The Sideways Grande Cloche

I work with this crazy Kat who loves crazy hats - wow, that rhymed. Anyhow at this point in my knitting career I enjoy a challenge. So we found a new hat for me to make. I was really excited for this one, and for payment Kat bought the pattern book for me "Boutique Knits," by Laura Irwin; who happens to be from Portland, which in fact makes me love the book more! As a Portland native, it makes me happy. Anyhow, so it was a pain to get this book from the library at first because it was misshelved, what a surprise (nonfiction is difficult for some people Dewey). Once I got it I had to buy some yarn, of course they didn't have a nice teal, but thank you Lion brand and Vanna White for having a lovely Sapphire that paired well with and Eggplant yarn.

This hat was nuts - first off it required four pairs of needles, and even after completing the hat, I am not so sure why I needed to change the gauge so much. I think it might have made it a bit slouchier, but that is all I can surmise. Of course I fought with gauge since pattern books always use fancy yarns I cannot afford, then I also had to figure out how I was going to take a one color hat, and make it two. I have to say that the hat turned out well.

I like the overall composition, and the colors look nice. Of course I looked terrible in it, which I do in most hats unfortunately, since I rather like hats. And I was not thrilled that the "fakey cable" moved over and showed the seam when I was trying it on.

 

As you can see, it's not a hot look for me, I love this hat, too bad :( Anyhow I was thinking about trying to move the cable over, but then I decided not to worry, and low and behold - I took the hat to the Kat, and she looked great in it (as I knew she would, she looks great in all sorts of hats). If fact, furthering my own personal pleasure of seeing someone wear my creation, that damnable seam didn't show when she wore it!

After hours of knitting, and a little frustration, the hat turned out well, and I am happy to have had the experience.