I want to make myself a hat for the winter, specifically the Urchin hat by Ysolda Teague, from the Fall 2007 edition of Knitty This will be my first hat ever, and it looks fairly easy for someone who has been knitting a while. The yarn I'm going to use was purchased from WEBS in a combo order with Suzy Girl and the Knitting Novice It's Inca print from Patons.
It's alpaca and luscious and soft. I have realized I have a thing for alpaca. I just love the look, feel, and warmth. It's nice to work with too. Plus I couldn't pass up these colors. I like bright, loudish colors. I dare to be different, what can I say. Since, I'm substituting yarn, I do the right thing, which I sometimes have trouble with, and make a swatch. I don't need to be knitting this hat and then realize, oops! too big, it's now a ski mask.
So, I'm going to knit the hat double stranded, since the yarn calls for a 7 needle.
Swatch # 1 : 10 1/2, because someone on Ravelry said they used that, and it worked. Yeah, I don't think so, unless you want a jumbo hat.
Swatch # 2: 13, because 7+7 is 14, drop a needle size down. I think that's the rule. Yeah, okay that didn't work either. Gauge is 10 sts/ 4 inches, I'm getting 12. Again large.
Swatch # 3: 15, because 7+7 is 14 so go up a needle size. That must be the rule! My gauge is 11sts/4 inches. Close enough for government work, I say!
I know some of you are thinking, "MMM I don't know about that. It's not the right gauge." Yes I know, but It's only one stitch, and my head is not perfectly round. Plus, my measurements fell between medium and large. So I will cast on for a medium and see what happens. You gotta learn how to roll the dice, you know? Here is my swatch after I frogged it a bit.
What's the worst that can happen? I curse myself out, frog, and knit something else. Or just wear a misshapen hat, because I can be stubborn like that. I'll keep you posted.TTFN!
maybe I'm getting this all wrong, but if you're in between medium and large, and your swatch is 11 st/4 inch in stead of 10 st/4 inch, shouldn't you cast on for the large? You need 1 st more to make 4 inch, so your hat will be smaller than the pattern. Or is this me thinking wrong, because it's to early?
ReplyDeleteYou're not thinking wrong. It's probably becuase it sounds right in my head, but me typing it out or explaining it, confuses the situation.
ReplyDeleteWell, me and Suzy Girl figure it should be alright, because I am coming out 1 stitch extra at 11. So there would be a potential for a bigger hat. However, my head measurement is 22, which according to the pattern can be either medium or large. I don't like things too tight, so we think my "not exactly accurate" gauge should be okay.
BTW, thank you for the post on my tree. They was thoughtful of you. Suzy Girl mentioned you had a blog also. I would love to check it out. Can you email me the link?
Woops!
ReplyDeletejennygirl73@gmail.com