Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Just What I Needed

After finishing that shawl, all I wanted to was knit something that I really really really wanted to make, out of yarn that I really really really love, and that would not take really really really long.

So, when I was asked to test knit a hat pattern by westknits using Malabrigo, I jumped on it as fast as I could.  He's been posting versions of this hat on Ravelry for months now, and I have been coveting the pattern ever since I saw his first rendition of the pattern.  In fact, in looking at my "sent" messages over on Ravelry, it looks like I have been bugging him about the pattern since March.  Let that be a lesson that perseverance always pays off.


So let's recap.  (ha, no pun intended):

Pattern: Botanic Hat by Stephen West, soon to be published
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in Tortuga and Bobby Blue (less than half a skein each)
Needles: US 6 and 7
Time taken:  I knit it today

You guys, look, it's reversible!


I love the way the inside of this hat looks.  Or wait, is that the outside?


I'm not sure, but it looks awesome.  Do you guys remember when I went a little crazy with the Kiwi hats back in September?  (there were two others that I never even bothered documenting)  Well, I think there is going to be another surge of hats coming on in the future.  One of these is not enough.  Think of the possibilities for color combinations!  You could even knit two hats using the same two colors, but switching the MC and CC and the results would be totally different.  Plus, it's a great way to use those half skeins of Malabrigo you have sitting around from previous projects.


The Tortuga colorway I have had sitting around for quite a while (but actually not as long as the Bobby Blue) and no one has ever been able to tell me what color it is.  I think it is just different shades of gray, but I have a sister who thinks it looks green, a brother who says it's blue, one who says it's purple and navy, my mother things it's pink and blue, another sister says it's wine colored, and then this morning as I was knitting the hat, yet another sister came up to me and exclaimed, "wow, brown and blue is my favorite color combination!"  So, what you you all think?  Is it blue, brown, pink, green, purple, blue, or black?  Your guess is as good as mine.  (I'm pretty sure the Bobby Blue is blue...)


Oh, and just so you all know, my e-mail is going to be down starting tomorrow and it won't be up again until at least Monday.  You can always get a hold of me over on Ravelry, but I may not reply to your comments here on the blog right away because I won't get them until my e-mail starts up again.  Sorry for any inconvenience.

12 comments:

  1. I say two different shades of blue. Both ring my bell, so I say yay to this hat. The reversible part is just showing off. :)

    Man oh man, how many sisters and brothers do you have?? I'll have to go back and do my homework from your previous posts to see if the total number is revealed, or if we are left to ponder just how high that number might be...

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  2. I think that hat looks awesome! Did you pick the colors out all by yourself, or did you need some help? ;-)

    Also, I think you look good in hats. I don't know why you always say you don't. Knit up your hat wardrobe and wear them with pride!

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  3. Love the hat! I think I will have to get that pattern.

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  4. Very cool hat, and there is definitely something to be said for "instant gratification" projects!

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  5. Great hat! I like it in the current colors. :)

    PS - THANK YOU for my CDs. They arrived yesterday in the afternoon. I just gotta figure out which one to listen to first! :D

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  6. As usual, it looks awesome!! I love the colors, whatever they are... The pattern is great, too. I'll have to knit one once the pattern is published.

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  7. What a great hat!

    Maybe you should send it around, so we can all see it in person and decide what color we think it is. ;^)

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  8. Great hat!!

    Isn't it great to do a simple, quick, instant gratification knit after a long and intensive one?

    Blissful, I say!

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  9. I LIKE IT! That's an excellent man-cap. And it's very flattering on you.

    I like the inside with the contrast best. :)

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  10. What a terrific pattern! It looks great on you. Gotta love a quick knit that is actually wearable - I felt that way about Thorpe, too :) But Thorpe isn't *reversible*...

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  11. The had looks great, with lots of visual interest going on. Malabrigo is so nice to knit with...hooray for instant gratification!

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  12. Okay, I'm loving the hat and will be tempted to make it myself. I follow your work on ravelry and I thought I would just comment on the hat. Take care and enjoy your time off from school!

    Ray Flanary

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