Monday, January 10, 2011

Christmas Knitting: J's New Winter Hat

I feel like I've actually shared more of my Christmas knitting than I actually have.  I have a lot of the posts already written, but I'm waiting for pictures or finishing touches.  Do many of you do that?  Store up posts ahead of time?  I'm finding it a nice way to be on top of things, and helps me to post more regularly.

Anyway, my next project doesn't need a terrible lot of information because I just shared the same pattern with you a few days ago.  I made a decision this year that every year I'll knit J a new hat.  At some point, I may actually be ahead of the game and surprise him with a hat before he asks for one, or before we even talk about it.  Sometimes he may get a say in what it's like and other times not.  This year it was a mix of both.  His hat from last year is great, but I wanted to make something for him since so much of my knitting is for others.  And hats work well for him because he shaves his head - making winter that much colder!

I originally picked Windschief as a pattern for J, not A.  He wanted a dense knit fabric, and we'd discussed lining it.  A ribbed hat presented a couple problems because you want the stretch of the hat, but don't usually see that when the hat's not on someone's head.  Mostly stockinette stitch with a twisted rib brim and a twisted rib section - shouldn't be too difficult to line. 

Again, I like how this hat lends itself to both sexes, but is masculine for J.  I knit this hat in Cascade Superwash 220 in Charcoal.  This hat isn't quite as dense as the Berroco hat.  

It fits J well, although I wish I would have knit it just a few rows longer before decreasing because the very bottom of his ears poke out just a bit.  I guess my head's not the same size as his! :) (Yes, I already knew that.)

X had to take the hat for a test drive after I finished the knitting.  He's started to enjoy wearing hats again.  For awhile, he's complain and throw the hat on the ground.  Most of the time he'll keep one on outside. 

I lined the hat with sweater fleece.  J picked it out.  It's pretty soft and the color matches the yarn beautifully.  I'm not 100% satisfied with how I lined it, but J is happy and says it's warm. That's what counts.  
And after seeing X in Daddy's hat, I'm considering sizing it down a bit and making one for him! :) 

3 comments:

  1. It looks great on your hubbie and way too cute on X. How'd you sew in the lining? I've never heard of sweater fleece. How cool to learn about.

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  2. It looks so good on both the big and little men. I should probably knit one for my dad, too.

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  3. Stephanie - The fleece is probably more accurately called "sweatshirt fleece" and is pretty soft but sturdy. The ultra fuzzy side DH asked to be facing the wrong side of the hat - so the other side (still soft) is against his head. It matches better that way anyway.

    I tried using Susan's tutorial to sew the lining into the hat but with the ribbed brim, it's not perfect - which bothers me. :/ I keep trying to figure out how I can improve on it.

    Lucy - This is a great knit for men! And so quick!

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