hats with purls get the girls...

free pattern: the purl beret from the Purl Bee (note: no actual "purling" in this pattern apart from the ribbing
yarn: Leftover Fleece Artist merino sock yarn --sorry, no idea what the colourway is, tho I absolutely LOVE it. (it was from a sock kit)
needles: 3.25mm Addis (40cm circs)
mods: I think I knit the body to 5 inches to make it slightly floppier.



Ok, so LOVE LOVE LOVE. When I first began to really get into knitting about a year and a half ago, the Purl Bee was one of my first inspirations and favourite blogs/websites (I knit two of their cashmere cowls, and I wear them ALL THE TIME). Here's one and here's the other (note marrimekko coffee mug in that one!). They offer up free patterns from time to time ...and free patterns that are actually cool. The patterns are sometimes over-explained in a way, which as a beginning knitter you really appreciate. It's funny what I take for granted now in my ability to decipher things that not that long ago I never would have dreamed of. The purl blog always has great photos, and just generally lots of cool stuff going on. These days my interest in it can come and go, but that's mostly because I'm not a sewer really (seamstress?), and they do both over there --so if you like both, it's definitely the place for you.

I had a good laugh last week when I proclaimed it "National dish cloth week", and then popped over there and they just by chance happened to have a new pattern for a dish cloth up. Kissmet!

They are also the brainiacs behind Last Minute Knitted Gifts, one of the few knitting books on my shelf that I can honestly say I've knit more than one project out of. Comme ça et comme ça et comme ça et puis comme ça. You get the idea. Simple, yet useful patterns. The free patterns on their blog are much the same as well...there's a couple that have been on my to-do list for a while now:











And LOTS more to choose from over there!

I've actually knit this beret once before with mediocre results (mostly due to my fear of running out of yarn, and subsequent corner-cutting). This go-round though I actually managed to get it out of the leftovers from ONE skein that I'd already gotten a a pair of socks out of (my first and only pair of socks to be exact...)

Come the fall I will likely be getting a lot more wear out of this baby.



This past Christmas I also had the chance to hit up their store Purl in Soho, NYC. It's very, very cute and CRAMMED with people. A little on the chi-chi expensive side for me given the location, but I'd be lying if I said I left there empty-handed.



Plus there was a "husband bench" out front, so the BF was happy about that. I was hoping to get back there again this fall, but in light of some recent developments--we bought a HOUSE!(...I'm still shaking) we may be saving our pennies and not going anywhere for a long, long time. OR buying more yarn for that matter (Though surely where there's a will there's a way, right?). Ok, now to get back to my non-stop stressing out. Thank-God I have a massage booked tomorrow!