I finished the hood/mantle last night and am quite pleased with how it came out. I don’t usually bother with a pattern that doesn’t have a picture attached, but this sounded really neat and so I decided to give it a try anyway. As it turns out, the pattern was quite well written and the hood is easy-as-pie to make. The pattern is here. It states that the hood takes 8 oz of worsted weight yarn. I found a 100 gram ball of Encore did the trick nicely :)
Child’s hood and mantle
I was surprised at how long this took me - I know, I keep saying this :) - but I am a really pokey knitter. I don’t worry about it much as I don’t knit to set speed records, but it is true. I had the mantle and ribbing parts done when I sat down last night and picked this up at about 6:00 PM but it still took until almost midnight for me to finish it - including weaving the ends.
But I thinks it’s pretty cool! Hopefully it will also be pretty warm :)
I also learned that I’m not fond of working with dark yarn. It’s tough to see and, my god, the cat hair! I realize that everything I make is probably imbued with cat hair but it never showed up as well as it does on the dark red hood. Extra insulation, maybe?
I did a tiny bit on the sock last night too - started the 2x2 rib for the top and hopefully that will be completed soon so I can get the mate started. Now I want to focus on the shawl and get that into shape. Well, the shape’s already established but you know what I mean.
Jade and Goldie have been being rocket-kitties that last few days. Boogety, boogety - all over the apartment - and there’s definitely more play than hostility involved. Goldie will be sleeping somewhere - on the cat tower, the bed or the back of Myria’s chair - and Jade will dash up, take a couple of whacks at him and dash off again. Tag! You’re it! And, of course, Goldie will take off after her like a furry, golden jet. It’s very amusing to watch.
Jade, lurking in the hall by the bookcase
I hope to have shawl progress to tell you about tomorrow. Have a good Thursday!
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"Boogety, boogety” made me laugh out loud. I suspect the phrase will now settle into my subconscious and show up somewhere in MY blog a few months down the road. 
Thanks for the link to the pattern. I might have to try one of those hood thingies myself.
Ryan - It comes from the old “WKRP in Cinncinatti” TV show and even the thought of it is enough to make me snicker, Delighted to pass it along :)
everything i make is liberally ‘tweeded’ with cat hair- it may be the catly equivalent of the chiengora i’ve read about made with dog hair- chatgora, maybe?
the little hood is cute and does look warm- if i can get over this hat madness, i am going to try some of the hood and balaclava and ski mask patterns i’ve found online- i like pics too, as i am completely visual (don’t tell me, show me) and usually skip right on over patterns w/o pics-
speed knitting, never! hooray for the sloth i say! i think back on times when people knitted items because they were needed and know my family would have been in real trouble!
stay happy-
Barb - Nice to know someone else is weaving pet leavin’s into their work as well :)
Sloth, my fanny! How many hats have you gotten done now? You go girl!
Ah yes, the cat hair. My multicoloured moggie manages to leave an impression of herself on everything I knit, light or dark.
Pam - Heheh - with Pushkin’s coloring, you’ve got the best of both worlds :)
Now I definitely want to make that hood! Thanks for the pic, because I tend not to make anything without a finished pic.
I also think I’m an incredibly slow knitter, but so far the only person it annoys is me. It wouldn’t bother me except I have soooo many ideas I want to try!
And as far as “fiber donation” by pets, I was okay back when I only had a black lab, I could make or wear anything dark colored. Now between the three of my guys, they cover every color possible, so I can’t win unless I go for the tweed look! hee hee
Now show us some shawl pictures!
Laura - LOL! I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one out there taking their time. Really though, if I go fast, I make mistakes.
Shawl pictures are coming :)
Glad to know you are well and knit-productive again. Jade looks so clever in that photo, you can almost tell what she’s thinking. :)
Erin - Thanks :) I always know what Jade’s thinking - it’s always the same: How can I raise hell today?
Glad you are feeling better… I love the picture of the “hoodie” thing. I usually pass on a pattern with no pictures. This is a gem. What size child do you think it would fit? Love the picture of Jade too. 
