I wanted a quick simple project to show off a small skein of this beautiful handspun yarn I have had, and this fits the bill!
This handspun is more of an Aran weight or heavy Worsted then a bulky like the pattern suggests. So I went to a 7MM needle and cast on for the largest (the mens) size.
what I noticed about this pattern was that the finished sizes would be a bit big. For example, if you did the math for the Woman’s size, the end result would have a circumference of appx 20 & 3/4 inches. I measured my head from the bottom of my hairline around my forehead, you know, where a hat would sit. Anyway that measurement was exactly 20.75”, meaning that the finished hat would be exactly the same size as my head, that measurement is without any stretching at all and knit fabric is pretty stretchy. Wouldn’t you want it to be slightly smaller so that it stretched out and fit a bit more snug?
My yarn is 100% Polworth wool, which is super squishy and stretchy. My hat will be a few inches smaller in circumference, but considering I’m using wool I know it is going to stretch even more then usual.
Also the pattern gage for the # of rows would be 21 total before starting the decreasing, and 30 rows in total. 8 ribbing rows, 13 stockinette, 9 stockinette decreasing.
I did 6 rows of ribbing and have done 6 regular stockinette rows so that is appx 1/3 finished. I started with 61g of yarn and now have 42g left. I was worried about having enough yarn for the project and debated adding a stripe of another color in. I should be fine with the amount of yarn I have, but it’s really pushing it because I will need a few extra rows.
03-22-2022
Did 6 rows of ribbing and 6 rows of stockinette. I wanted to make sure I had enough yarn. So because my color started to fade back to the blues I added 7 rows of another Handspun yarn in a garder stitch. Because the yarn was a natural brown wool (some bits of blue and purple silk in it, as well as some Angora bunny fluff here and there) I wanted it to stand out as an obvious stripe choice and chose to use the garder stitch.
Choosing a hat that is seamed together at the end was a wise choice for this yarn. The brown was only a 2 ply, so slightly thinner, also the yarn was spun a while ago when my spinning skills were not as good and it is an uneven weight. So stitching it up the back in the end will allow me to even it all out instead of having parts of the hat that get tighter.
I want to make it a bit taller so I can wear it slouchy if I want to and I think with the addition of the stripe I have enough.
I also think I want to do the decreasing slightly different since it will be taller. I believe I am going to switch to a smaller gage needle first. Then if I want to wear it as a pony tail hat I can just fold up the ribbing for an extra warm double knit area and bring it closer to my head.
Thinking I will put a chain of yarn through the loops when I cast off so that I can pull the hole closed when wearing it floppy, or use it to tie up my hair when wearing it tight!
03-22-2022
12 rows after the brown stripe before decreases.
Switch to 6.5mm needles for decreases because I had metal needles that were easier to work with.
Did decreases like in pattern execpt the 2nd decreases I did K2, K2tog.
The before the 3rd I switch to 5mm on the purl rowl and did the K1, K2tog. The did the bind off on the purl side with the 5mm needles. Made it a bit slouchy
03-22-2022
This is the first knitting project I’ve ever done with my handspun! It took under 100 yards. Have to check for exact #