First scraps

I knit three hats in the last week-or-so. Three! But one in particular is special to me.

I started knitting in 2015. It did not come naturally to me, but: I was determined. (Some would say stubborn.) I had a very patient teacher. During that spring and summer I must have knit oodles of lumpy swatches. I made one fingerless mitt, and never finished its pair.

Finally, my parents gifted me a skein of Noro Obi for my birthday, along with a pattern for a simple garter-and-lace circular cowl and the needles called for by the pattern.

And I made it!

That left me with half a ball of Noro, which has been patiently waiting for me in my yarn bin. Finally, several years later, I used up all the scraps on a new hat.

I’ve been on a hat-knitting tear recently. I guess I’m craving instant gratification. After working in fingering weight yarn for a few months, it’s amazing how quickly a worsted or aran weight yarn works up.

This was my second time making a pom pom, and I’m pleased with it, though the Obi was a little awkward to work with (it’s so fragile!).

Going back to this yarn was a nice moment of reflection on how far I’ve come as a knitter. I am much more fluid; my knitting comes faster, more evenly. I have an intuitive understanding of my work. (This project was entirely improvised; I don’t use hat patterns anymore.) I have amassed a collection of yarn and handknits that – cliche though it is – brings me joy.

I took a long break from knitting to focus on sewing, but guess what? Looks like I’m back.