She remembers how to knit!!!

Okay, so I haven't knitted much in the last 6 months, but I didn't actually forget how. I was just waiting for the right pattern to show up on my doorstep.

Or, more accurately, in my Facebook feed.  This is it: Optical Delusion: Conflagration.

Why this one? Who knows, but it spoke to me, so I bought it.

Even from the pictures, I knew it would be fiddly. And that it would require focus and concentration. And that it was ALL short rows. But I thought it might be easier than Dreambird, which was something of a beautiful brain-breaker.

I was right. Optical Delusion: Conflagration is all short rows, and it does require focus (and no one else counting within earshot), but it is considerably easier than Dreambird. The pattern comes with charts, which are ingenious, but were too small for me to see well. So I made a list of the number of stitches to knit on each row before turning (and other assorted instructions) and started. The list made all the difference for me. Note: I do not make wrapped turns, and for this pattern, I did not do my usual short row turn. I just turned, which left some holes in the fabric, which was not the designer's intention, but which I like just fine.

So the knitting consists of working Charts 1-2 once, Chart 3- 11 times (and up to 14, if you have the yarn. I did not. And even if I did have enough yarn, 11 was plenty), and Chart 4 once. I got mixed up on Chart 4, so my scarf skinny end does not look quite like it's supposed to, but I don't care.

Oh, the yarn is Whose Socks- The War Doctor, dyed by Purls Yarn Emporium, in Asheville NC. It's perfect for this pattern because it has fairly short repeat color changes.

So, pics (this is about a week's worth of work):

Freebie Pattern- EXTERMINATE!- A Dalek Hat

Have I mentioned that I have become, very late in the game, a Doctor Who fan? I started with the Eccleston season, and I'm caught up enough that I am watching the new season episodes (yay Capaldi!) as they air.

Two of my Grands are also Doctor fans, and when I saw Amy Schilling's (Ravelry Name: amouse) Doctor Who Fair Isle Chart, I asked to use it to design a hat for my grandson, and then share the chart. She, very graciously, gave her permission, and here we are, with EXTERMINATE!- A Dalek Hat.

All of the instructions are on the jpg- click to enlarge and then download it to your computer for printing. Don't try to print the thumbnail- you won't be able to read it. This is not a difficult stranded project, but I would classify it as intermediate because there are long stretches of a single color, and a lot of float-anchoring. But don't let that frighten you away- the results are worth the work. When it comes time for the decreases, work K2togTBL (knit 2 together through the back of the loop) as indicated, and K2tog (knit 2 together) as indicated.

This pattern is free, for your own personal use and enjoyment. Please link to this blog post if you want to spread the word, and I'll ask that downloaders come here to get the pattern (rather than any one person printing off a bunch of them).

Enjoy!

Click on the page, download to your computer, and then print from any graphics program.