Both of these are from Laura Irwin's Boutique Knits.
The Sideways Grande Cloche,
yarn: 1.5 skeins of Mirasol Sulka (60% wool, 20% alpaca, 20% silk). A fabulous chunky weight yarn that is super warm and super soft, and just enough silk to make it "fancy". Simply gorgeous. (This is the yarn the BF picked out all on his lonesome...) You can read all about the Mirasol project and their fabulous yarns HERE. Colour #214 (cinnamon)
needles: this pattern calls for 4 different sizes (US# 7, 8, 9 & 10 I think) and I basically had to go down a size for each one.
Mods: the only mods I made were to account for the heavier yarn...I cast on 30 sts --I think the pattern calls for 42.
baby it's c-c-c-cold outside!
It's quite an ingenious pattern actually, and the finished product is definitely a keeper as far as I'm concerned. It's knit flat and seamed with the stitches picked up for the crown (hmmm not unlike a certain Jenny Cloche which I've also knit in the same yarn!). But the really neat part is the fake cable at the side...it's just a couple of ribbed strips twisted together. Simple and genius!
And then there was the "Side Slip cloche":
yarn: Blue Sky alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes (about 1.5 skeins) in "Chocolate" (ironic given that in person this yarn simply looks grey).
needles: 3.75mm --I pretty much went down as far as I could in order to get gauge. Clearly all worsteds are not created equal.
Is it cute? gah...I dunno. On ravelry I threatened to tear it all apart but several people emailed me begging me not to which I thought was kind of funny! The BF refered to this as my "conductor's hat" (jerk.) presumably due to the puffiness on top. So now I'm not so sure. It is simultaneously too big *and* a perfect fit.
More annoying is the fact that I had to send away for a second ball of this stuff from Purl Soho to even complete this hat, so the fact that I don't really like it is an extra twist of the knife. One ball of blue sky alpacas plus exchange rate and shipping to Canada borders on thirty five bucks (honestly why do I ever buy ONE of anything in the first place?).
Anyway, I think the pattern is entirely too "precious" for my taste. And the poof on top adds a certain little-house-on-the-prairie-ness too it that is just not me. AND the yarn is too nice not to be re-used into something that I will actually wear. So, those are my excuses three. Though I am thinking I may give it a bit of a blocking first before I officially commit to its final demise.
It's nice to be back on the knitting train again. It's been hard having an Archie-less lap while I'm knitting, but I'm getting used to it. Plus I have my other big 'ol beast who is now getting (and needing) extra attention these days. Don't know what I'd do without him (oh yeah I do...I'd be forced to get a house full of kittens!)
lookit that menacing fang!
10 comments:
so super cute.
everyones all about the boutique knits now! theres another blog i read who also just did an FO of the second hat!
He's so sweet in that photo. Love those hats, the grey one especially. Don't rip it up, it looks good on you.
I love themmmmmm! I've been watching these patterns on ravelry, looking for any+all new FOs!!
I sent you an email - just in case you need a little help filling your house full of kittens...
BWAHAHAAAAA
I do like your prairie hat. Is cute. Can I propose a compromise? Give the hat a few month's grace before the big frog. If you don't wear it in the interim... well then. :D
I like! I essentially bought that book for those two patterns, and I think they knit up super sweet for you.
I'm totally in love with that side slip cloche! I think it looks fantastic! If you think it's whack though, a certain someone's b-day is coming up...
I think they both look great!!!
I love both hats, although I see what you're saying about the second one. But the yarn looks wonderful and I think maybe it could grow on you? Good luck!
I am working on the cloche but I am confusing myself. I finished the band but I do not understand how to start the body. It reads that I am to start it on the band but the band is not on any needles.
hmmm, if memory serves you pick up and knit stitches all the way around the band don't you? Do the instructions not say that?
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