It is made with brown and cream cotton yarn in a double knitting pattern. It really turned out cute. She loved it!

A Purpose for the Mini Skeins I have been holding onto.

In my stash, I found a series of mini skeins that I probably bought several years ago. It was in shades of navy, purple, blue, lavender, and rose. I would not be surprised if I had that little packet for more than 10 years. They were probably fairly expensive. I was working at that time so I would have been a bit more likely to spend it.  The cool part is that by turning the hat inside out, I have two different hats.

 

A Bucket Hat to Honor my Wookie

The yarn I used for this bucket hat is the same colors as my sweet Wookie who crossed the Rainbow Bridge last August. I still miss her every day

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