My sister and I have a deal when it comes to Christmas gifts: Even if we don't get each other in the Kris Kringle, we make each other a gift. Sometimes it's fudge sometimes it's jewelry, this year she is getting my version of a Noro Hat. On Ravelry I posted it as Noro Hat Redux.
It's made from about one and a half skeins of Noro Kureyon color #182 and I knit it on a 16 inch size 7 circular and when it got too hard to work with I switched to double points.
I liked the way the original pattern takes advantage of the color changes in the Noro yarn but I didn't like the crown. So I changed it.
It's pretty straightforward for a hat. Saartje de Bruijn, the designer of the original has you cast on with 95 stitches. I upped it to 96 just to make the crown decreases work out easier. You start with 8 rounds of knit, then 4 rounds of purl, then 4 rounds of knit, then 4 rounds of purl. I kept going, alternating 4 rounds of knit and 4 rounds of purl until I had completed six purl sections. I knit one round then on the next round I K10, k2tog around. Then a plain knit round; then K9, k2tog around; then a plain round; then K8, k2tog around, then a plain round... see where this is going? I kept going until there were only 4 stitches on the needles and I pulled the yarn through the stitches snugging them tight and secured it inside the hat weaving it in like mad.
I'm way too pleased with how it turned out. I get a little giddy everytime I look at how those colors fade into each other on the crown. That little bit of swirl to the stitches makes me smile. I think I have to make one for me.
My favorite present I got this year also came late. I picked it up at Stewart Airport last Saturday.
Yep, Dennis is home. He's safe, sound and in one piece. Best present ever.
What a gorgeous hat. I think you should keep it and make something else for your sister. And we'll have to get together at Sheep and Wool and do an impromptu karaoke rendition of Istanbul (not Constantinople) together. I'll bring the music.
Posted by: Claudia | January 15, 2009 at 11:05 AM
YAHOOO! I am so happy he is safely home!
Posted by: Joam Turner | January 16, 2009 at 02:51 PM