Starting Over with Marigold Leaves

It’s times like these when I feel like a rank amateur.

Indeed, I think it ironic that I’m starting to blossom just when the leaves are falling from the trees. Maybe my circadian rhythm or my satellite reset button. Is. Just. Off.

The Leaf Beret (Ravelry) from knit.1 is the first new thing I’ve started to knit or crochet since February 2009. Eight months is a long time to take a break from something that once caused a fever of “I’ve-gotta-make-this-this-and-this-itis.”

Truth is, anyone following my ramblings for some time knows the physical stuff has gotten in the way for the past three years off and on. There are more rumblings from the right arm of doom which I’ll share should it become necessary. Meanwhile, my personal journey has me knitting again, albeit making one or two rookie mistakes.

1) I love love love Vera’s marigold-dyed alpaca. I stick my beak in the center of that ball and take a whiff of the slightly soapy clean wooliness (you yarn sniffers know what I mean). My errors are not the fault of the yarn. I adore alpaca, though I know it’s not for everyone. For some reason, I forgot that this is not the most elastic of yarns.

2) I couldn’t find my size 3 needles, so I opted for the 2.5’s instead. To make up for the smaller needle, I cast on a few more stitches. You can see the next oops coming, can’t you?

3) Inelastic yarn + too many stitches = a hat band big enough for a monstrous melon. Frog and rethink.

Not only did I err in yarn choice, it seems my fingers have a little rust in their sense memory. I mean, I was once an old hand with two-circ knitting. I cast on half the stitches on one needle and the other half on the second needle. Knit knit knit. Get to the end of the round and all the flippin’ stitches are on one needle. I hate that!

Reboot.

It’s on, knitting! I will make that cute beret in time for the coming nasty weather. I will not go quietly. Well, mebbe a bit. It took so long to get here. My marigold leaf beret deserves to come to life.