Half-Assed Hat a la Norma

On Saturday night I returned from a relaxing trip to the Pacific Ocean south of Santa Cruz, relaxed and sunburnt after walking the nearly deserted sandy beach in balmy weather, having enjoyed the sight of the hugest and most menacing bird of prey I've ever watched (a Red-Tailed Hawk, maybe? This was BIG!) and stopping for a photo op with the giant artichoke in Castroville. Oh, and the green grassy hills spotted with oak trees. Too lovely.

Ah, California. I miss the Pacific Northwest and the Feral Knitters, the lovely dampness, the mountains, the green. But I have to say that northern California can be pretty darn beautiful!

In my absence, though, the Dulaan Knitting Project took on a new and personal dimension: Norma's hat challenge! Well, I'm on, Missy!

Half-Assed Hat a la Norma

• Begin as you would if you were knitting Norma's Buttho Pinwheel Hat, except you must cast on loosely. The hat in the photo was knit using Lamb's Pride Worsted held double and one strand of Cleakheaton Tapestry DK multicolor. Knit along until you realize that you don't have enough yarn to complete the hat.
• Stop when you realize that you have just enough yarn to make a shaped top.
• Fold the knitting in half to the inside. Knit the next round by knitting the stitch together with the loop in the cast on. Start this right by marking the first stitch of the round at top and bottom, so you don't twist the knitting by mistake.
• Now begin decreasing by K3 K2tog around hat. Knit next row.
• K2 K2tog around hat. Knit next row.
• K1 K2tog around hat. Knit next row.
• K2tog around hat.
• Break the yarn, leaving a 6" tail. Run this tail through the stitches and pull closed (this makes a much tighter hole than the original pattern--no jokes here).
• Darn in ends.
• This would have looked really cute if I had done 2 or 3 purl rounds before the decreasing! I'm guessing it is a child's medium, but I'm not sure.

There you go--double-thick very warm hat around the head with a neat top.

Shadow trying to tell me it's too warm for a hat.

Comments

[Norma]

Oooookaaaaay, Baby! I like this one - a LOT! And with two strands LP worsted and a strand of DK, that is ONE WARM HAT! I think I have to try this one, too. The challenge is on. I did a LP bulky one last night, didja see?

[Mary B]

This BH/PW hat has turned into a challenge, I see. I made one Norma's way over the weekend, but I like the way Janine has modified it. Janine, you have taken Norma's brilliance and innovation and put a cherry on top. I'm gonna make me another one of these BH hats--they will soon become addictive, they are WARM, and you are right, stashbusters beyond my wildest dreams. Knit on for Dulaan! Mary B

[Jan]

LOVE the artichoke shot!

[Emily]

It's fun to make a hat for someone you'll never meet, I think. You don't have to think about color preferences or anything. I've been inventing all my Dulaan patterns too, like you, Norma and Ms. Harlot. Though I'm glad no one is challenging me to a hat-off with you guys as I know I'd lose!