Who knew submission could feel so good?

This past summer, when the men’s issue of Knitty was announced, I considered throwing my hat in the ring. Procrastination and other knitted distractions never got the sketches and swatches made into a completed item. However, my jaw droppd when I saw a very similar pattern that did get published. I still believed in my pattern, specifically, one innovative element.

Then, the good fellows at MenKnit were getting ready to publish their inaugural issue. Some hasty knitting, a flurry of emails, and a fast-approaching deadline saw the birth of my dream, save some felting. The next thing I knew, I was in Poland and Eastern Europe for three weeks, and there was no way I could felt across the ocean.

That leads us to today, the deadline for MenKnit volume 2. No rushing around this time. I sleep deeply last night, nary a worry on my mind. I tweaked, edited and finessed the pattern all weekend (words are hard!) and spent yesterday over a washing machine felting the crap out of the item. After two months of just sitting around, all loose and baggy (it’s knit on 17s), my little project has evolved into its durable, dense self.

Just the process of creating one’s own pieces and the excitement of submitting it to a publisher has been worth it. No photos until after publication (if I’m so lucky), however if you see me in person, bug me about it.

 But there’s no rest for the weary. I still have a couple of sweater designs to turn in, a sweater for myself to finish, and a pom-pom to attach then send the hat off to Prague.

It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been on here. I’ve been out of the country for the past three weeks, but that’s not to say I didn’t get any knitting done!

Since I was travelling, I didn’t want to bring a big project (like the aran that’s begging to be finished) or something complex (another self-designed piece).

So, I grabbed a bunch of different yarns, one set of circular needles and assumed that I’d find some downtime to whip out some hats.

Five hats later, here’s pictures of three of them and the happy recipients.

First, we have Dominika the intern:

The cream yarn was a bit small for the 13s I brought. And I was a little overzealous in my casting on. It will make a soft and warm place to tuck her hair up into during the Polish winters.

Next, there’s Monika, the H4H Gdansk staffer.  I was pleasantly surprised by the cacophonous harmony of the colors and textures. It’s a nice contrast to her hard, engineer, stern exterior.

I guess I should explain that I was working on a house for Habitat for Humanity. Construction worker/drywaller extraordinaire by day, fervent knitter by night. 

The last hat for today (I am awaiting photos for the other two) was made on during a train ride to Krakow, just in time for Andy’s birthday the next day. He’ll be wearing this with pride (no, not that kind) back in Syracuse. Probably my favorite of the bunch. Let’s hear it for caring multiple pieces of yarn together… it was dense. 

Who needs a pattern? I started knitting just a year ago with a hat, on the very needles I brought to Poland. It was a fitting way to end my first year.