I think I've developed a little obsession

[sharre]

In the past few weeks I have completed 2 panta's and a beret and I still have plans for three more hats at least (oh and the panta my Mum wants)



The two Panta's are made from Cleckheaten Country 8ply that I dyed on the stove using food colouring and vinegar. I ignored the gauge on the pattern and used 4mm needles which are appropriate for the weight.



The Beret is from Jo Sharp's Contemporary Knitting I used the yarn called for; Silkroad Aran Tweed, and got gauge but still had to break out an extra ball despite the pattern only calling for one. It is a little less slouchy than I'd like, definitely a "looks cute" rather than a "keeps ears warm." I think I'll try Knit and Tonic's Le Slouch for my next beret.

[maatsfeather]

That green color is beautiful! Great work.

[isamax]

Great colors!  I had my own hat obsession this spring.  Bad timing but you just have to get these things out of your system 

[Miss_Vicki]

I love your hand dyed yarn colourways.  It is so shiny I thought it must be bamboo or something 

[sharre]

Thanks for the kind words all 

isamax: I'm in Australia so at least my little obsession is weather appropriate at the moment

Miss_Vicki: yeah the Cleckheaten is kinda cool like that, it gets a bit of a sheen to it when you dye it, although not as much as the picture makes it look. My camera flash is pretty bright.

The Cleckheaten Country is also good cause its the only 100% wool I have found so far that doesn't make my skin red and itchy. I'm wondering if it has less lanolin in it after being boiled? but that is off topic 

[Miss_Vicki]

The Cleckheaten Country is also good cause its the only 100% wool I have found so far that doesn't make my skin red and itchy. I'm wondering if it has less lanolin in it after being boiled? but that is off topic 

Have you tried Basics Dashing (from Spotlight, it has a brown ball band)?  Most of the Basics range is super itchy, but this one is extra soft and is just as cheap as the others.  It doesn't make sense actually, it is just far far too nice for a 3 dollar ball of 100% wool.  It takes up dye really nicely too, which is just as well because the colour range sucks.  My pain in the butt skin has been loving it so far.

[sharre]

ooohh will try that, thanks for the tip!

_{craftsters know all}

[e_bar_goum]

oooh. lovely!
I love Cleckheaten Country 8ply too! it is soo soft!

[crocodisle]

Those green and blue panta colourways are amazing. They look really nice against your hair and skin colours, too!

[littlehands]

whoaaaa i love the blue. it's got a very nice *sheen* to it.