I have finally reached the point in this where I can see that it is getting bigger! I am supposed to make this rectangle about 19 inches long. Although I try to keep the tools I need near me when I am working on a project, sometimes I am in a place where a tape measure isn’t. I may have decided to work outside and I am too lazy to get up, or I might be trapped under a cat and the tape measure is just out of reach.
I’ve gotten pretty good at improvising, at least until I get near the very end and want to know a true length. Since this needs to be 19 inches, and a sheet of printer paper is 8 1/2 by 11 Inches, I’ve been using an old print out of a pattern that is sitting on the end table to gauge my progress. I figure one sheet horizontal plus one sheet vertical is 19 1/2 inches, which is just a little larger than I need.
Right now, it is one 11 inch sheet plus part of the 8 1/2 inch sheet, so only a few more inches to go. This method is definitely slower than the last hat I made, but the stitching is much denser so it should be nice and warm when it is done.
alookatthelittlethings 
It’s looking like it’s going to be a great hat. Nice and warm
It is nice and thick. That makes up for the slow progress.
I really like the stitch you are using.
Thanks! It’s just a basic single crochet, but it is done in the back loops only to give it that nice ribbing.
Almost there! 🙂 It is going to be wonderful!
I love it when you can see the end of a project. It gives so much motivation to keep on.
Another approach for measuring–check out your hand span. When I stretch my hand wide, the distance between the tip of my thumb and the tip of my little finger is almost exactly 8 inches. I’ve used this for years as a rough measure when I have no ruler around!
What a great idea. My hand will always be within reach!