Let It Snow!
Pattern: Bea Ellis Knitwear Let It Snow! hat
Yarn: Hat: Dale of Norway Heilo in #3152 Brown and #0020 Natural. Lining: Marks & Kattens Camomille in #208 Cocoa.
Needles: US4 16" circular and dpns, US2 dpns; bamboo
I finished the hat *just* before we left on Christmas Eve. It's going to be a late gift anyway, as the recipient is halfway around the world. I wove in all the ends, tucked in a gift card, stuck the whole thing in a cute bag, and ta-da! It's ready to mail.
Doing stranded decreases on double-pointed needles can be really tricky! Even trickier when you're talking to a group of knitbloggers at the same time.
Here's the stranding on the inside. I got so bold as to strand across 6 stitches. There was a row of 9 stitches, but as this is for a child, I decided to twist the background and contrast colors at stitch 5. It wouldn't do for curious little hands to go poking around the top of the hat!
My opinion on sewing versus knitting the lining to the hat: when my niece got her Traditional hat, the first thing she did was to twirl it around by the tassel and then smear it with birthday cake icing. Then she proceeded to poke her fingers through all the loops and, in essence, tried to tear the hat apart. I was wincing with pain as she did this, despite the assurances of my brother and sister-in-law that she did, indeed love the hat. I recovered the hat from her grasp and proceeded to tighten all the knots and make sure that all the ends were woven in properly, and discovered that a few of my stitches attaching the lining to the hat were already loose. Having fixed those, I resolved to find a better solution the next time around, since Let It Snow! was designated for another child.
The knitted-on lining feels sturdy and despite my persistent pulling, has not thrown any stitches out of alignment. I should've knit a few more hat rows before knitting the two together, as it shows on the top picture that the lining is weighting the hat down a bit. With hats that are put on and taken off quite often, it's better to not have to worry about stitches being ripped out. I'd use the knitted-on lining technique again.
I know I'm being the flaky KAL host now, but I figured everyone deserves a break. (Plus, I'm hosting yet another cold (augh!), fever, and other delightful bacteria in the system...)
One of my favorite knitbloggers Crazy Daisy Kerstin has decided to stop blogging. I feel a loss--I love reading her entries, and her sidebars were always full of provocative political links. She mixed the right amount of spice into her blogging. Kerstin, I'll miss you!
Beautiful hat! I love the pattern! :)
The hat is gorgeous and it's such an interesting pattern too. BTW, where do you get Dale of Norway products? A LYS? I feel sad that Kerstin has decided to stop blogging too :(
It's so pretty and neat too. Inspiring me to try colour knitting one of these days.
Another perfect specimen! I really like the colors too, they are so warm in and of themselves that it looks extra cozy!
Oh, MJ. Thanks! I'm still hanging around reading about all your yummy knitting. And now you've got me thinking about a Bea Ellis hat. I love the way Let It Snow turned out and I agree about the knitted in lining. Just lovely!
Gorgeous!
You haf such a beautiful backside dahlink, just lovely, so vell put-togezzer.
Really, well done!
The hat is great. I may have to give in to one of those kits eventually. Hope your holidays have been fun and that we'll have a chance to hang out in the New Year.
The hat is just beautiful MJ. I love how the decreases came together on the top in a boxy, four corners kind of way (if that made any snese at all !)
I love it! it is very beautiful..... i loved the story about your niece "loving" her hat :) i would wince in pain too...but playing with it is a great sign of loving something! sorry i have been missing for a few weeks, Christmas knitting, need i say more? also my internet has been very unreliable for the past 2 weeks... up and running now!
That hat looks wonderful, as well as very sturdy. I'm sure it will hold up well. Hope you feel better soon, and have a great New Year!
The Hat looks fantastic! AND, don't get me started on the stranding. great job...this is just the inspiration i need to get moving again on my norweegie.
Looks great! I feel so behind. Must get started again.
Beautiful hat, MJ!!!!
WOW!! It is beautiful! I love the way the decreases look at the top. You do such beautiful work!!
That looks SO GOOD. I love the way the top comes together.
The hat looks great! Feel better. :)
Hi! Found this KAL from Jess and her beautiful Norwegian stockings. Waiting for my Folk Socks book to come into Borders so I can get started. This will be my first attempt at Fair Isle and I was hoping that you can point me in the direction of the tool that you can put on your finger to help hold the yarn? I remember reading it somewhere in my travels on the internet and can't find it again.
Thanks and Happy New Year! Love the hat and actually may contemplate one of the Bea Ellis kits for a hat for my nephew's birthday.
gorgeous! great, rich color choices too. thanks so much for your thoughts on attaching the lining... now that i'm addicted to stranded knitting, one of bea's hats might be in my future...
Ok-- that is just the cutest darn hat ever! I love Dale of Norway patterns.. luckily the store I work at has Heilo.. ahh, so much to make, so little time :) Happy New Year!
Gorgeous! You tempt me into thinking I should try color knitting.
What a lovely hat, and such a beautiful inside, too! Great detail with the lining. Get well soon.
beautiful hat, mj! and happy 2006 ~ ~
Your hat looks wonderful!