Sometimes I'm so Smart....

and sometimes I'm not. Just wish I would have thought of this about three hours and two rip-outs ago. Grrrrr.
When I cast on a new project, I usually always (usually) add markers every 20 stitches or so. Just so that way I have an easier way of counting when I'm casting on large amounts. This hat I'm making calls for 140 stitches to be cast on so what do I do? Don't add markers. I thought I could just whip it out and not worry. Um yeah.... that was one rip-out, do-over aggravating moment. I did however add stitch markers the next time I cast on. Yay! See? I'm not beyond teaching myself something new!
The pattern next has me ribbing. Knit, purl, knit and purl all the way around. Easy enough right? Yeah....that's what I thought too. It's a different sequence than what I just finished......... I just made the neck warmer using K2, P2 ribbing over 180 stitches so I started out doing what I was supposed to do ~which is K3, P2 but then somewhere along the way I flipped back to the K2, P2. AND I took out those handy little stitch markers along the way.  Which was my second & biggest mistake.
I'm knitting along, knitting some, purling some and thinking I'm doing great.... then I get to the end and I end up on a knit and knot a purl. Oh crap! I did something wrong. Crap, crap, crap!
I had to pull it all out..... rip out number two.
This time when I cast on.... I added the stitch markers every 20 stitches and then when I began my ribbing... I LEFT THEM! Woohoo! Now as I'm knitting and purling (trying really hard to pay attention to the pattern...) I can keep track of where I am and IF (as if) I make a mistake.... I only have to undo a few stitches! Yay!
So far so good.......... I've only gotten a few rows done but I'm in pattern and I'm not twisted.... well.... my hat isn't!

I'm leaving the markers in at every 20 stitches. This way IF I mess up I have reference points and won't have to undo the whole flippin' thing!

I marked the beginning of the round with a different marker than all the rest... thinking ahead this time!

This is what I'm shooting for!

I Better Get a Knit On!

I finally figured out what I'm making my Dad for Christmas! I've made him the neck warmer (yeah... about that... the whole HD logo on the front didn't quite work out so it's plain black!) and to go with it, I'm adding a hat. Not just any old hat, a Jacques Cousteau hat (It's the bottom one in the pic). It's not overly complicated. It's a simple ribbed hat but the decreases make an interesting pattern at the top and it will be just enough to NOT be boring! It has to have some hope of being done in the next 11 days!

A new friend of mine (Thanks RW)  has made this hat & she's made it look absolutely fabulous using Cotton Supreme Batik in the Early Autumn Colorway.   I know it was purchased over at Nature's Yarns, Inc. in Fairfax a couple of months ago, but maybe it's still there? It's really pretty.

I'm going boring. I'm working on a time crunch; Christmas is only 11 days away! I've finished the neck warmer and to make it simple I'm going to match that to this hat. That means plain black, washable wool.
My Dad is kind of a plain guy (ha!) and it definitely needs to be washable! Cascade 220 Super wash should definitely do the trick!

The pattern is available HERE

This is what I'm hoping to end up with... except in black of course! I love this hat! Reminds me of watching Jacques Cousteau on television (black & white, no cable) when I was a kid... with my Dad.
So I'm off to get my knit on and hopefully finish this before I drive home to Michigan~ eek! Next week!