332. Abigail's Manos Silk Blend Hat

We had bad lighting and a squirmy puppy, not to mention that I'm not so much the great photographer. Ah, well. We did the best we could with the photos.

Specs:
Yarn:  1.5 +/- skeins Manos silk blend in natural, carried along with one strand of Douceur et Soie, white (one ball -- most of it was used) This gave a lightweight, but warm and soft, hat.

Pattern:  I just used my intuition to construct this hat without a pattern. 

I started with 120 stitches cast on US 4 needles.  I knitted 2X2 rib for 5 inches, then switched to a US 6 needle (after a brief stint in the ribbing with US2s, which didn't seem to make a damn bit of difference in the gauge) and began the cable sequence:  I made 6-stitch cables alternated with P2K2P2.  I knitted in this manner for 5.5 inches more.  Then I began the decreases, again by intuition.  I honestly don't remember how I did the decreases well enough to be able to write it down with great accuracy.  I pulled in the K2 rows to a K1 ridge.  Then I decreased the cable rows symmetrically, followed by the purl valleys, 'til I ended up with 6 stitches, which I cinched. 

She loves it.  She says it's perfect, and she loves the roll-back brim for extra warmth and coziness over her ears.  She is a girl who loves to have her head covered and to have warm ears in the cool weather.  This one fills the bill, and if I do say so, it is a most excellent hat.

I have a non-knitting friend who is interested in the economics of knitting, so for him, I add this info: This hat took two skeins of Manos Silk Blend yarn (with a little bit left over, but not really enough to do anything with) at $11.50 each, and one ball of Douceur et Soie at $13.00, so the total cost for the materials for this hat is much more than the uninitiated might think:  $36.00*. 

And my time?  Wow.  We won't even go there.  Lots of hours and two sore elbows and sore forearms and a sore neck. 

It's worth it.  :)

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*Of course a hat that looks very similar could be made from a couple of $5 skeins of crap yarn, or even a perfectly nice $8 skein of Cascade 220, or, on the other end of the spectrum, a $60 (or more) skein of cashmere or cashmere blend. It's like everything else -- it's a matter of what one chooses to use based on its various properties, softness, availability, durability, machine-washability or not -- or simply (as in this case) what the knitter chooses to use for his or her own knitting and gifting pleasure.

Comments

[Kathleen]

Beautiful!

[gayle]

You left out the offset factor - the joy of seeing your child in something you've made for her. Worth any price...

[Cathy-Cate]

The recipient seems well pleased. Mr. Jeffries just wants a nose to lick.

Lovely hat, and I am sure it's wonderfully soft and warm!

[Cheryl]

Economics aside, that hat more than likely will never be tossed in the rag bag in a year or so because it's lovely and handmade and treasured. Well done!

[sandy]

A lucky head. Priceless even. And those photos are extra awesome!
xo

[Karen]

Long-time lurker, first-time commenter!

My knitting economics equation:
$36 yarn ÷ lots of hours = very cheap entertainment! (or cheap therapy)

[Laurie]

The time makes the yarn worth the $$, as does the recipient's future pleasure and use. Sounds like an economist's equation.

[marianne]

Brava to your glorious 'wingin' it' mad knitting skilz! The hat, she's a Beauty. Abigail wears it Very Well! Here's to warm ears :^)

[Angie]

Lovely hat, it looks great on Abigail. Nice intuition, Norma.

[Jean E.]

It's a beauty!

[margene]

It's very beautiful and perfectly suited to Abs!!

[Manise]

Great hat! Mr. Jeffries has his own matching jacket too! Too cute.

[Judy]

I agree.. $$/hours = cheap entertainment.

[Vicki]

Aw, is that a little kissy-face?!

[lisa]

But it was all worth it, right? I think perhaps only other hand crafters (and by this I do not mean makers of crocheted toilet roll covers) get any sense that knitted items cost in both materials and time.

Sucka! (taken in by a wicked cunnin little canine...)

I had a terrible bout w/ upper back pain earlier this year. Tried sitting on a therapy ball, helped miniscully. Mostly what worked was to lay on the floor. Often w/ a yoga half roll under my shoulder blades. Ended up at a manipulating osteopath for about 10 visits before it went totally away. He gave me neck stretch exercises, and things like these helped, http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_upperbak_rex.htm. But what really made me go "ahhh" (it was rather obscene report my friends) was to get a tennis ball, stand near a wall, put the ball behind my back below my shoulder, and roll up and down, then raise my arm and roll around..... it sounded like good sex.

[Cheryl S.]

It's wonderful, and with those yarns, it must be very delicious to wear.

[Beebs]

Lovely hat... Beautiful Abigail. So much to be thankful for.

[(formerly) no-blog-rachel]

I second Karen, long-time lurker (not that it needs to be justified) - the hours of pleasure I get from each project is very, very inexpensive entertainment! That's a really, really pretty hat on a really, really pretty daughter (with a really, really cute puppy).

[Patty]

NOT to brownie up or anything but that gorgeous young lady looks just like her mother! Nice hat too! :-)

[Cookie]

Adorable!

The hat, the girl and the puppy!

[Birdsong]

Actually, the candid photos are always the best... lovely job on both the hat and the grrl. Happy holiday weekend...

[Knitnana]

GORGEOUS! (And so is the hat!) *wink*
(((hugs)))

[amy]

Was matching it to the little guy's sweater planned on an unexpected plus?

I LOVE matching my scarves/hats to the clothes I put on my dog(s).

Amy

[kmkat]

That is one gorgeous hat and one gorgeous girl.

[Wanda]

It's a wonderful hat and Abigail is a most beauteous model.

[kgmama]

That is a great hat! I was in Barney's the other day and looked at their knit hats--very simple wool ones going for anywhere from $120 to $280! They were not even cashmere! Aren't you glad you knit?!

[Seanna Lea]

I would rather use good materials that feel good in the hands and I know will wear well than pick up any old thing off the shelf (though sometimes I still do that when I need to take the edge off). It's a great hat, and you couldn't find another one with its materials pedigree at the price!