RASTA

Rasta Hat. 

     The colors of the Rastafarian religion are red, green, gold, and black and have specific meanings. If you want to know more here is a good web site: https://www.islandoutpost.com/outpostings/2016/01/18/10-things-everyone-know-rastas/           

    However, the colors are appealing in a nonreligious way and probably are related to the popularity of the music of Bob Marley. This is the second Rasta hat and one similar that I've knit for family and a friend.  The similar hat is open on both ends to accommodate dreadlocks. The first Rasta hat was made for my son, and when I posted a picture of it on Instagram, my sister, who lives in the cool Washington climate,  asked for one like it.  Surprisingly, after I knit the hat, I had enough yarn for two wrist warmers and a scarf.  These patterns are basic beanie and wrist warmer patterns, not Rasta patterns.  I had to the calculate rows and inches to create the color pattern - math and some trial and error and luck.  

    YARN: I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes worsted weight yarn ordered from the Knit Picks website.  One skein of each color. I used size 7 needles. I've included the patterns I used for the hat and wrist warmers.  The scarf I made without a pattern. 

HAT: Easy Breezy Hat by Jen Stone-Gerardy 2010

http://knitolution.blogspot.com/2011/08/easy-breezy-hat-free-pattern.html

WRIST WARMERS: Beginner Wrist Warmers Knitting Pattern 

from https://www.simple-knitting.com/wrist-warmers.html

The wrist warmer pattern does not include a thumb opening so I made one after measuring my own hand. 

SCARF: 

     Cast on 24 stitches and knit every row (garter stitch) for 44 inches.  The final scarf is 5 3/5 inches wide / 44 inches length.  There are two blocks of each color .  You could knit smaller blocks similar to the wrist warmers. I knit the scarf last and used all the yarn I had left.

How do you look in Rasta knitting?

    My niece, Dina, wears the finished products.  Looks fabulous on her. Her mother, Christina, will be wearing the warm knit hat, scarf, and wrist warmers this Washington winter, while her daughter basks in the Arizona sunshine where she lives.  

     There's a nice slouch to the hat that accommodates her hair and covers her ears. 

Thanks for modeling, Dina. 

     More knitting to come more often.  I've pledged to myself to take notes and photos of my knitting projects so I can share them here.  I have two scarves in the works because I love the yarns and want to see how they work out.  So far I'm pleased. 

A worthy cause: The Mother Bear Project

http://motherbearproject.org/

minipurl

                         

 

VAX

 

First photo of the new year. Our combo tree - apricot (white) and nectarine (pink), blossoms responding to the sunny/rainy days we've been having.  Other plants are still dormant like a lot of us have been since the pandemic has kept us in doors limiting our outside activities.  Nature, however, doesn't stop doing what comes naturally blooming when the weather warms.  These blossoms are a symbol of renewal and hope for our futures.  I titled this post VAX for vaccine - which is also a symbol of hope and good health for our futures. I received my second Moderna last week through Butte County and Enloe Hospital.  I commend them highly for their organization, for the volunteers, and the medical staff who created a safe and welcoming atmosphere for a lot of anxious people. Relief - we got our VAX.  As I was waiting my 15 minutes observation time, the room was quiet, we were the last group of the day, when I was taken by a feeling of sadness considering why we were there, especially thinking about my friend, Char Thompson, who had died. Like the combo tree -  thankfulness and sorrow at the same time.  Time was up, I was greeted by a gentleman at the exit, who wished me a good day, a good afternoon, a good weekend, and finally a good life.  I thanked him, wished him the same and walked out into a warm, sunny afternoon. My thoughts and memories kept me company on the drive home. It was a good day.