Sport Merino: April 2010 Archives

The Arthur and Clementine Hat Collection

Years ago, I knit a hat pattern by Catherine Lowe. Catherine designs amazing projects that are full of technical challenges and creative design ideas. They are not for the faint of heart. The hat was knit partially in corrugated ribbing, which I loved, and since I gave the hat to my mom, I had always wanted to knit another one for myself. But, since the pattern is so involved and was too big for my head with no option for a smaller size and too complicated for me to modify to fit me, I never got around to it.

Then, a month or two ago, I was looking for fun little hand-made objects for us to add to Sundara Yarn and I found these flower pins, which we now have available.

For whatever reason, I thought they would look fabulous on a hat with a bit of a cloche-like shape and knit out of my longed-for corrugated ribbing. And so this little hat pattern was born.

The pattern has sizes to fit anybody and the hat is pretty stretchy, so the fit is very forgiving. Perfect if you are knitting a gift hat and don't want to give away the surprise by measuring the intended head. And all four sizes can be knit out of 1 skein of Sport Merino or 1 skein of DK Silky Cashmere. I figured the sport merino would be better for babies, kids and adults who might get the hat dirty so it can be easily thrown into the wash and the DK Silky Cashmere will work for those of us who enjoy a softer, cushier hat.

I had the most fun knitting the two-colored version and I love how the inner stripes are a bit hidden when the hat is off, but really pop when the hat is on. Once I find an infant I can photograph, I'll post a photo of the hat on an actual cute child.

In the mean time, here is Alana wearing the bigger version out of DK Silky Cashmere and featuring the fantastic flower pins.