Finished Aquamarine Watch Cap

Isn't it cute?

 Ta da! My first hat is finished...complete with fuzzy wuzzy pom-pom.  Once I figured out what I was doing wrong with the K2togs, the remaining rows went by rather quickly.  I loved that I didn't need to bind off, but rather just pulled the tail of the yarn through the remaining stitches, tightened and pulled down through the hole.  Wove in ends, sewed on pom-pom and done. 

I cheated with the pom-pom.  I thought about making a pom-pom maker out of cardboard, but didn't have any lying around. So I purchased the Clover Pom-Pom maker, and had a lot of fun trying to figure it out. My cat got some of the failed pom-pom attempts as new toys.  I originally thought about making an all white pom-pom, but went with the choice to add in the aquamarine yarn from the hat. I love the result. and it's so fluffy (the white is a super soft merino wool). 

Things I Learned:

• I love circular needles
• I really like the Addi turbo circular needles <3
• The magic loop confused me at first, but now I can't wait to make something else
• That you don't need to purl while knitting in the round
• K2Tog is an uncomfortable thing that leads to me making mutant stitches
• Making pom-poms are ridiculously fun
• With hats made on the magic loop, one doesn't need to bind off...hooray!
• Loves hanging out at the Knitting Corner and Beadery and thinks Stephanie is an amazing, patient teacher

So, I think my next project is going to be a baby blanket for my cousin Ariel, who is expecting her first child in August.  It's going to be a Debbie Bliss pattern out of the Booties, Blankets and Bears book.  I don't know the sex of the baby yet, so trying to think of a three color combo in neutral colors.