FO: Welted Hat #2

When Welted Hat #1 was given to its new owner, she did a little dance, and wore it until she about overheated in the restaurant we had dinner at.  Clearly this called for a repeat performance, though for a different recipient.

Pattern: A Hat for Eudora
Yarn: Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran, with Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool for the hem
Needles: US6 and US8
Duration: 5th February to 9th February

I've never used Kathmandu Aran before, it's puffy and squishy and the hat was very loose, so I ripped out my first attempt and cut 10st from the cast on number.  Doubled sock yarn didn't look great for the hem contrast colour with this grey yarn so I used doubled sportweight yarn instead, leftover Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, which claims to be a sportweight but I think that's wishful thinking.  If you're a fat fingering weight yarn, don't lie to yourself.  Either way, it was about the right thickness and I love the flash of aubergine/eggplant purple under the brim.

The loose version of this hat was at pattern gauge when I checked, which implies the pattern is designed for a really big head (96st at 4.5 st/in).  The one I already finished fit perfectly, but I didn't do a gauge swatch and the yarn was thin for a worsted.  Once again I used wrap and turn for the short rows instead of the pattern directions, and made the decreases line up by ignoring the pattern directions.  I also added a few extra plain rows to make more of a slouch, one before the wrinkles, a couple before the short rows and a few before the decreases.  Since I had a different number of stitches to the pattern I went my own way from there.

I'm veering away from hats (after FIVE in a row) to work on a pair of plain socks and finishing my cropped cardigan (one and a half fronts, button bands, and assembly to go).  One of my 2012 resolutions is to start and finish a full-size cardigan from stashed yarn, and once I have the cropped cardigan done, I'll be starting on an Amelia cardigan, to be made in light blue O-wool Classic.