Here she is... finished on Sunday, blocked on Monday (isn't that part of a children's rhyme?). The washing/blocking really made it super-soft and drapey, which is good and bad; I love the softness, but kind of wish it had a little more structure. It's definitely a bit too big; I'm considering folding it in on itself a bit, but will probably test wear it a few times. Should have gone down a needle size! Ah well, I have a small head :)The only good pictures I could get were in the bathroom (best light) with no flash. So excuse the inanity of this one:
And here is the lovely pentagon decrease at the top:
I've come to the conclusion that I really like lacework - the way the pattern develops, the interesting stitching - but I don't think I'd have the time for anything bigger than this hat. I was coming home from work in the evening and getting 1, maybe 2, lace rows done, which is not conducive to quick finishing by any means. And the rows were only 90 stitches long! (er, wide?). But I look forward to doing more patterns with lace edgings, sleeves, etc. And part of me really wants to try a shawl, and see the transformation from unblocked clump of super-fine yarn to blocked majesty of intricate patterns. But it would take abso-freakin forever. So, probably I'll just live vacariously through lace knitters like Titianknitter, who is also a French Horn teacher!
So here are the stats on this hat:
"Peekaboo Cloche" from Lace Style.
Yarn: Misti International's Misti Alpaca Suri Silk (80% baby alpaca, 20% silk - decadent!). Peridot (green) for the inside, Amethyst (purple) for the outside lace, and Sapphire (blue) for the bottom 1.5" of the inside and top 3" of the outside. It's colorful :)
Needles: For the inside green stockinette: 3mm, which is either US size 2.5 or 3 depending on who you ask. For the outside, purple and then blue lace: US 4 / 3.5 mm.
Gauge: Only the stockinette inner layer gauge was specified, and a I hit stitch gauge at 13 st/2", but was woefully off at 17 rows/2 inches when it should have been 22 rows/2 inches. This was partly why it ended up big (also, as noted above, I have a small head!)
3 comments:
That is really very pretty. If you like small shawls, I did the summer shawlette and I have the same problem as you, not enough time, but I did get it done in a couple of weeks! :)
I'm glad you like my lace! I'm warning you: it's addictive. Your hat looks awesome. Do you play the horn?
Thanks, Titianknitter! I can see lace being addictive, but I just don't have time for addiction right now... but will reasses after Christmas :). The hat took me 3 weeks, and that was just a bitty lace project!
I used to play the horn (middle school, high school, college), but I am now missing 3 teeth upfront and it doesn't seem the best idea any more :( Plus, see the time issue. But I have a soft spot for all things horn and a real appreciation for horn teachers!
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