the blue blog archives: weasley's weekly wizard wheezes

Andrea finished a weasley ornament, and another, while Whit is working on a wonderful "F" weasley, and I finished my Hermione hat!

Wow, this one almost went south soooo many times. I am now an expert at dropping down whole cables and reknitting them properly. And at redistributing increases in the middle of a complex pattern.

Any of you who've made one of these, can you tell that the swirly cable/bobble part of the pattern doesn't go as high on my hat? I was using the Manos that inspired the whole project and it's quite a bit bulkier than the Cascade 220 that the pattern calls for. Although I was knitting the Manos down on the specified needle, there was just no way that I was getting the right gauge. It didn't matter to me that the hat was a bit wider. I knew the original was very tight, so this fits quite well actually. But I noticed after the second bobble that the hat was going to be about six inches taller than my head if I didn't start decreasing early. Now, if you've seen the pattern, you know that changing around all the decreases is not a trivial task. But I had to do it. No way I was ripping the hat out and reknitting all those cables (especially not after I'd reknit so many of them already!). And no way I was using a different yarn - I LOVE this Manos. So I just took a deep breath and reworked all the decreases. I just managed to squeeze the third bobble in. I couldn't possibly live with three less bobbles, now could I?

I really really like the hat. So much so that I bought the mitten pattern and another skein of the Manos for them. I guess I'll be redoing that pattern as well.

posted by alison at 8:51 am | in another weasley

Comments

I've made a couple of the hats, and mine were a little tall as well, but I made it to the pattern, because I couldn't figure out the decreases.

I'm making the mittens as well - and after making one to the pattern, it seems a little small, but I haven't blocked it yet, so I'm hoping that it will fit better after I block it.

Posted by: MA at December 17, 2005 9:25 AM

Although I haven't finished the hat, yet, I had size issues, too. I took out a bunch of the ribbing so that when folding the ribbing up I wouldn't cover the cool pattern. I think I'm in for the same issues you had since my head is so small.

Posted by: Liz at December 17, 2005 9:27 AM

i love your hat! it's wonderful!

Posted by: allena at December 17, 2005 9:45 AM

That hat is fantastic!

Posted by: Jennifer at December 17, 2005 9:58 AM

I made the hat twice - the first time with Malabrigo. I realized most of the way in that I deifnitely didn't have enough yarn, so I completely made up the decreases as I went along and somehow it came out perfectly - I'm glad I ended it quickly (I didn't get to the 3rd bobble round) because the length is perfect. I used Manos the second time and made it exactly like the pattern said (worrying I wouldn't get lucky with the decreases twice) and it's sooo huge - the recipient has to fold the brim up way high so it sits properly, but luckily, she seems to like it like that. :)

Posted by: melanie at December 17, 2005 10:28 AM

what a beautiful hat! I love that color Manos and am glad that you found such a great use for it :)

Posted by: Dani at December 17, 2005 11:22 AM

i just have to seam up the sides of my X sweater, wrap it up, and give it to a 2-year old next Sunday! I will take tons of pictures, i promise.

Posted by: shireen at December 17, 2005 12:07 PM

Good job on the hat! It looks really nice in the verigated yarn. I have made no progress on my mittens, but as soon as I finish a hat (my last christmas knit! well, if you don't count that scarf, but it's chunky yarn and will go really quickly!!)I can start knitting for myself again!!! They will be finished one day.......

Posted by: Karen at December 17, 2005 1:28 PM

Nice hat! I can't imagine fiddling with decreases and cable and bobbles simultaneously - you are amazing.

PS Request to see it modeled!

Posted by: Margot at December 17, 2005 1:51 PM

Oh. *blushes* I just looked again and saw that it is modeled, technically. Was hoping to see how it frames a face. :)

Posted by: Margot at December 17, 2005 1:53 PM

awesome hat. i do love me some manos yarn.

Posted by: thuy at December 17, 2005 4:12 PM

My weasley is coming along -- fronts and back are done. Only the sleeves remain and I hope to make a lot of progress over the next few days (no work)!

Hermione would be proud of your hat.

Posted by: anmiryam at December 17, 2005 4:59 PM

Wow! Cute hat! You're getting me into HP just for the knitware, Alison... during a business trip I made my 11-month-old half a weasley from some leftover felted tweed after being inspired by the photo of you and your boys in your weasleys. Now I think I might need a Hermione hat... It's gorgeous in the Manos.

Posted by: Cindy at December 17, 2005 5:47 PM

Gorgeous hat! I love that color! Nice work with changing the decreases, I have not made that hat but I would imagine that would be difficult.

Posted by: Erica at December 17, 2005 5:49 PM

i just bought the pattern and yarn (malabrigo) to make this for my mom for christmas. hoping i can finish it in a week! thanks for the warnings about the decreases--good to know ahead of time!

Posted by: marissa at December 17, 2005 6:35 PM

I finished my first HiP scarf - love it!

Posted by: Jenn at December 17, 2005 6:59 PM

Such pretty yarn that is. I think your hat would look cool with a little bobble right on top, but it looks cool the way it is, too.

Posted by: Mary at December 17, 2005 7:36 PM

Sigh. Abandoned the Weasel to knit holiday gifts...and, eh, start Demi from Vintage Style...

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6348/1676/1600/weasel.jpg

Poor Weasel.

Posted by: Cirilia at December 18, 2005 7:42 AM

That's a gorgeous Hermione hat, Alison. (And my projects to contemplate list just got longer. . .)

Posted by: Emily at December 19, 2005 10:30 AM

The mittens are the same way--I had to leave out a few zags of the cable in order for the mitten to fit my hand. Had to rework the thumb gusset, too! So I'm not at all surprised to hear that your hat had to be shortened. The row gauge in this pattern is really crucial.

Posted by: Beth S. at December 19, 2005 12:53 PM

Thanks for the info Beth. I knew I could count on you for the Hermione 411! ;0)

I'm relieved to hear that I'm not the only one with row gauge problems on this hat. If I had it all to do over, I would have cast on fewer stitches and made those zig zag cables a few stitches narrower, that way they'd complete a bit faster.

Posted by: alison at December 19, 2005 1:41 PM