This is my first scarf. I thought myself a clever beginner and made up my own pattern, which curls in on itself like crazy but is super-soft and warm and I get compliments on it anyway, so that’s nice.

Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk knit on #11 needles. CO 30 sts. R1: *K6 P6* repeat to end. R2: *P6 K6* repeat to end. Continue to desired length.

My second scarf, a 2×2 rib, is slightly more successful, though it ended up very heavy, so maybe wasn’t the best pattern for this kind of yarn? Knitted to a very manly 60″in hopes that Scott might want to wear it sometimes — the color looks great on him — but I should have known he wouldn’t want to sport something in a dye called “little lovely.” I might add a flower to it at some point, sealing in its femininity. I thought at first I might try blocking this one, but again, I like how it bunches up.

Malabrigo “Little Lovely” Merino Wool on #9 needles: CO 42 sts. R1: *K2, P2* repeat to end. R2: *P2, K2* repeat to end. Continue to desired length.

Project #3: The Soufflé Hat.

This was supposed to be a “London Beanie,” but partway through I made up my own pattern again. I liked the idea that the top could be a little bouffy.

This is what I did, which works okay for my 21-inch-ish head, though it might be a little looser than it should be. I recommend this hat pattern generator for advice on determining how many sts to cast on.

Malabrigo “Little Lovely” Merino Wool on #9 circular 16″needles changing to double points during decreases: CO 105 sts. (Slip first stitch, knit first round in pattern, and join together first and last stitch.) R1: *K2, P2* repeat to end. R2: *P2, K2* repeat to end. Repeat R1-R2 until 3″long. Switch to stockinette (knit all), until desired length/height. Decrease as follows (again, I’m making this up — proceed at your own risk): R1: *K6, K2tog* repeat. R2: K all. R3: *K5, K2tog* repeat. R4: *K4, K2tog* repeat. And so on until you get down to K2tog all the way around and then pull the tail through the loops to finish.

Ah, yes. Project #4: The Husband Valentines Hat.

This hat is doomed. On Scott’s head is version #3 of this hat. I have unraveled the first two unsuccessful attempts. The yarn is stiff-ish and hard to work with, but the color is pretty. And appropriate in a manly fashion. So I persevere. The pattern is out of the first knitting book I’ve ever bought, Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

May add a stripe or two of gray and green before I finish. Or not. Am planning to make a scarf of red, gray, and green to go with this hat but not be too “matchy-matchy.” Scott reports enjoying being my own personal Ken-doll.

And here is what Bambino thinks of my knitting (a.k.a. Don’t Bother Me, I’m Kneading):

Mmmmmmm… mellow!