2 FOs and a Shawl to Be

Summer has overstayed his welcome, so in a desperate effort to encourage him to leave I started knitting hats. Even though I'm reading about a thousand books, I've also managed to find lots of knitting time.

Oliver claimed it because it's fancy and yet still mantastic. Made from Paton's Wool Classic.

Made for my dad, I suppose for Hunting Season from clearance $6 Fishermen's Wool.
It's also appropriate because my dad really is a fisherman.

Just begun Jane Eyre shawl, you can already see the bottom ruffling.
Those are my Knit Picks Zephyr needles that I bought last year (love).
This is the same Fishermen's Wool as above.

From the recent Jane Eyre movie.

All three of these projects are knitted on the same size needles (7), with the same size 40 (?) inch cord. I'm learning that I actually prefer the magic loop method for knitting hats, even in those instances where I DO have the right size needles with a short cord.  Here are some reasons why I think magic loop is better:

1. It's great that I don't have to buy new needles with short length cords every time I start a new project. 

2. I hate wrestling with DPNs when I get to the decrease portions of a hat. 

3. I never have to switch needles at all throughout. 

4. I don't have to even bother with marking the beginning of my circular objects.