And then test knitting by five others…

And then more vigorous review…

Look what’s finally back after a 6 month hiatus!

Go check out the pattern page for the download link, and please PLEASE let me know if you discover any errors, and I will get on them posthaste. :)

I want to say a big big big big THANK YOU to my test knitters and other amazing awesome helpers this time around: Cindy/random-charm, lindaturc, quiltingkidd, Sharon, and everyone else who offered helpful tidbits and suggestions along the way. I haven’t got you all in the PDF of the pattern yet, but I will. You guys were CRUCIAL and so thorough in your constructive criticisms.Thank you thank you thank you. If I can repay the karma, just say the word!

Any errors in the pattern are MINE, not theirs.

I also want to thank everyone else out there for your incredible patience, kind words and encouragement. I felt way more beat down about this pattern than I ever thought I could, but it was short-lived. Everyone was really helpful and caring and, well, I just love the knitting community. Y’all rock and I’ll be pushing the karma forward.

<3

Now GO KNIT SHARK HATS, all of you!

It is entirely my fault for letting this pattern go on for TWO YEARS without the needed update. I should have shut it down and saved people the torment of it, but when I did, people wanted it back. What do you do?

I can’t help but be a little aggravated that very few knitters contacted me regarding the pattern’s issues, but many were adamant to complain loudly about it on their completed hat pages on Ravelry. Here’s the magic of Ravelry: I can see every hat linking back to my pattern. I can read the comments. I can see the errors for myself.

I wonder, sometimes, why people do not take a moment to contact the designer directly. I make it a point to always contact the designer if I have a problem with a pattern. Perhaps I’m just logical.

Anyways, it’s no one’s fault but my own, just a musing. I worked very hard to make sure this pattern version made sense, and had it proofread by one other person.

I ask here as well as everywhere else:

If there is a problem with this pattern, please please do not hesitate to contact me at allisonmacalister at gmail dot com. That is the fastest way I can track the problem and get an errata out there.

Thanks everyone! I hope the new and improved Shark Hat causes everyone a little more RAWR and happiness and a lot less frustration. :)

A lovely person on Ravelry has made the needed edits to my pattern, and with credit to her, I’ll be test-knitting and re-releasing the pattern soon. Watch for updates, and to all who have been frustrated by this hat, I give my sincere apologies. It is a lesson learned as a noob designer: Don’t be in a hurry to release your patterns. Be thorough and do your best to make sure it is correct the first time around.

In pleasant Shark Hat news, something awesome is going on over at Halos of Hope. One of my shark hats has been knit, named after a wonderful pit bull (which, given my other aspiration in life, fits perfectly), and took an inspiring voyage for cancer awareness. I have no place to brag in this awesome story; I am merely humbled that something as adorable and silly as my shark-eating-head hat could be an inspiration for something like this. Halos of Hope is an awesome organization; if you can spare it, throw them a donation.

Last weekend was spent in Virginia, up mountain at my sister (the Knitting Pirate)’s house. She is not my blood sister, but her and my two swornbrothers make it a point to unite ourselves a few times a year.

Sister and I knitted. Natch.

My sock is RPM knit in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Multi. It looks weird when not on a cylindrical object, but it’s knitting up very nicely.

Knitting and wine while watching our brothers cook was bliss. It was an enjoyable retreat and I look forward to their visit here in February.

Falling back into that comfortable knitting groove is nice.

I switched to something doable in the time left: Zoe. I used to wear scarves/bandannas this way all the time, and I’d love a spiffy one to wear while the last of the chill in the air fades away. I’m using Noro Kureyon Sock in colorway 164.

Progress moves well, and I’m loving the colours as they’re knit up.

The only issue? Zoom in here. Two accidental yarnovers. One I attempted to fix and wound up Doing It Wrong with a string of stockinette. It kept doing that no matter my method, so I just left the other yarnover the way it was.

Meh.

I like this section of colour best.

I’m loving being able to  knit again. Stress relief supreme!

I come bearing patterns. A pattern for a cute little ferret sweater. :D

Palom, my adorable, huge boy in the photos, was kind enough to model the sweater for me. In fact, he’s still wearing the Noro one. And napping. He loves his sweater.

I made two, a blue stripey one and one from leftover Noro sock. If you’ve got ferrets, it’s a great stash buster for leftover sock yarn!

Palom got a treat for being so photogenic, and to beg forgiveness for scruffing him for an underside shot in the second photo. Sorry, little man. Enjoy your peanut butter chew.

Pattern will be in my pattern list to the right momentarily! (Decided to do the post, first.)