knitters gonna knit

Proof! Between creating hats for market season and trying to finish some pesky UFO's, my hands have definitely not been idle.

Today, however, I managed to stop knitting for a few minutes so I could share this photo (above) on Instagram...and I got the nicest feedback from a fellow knitter.

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"I love the variety in the colors and stitches!! Yet, they're all so uniform in size! That's the part I struggle with the most, keeping my hats all the same size."  --@aliknits123. ​

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TBH, it's pretty flattering to have another knitter compliment your work like that. Made my day, for sure. But it also got me thinking about how my work became so consistent. The answer? Practice. Practice. Practice. 

I didn't start out creating hats like this. In fact, it wasn't all that long ago that I knit a surprise birthday hat for my BFF...and it fit OVER his entire head! Gauge accidents happen. We laughed and moved on. But only through practice did I learn how to manage all the variables involved in making great-fitting hats. 

Fibre composition, yarn weight, hat style, stitch pattern etc. They all play key roles in well-designed--wearable--hats. Alpaca yarns, for example, are inelastic, so you generally need to cast on fewer stitches than normal. Ribbed hats, however, are super-elastic, so even when you cast on the correct amount of stitches, the circumference will seem deceptively small, but the hat will fit perfectly. 

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"When it comes to practice, repetition is important, but so is variety." 

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Personally, I think my own knitting has improved because of how I practice. Repetition is important...but so is variety. By being willing to experiment with new yarns, fibres, and techniques--and make mistakes along the way--I've gained both skills and confidence. The age-old moral of the story? Practice Makes Perfect. ​So, go. Get your knitty on!