I started and finished a quick project this past week. After my spinning post recently, I rummaged around in the handspun yarn box and found this yarn:
I spun that ages ago. It is Targhee wool, the fiber was purchased from Spunky Eclectic. I think I spun it on my Schacht Matchless wheel. It’s a 2-ply, about Aran weight.
Someone decided he needed a hat. I found a pattern for a simple hat, but soon abandoned the pattern and just knit, trying it on the model as I did.
And the finished hat:
Yarn details are above.
I cast on 104 stitches, did 2 by 2 rib until it was “deep enough”, then knit plain stocking stitch until it was “tall enough”, then decreased around until I had 8 stitches left, pulled the yarn tail through, and it’s a hat. He wanted a “skull cap” kind of hat, and that’s what he got.
What I learned: Knitting hats doesn’t have to be complicated. And they are small enough that if you guess wrong on gauge or number of stitches, just rip it out and start over. Also, I don’t knit with my own handspun enough. This took about 300 yards of yarn, I have lots left.
There may be another hat on the way!
Nice hat! You should knit with your hand spun more.
Nice hat. Exeter (free on Ravelry) is the best hat pattern ever. The decreases actually work to make the crown fit.
That is a good-looking hat, and your model looks pretty pleased with it also!
He’s spoiled isn’t he, haha. Nice hat, toque here in Canada
What a great hat! Your ‘model’ looks pretty happy with it, too. Love the color of the yarn.
Hats can be so satisfactory. I knit one for my dad years ago and he didn’t wear it outside. He had sort of a balding head and he wore his hat at night as it was just enough to keep his head warm. Satisfaction.