a knitter's rite of passage

I've just finished my first chemo cap. (Thankfully, my dad never needed chemo so I never had to knit him one. I just knit him lots of socks for his cold feet!)



(Green is Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock in Edgewood. Tan is remnants from a shawl I knit a few years ago from an Etsy shop that has since closed.)

This is for Kevin, a friend of my parents'. He is a homebuilder -- he built my parents' house. I think it's safe to say it's their perfect home.

A couple years ago, Kevin had a leg amputated because his circulation problems just got to be too much. He's been in and out of the hospital for the past few years and it's been touch and go.

Recently, he found out he has a rare cancer (on his tongue, I believe). I can't imagine going through so many difficult things in such a short period of time.

So I wanted to knit him something.

Whether he needs chemo or not (they're still figuring out a treatment plan, I believe), he now has a hat to keep his head warm in the window.

It has five stripes -- one for him, his wife, and his three kids.

I hope it brings him some comfort.

other recent knits!

I promised I'd be back!

Here's what else I've been up to, knitting-wise ...

I knit yet another Sockhead Hat (a third!) -- this one for my college BFF's birthday:



A confession: This was going to be for me. It is Koigu, and dammit, I deserve something knit from the only Koigu in my stash. But then I was daydreaming, and I thought, "BOY, J would love this." And once I visualize a possible recipient in the knitted object, I just can't get it out of my head, and it must go to that person. The timing worked great, because her birthday was within a few months!

Next up is a hat for a friend's birthday ...



This is a modified Sockhead Hat (no slouch) knit from Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock (about half a skein) in Edgewood (a beautiful forest green). The recipient is from Seattle so I knew she'd love the lush green-y-ness of the yarn!

Finally is the hat I am most proud of.

But first, a little backstory.

I knit a hat for this recipient over a year ago, before he was born. His mama and papa put it on him + he wore it OUT. (This pleases me greatly.) And now it's too small for him.

I had a crazy vision of a colorwork hat that included whales (I know ... I'm crazy, right?) and knew what his gift for his first birthday would be. A little browsing on Ravelry landed me a chart.

Behold:



I'm so so happy with it. It's retro and bold and fun and perfect for the wee one! It's actually a little big on him, so he should be able to wear it for a year or two. Details about the yarn are on my Rav page.

Finally, here is a sweater for a friend who is due with a baby in a few weeks. The father-to-be is a hip dude and I wanted to knit their wee one a grandpa sweater just like his or her papa!



The pattern is the Scrappy Socky Stripey Cardi -- an excellent pattern for using up bits of sock yarn. (I really want to knit another one ...) I used Madeline Tosh sock in Golden Hickory and Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in Jay Blue.



The buttons came from The Yarn Lounge in Richmond.

I am in love with this sweater + will definitely make more for other babies in the future!