December 2, 2025

2230 hrs.
I was about to try beginning this pattern. Slipped the ball band off, and immediately saw a knot! After winding off the outer strand to reach the knot, I now wonder if there might be another out of sight inside. Hand-wind the whole ball, or hope it’s knotless?

On the plus side, the knot joined two identical colour ends.

December 3, 2025

1900 hrs.
My darling confirmed my choice of second yarn - the mostly blues Opal, whose name translates as Onion!

I need to look at an illustration of M1L and M1R in order to do them. I cannot remember which is which.

I wrote out the Waltz 1, 2, 3 sequence, since my memory is so sieve-like.

Since I did the cast-on and first four rounds with the orange, I’ll start the sequence with another round of orange.

December 7, 2025

0130 hrs.
Success at getting this started!!
However, I have changed idea again. I like both of my yarns, but I think I ‘m only going to start the waltzing after awhile. Maybe only after the increases are done? Waltz through the tube, until the brim? Something like that.

Did I mention that I’m unaccustomed to knitting with such fine yarn? Were it worsted weight, I’d be done already, instead of restarting a dozen or more times!

December 17, 2025

Because I am not a sock-knitter, my experience with self-striping yarns is minimal.
One pair of mittens:
https://www.ravelry.com/projects/JessicaJean/align-mitts
One shawl:
https://www.ravelry.com/projects/JessicaJean/passione-amo...

Who needs waltzing stripes⁉️ Or Fair Isle either?
This is fun!!

Small problem soon to arrive. This set of five dons is 6.75” inches long. Soon, construction needs to move to something longer, or I shall need to dig out at least 8 point-protectors!
I checked out my interchangeable sets. The only ones whose smallest tips equal these are an old Boye set’s US#2 or a set from Temu, but its tips are rather flexible plastic. No way could I maintain tension on those!
I haven’t checked the longer dpns … yet.

Yes, I have longer dpns, but I opted to transfer to a VERY long circular. Funny looking three-looped Magic Circle!

December 18, 2025

0400 hrs.
Much easier to work on the circular, even though it’s way too long.

0505 hrs.
Stopping for now.
34 stitches x 4 = 136 stitches around.
Lots more increases yet!!
I haven’t yet decided which size I’m making.
My pal, Olithia, was so discouraged at how huge hers was, that she dropped out.
So, I’ll see if the smallest will do on my nearly bald pate.
Actually, since I’m not doing any of the pretty patterning, I can stop whenever I please, regardless of stitch count.
Thinking ahead, I can close up the other end however I want too!

Someone did ribbing at the cuff, and I will probably do that too.

Now,

December 19, 2025

0300 hrs.
40 stitches between markers x 4 = 160 stitches.
Not big enough for me; I continue increasing.

December 20, 2025

1930 hrs.
When I took a break and counted between wedges a couple of days ago, one wedge was off by one stitch from the others.
Yesterday, I didn’t touch it.
Today, I counted and it was still off.
So, while listening to stuff on YouTube, I tinked back several rounds until I had the same number of stitches all around. I never did locate the source of the offending stitch, but it’s now gone.
Back to going round’n’round!
(Yes, I know that I could have continued with the extra stitch, since I’m not planning on working any of the fancy stitch patterns, but that’s just me being me.)

December 22, 2025

0230 hrs.
At 52 stitches per quadrant. I think it’s big enough. YAY! No more increases!!

To maintain the two-stitch wide bits between quadrants, I’m going to purl them.

0330 hrs.
Hmm … pattern says:
” … 160 sts (small), 176sts (medium), 192
sts(large) …”
I’m at 208! We’ll see how it goes. There may be more frogging in my future.

0500 hrs.
Or, perhaps it becomes a beret?

December 23, 2025

0730 hrs.
This will become a beret, unless I change my mind again.
Four rounds even, purling the 2-stitch bands between the quarters.
I’ve begun the two purled rounds to make the beret’s outer edge and be the fold line. Then I’ll decrease quickly (every round instead of alternate rounds?) down to noggin size. A band of a few rounds of 1x1 ribbing should hold it in place - doubled if necessary.

December 26, 2025

0015 hrs.
Guessing the decreases:
After 4 plain rounds, with purled trenches between quadrants, there are 2 purled rounds, and 3 plain rounds - still with purled trenches between quadrants.
Now, 1 round with ssk before each trench and k2tog after.
Planning to continue that, and add a ccd in the middle of each quadrant - every round - down to head size.

December 27, 2025

0750 hrs.
118 stitches in 1x1 rib. Two and a half rounds done. A couple ot three inches to go.

Somewhere, I managed to loose a stitch, so I did a k2tog at the end of the second round. I guess I missed a decrease after the turning rounds. Since it doesn’t seem to be a dropped stitch, I’m not going to fret.

December 28, 2025

1000 hrs.
I have just discovered that I work more loosely k1,p1 ribbing that plain knit rounds!
I’ll change to a smaller needle size as soon as I get home.

Later:
Changed to thinnest Chinese circular for the two purled rounds and the six final ribbed rounds.

December 29, 2025

1540 hrs.
Bind off for ribbing: https://youtu.be/pXwL2OUvUiY?si=Nnar7HLi0ydby-3-

Later: Loosely whipstitched bind off to inside of hat. Good thing this won’t ever be in a judged competition! Locating the correct stitch to attach to was often impossible! I just caught where I could.

2000 hrs.
FINISHED!!

April 26, 2026

1000 hrs.
Sock yarn, even very soft sock yarn, has too much wool for my nearly hairless pate. It itches! So, it’s Ginette’s. I might someday stop trying to wear wool.