Do You Have One Really Funky Sequined Space Suit, Bowie?

Sparkle Beret, ribbing side & top

Since my return from Paris (which still pains me, by the way), I've overcome a fierce bout of jetlag, started a transition to a new job, and have been juggling a number of things that should have been done in early January. It's been a little tough to find the mental energy to work on anything at home that requires any attention. I'm emerging from that fog now (but may get sucked back in at any moment), so here's a little update on the Sparkle Beret: I've passed the second set of crown decreases.

As a recap: the pattern is Laura Chau's Lightweight Raspberry Beret, using Yarntini's Sparkle Sock yarn in Midnight Snow. Yes, the flecks you see above are sparkley! I'm knitting the women's large size, and I'm not sure if it's my gauge or I estimated my head size incorrectly, but it feels like it's going to be a little too roomy for me (my fine, thin hair requires no extra hat room, since it's really just the illusion of hair). I do know a few folks with more robust hair than I have, though, so if it doesn't fit me it should be easy to find it a home. I somehow believed that I could finish it in time to wear in Paris, which was ridiculous given my atrocious completion rate. It was part of my fantasy that I could make berets for the whole group going to Paris (there were six of us), which first occurred to me in late December. Ha--but at least I didn't start six berets.

This weekend, I did start a new project involving a chart (details in a future post), and so far I have been able to handle the mental strain, but I am really itching to finish up some long-term projects that really don't require a lot of work. The biggest challenge is that many of the projects have been separated from supplies/yarn required to complete them, so digging out all of the pieces may take up a lot of my available knitting / napping time. Oh, precious napping time!

_________________________________
Do You Have One Really Funky Sequined Space Suit, Bowie? : Flight of the Conchords

Back, and Beret-ed

I've been back home for 6 days, and am just about over the jetlag, but not nearly over the wonderful time I had in Paris. I'm hoping to make it back there soon, although it won't be soon enough!

Shortly before I left, I finished Estella (Rav link), which I started just before Christmas but haven't shown here yet. It's a beret that looks more complicated than it is, although the decreases were a challenge because I kept ending up with the same number of stitches as I started with. I used some Berroco Ultra Alpaca that I bought when I was swatching for the Liberty blanket. These colors that didn't quite work out for that project, but I think they look good for this one. I schlepped it all the way to Paris, but it was really too warm to wear most of the time, and I forgot to bring it with me when it was cold enough.

I started a second beret a few days after this one, with a simpler pattern but glitz-ier yarn:

I needed something relatively plain to knit while at the movies on Christmas, so I started Laura Chau's Lightweight Raspberry Beret using Yarntini Sparkle Sock. I've just started the decreases, so there is a glimmer / sparkle of hope that I'll finish it while it's still cold out. Although it's been in the 50's here, so I may need to send it to my chilly east coast friends!