Before I start, I will warn you that this is another "Katie Project". That means I did not use a pattern, just went for it, and therefore things did not quite turn out as planned. But the end product looks cute - doesn't that count for something?
I wanted to make my babe a hat and had enjoyed knitting on the double pointed needles when I made the mason jar cozies. I had this thick wool yarn in my stash that was a pretty pink and purple mix - I think I dyed it myself several years ago. Using No. 7, 4.50mm double pointed needes, I cast on 56 stitches to start. After about 6 rounds, I realized that it was going to be too small, so I started over. This time I used 72 stitches and thought it looked about right. I knitted the entire hat, so the edges rolled up. I made a hat for myself several years ago using this style and I think it is cute. I started it on Friday morning. Glad to be riding in the back seat with my little babe - gives me knitting time!
After about 15 rows I started decreasing. For one round, at the start of every needle, I combined two stitches. Then I knitted one round. Then I did another decrease round. I continued this for a while. At breakfast...
On the sofa...
When it got too tight to work the four needles, I combined the stitches onto three needles and knit a couple of more rounds. Than I cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, and using an embroidery needle, I removed the DPNs and pulled the yard tail through the loops. I cinched it tight and then finished off the end of the yarn inside the hat. There was a small opening at the top and I decided it needed a pom-pom. I am not a pom-pom kind of girl - even typing the word makes me feel silly. But in this great magazine I bought, called Beginners Guide To Knitting, which I bought at Barnes and Noble, they had a how-to article on making pom-poms. Since I have a little babe, I was slightly intrigued. Moms are supposed to know how to make pom-poms, right? So here we go.
Ta-dah! Cute knitted pinky, purply, pom-pom hat for one cute little babe!
As you can see, it is a bit too small, but that is what I get for not following a pattern. I think it would be fine if I had used a stretchier yarn and if I didn't decrease my rows quite so fast - maybe every two instead of every other. Oh well, it is my first hat in over two years, so I am okay with it. I'm ready to start the next one!
