Thursday, January 21, 2010

Neglected Project

So I just realized that there is one project I have not yet shared!! The Boyfriend Hat, otherwise known as the pattern "David's Hat" by Kenny Chua. I stealthily knit this for my fantastic boyfriend this summer, telling him that I was making it for my step-brother. This way I was able to brazenly knit it in front of him and have him try it on saying I wanted to see how it fit. Well due to all this stealth this lovely hat had not yet been featured and it is totally owed it's due!
This was a great easy knit! Very fast and satisfying but also with some fun features to make it more than your ordinary hat. This was made at the beginning of my colorwork phase so the simple chart was a fun challenge and not too overtaxing. I think the best part about this hat though is the hem. This was my first encounter with the rolled hem or lining that you can see. Essentially you knit the lining on one or two sizes smaller needles, then once it's as long as you'd like, you change to the color you will want for the outside of the hat and knit two rows, you then purl one row and this is the brim of the hat and "turns" it. Then changing up one needle size to the size you will use for the rest of the project you continue on your merry way. You can either knit an entire hat lining (following the sizing and decreases for the "outer" hat, you knit a very slightly smaller duplicate that is then flipped inside the hat and blocked into submission) or as this pattern calls for, knit the outer section until it is the same length as the lining, and then use a three needle bind off to join the two layers (as shown above). Once the layers are joined you continue the rest of the hat in normal fashion.
While this all might seem like a fussy added step I am now totally addicted to this technique on my hats for several reasons. First, this means that there are two layers of fuzzy goodness covering your ears and this is nothing to scoff at in frigid climes. Secondly, I think that this method for the brim looks much more polished than ribbing. Third (and probably last, don't worry), I like the added structure it gives the hat and find the lining more comfortable against my face than ribbing. So do as you like but if you choose this method for brims I think you'll like what you do!

2 comments:

  1. I'm only responsible for the hat, I think you get full credit for Rick's attractiveness.

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