the blue blog archives: those who can't bucket...

I can't bucket. I'm loving watching all the fuzzy, furry and fabulous bucket hats being knitted all around our little blog world (like here and here and of course here), but I have to admit to being a bucket bozo. I so want to have a bucket hat, but I have a very low fiddliness threshhold and simply cannot bear to do all that picking up of stitches and knitting little pieces and parts. This is why I do not knit socks. Still, I can't stand not having a bucket hat in my wardrobe, so I picked up some yarn to make this pattern from the Fall 2003 issue of Interweave Knits (by local designer Rebecca Harris!).

Can I knit it now? Can I? Can I? I should focus on my holiday gift-knits, shouldn't I? Shouldn't I?

posted by alison at 8:46 am | in accessories , buck-it!

Comments

Go on, knit it! We all need a break from holiday knitting SOME TIME (don't we? and when is mine....) It's cute.

That said, I don't knit socks either, by and large, b/c of that whole fiddly thing, but I made one BOC, and it was fast, and not too fiddly....esp. when you make the felted version, which flies on 11s, and picking up sts is easy since the sts are so big and loose pre-felting!

Posted by: Kristine at December 2, 2003 9:04 AM

Knit it now, Knit it now! It looks lovely. If it makes you feel better consider it a christmas present to yourself and wrap it up so that you can open it on Christmas day!

Posted by: kerrie at December 2, 2003 9:21 AM

Can't stand fiddly work? This from the woman who knits baby Dale fair isle sweaters on US 0's. *teehee* Kristine is right about the felted version. Picking up stitches on big needles is super easy. Especially since you don't have to get it just right as the felting will hide any knitting sins. Of course, I have a new fondness for knitting mini raglan sweaters, but that's as fiddly as it's getting for me. I hope. :)

Posted by: Kerstin at December 2, 2003 9:23 AM

knit it. it'll take you what - maybe a couple of hours? just use the time when you'd usually be tidying up after the boys or something!! :) and it's not that far from a bucket so it may fulfill the needs :)

Posted by: carolyn at December 2, 2003 9:39 AM

About socks--do the toe-up ones with short row heels and toes from Wendy Knits. No picking up!

Love the hat--knit it! Knit it!

Posted by: Steph at December 2, 2003 10:07 AM

you look so good in hats--make many!

Posted by: Dava at December 2, 2003 10:09 AM

Furlana, fer sure! But do double-check the IK site because I seem to recall a pattern correction for that one, but it could be about the mittens and not the hat.

Posted by: Maggi at December 2, 2003 11:23 AM

Go for it! I can't bear fiddling either. I must look at that pattern though, and see if it'll help me, too, to overcome bucket lust!

Posted by: Marg at December 2, 2003 11:38 AM

I agree, go ahead and make that hat! Your head will be warmer and you'll be a happier gift knitter!

Posted by: Brenda at December 2, 2003 11:52 AM

Yes! Indeed you should make it. Go! Go! Go!

Posted by: Jeanine at December 2, 2003 11:54 AM

You don't need a bucket hat, the calmer cap in light blue is absolutely delightful!!

Posted by: Laurin at December 2, 2003 11:57 AM

Of course you should! And I understand your frustration. I am still working on my Bucket O'Chic and cannot bring myself to finish the top with the dpn needles. They make me crazy!

I was thinking of making this pattern myself. Nice choice!

Posted by: Lisa at December 2, 2003 12:04 PM

Go ahead, knit it! It still counts for the bucket hat craze! I have made two BOC for the Diva (one for Xmas present), but I am procrastinating on my own because of the stitches. I would much rather make Sanquhar gloves on #0000 needles!!! :-)

Actually, I put those down and and my wrappy dress (Leigh's knit-along) and took a break to knit the Thinking dress in Miss Bea's Rainy Day book (One of Diva's Xmas pressies).... Using Cotton-Ease that I had bought on sale for $2.00 per skein!!! 100 gms for $2.00!!!! It's the same everything as All Seasons Cotton, but for a fraction of the price!

Of course I have a TON of Cotton-Ease now lingering in my yarn baskets....

Posted by: Rose at December 2, 2003 12:14 PM

Did you pick up the same colors as in the photo? Knit it now and wear it proudly. You're lucky, you look good in hats.

Posted by: michelle at December 2, 2003 1:30 PM

Knit it! You'll love it when it's done. Then you may get a bucket factory started like your scarves..

Posted by: Chelee at December 2, 2003 1:43 PM

Yes! Thou shalt bucket! Because I say so!

(If I note you down, will it pressure you to bucket? I'm so bad, I know :-))

Posted by: Becky at December 2, 2003 3:42 PM

I live near enough to you (Maine) to know that as lovely as the calmer cap looks - it just won't keep you warm enough in the depths of winter. We had a dusting of the white stuff this morning already. Quick make that IK hat! PS I look forward to my Blue Blog fix each day. Thanks.

Posted by: Denise at December 2, 2003 7:50 PM

Hi Alison!
As I live in Florida my need for hats is well, NIL but I love *fiddly* knitting, picking up stitches, LOVE DPN's...if you really want a Bucket-o-Chic, I'll be glad to knit it for you!I'm still working on the last of my knitsmas gifts as I added 4 hats/caps to the list myself (so I'm 10 of 15 now!)but you can have my full attention in about 2 weeks. How does that sound??

Posted by: Debi at December 3, 2003 1:09 AM

Fiddliness is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. I would not have the patience to sew in all those ends that you do from your striped projects.

Posted by: Melissa at December 3, 2003 6:25 AM

It is so bucket time everywhere that I understand your dilemma. That alternative hybrid hat-bucket from Interweave Knits is a good choice and seems easy. Go ahead, go ahat!

Posted by: Marie at December 3, 2003 7:14 AM

I agree Melissa, fiddliness is in the eye of the beholder or hands of the knitter, as it were. I don't mind working with small needles or switching colors at all. What I mind is the start stop feel of working with dpns and knitting little parts and pieces. I like to just knit, knit, knit. Which is why I'd rather knit a Dale sweater on US2's over basic socks any day!

For the record, I love Bonne Marie's Bucket-o-Chic hat pattern and have given it a try several times. But like Lisa, I simply cannot finish it. I want to keep knitting and knitting and so get stalled every time there's a new section to start on.

The IK pattern is pretty cool, but I think you need some slightly fuzzy yarn for it. The decreases didn't look so great in the basic wool that I've tried it with so far. I would also recommend using a long-tail cast on. My regular knit-on cast on combined with the linen stitch left little gaps along the edge.

Don't worry Denise, I have warmer hats! And Debi, I'm gonna try making my own first, but if I don't succeed maybe we can work out a trade?!

Posted by: alison at December 3, 2003 12:05 PM