Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Ho, Ho

Hi Knitters,
I needed a little typing reprieve this morning. As a result The Collector has a new hat. I finally, after 3 years of wanting, knitted up this gorgeous Santa Hat. I reviewed the pattern in the last post and episode 2 of the Itty Bitty Podcast. It is a great pattern, super fast and has an adorable result in the end.

Kathy Pasusta designed the Santa Hat (pg. 111) for the book, Handknit Holidays. The recommended yarn is Blue Sky Worsted Hand Dyes in red and Blue Sky Bulky in polar bear. It is knit on size 9 double points and 16-inch circulars for the red at 4 sts per inch and size 11-16 inch circulars for the brim.
Here is what I did. I used the red #66 Manos Wool Classica that I just got for the Just Enough Ruffles scarf. Oh well on that. The hat seemed more important to get done. Then, did you know that if you double a heavy worsted it becomes the same as a bulky weight yarn? I doubled (held two strands together) some Blue Sky Cotton in Tulip #615 for the brim.

I found a couple of errors in the pattern. I didn't check for corrections anywhere but I am sure they are out there. I am thinking about making a couple of these more for my nieces. I will change several things for my next versions. I will make the top a little longer so it is more like a stocking hat. My daughter was disappointed that it wasn't floppier on top. She adores the hat and wanted to wear it to school but I wasn't quite done. She literally jumped up and down when she tried it on.

I made the child size/small. I think for the next version I will make the woman/medium size. It seems a bit tight. I already added several rounds onto the bulky brim so it would be longer but it still could use some length. Next time I may add some straight length on the red at the bottom before you jump right into the decrease rounds. The other thing I did was to line the hat with some off-white fleece. It is such a good touch. Is anyone interested in a tutorial on hat lining? Maybe I will photo the process for the next hat and share. 

I looove the hat. I have a thing for bulky weight bobbles They are fun and beautiful when used correctly like on this brim. I had this great idea. I used 2 size 11 dpns to work the bobbles, then just placed the remaining stitch back on the circular. It was the best thing ever. It made that one "make bobble" round go so much smoother. That one round took as much time as making the rest of the hat.

I'll take a shot of The Collector in her hat when she gets home from school. 

Okay, Knitters, I have to get 2 more patterns in the can today and grocery shop for Thanksgiving. Have a fantastic holiday weekend.

I'm out.
best, susie
p.s. Remember the brown hoodie with the sherpa lining from mini-boden? Already lost. Hmm, hmm.

15 comments:

Dany said...

Oh Susie! I love your Santa Hat!!! It's wonderful! WONDERFUL!!!
Your daughter is very lucky!! :-)

Have a nice week-end and a great Thanksgiving!

Bye!

Anonymous said...

This is awesomely adorable - I put the book on request at the library - hope they email me soon!!!!!

I just finished the 1st of 2 snowman hats from Itty Bitty Hats - it is the cutest ever - I will take pix of my grandsons after they receive them on Christmas and email them to you.
Have an awesome Thanksgiving!!!

Jill

Anonymous said...

That's a great hat! I'm knitting elf hats currently for my four. I've been wanting to do it forever too. This is the year! Two down, two to go. Have a great Thanksgiving. Thanks for all of your inspiration.-Amy

Anonymous said...

Ohhh! This hat is awesome. As soon as I saw it, I immediately forgot about all my Christmas knitting. I want to make these hats for all my family!

I'm sure reality will set back in shortly.

However, I did call my oldest daughter, who just happens to be on her way to the bookstore...

and I might have mentioned the title and author of the book to her...

Kathy
Circleville, Ohio

Oiyi said...

I love that hat and plan to make it this year for my little one.

Sara Spalding said...

love love love the santa hat! so cute!

a tutorial about lining a hat would be great. i was wondering just the other day how you do it. :-)

happy thanksgiving!

Angela said...

Love the hat...

Yes, yes, please, a tutorial on hat lining would be great. I have a hat "order" that is going to need one and I am not sure how to proceed.

The Andersons said...

Your tutorials are always so helpful and a hat lining bit would be great!

Anonymous said...

i would love a tutorial about lining hats! for some reason i just can't picture how to do that neatly and i'm worried about bunching and ruining the kitted project.

Ally Jay said...

The hat is adorable. The model wears it so well. Great links.

Anonymous said...

Adorable Santa hat!! & yes! definitely interested in a tutorial on hat-lining. Not the best @ sewing here so step-by-step would be great! Thanks so much Susie & have a fantastic Thanksgiving!

Dianne MacDonald said...

So cute! Yet another one to add to my list. Yes, please on the hat lining tutorial. I made your Surefire hats for grandsons last Christmas and lined them, but I was not completely happy with how they looked inside. (The boys loved the hats and are still wearing them.)

peaknits said...

I love this adorable hat - I have this book too and have admired it - I may not be able to fight the urge now:)

Unknown said...

LOVE the Santa hat -- and the model, too! Yes, yes, a tutorial on lining a hat with fleece would be GREAT!!

I just finished a Candy Cane hat from Itty-Bitty Hats, for a homeless mom at our church who is due next month. It came out so cute! Aren't hats just great?

Debbie

Alice Regan said...

I love the Santa Hat! The Collector looks quite fetching in it! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.