Other uses for yarn...

Beret Me*

I am getting ready to go to Ireland in about 2 weeks, and I could not be more excited, for a number of reasons:

1. A few years ago, I was on a day cruise on the Rhine in Germany. I was pretty drunk and talking pretty loudly, so there was no doubt that I was an American. An Irish girl about my age (who looked like she could be my sister) came up to me and said, "well, so, I guess your grandparents came from Ireland, didn't they? You sure look it!"

I think she was also drunk.

Maybe our shared alcohol consumption was another reason she thought I was Irish...

Anyway, I like the idea that everyone there looks like me. We'll see if it is true.

2. A few more years ago, a friend of mine spent a year in Ireland researching his dissertation. He brought back some amazing tweed wool that I still pet from time to time. I have swatched it and agonized over what to make from this incredible stuff.

I want a sweater. I have enough for a hat. I'm gonna get some more.

3. I love Guinness. (I love Beamish even more, but their brewery is unfortunately in Cork.) I also love a good black and tan (or Half-and Half, I can never remember which name is considered offensive for which part of the island).

It will probably be a bit colder and rainier than here in Israel, so I decided to make myself a beret for the trip.

Pardon my sleepy eyes. Mornings are when I have the best light in my office.

My beret owes a great deal to Elizabeth Zimmermann's Tam from Knitting Workshop.

Here it is, from the top:

And here's how I made it:

I used two strands of yarn held together - one fuzzy laceweight (something like Kidsilk Haze would work well) and one DK microfiber.

Gauge: 5 sts = 1 inch. (20 sts = 10 cm.) I used a size 6 16" circular, and DPNs at the end.

Cast on 96 stitches.

Work k2, p2 rib for 1 inch.

Increase row: K3, m1 all the way around. (128 stitches.)

Work in stockinette for 3 1/2 inches.

Decrease row: K2tog, k62, k2tog, knit to end. (126 stitches.)

Begin regular decreases, decreasing 6 stitches per row:

1. K19, k2tog all the way around.

2. K18, k2tog all the way around.

3. K17, k2tog all the way around.

Continue in this fashion, decreasing 6 stitches per row until you only k2tog all the way around - 6 stitches remain.

K2tog all the way around - one more time - so three stitches remain. Place all 3 on a DPN and work a small I-cord tab, if desired - mine is about 3/4 in.

Weave in ends.

Fly to Ireland. :-)

*This post's title inspired and excused by this Op-Ed piece from the New York Times.

Funeral and Wedding Kippah

The other night I was browsing the excellent Purl Bee site, and found a very sweet kippah pattern to crochet.  I’ve never made one before, but they seemed like a simple project.  So I asked Jonathan if he knew anyone who could use one.  

Jonathan hates wearing kippahs.  When he was in the third grade he moved to the U.S. for a year.  In Jewish Day School, he had to wear a kippah, but didn't own one.  His mom had to purchase one for him, but the only one she could find in Maryland was hand-made by some group to raise money for Israel.  The fact that she was Israeli didn't lower the price - it was $20 back in 1987.  (That's about $37.00 today, according to this inflation calculator!)

Jonathan is also 110% secular.  (A quality in him that I really like, by the way.) 

So imagine my surprise when he said, “Sure, make me one.”

“What?” I almost dropped my computer off my lap.

“Sure.  They’re good to have around, for funerals and weddings and things.”

 So here is Jonathan’s “funeral and wedding” kippah. 

The action shot (he had to squat on the floor – he’s much taller than I am). 

This one cost a lot less than $37, or even $20.  I made it with Rose cotton yarn and a size 3 hook.  The brown trim is some embroidery thread I had left over.  It took a little over 2 hours, and was the perfect project to accompany some beer and basketball on television.  

He can even wear it to the funeral of my NCAA tournament bracket, which died a torturous death over the weekend...

Mr Dangly's Operation

Inspired by this thread on Ravelry, titled "Mr Dangly: How hard is he?", I made a Mr Dangly. The only DK yarn I had was pink and white.  Nonetheless, this pattern definitely made a little male monkey: 

But as Mr Dangly was growing, he was also feeling uncomfortable with himself - unsure of who he was.  Feeling a little awkward  - like a foreigner in a strange body.  He looked to his idol, Israeli pop singer and Eurovision song contest winner Dana International, for inspiration.  

Then he realized what he was supposed to be - a baby gift for two friends of mine who are having their second girl.  And he also decided that he wanted to become a she. 

So he went under the knife, so to speak. 

Actually, I didn't have to cut anything - I just tucked his dangle inside his body and sewed the doll shut.  My friends can thank me now for keeping awkward questions at bay... ;-)

And here she is, all healed up: 

During the recovery period, she got a lot of rest: 

And ate lots of bananas to regain her strength: 

She is now healthy, and getting ready for her trip around the world.  Fabulous! 

And for those of you who don't know Dana International, Mr Dangly's favorite singer, here she is:

A brief summary...

You can get one too, at Wordle. You can see this one again here.

Study Bunnies

My desk needed a little mascot, so I crocheted this very studious love bunny:

She has a little navy blue bow tie and a pale teal-blue nose. 

She also has a little friend - I made my boyfriend a study bunny for his desk as well!  They are proportionate to us - he is a lot taller than I am!    :-) 

They are also quite fond of each other... I don't know how much studying will get done - they are love bunnies, after all! 

Ok, ok, back to the books!   :-)

Small things

A few little projects I've been working on, in between bouts* of dissertation-writing.  

First: a little adidas-inspired hat for my boyfriend's nephew, Orr: 

Second: a pumpkin hat for the baby of a friend who is about to become a daddy for the first time!

Third: a wacky Mr. Dangly.  At this stage, he kinda looks like a pink hammer, perfect for Israeli Independence Day:

We'll see how this guy turns out.   It might also become a baby gift... 

*from the Oxford English Dictionary, bout:  1 b. this, that bout: i.e. occasion, turn, time.   3. a. A round at fighting; a contest, match, trial of strength, physical or intellectual.

Recently, both definitions have been applicable to my dissertation writing... 

Shaun the Sheep

Guess who? 

I love Shaun the Sheep.  I love the little Maaaa sound he makes.  I love the googly eyes. 

So I knit myself one. 

The pattern is here, on Ravelry. 

Wanna see Shaun in action?  Here is a complete episode on Youtube!