Turkey Feather Hat

This is another special holiday hat I cooked up for the niece and nephew.  I think he's kinda cute!  I have never typed up a "pattern" before but I thought this one deserves to be repeated.  I have knit this self-made pattern twice myself but have never had anyone try to replicate it.  Let me know your thoughts!

Hat:
Basic baby hat in worsted weight yarn.  I used Debbie Stoller's Bamboo Ewe in brown.  I used the basic pattern out of Susan B. Anderson's Itty Bitty Hats.

Needles: 16" circular size 7.
               Size 7 double pointed needles for the top

Beak:
Using bits of orange - Vanna White's Pumpkin
Needles: size 3 double pointed needles

CO 20 stitches
Join to work in the round  
Knit 4 rounds even

K3 K2Tog, repeat for one round
K2 K2Tog, repeat for one round
Knit 1 round even
K1 K2Tog, repeat for one round
Knit 1 round even
K2 Tog for round
K2 Tog until only 1 stitch remains.  Pull yarn through the stitch.  Use yarn needle to pull yarn to inside of beak.
Whipstitch beak to center of hat.

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Waddle:
Yarn: Bits of red yarn.  This is Debbie Stoller again.
Needles: Size 3 needles
CO 4 stitches - knit flat
1. KFB, K2 KFB (6)
2. Knit
3. KFB, K4, KFB (8)
4. Knit
5. K2Tog, K2Tog, K2Tog, K2Tog (4)
6. K2Tog, K2Tog (2)
7-21: K2 in garter stitch (or to desired length)
22. KFB, KFB (4)
23: Knit
24: KFB, K2, KFB (6)
25: Knit
26:KFB, K4, KFB (8)
27: K2Tog, K2Tog, K2Tog, K2Tog (4)
28: Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitches.

Fold waddle in half and sew onto hat below the beak.
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Turkey Feathers:
Debbie Stoller Stitch Nation Bamboo Ewe - various colors.
Needles:Size 7 double point needles
CO 24 stitches
Join to knit in the round

Rounds 1-4 knit even
5. KFB, KFB, K10, KFB, KFB, K10 (28)
6. Knit
7. KFB KFB, K12, KFB, KFB, K12 (32)
8. Knit
9. Knit
10. K2 K2Tog K12, K2 K2Tog K12 (30)
11. K2, K2Tog K2Tog K9 K2 K2Tog K2Tog K9 (26)
12. K2 K2Tog K2Tog K6 K2 K2Tog K2Tog K6 (22)
13. K2 K2Tog K7 K2 K2Tog K7 (20)
14. K2 K2Tog K6 K2 K2Tog K6 (18)
15. K2 K2Tog K2Tog K3  K2 K2Tog K2Tog K3 (14)
16. K2 K2Tog K2Tog K1 K2 K2Tog K2Tog K1 (10)
17. K2Tog throughout the row (5)
18. K2Tog K2Tog K1 (3)
19. Slip 1 stitch, K2tog, pass slipped stitch over.  Pull yarn through and pull to inside of feather. 

Stuff the feathers with poly-fil and whipstitch in place around the crown. 

On the second one I made I found it easier to "pile" the feathers on the top of the crown so that baby could fit in the carseat.  (I also didn't have enough red yarn to make the waddle for this one.)

You May All Go To Hell, And I Will Go To Texas

New. Favorite. Quote. Ever.  We just finished our whirlwind tour of Texas and we all picked up a few souvenirs.  This quote was said by the infamous David Crockett - honorable member of congress who, upon NOT being re-elected, went to TX and fought against Gen. Santa Ana at the historic location in San Antonio, the Alamo.  (He died - why doesn't anyone every mention that part?  He died during the battle and is buried in the San Fernando chapel in San Antonio).  He said these words on the floor of congress as part of his re-election bid. Isn't that just the coolest thing?

Here are a few pictures from San Antonio and Austin.  I'll save Dallas and Fort Worth for another post.

 Austin, Texas

State Capitol

 San Antonio Mercado

 San Fernando Cathedral

Built in the 1700's.

Now houses the remains of Alamo Heros

 Some lonely and cold looking lilac blooms.

 The river walk - south of the city in the historic neighborhood.

King Williams Historic District

Many gorgeous homes - here are a couple of shots we got.

 At the Alamo

 The riverwalk. Had it completely to ourselves since it was raining and 40 degrees out!

I will try to post about the restaurants we tried in another post.  We've also got the Fort Worth Stockyards and Dallas' Reunion Tower posts coming up. Plus, if you play your cards right, I may finish the giraffe and have some pictures to post. I may need to buy a pom-pom maker though since I need to make about 15 poms to finish it.

I Like To Hide My Face

Penny did not want her picture taken yesterday.

I had my growth check ultrasound yesterday.  We also needed to get a peak at her face to check on her palate.  Well she's right on track for growth - it was fun to see how big she had gotten in the past month.  She already up to 1.5 pounds!  But when it came time to see her face, there she had to disagree.  She wouldn't give me one of those beautiful profile pictures, no matter how I jostled and twisted her.  The top photo in here was after about 1/2 hour of scanning and she refused to move out of her little burrow.  (She was basically curled up facing my back with her face down and hidden.)  And she figured out that in this position she can really kick - even the ultrasound tech could feel her kicks - we were both laughing about that.
The doctor was much more optimistic about a full term delivery than they had been.  She will still need to have growth checks (next one in 3 weeks) but otherwise they are hoping she'll make it to at least almost full term.  The only problem they thought would be that she may be breech (facing butt down) and a C-section would be required.  We are at 23 weeks 3 days today - and are so happy that things are looking good with her so far.

I did buy a new book for her this week: Itty Bitty Knits by Susan B. Anderson. I LOVE her books (they were the first books I ever bought). See that giraffe on the cover? That is already ON THE NEEDLES after I ran out to buy the yarn to make it.  So so so cute!  There are a ton of things in this book that will be made in the next few years.  Some super cute toys are in here.  Lucas will be getting one of the amazing reversible toys in here, and I've got a doll with interchangeable clothes in mind for Liza bear.  Larken will be sure to get one of these toys too - maybe I'll work on having one done for her by the time I see her in April.

Also, I dropped the quilt off at its new home and I think she will be very happy there.  That little one is due any day now - can't wait to meet her.

Today I'm off for a breakfast date with a good friend, then back to the grind with a shift at Children's hospital.  I have been off campus for the past month so I think my "bump" will be coming as a surprise to a lot of people since I've really popped out this month.