Knitting with kids

I did not have to do that before so it is a whole new ball game for me.  I will get used to it and they to me doing it.  It's already working better than the first day I knit while they were playing.  I did make one fatal error.

I took this hat and had Cassie try it on.  She loved it and did not want to take it off.  Stupid beginner mistake and I made it.  Oh well.  We did eventually get over it, but it meant I had to stop working on it.

I wasn't happy with my decrease rate, so I decided to do what the pattern said. Third time is the charm.   It worked.  Funny how that goes.

All is not lost.  This blog is still winging it.  I followed the hat pattern as written only for that and the number of stitches to cast on.  The pattern for this kit is designed for stockinette and that means I would have to know their head size far more closely than I do. Ribbed is always a great way to make a hat fit longer and fit better.  For my two older grandkids, I am using the small adult size and I'm not sure about my little boys.  Carter is about 6 months older and is a bigger kid all around. Bigger bones, taller, sturdier looking.  I think his is going to be this size to make it last the whole season, but Marcus is one of those little fellows who never stops moving.  I think 6 stitches less is going to be a better fit for him.

I have to say, I was skeptical about these kits.  They are cute which is why I bought them, but the yarns are manmade fibres so they are just not going to be as warm as wool.  I have to say that I am really pleased with the end result. The yarn, a scrumptious thick dense blend, at the heavy end of category 4-5  done in the ribbing, makes for a pretty pleasing hat. It is deep and cushy and will do a good job of keeping my wee ones warm and happy.

When I got home last evening, I sat down and wasn't ready to start the next of these Christmas hats.  I couldn't knit on the coat (still fulling it) or believe me I would have.  I started this.

  

Yes it looks like a hat.  This one though is going to have something a little different.  My daughter in law wants a hat with a little something to keep the kids necks warm too.  I am aiming for something like this kitty hat from an old Paton's pattern without kitty ears.  My plan is to knit a regular watch hat and fold up the brim.  Stitches will be picked up from the inside a little more than 2/3 of the way around the hat and then a few stitches more will be cast on and a ribbed tube will be knitted down from there. The plan is to knit a slightly smaller neck tube so mommy doesn't need to get the kids to wear scarves when they are out walking.  

So today, I will felt the blobs sleeves test swatch and I will play games with yarn. Altogether, it sounds like a pretty good day.