A few things I am disappointed about: I think there is too much seed stitch before the stockinette starts. I think it would look better if the seed stitch looked like more of a brim and not the main part of the hat. Also, it is bigger than I want. I really wanted it to be infant sized (which is what the pattern called it) but they apparently think that my baby is going to come out with a 17" head since it has a 16" diameter. Heaven forbid that should happen! So I know how to adjust a pattern size in crochet, but I am nervous about messing with the gauge because of the decreases. They are perfectly spaced right now. One idea I have is to use smaller yarn and smaller needles to change the size. This is a worsted weight washable wool and was done on size 10 needles. I am thinking about using a sport weight yarn and size 6 needles, then following the pattern as directed and seeing how big it is. I would really only have to do several rows to know what the finished diameter would be so it isn't like it would be too much wasted time if that doesn't work. Anyway, the whole thing was done in 2 days! I am just so pleased that I decided to try it.
Now I want to try other bootie patterns. I have been looking online and found a few that I like. One that I really want to try is this one. I even actually already figured out how to do the crochet provisional cast on that it calls for!! I looked for a video of it on the knitting help web site, but they didn't have the crochet method and the one they had was so confusing! I couldn't get mine to look like hers. Then I found this. Now that one made sense! Since I have crocheted so much longer than I have knitted, this was right up my alley! Anyway, I'll let you know how the booties go. I have found about 13 patterns for booties and hats that I want to try...I already placed one decent sized yarn order at www.knitpicks.com and I now realize that there are some other needles I could use if I actually make those...I am thinking I should have added them to my previous order because I didn't quite spend enough to get the free shipping, but if I had added the needles, I would have made it! Oh, well. Lesson learned.
Oh, dear. I have a feeling this wee one will have quite a variety of hats and booties...
8 comments:
I really love that hat! The seed stitch looks really nice.
For some reason hats make me nervous, so I just recently started making some hats for all the webkinz that my kids have. I have this really super easy garter stitch hat pattern my friend showed me. I may even branch out into something pretty like yours soon!
That's awesome Johanna. It looks great!
Tina, how funny that hats make you nervous and you have made socks! Socks make me nervous...
I love how seed stitch looks! But, I think it takes a bit more time to do. The reason is that it is easy to have loose stitches when you are going from the knit to purl stitch. And because of this, I knit, then purl, then pull the yarn back and tighten. You would pull the yarn back anyway to do the next knit stitch, but I think the tightening maneuver adds up and makes the whole process take longer than I'd like. Not sure if you were experiencing the same thing. Was your gauge off?
Wow that is a cool hat.... Maybe the brim is supposed to be folded over to make up for the difference in head circumfrance and make the seed stitch more like a brim? You know Zoe had a 13 or 14 head size when she was born so it wouldn't be too long before he could wear it, especially if it were folded back.... or maybe try to do a semi shrink job in the wash/dry cycle? That is why I never look much into making any hats or socks like these.... I am scared to wash it, and therefore scared to use it.... and then it is a lot of work to never use something like that.... By the way Marie, how would you wash thouse booties????
I am going to try to see if washing it firms it up a bit. But it is washable wool, so I'd have to also dry it a bit to shrink it, and I wouldn't want it to shrink too much.
My gage piece was just right - I guess if I had just multiplied it out, I would have known that it would be 16 inches! I'll just chalk it up to a lesson learned!
Meagan - the booties are made out of 100% cotton. But it's Rowan yarn and this yarn always says to hand wash and lay flat to dry. But I think this is mostly because that is the ideal way to wash anything if you want it to last a long time. I think it would be okay to throw it in the washing machine on gentle, but don't do anything aggressive like wash in hot water with jeans cause I don't think my handy work can be trusted to withstand anything like that. As for drying, I'd say lay it out to dry, but they're so thick that I think it would take a month! So try it out in the dryer on low heat and keep an eye on it. But really, I'd just try not to let her go trekking in the mud and avoid washing them as long as you can help it. Uhhh.... not sure that this lengthy explanation is necessary, but there it is.
Thanks. Hopefully, there will never be any mud for her to romp through while wearing these gorgeous shoes, and since I do all my wash on gentle cycle and low heat dry, they will fit right in with the rest of the laundry!
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