All hats, all the time

Last week, when my fingers were so itchy to knit a Thorpe hat, I took my wee ones with me to our local yarn store and we chose yarn to make a hat for each of them. The Thorpe was completed for Elisabeth by the next morning, and then this hat for James was cast on and completed on Friday.

This is one of the "Kim's Hats" (earflap variation) from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. I loved it for its simplicity and ease (the decreases were so very basic). It is a great canvas for all sorts of design ideas. I will make this hat again. (Not this week -- I promise, no more knitted hats around here for a little while!)

I do think I liked the earflaps better on the Thorpe, though. And I think I could've knit it a bit longer -- it doesn't cover as much of the neck as I'd like. But otherwise, I love this hat, the random stripes (my method: hmm, I think I'll add a stripe now), the yarn, and the garter brim. (I absolutely love the look of garter stitch. I don't much love the row after row sameness in knitting it -- I like a bit of diversity when working a pattern! -- but the look is so satisfying to me. I think it's just that I really like all things basic and simple.)

The yarn is more Manos del Uruguay (that's what my children chose), in Olive (#55, the green) and Stellar (#110, the variegated). I knit this one on size 9 bamboo needles.

Now, photographing this hat was another story altogether. James doesn't particularly like hats -- not this one, or any other. He screams every time we put one on him (hence the handiness of the ties), even when it is 10 degrees outside (like today). Once we had it on him today for the "photo shoot", and he was happy enough for me to start snapping away, he was running all over the place and hardly stood still long enough for me to get a decent close-up of the hat. So, you may not get a very good idea of how I did the striping. (I do think I will line it, like this one, to maybe cut down on the itch -- hopefully that will help him to like wearing it better.)

Anyway, halfway through January, my children finally each have a decent hand-knit hat from their mama. What could be better? (Other than coming inside for a bit of hot cocoa?)   

Comments

[Bluebirdbaby]

So cute! I love it. These recent posts of yours really make me want to learn how to knit :) The first photo is so cute. I love the light you manage to capture in your photos.

[Cassi]

Oh my gosh, what a doll! The hat is adorable too :)

[emily]

that boy is cute! cute, cute, cute.

and two pieces of advice, if you will? should i knit the thorpe or the kim's hat first? and will you share some about how to line a hat? i've never done it before, and i think it would make my knitted hats far more wearable for my children.

(just had to peek at him again. so sweet.)

[Melissa]

love the knit hat too! That is one of my favorite patterns to use and I agree with you I'm a work a different stitch or color in when I feel the need. I have one pattern I've done for baby girls where you can make openings every few inches than I take a lovely ribbon in contrasting color, once I even threaded a HUGE button on to the ribbon to give it a fun look for my niece.

[Nicole]

Oh my goodness, Jem's little face is too cute!!! Great job with his hat, green is my favorite color, so I have to say this is my favorite hat out of the bunch! I really like the stripes you added, fantastic color combos! And that hot cocoa, well who doesn't just love Martha! ;)

[Mama Urchin]

I think the lining is key. I need to try that with Tristan.

[cloth.paper.string]

such sweetness, grace! ah, those milky cheeks. he looks so much like his sister in the first photo. great hat, too!!!

[Tamara]

I am so loving all or your hats. It makes me wishing for winter to come. The yarn on this one is beautiful.

[shelley caskey]

beautiful hat! beautiful knitting, grace! i just love it!

[bex]

Cute, cute, cute!
I love handwork 'cause we Mummas can continue crafting even though our wee ones are always about...Xxx

[Five Flowers/ Emily]

Oh i love the kim's hat pattern; i think i have made 10 of them at least, always with manos too (such cool colors!). i love the greens and ear flaps! and your model is quite the looker too!

[Alicia A.]

Q.T.!

I'll be over for some hot chocolate right away.

[Kim]

Cute hat & great idea to line them!

[Amber]

So cute! I think I'm in the All Hats All the Time phase---well, actually I have some socks on the needles right now, too. ;-)

[brit]

that color combo is awesome, earflaps and ties they are the best for little noggins.