diversify

After a year of knitting socks almost exclusively it was time to knit something different. I am all for instant gratification and chose something quick for this first after sock knit era, a hat.  A few months ago I saw this hat chez Millefeuilles and I immediately knew I wanted my own version. On it went onto my Ravelry queue. I loved the pattern and the slouchyness of the hat. The Ravelry pattern is here. It is called Rosewater. Apparently the pattern was inspired by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a famous Scottish architect. You can read about him here, or you could visit me in Glasgow and we could explore the Mackintosh architecture on foot. I was digging deep in my stash to find suitable yarn and found two balls of grey merino yarn. The brand is Bernetta Supra. I don't think it is available in the UK but it is not unlike Drops Karisma. I bought the yarn in Switzerland many years ago to knit stripes into an orange jumper Sam had commissioned. Sam's favourite colour has been orange since he was two years old. You can see the jumper here, it is a bit loud but Sam loved it to death.

Knitting the the hat was straightforward but the pattern was not one to be easily memorised. I didn't. There was only one and half repeats so barely worth my (elusive) brainpower. I had to pay close attention to the chart because the pattern is asymmetric in places. The instructions called for aggressive blocking so I did. Funny that, I wasn't quite sure what this actually meant but I did my best to at least give aggressive impression whilst pinning it down on my ironing board.



The light is appalling at the moment, dark even in broad daylight and the photos are not great but I am sure the hat will show up in later outdoorsy posts and you can seen it then in a better light. I tried to take a selfie but unfortunately I looked like an alcoholic turkey (red faced, spotty and wrinkly) so you have to make do with Annie modelling the hat. I might have to tape my double chin back and maybe also my cheeks for future photo shots. A bit of sellotape works wonders, I have seen the proof (before and after).


 
Righty, I really need to cast on my next project, a scarf inspired by Missoni. I need to make the best of my free evenings because next week, I am starting my English Communication and Literature course and I am sure I'll be busy reading and learning about correct punctuation.

As always, thank you so much or stopping by and leaving nice comments. I really love to hear from you. I have started replying to comments directly by email (unreliably so but I try) but I can't do that if you are a no-reply blogger. If you are, I usually visit all my commenting readers' blogs and say hello there.

Have a lovely week. The forecast is for more of the same with gale force winds. Today there I was battered by tiny tiny hailstones, or maybe tiny tiny snowballs. It was painful. Cx

Comments

  1. Aggressive blocking! I like that expression, it sounds like it might be useful for easing PMT ;)
    The hat is fabulous and beautifully modelled by Annie. xx

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  2. What a lovely hat! I'm a big fan of slouchy hats xx

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  3. very cute hat! ouch to the hailstones.

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  4. Your daughter looks delightful in the beautiful hat, you'll need to watch out that she doesn't keep it. It really did suit her. A great knit. Stay safe in this awful weather.

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  5. Love the hat, it looks gorgeous on your daughter. Slouchy but not ridiculously so.
    I think I am a no-reply blogger, I'm going to attempt to sort that out tomorrow.
    Jillxo

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  6. Great hat! Hope you enjoy your course - I'm interested to know what you'll be reading.

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  7. It is great! I love the idea of aggressive blocking, does it mean really firmly, or is it just licence to get really cross!! I never model anything or show pictures of myself because I look dreadful, so I understand your reluctance! Hope that you enjoy your class! xx

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  8. Love the hat and did smile at the thought of you aggressively blocking! I don't suit hats but fancy making one.

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  9. Hey Christina,
    I adore that hat. I always iron aggressively. Especially duvets and pillowcases. I'm off in a mo to badger a lovely friend of mine into knitting me a rather lovely hat. I fancy grey too. And like you, I will model it after applying gaffer tape. Have a lovely week, matey.
    Leanne

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    Replies
    1. oops. No kisses at the end. How remiss. xxxx

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  10. I love the pattern and colour of that hat. I always have difficulty finding hats that look right on me, but that looks like a possible.

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  11. I like the hat! I can never find a hat that suits me. So usually resort to hood up on raincoat look, which is distinctly un-stylish and prone to blowing down in high winds X

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  12. Your hat is gorgeous and beautifully modelled. I must try the sellotape trick.

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  13. The hat you've knitted is beautiful! I love the colour and the 'slouchiness' is just right.
    Aggressive blocking sounds a bit violent to me. I'm glad it worked and the hat turned out gorgeous! x

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  14. If I had that cute model I would never show my face again. Love the hat and I am afraid I am always aggressively blocking as I am always trying to make things straight, or the right size or something. I have melted a few projects in my day, now that is aggressive.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  15. The light is indeed rubbish for photo taking, blah. The aggressive blocking seems to have done the trick. Love the hat.

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  16. I like the sound of aggressive blocking and sellotape face lift but particularly admire the hat. I hate it when I can't memorise the pattern and have to keep reading and re-reading. Mind you, that's better than thinking I've memorised it and then having to undo loads because I got it wrong.

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  17. Hi Christina - I really like the hat! I'd like something similar for myself - the two I wear all the time are just the typical winter hat style. An alcoholic turkey?! I highly doubt it. Place that hat on your head and be proud!

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  18. My daughter loves hats and this would be right up her alley. Unfortunately I havent gotten past basics in knitting and that was about 8 yrs. ago now.

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  19. This is lovely Christina - I am in awe of knitters who can create such masterpieces! cheers Wendy

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  20. Your hat is beautiful. I love the designs in the knitting. I am very familar with Mackintosh and enjoy his designs a lot. I actually have some beautiful notecards here with some of his floral designs. I would love to take you up on the Glaswegian adventure someday. :)

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  21. It's lovely ... has Annie not tried to claim it as her own, you couldn't blame her!

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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