Boba Fett balaclava

So, he likes it. He really likes it.

(Phew.)

Boba Fett Ski Mask

After learning many important lessons from my first attempt at my somewhat-well-designed but clumsily-executed prototype, I started a second ski mask, this time with better yarn.

Here is the front part, from the wrong side and the right side:



Here's the completed front part, and the two parts about to be sewn together:



Put together and worked in the round:



And almost completed, but not completely bound off in just case it doesn't quite fit Jeff's swelled head.



It does, however, fit me:


I've debated about whether or not to share the design, for two reasons:
1. The mask was made by special request. I like the idea of it being one of a kind, something special.
2. The mask's design is a little counterintuitive. The type of colour knitting I used (intarsia) can't be worked in the round, which would be the logical way to go about knitting a ski mask. There's really no point in knowing how I knit this particular ski mask if all you're looking for is a basic ski mask pattern.

General tips, however:

• Starting points for the mask included the brief instructions here and here (scroll down). Honestly, if you can knit a hat in the round, you can knit a ski mask (or balaclava, or what have you).
• The neck section should be at least 4 inches long and have fewer stitches than the rest of the mask. Cast on about 10 fewer stitches than you would need at the widest point and definitely work in a rib (probably 2x2). Increase to the number of stitches you want for the head over 2 or 3 rows once you've finished the neck portion.
  
• The eye slit is made by simply binding off the appropriate number of stitches (mine was 6.5 inches' worth) and then casting on the same number of stitches when you get to the point again. Definitely go for the cable cast on over the single cast on.
• BO for the slit at the 7 inch mark. Knit a further 5 inches before beginning decreases.
  
• I didn't continue the 2x2 rib when I reached the "head" part of the ski mask, but instead switched to stockinette. However, the three rows above and beneath the eye slit were knit in 1x1 ribbing, for added security.

Things I've learned from knitting this ski mask

This damned, frustrating ski mask.


1. I finally understand the purpose of the selvage stitch, i.e., the single stitch knitters sometimes add to each side of their knitting. It's particularly useful if you are knitting separate pieces that will be sewn together.

2. Necks are skinnier than heads. I should have knit the neck smaller.

3. Ribbing can be your friend because it's stretchy. Related to the "necks are skinnier than heads" category.

4. Ribbing, however, does not work when knitting intarsia (a method of incorporating different colours).

5. When knitting something designed from scratch that already looks too big, it's better to have the recipient around (i.e., in the same city) for emergency fittings.

6. The "first pancake rule" (i.e., the first pancake is the imperfect "warm up" pancake) applies to design projects. Duh. I keep telling myself that if it all goes to pot, this is a prototype. Prototypes are good.

7. I am a yarn snob. I cannot shake the guilt of gifting something made from an acrylic/wool blend.

8. Never never never never weave in the ends until you are sure you will not need to unknit anything when you realize that the cable cast-on was done incorrectly because you were too lazy to read step three of the instructions, instead assuming that it read "repeat as in Step 2 until finished." Ahem.

9. The frightening ski masks from a previous post? Patterns here!

Geekiest. Knitting project. Ever.

This is the beginnings of the Star Wars related knitting project I hinted at in my Jayne Hat post. From the back:


Further along, this time from the front:

And yes, all five of those plastic bags contain balls of yarn that are currently feeding into the project. Figuring out the design (and how to use knitting graph paper, and how to work with gauge, and how to tailor a project to measurements, and how to knit intarsia) took a while, but I think it's going to be worth it.

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In dissertation news:

Pages cut today: 4 (for the greater good)
Pages written today: 4 (yay!)
Running page count: 30.5

Best writing aid: a detailed outline