August 2: First knitting lesson with Angela Tong, knitting instructor extraordinaire. We made the large and small ruffles; I learned how to discern an appropriate cast-on when none is specified, purl stitch, knit-2-together, read (to match) an existing rib pattern, un-knit, un-purl, and use a stitch holder (with an appropriately long tail) when pattern instructions don’t indicate binding off.

August 16: Second lesson with Angela. We joined the ruffles together and spent over an hour working on the first five rows of the band -- because it’s designed to roll under to the wrong side, it’s a difficult pattern for a beginner to read. I kept knitting or purling the last stitch incorrectly, because of the way the tail falls once the stitch rolls -- on top of which I started twisting my purl stitches (inexplicably) partway through the lesson, so we spent another fifteen minutes working through that. I wrote down the precise steps of how to knit and how to purl continental style -- which I’m sure would make any experienced knitter laugh uproariously at my expense. I’m so glad that Angela is both patient and kind, as well as creative!

My next assignment is to return to New York from my vacation (8/31 to 9/8) with a completed band so that I can learn how to pick up side stitches in order to begin work on the actual hat in September.

October 11 Yesterday was my third and final lesson; Angela taught me how to bind off (SO EASY), and we improvised a crochet join of the band end to the ruffle (since I left my notions bag at home and didn’t have the tapestry needle required for called-for mattress stitch). She taught me how to pick up stitches, and I impressed the teacher by doing the math to calculate the precise pattern for picking up 96 stitches, evenly spaced along the selvedge edge of the band. :)

This afternoon I reviewed the book directions for the m1 (raised make one) stitch, increased appropriately on the body, and am now in the process of creating 5 inches of in-the-round stockinette. I hope to have a finished hat within a week!

October 14 Have been knitting up a storm in the round, thanks to lots of time spent on subway cars and platforms. One skein of Cashmerino DK knit the ruffles, the band, and 20 rounds of stockinette (following the pick-up and m1 rows in pattern).

October 19 It’s not quite done, but there is photographic evidence that the hat is wearable! (Tuft of Harry Potter hair through the top included.) I’ve switched to the DPNs, and have just two rows of decreases and the closure to do; hurrah!

October 20 DONE! I finished the hat on my subway ride home, including the bind-off and weaving in of ends. I am so proud of this project, and so thrilled with the end result. Now I just need to figure out how to take photos of it.