May I Present: The Nomad Hat & Scarf
Yep - the Florida winter has finally gotten to me...
Ha! Actually, this is a gift for a friend who lives in Manitoba, Canada - my old stomping ground. I told her several weeks ago that I wanted to make her something and she said she needed a hat/scarf combo. She's not a knitter so she didn't realize that patterns for such a thing would even exist. I sent her a few examples, and she chose this style (not frilly, no pointy elfish top part). Kat Coyle's Nomad Hat & Scarf was just what we needed. I think I'm becoming Kat's number one fan - she's designed a few other items that I'm quite fond of and will probably knit this year. Pictures of her other published patterns on Flickr are here.
Hmmm.. the details?
Pattern: Nomad Hat & Scarf, Interweave Knits Fall 2007
Yarn: Valley Yarns brand, Northampton from Webs
This took about 687 yards to finish; since this yarn is a true worsted weight I carried it doubled throughout for a chunky fabric.
Needles: I used US Size 9 (5.5mm) needles for the hat and gradually went up from there to size 10.5, 11, and 13 on the scarf.
Other modifications: My friend was very adamant that this could not be made for the "average" head size. Having much experience with ill-fitting hats due to my puffy locs and a large cranium in general, I used myself as the model. The hat is knit top-down using Emily Ocker's cast-on method to begin knitting in a circle. I continued the increasing out to 96 sts (original calls for 80sts); then within the garter and stockinette rows I decreased back down to 82 sts to make a snug fit around the forehead. The original pattern doesn't actual come down over the forehead, but that would not suffice in weather that sometimes gets to 20 below, so I knit this a little longer than the original as well.
I really enjoyed this knit. The chunky yarn and larger needles made it quick; I knit it on and off for 10 days, including one major frogging session because of making it too big. I think top-down hats might be prevalent in my knit future.
This is finish #4 on my list of 5 items for January over at the Year Long Gift-a-Long. If you haven't signed up yet - there is still time. Great new prize donors are joining to support us every day (Webs, Cookie A, Jordana Paige, and a host of my crafty friends!)
Thanks for taking a look - may your needles bring you much comfort and relaxation this week!
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