So, I’ve already confessed my total admiration for Emily and her designs, having oggled all her wild swimming via Instagram (inspirational) and also having knitted Eathie last Spring/Summer 1 and Smerral Hat more recently - they are much loved items and worn plenty. Her recent publication, ’to the Shore’, is a collection of five coastal inspired knits that are really intricately beautiful and Carnish Hat (with matching cowl) is part of this collection. I find Emily’s designs really quite clever and I love her naturally inspired collections that are familiar and thus really appealing.

Yarn: as per, I’d really love to be able to purchase many of the yarn recommendations that accompany a design, but I am very limited by yarn-funds and so, it really is a case of stash diving and trying to come up with a bootleg version.

And so…

For the MC, I’ve worked with a strand of Blacker Yarns 100% wool (fingering weight) held with a strand of 100% alpaca - this, I hope, has achieved a (sort-of) similar weight and blend to the recommended Chilla Valley Alpacas Aran (70% alpaca and 30% Shetland Lambswool). Note, ‘sort of’.

For the contrasting lace bands, I wanted to add my own unique stamp to this hat and so opted a) to use contrasting colours and b) stash-dive as I really wasn’t in a position to purchase specific yarn for this project.

I’ve, thus used a mini-skein set I purchased off Etsy (last year), from Folkestone Harbour Yarns. The colourway is ‘shoreline’ and was intended for a Birkin pullover - that never materialised. I’ve held yarn double and each 20g mini skein has approx. 80m and I’ve pretty much used every last scrap per lace band - a tiny amount leftover to incorporate into the added pompom. I’ve used three out of the seven mini-skien bundle.

Modifications: I like slouch, but just a hint of, and I know that 11” hat depth would be more slouch than my head could handle. I’ve thus, only completed three repeats of the lace band (not 4) and then knitted 5 rows before commencing crown shaping. My hat measures approx 9”.

I’ve held yarn double to acquire a close match to Aran weight as possible. A combination of slightly lighter fabric and my tension, has meant I’ve gone up a needle size or so: I’ve worked with 4mm for brim and a 5mm for body - I’ve just about attained gauge.

pompom: to bobble or bobble not. I’ve bobbled.

Wrong Side versus Right Side: I should add, that the pattern gives you the option of wearing the hat WS facing or RS facing, or both. I really considered this, but I have to say the WS facing it really attractive and I just felt worked better with the contrasting lace bands. I’ve thus weaved in my ends on the RS. Noting, if you careful weave or space your colour changes, you can wear the hat which ever facing side, you wish.

Overall: pleasantly surprised at my bootleg version. It fits - hurrah! it looks pretty good - hurrah! It looks great against a sea of rapeseed - hurrah! It is very warm though…even with lace detail vents!