I'm joining Kat and the Unravelers today with a completed hat. There's no official linkup today because Kat is enjoying Presque Isle but it's still Unraveled Wednesday in my mind. The hat (Ravelry link) took me a while considering it's just a hat, but I really like the pattern. It looks more like downward-facing arrows when it's being worn on a head and the cables are stretched out a bit, but I had a few problems.
I'm a bit concerned that the hat isn't deep enough to fit Justin very well. It only measures 7.25" in depth to the bottom of the folded ribbing, and Justin works outside and wears hats to keep his ears warm. I don't use Ravelry nearly as much as I used to, but it was helpful in telling me that the hats I've previously knit for him were 9-10" deep. I plan on knitting this hat again, repeating part of the pattern a second time to hopefully make it another couple of inches longer. Also, the pattern calls for ending the hat with 27 stitches, threading the yarn tail through those 27 stitches, and pulling tight to close the hole. Twenty-seven stitches seemed like an awful lot to close up, so I did a second round out K3tog to make the hole smaller. Nine stitches looked a lot better than 27.
Ravelry was also useful in telling me that I still had several skeins of Madeline Tosh Vintage in my stash, so I dug through and was happy to find three skeins in Moorland. It's a nice green that I've used for hats for Justin before, so I'm winding yarn this afternoon and knitting him a second (hopefully improved and better-fitting) Christmas hat.
I didn't finish any books this week but I'm listening to Intermezzo and reading an ARC of Awake in the Floating City on my Kindle. I'm enjoying both of them, much more than I was when I first started them.
What are you making and reading this week?
If this hat isn't right/long enough for Justin, I'm confident that you can find another head for it. I also fully agree with your modification to finish it off. Pulling the yarn through that many stitches is not only ridiculous, it's just lazy! I am also reading Awake in the Floating City and am hoping I can finish it up today or tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteIt's a gorgeous hat, Bonny! I always seem to have trouble with cable-y hats. It seems like they should be manageable, but I usually have troubles with them anyway. I'll bet you'll have an easier time with Justin's NEXT hat.
ReplyDeleteI'm knitting a hat and have already decided it might be my prototype if it doesn't fit the way I like it. I love the hat you knit :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a lovely hat, Bonny. I hope you can come to some version of it that pleases you. That depth does sound shallow for a man's head. Maybe I should knit one for me as I have tiny head syndrome. I cannot complain in good conscience, but once again NetGalley and both of my libraries have all summoned me to check out books all at the same time. It is an embarressment of literature riches, and I am trying to figure out how to juggle them all to meet deadlines. I am currently reading Clear, which is a short book, and then I have to decide what is next.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the finish! Those unusual cables are very handsome and the color is spectacular.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I do love this color, so if my second attempt (being knit with green yarn) ends with a better fit, I may have to knit a third hat with this lovely blue.
DeleteIt's a beautiful hat, I hope you find that it fits! Or find a different head for it! I'm also knitting a hat and I'm reading The Rich People Have Gone Away.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great hat - and I'm sure it will find a head to warm! I'm still knitting that seeded rib cardigan test (started the body today which is big progress!) and I finished the latest Jackson Brodie on audio - it was fantastic!
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