1.  I learned that the second hat is as much fun as the first :)  This was done with chunky yarn on size 10 (6 mm) needles.  I cast on 20 stitches, as before, and worked borders of seed stitch with a stockinette swath down the middle.  Also, as before, I worked to a 20” length and then did a couple more rows.  Of course I completely forgot about doing a provisional cast-on so I wound up picking up the cast on stitches and then binding them off with the working stitches.  Again :)

This time I picked up 48 stitches around the crown, knit one round and then started decreasing towards the center.  When I was down to 4 stitches, I cut the yarn (leaving a tail long enough to stitch with), threaded a tapestry needle and pulled the yarn through, tightening so as to close the crown.  Then I added a braid and tassel - just for the hell of it :)

I need to work out how to do this for smaller sizes - babies and children.  When I have the sizing worked out, I’ll post a pattern.  It really is ridiculous, the amount of fun you can have doing this!

2.  I learned that 7 ounces of yarn is really too much for a 5 quart crock pot to handle gracefully.

That this came out as well as it did is no credit to me.  The crock pot was so stuffed, there wasn’t even stirring room!  I’ll remember that in the future.  The particulars for this yarn, Flamingo, are over at The Dye Pot.  The first link will take you to the specific post and the second to the home page.

3.  I learned that a 72º F day isn’t when you want a big sweater lying on your lap while trying to work on a sleeve.  Even if it is January!

4.  I learned that, yes Virginia, there really is such a thing as a beautiful heel!

This is the yarn that dear Nat over at Knitting Natty sent me for Christmas and the pattern, as I mentioned before, is the Lacy Mock Cable Socks that Rob clued me in to.  I had been watching enviously as she seemingly effortlessly turned out a gorgeous pair in Megaboots Sock Yarn and knew I have to have a pair of my own.

You probably know I generally do socks on a larger scale than usual using sport to worsted weight yarn and anything from a size 3 (3.25 mm) to a size 5 (3.75 mm) needle.  These are worked, as per the pattern’s recommendation, on size 2 (2.75mm) needles.  Let me tell you, picking up the gusset stitches required considerably more focus than I am used to!  Also, the heel flap is done in a method I hadn’t tried or even read about before.  Over an even number of stitches, the right side rows are *Sl1, K1*; repeat to the end.  The wrong side rows are *Sl1, P1*; repeat to the end.  I was uncertain about this slipping on both sides of the fabric, but I certainly can’t argue with the results.  This produces a firm but surprisingly cushy fabric and works so well with the color repeats of this yarn that it took me twice as long to do the flap as it normally would because I kept stopping to admire the gorgeous effect :)

5.  I also learned, for what it’s worth, that when Myria makes one of her justifiably famous and outstanding pancakes (see German/Yorkshire Pancake/Pudding and fries up a few breakfast sausage to go with, a little fresh, chopped apple makes an exceedingly bright a pleasant note to the overall flavor of things!

Hope your Monday is yummy :)