The conference is done and I’m at the Sister’s house. Now that it’s over I feel so much better. I’m almost home! The Husband has been wonderful, sending me pictures twice a day. I get a wake up photo of my baby girl, and an evening photo of what she’s doing at dinner. I am so lucky to have married such a great and thoughtful person. I need to post the photos at some point.

All in all, the conference was good. I’ve eaten like crap. There must have been a veggie shortage in Texas on Monday or Tuesday. I think lunch today with the Sister I had the first non-avocado veggie. I did get to run on Monday and Tuesday, but not this morning. I couldn’t fall asleep last night. I missed the Husband, but in 48 hours I’ll be back with him and OP!

One night down, four to go. Overall the conference was very informative today with only one panel a waste of time. A few were not what I hoped, but at least I got something out of them. Hopefully tomorrow will be just as good. I’m just ready for it to be over, it’s tiring being nice to people.

Which may be why I was ready to bail on the evenings festivities at 8. I am indeed that old. Of course it could have been the drink I had at dinner. It was a called a Pineapple Bash or Burst or something. Either way it was tiny but good. All the Dresden fans know I wanted to say fierce right there.

On the plus side the bouncers at the bar claimed that I looked much younger than I am. They had to card me and since I didn’t want to pull out my wallet I commented that I must look old enough to not have to pull it out. Sadly, the wallet had to come out. At least I got a wow when he saw my age. The male bouncer thought I was 24, the chick guessed 27. They probably tell everyone that the drinks ounce to raise morale and profits.

I think it’s time for sleep and then a run in the morning. At some point I need to figure out the panels for tomorrow. Have a good night!

There is a local knitting drive for areas hit hard by the hurricanes. Winter is coming soon and some of the areas get extremely cold. What better way to stay warm than with a hat! I decided it was time to resurrect Marcie’s hat and fix what I became annoyed with in the pattern. I liked how the hat looked when it was done, but it didn’t quite work well in practice. So I picked a new yarn (one from my stash) and double stranded it for added warmth, one of the things I wanted to do with the other hat after the fact, and changed how the decreasing worked the crown of the hat. I’m much happier with the finished product.

Marcie’s Epilogue

Materials:
1 skein Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted (190 yards)

1 pair US 8 Circular Needles
1 set US 8 Double Point Needles

Gauge: 15 st = 4″

Notes: The hat is knit with two strands of yarn at a time, called double stranding. The bottom part of the hat is seed stitch. That part should be 2 1/2 to 3 inches long, depending on your preference. The hat photographed is knit with 2 1/2 inches of seed stitch. If 61 stitches doesn’t work for your head, simply add more stitches and follow the decrease as written.

Pattern

• Using two strands of yarn at once, loosely cast on 61 stitches.
• Join making sure not to twist and place marker to designate the row.
• Knit in seed stitch for 2 1/2 to 3 inches depending on your preference ([k1, p1] to the end of the row and ending on a knit. For the subsequent rows, knit the purls and purl the knits.)
• Knit every row until the piece measures 5 1/2 inches.

Decreasing for the Crown

• [K2 K2tog] to the last 3 stitches. K3tog
• Knit another 3/4 inch.
• [K2tog K1] to end of row. Switch to the double point needles whenever the hat becomes too small for the circulars.
• K 3 rows (approx 1/4 inch)
• [K2tog] to end of row.
• [K2tog] to end of row. You will end up with an extra stitch, just knit the stitch and end the row.

Finishing

Cut yarn leaving a 6″ tail. Thread yarn through a tapestry needle and pull yarn through last 4 stitches. Pull tight. Secure the yarn on the inside of the hat and weave in ends.

Copyright

This is pattern is free for personal, non-commercial use. Further use requires permission from the designer (me). You may not sell or distribute the pattern in any form. You may not sell the any item or items made from this pattern without my permission. You may not use this pattern or items from the pattern for commercial use.

Here I am, sitting at a gate, waiting for my flight to arrive. I’ll be spending the next few hours flying to a work conference and extremely short visit with the sister. I don’t want to go. No offense to the Sister, but I want to be with my baby girl and the Husband, not here and then there. At least I get to fly home on Friday.

Wow, I sound so pathetic, don’t I? Okay, I’m going to stop wallowing in self pity,try to forget my and OP’s tears, enjoy my smoothie, and knit. It’s only 5 nights and then I’ll be home.